Turkish Airlines to Fine for Unbuckling – Will Star Alliance Follow?

We get it; sometimes it can feel like you’re waiting forever when you’ve taxi’d to your gate and the seatbelt light hasn’t turned off. Your legs need a stretch, you’re eager to get your carry-on and get off the plane. But Turkish Airlines has a new rule in place that will see fines issued to the early un-bucklers.

Passengers who stand up before the seatbelt sign turns off after landing onboard Turkish Airlines will now face a fine of about $90 CDN.

According to the BBC, the Turkish Civil Aviation Authority said it imposed the rule after complaints from passengers, and the new rule came into effect earlier in May. The aviation authority said commercial airlines must now issue an in-flight announcement and report those who do not follow orders. Passengers must be told to keep their seatbelts locked, and refrain from standing and opening overhead lockers until the seatbelt sign is off.

The move is in response to a “serious increase” in incidents of passengers opening baggage compartments to remove their bags before planes had come to a complete stop.

Those who do not follow these rules must be reported to the authority, it says.

In Canada, while airlines have regulations and procedures regarding seatbelts during flight, passengers typically don’t face fines for not wearing a seatbelt on board. There is no word yet if Star Alliance partners such as Air Canada or United Airlines might follow suit.