As Americans head into one of the busiest travel seasons of the year, Sean Duffy, Transportation Secretary under Trump, has a message for passengers: respect starts at the gate.
Launching what he calls a “civility campaign,” Duffy is urging travelers to show more courtesy in airports and on planes. That includes saying “please,” helping fellow passengers with their luggage, and dressing like you’re actually going somewhere.
“Be nice, say ‘please,’ say ‘thank you,’” Duffy said during an appearance on FOX Business. “Sometimes you just have to ask people, ‘Hey, let’s maybe go back to an era where we didn’t wear our pajamas to the airport.’”
The push comes as flight disruptions and unruly behavior continue to rise. FAA data shows a 400% increase in in-flight incidents since 2019, with flight attendants reporting thousands of physical and verbal altercations from passengers.
“So I’ve asked people for feedback… what happens at the gate? Are people nice to the gate agents? What happens with some of the brawls we’ve seen at baggage claim?” Duffy asked.
He says restoring politeness won’t just improve morale—it could make the whole travel process smoother as 81.8 million Americans prepare to travel for Thanksgiving.
While this initiative won’t change FAA staffing or flight delays, Duffy believes a little more kindness and a little less sleepwear could take air travel in a better direction. He’s also focused on upgrading the airspace system to manage growing demand from drones and future flying taxis.
