You may have already noticed the mysterious absence of row 13 on planes and airlines, prompting questions about whether it’s rooted in superstitions surrounding the number 13 or for some other reason. Stay with us in an exploration into this intriguing topic, aiming to uncover why some airlines choose to follow this unique rule.
Are Airlines Superstitious?
People handle air travel in their own distinctive ways, using personal rituals to cope with anxiety and find relief. Some might express their gratitude by clapping upon landing, while others opt for a reassurance of touching on the aircraft’s exterior before taking their seat inside. In fact, there are individuals who hold onto superstitions, causing increased anxiety and nervousness in the flight.
Airlines try their best to ensure a positive experience for all the passengers by recognising and understanding how passengers concerns can influence their entire journey, impacting both comfort and perception of air travel. Having in consideration one of these concerns being Triskaidekaphobia – an irrational fear of the number 13, that holds a negative connotation in various cultures, some airlines chose to respect cultural views or superstitions around number 13 showing their commitment by excluding the number 13 on seat assignments and this way ensuring a stress-free journey.
What airlines do not include row 13?
Ryanair, Air France, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Qatar Airways, Emirates, KLM, Iberia, Lufthansa and among many other airlines, adhere to this cultural belief that number 13 is unlucky, resulting in the absence of Row 13 in their planes. However, among the airlines that follow this superstition, there are also airlines that opted not to submit to superstition like Alaska Airlines – all Boeing 737-700/900s in their fleet include Row 13. However, on certain Boeing 737-800 aircraft, Row 13 is non-existent because of these planes being initially manufactured for another company that later cancelled its order.
What is the unlucky number in different cultures?
The perception of an “unlucky” number varies across different cultures. For instance, in China and East Asian cultures, whether a number is considered “unlucky” is contingent upon the pronunciation of its sound, carrying either negative or positive connotations. In countries like China, Japan, or Taiwan, the number 4 is deemed unlucky due to its phonetic similarity to the word for death. An interesting observation is that this opposition to the number 4 extends beyond aircraft to elevators, where the number is also omitted.
But number 4 is not the only unlucky number for some – Lufthansa goes a step further by not including row 13 but also row 17 on their Airplanes.
“In certain nations, such as Italy and Brazil, the customary unlucky number is 17 rather than 13. Given that Lufthansa welcomes a diverse range of international passengers, we make an effort to take into account a broad spectrum of these cultural beliefs.” stated Lufthansa.
Number 13 is the lucky number in some cultures
On the other hand, the number 13 is considered a lucky number in countries like France due to their “tradition” before the First World War. Italians also find the number 13 lucky for different reasons, one of which is its association with the Virgin Mary as a form of providing protection, overcoming evil, and achieving goals. The ancient Egyptians also believed the number 13 was lucky, attributing this belief to the connection between the 13th stage of life and the afterlife.
However, the inclusion of cultures is very important in aviation and this is the explanation for the Airlines exclusion of number 13 from their aircraft seats.
What are your thoughts about superstitions in aviation? Let us know if you like these type of topics and feel free to drop your suggestions in the comments!
