Have you ever been on a plane, watching a movie, and suddenly a scene pops up that’s a bit too intimate? This happened to me a few months ago while viewing “Sex and the City.” Though the show is known for its mature themes, I expected the airline to have edited out anything explicit. This led me to a moment of self-doubt. Was I making a poor choice? Should I be embarrassed about what I chose to watch?

I always thought that everything featured in inflight entertainment must be suitable, but I’ve come to realize there’s more to it than that.

Who Decides What You Can Watch on a Plane?

Generally, the contents of an airline’s inflight entertainment list are acceptable, and passengers can likely watch most downloaded content on personal devices without concern.

“In the realm of etiquette, we have a responsibility to consider those around us, including what we choose to view,” explained Nick Leighton, co-host of the podcast “Were You Raised by Wolves?” He added, “It’s about balance; I don’t want to make you uncomfortable, just as you shouldn’t aim to watch something unsettling on your screen.”

Should Your Choices Be Affected by Those Sitting Near You?

Not necessarily, but if someone nearby is noticeably uncomfortable with your selection – or if you are unsettled by theirs – it’s perfectly fine to address it.

“If you find yourself in this situation, you might politely ask: ‘That movie is a bit disturbing for me; would you mind selecting something else?'” Leighton suggested.

Emily Krause, a content creator known as A Mom Explores, indicated that while she prefers her children not to be around sexually explicit or violent content, she doesn’t feel it necessary to intervene outright. “I might feel awkward and hope my kids don’t glance in that direction, but I won’t ask them to change their viewing because we are essentially on shared transport,” she shared.

Do Airlines Filter Their Inflight Movies?

One reason inflight entertainment can generally be trusted is that airlines can edit the content presented if anything is overtly inappropriate. The extent of edits can vary based on multiple factors, including cultural norms of the airline’s home region, operational standards, and even the preferences of filmmakers.

“Everyone should have the right to watch what they want for the price they’ve paid. I hope airlines take that on board,” Carlson noted.

Nonetheless, Leighton added that you should mostly feel free to view content downloaded on your devices. “I don’t want to be limited to only G-rated films on planes,” he acknowledged, but he also cautioned, “let’s avoid being provocative; we shouldn’t be watching adult films in-flight.”

How to be a Thoughtful Traveler

Showing consideration for your fellow passengers revolves around the choices you make about what to watch during a flight.

“If I were sitting next to a young child, I’d definitely think twice before choosing to watch an extremely adult film,” Leighton said. “You can’t always know someone’s sensitivities just by looking at them; generalizations don’t work.”

Experts agree that aside from respecting others, it’s best to keep your entertainment to yourself. Airlines facilitate this by requiring headphones for inflight entertainment, which can help minimize distractions for nearby children.

“Since you have to plug in headphones for inflight entertainment, that already helps reduce the chance of attracting kids’ attention,” Carlson explained.

However, regardless of how easily distracted your seatmates may be, the principle of ‘do your own thing, as long as it’s reasonable’ remains applicable.

“Ultimately, it’s my responsibility to keep an eye on my kids, and I try to choose seats accordingly,” she concluded.

“I believe my kids are more comfortable when they aren’t next to another adult,” stated Krause. “If we have to sit together and there’s no other option, I prefer that everyone just keeps to themselves.”