New smart function: How to avoid talking to the person next to you on the plane

Smart feature: How to avoid talking to the person next to you on the plane is written by The editorial staff.

Smart new search function saves you from small talk

NB: This article has been published 1. april 2024

Do you hate small talk on airplanes? Get ready to say “Shhh!” next time you fly!

The travel search engine Momondo because has launched a new “Quiet Zone” function, helping travelers avoid chatty sidekicks. 

The new feature comes on the back of a new survey* of 1.020 Danish travelers showing that 1 in 5 Danes do not approve of the EU's recent decision to allow telephony on flights within Europe this year, while as many as 80% of travelers say , that they are likely to book a flight that offers a “Mobile Free Zone” to limit noise and disturbance from other passengers. 

Using the new feature is easy. Simply click on “Quiet Zone” when searching for your next flight and choose between two preferences: “Mobile Free Zone” and “Smalltalk Free Zone”. Choose one or both options and voilà: you're on your way to a quiet and relaxing travel experience.

The survey also reveals the lengths travelers have been willing to go to fend off chatty fellow passengers on previous flights. More than half (51%) admit they have put on headphones to avoid talking, while almost a third (31%) have chose to read a book, and about a quarter (23%) have gone so far as to pretend they are sleeping, just to get some peace and quiet in the air.

Per Christiansen, spokesperson for momondo, comments: "We understand that some people cannot resist the urge to start a conversation with their partner or use the flight time to make calls when the new EU legislation on 5G on planes comes into force . Others just want to relax, take a nap or watch a movie in peace and quiet. With our new Quiet Zone feature, travelers can now easily find flights with more quiet fellow passengers for a more Zen-like atmosphere.”

*About the study 

Momondo has conducted an online survey among 1.020 travelers from Denmark who travel for work or leisure at least once a year. The survey took place between 17 and 19 March 2024.