Airline travel etiquette has become a hot topic online, with a recent Reddit post sparking a conversation about how to deal with passengers who leave trash in seatback pockets. The post, titled "Favorite trick for people that put trash in seatback pockets," describes a 50% effective method for prompting these passengers to clean up after themselves.

The author of the post explains their tactic: feigning concern that the passenger has left their AirPods in the seatback pocket. This forces them to check the pocket and, hopefully, acknowledge and remove their trash. The Redditor claims a 50% success rate, with some passengers taking the hint and others offering excuses or simply refusing.

The post generated a lively discussion, with some users suggesting alternative solutions, like a "trash collection" passed around like at church, while others lamented the inevitability of inconsiderate passengers. One commenter shared a story of a flight attendant who chased down a passenger who left newspapers behind, highlighting the frustration that airline staff often experience.

Gary Leff, a Texas-based travel expert and author of the blog "View From the Wing," weighed in on the issue, noting that airlines often prioritize speed over cleanliness between flights. He emphasized the importance of passengers taking responsibility for their own trash, comparing it to basic etiquette in other public spaces like movie theaters. "Cleaning up after yourself," Leff stated, "is a basic starting point for civil society."