Actor Paul Rudd drew attention after making playful remarks about airline etiquette during a May 28 appearance on Jake Shane’s podcast, “Therapuss.” In the conversation, Rudd pushed back on several common instructions passengers hear before takeoff and landing, including putting tray tables away, returning seats to the upright position, and switching phones to airplane mode. He called the rules “nonsense” and repeated that view when Shane asked specifically about airplane mode.
Shane joked that he uses airplane mode only because his phone would not work anyway and he may as well save battery. Rudd acknowledged that logic, but suggested he believes the rule is tied to fears that radio frequencies from devices could interfere with a plane’s communications systems. Despite Rudd’s skepticism, the Federal Aviation Administration requires passengers to place devices in airplane mode or disable cellular connections while flying. Aviation experts say the setting helps reduce the risk of cellular signals interfering with cockpit communications and pilots’ headsets.
The discussion also turned to another familiar in-flight habit: standing up as soon as the plane lands. Shane said he is one of the passengers who gets out of his seat the moment a flight arrives, and Rudd defended that behavior, saying he thinks it is acceptable. The issue remains a frequent source of frustration among travelers, with some people standing because of leg cramps or tight connections, while others see the behavior as rude or impatient. Etiquette expert Diane Gottsman said it is best for safety and courtesy to remain seated until there is room to move comfortably. She warned that pushing into the aisle is a clear etiquette mistake.
Rudd’s podcast appearance was not limited to travel talk. He also shared a personal memory involving his wife, Julie Yaeger, recalling a spontaneous trip to Atlantic City while she was pregnant. According to Rudd, the night became unexpectedly memorable after the couple received a complimentary hotel suite, bought tickets to see the band Boston, and won thousands of dollars while playing video poker. He described the evening as one that “kept getting better and better and better.”
Rudd and Yaeger have been married since 2003 and have two children, Jack and Darby. The actor’s newest film, “Power Ballad,” premiered in theaters on May 29. Fox News Digital said it reached out to Rudd’s representatives for additional comment.
