The Long Flight Test
A simple question that reveals the true weight of our relationships: Would you want to sit next to this person on a long flight?
There’s this question some interviewers ask, half-jokingly: “Would you want to sit next to this person on a long flight?”
At first it sounds silly. But a long flight strips things down. No escaping. Just time, silence, and boredom.
The real question they're asking is: “Would I be okay sitting next to this person for 6–12 months?”
Everything else is theater.
Why the "Airplane" framing works
HR uses this framing because it forces unfiltered human behavior to surface. On a flight (and in a workplace), you’re stuck, you can’t escape, stress is non-zero, and small behaviors get amplified.
What they are actually observing
- Baseline social awareness: Do you talk endlessly without checking cues, or do you pause, read reactions, and modulate your tone?
- Emotional regulation: How do you handle mild ambiguity? Do you spiral or stay grounded? High-cost coworkers are the ones who can't regulate.
- Ego surface area: Signals like name-dropping, one-upping, or trying to "win" interactions are red flags for HR. They want calm confidence.
- Conversation hygiene: Can you keep things professional without being stiff? Can you share without oversharing?
- Energy flow: After 30 minutes, are they more tired or slightly energized? Anything below "neutral" is a risk.
The Brutal Truth
Teams don’t usually fail because of intelligence; they fail because of friction, social exhaustion, and poisoned trust. One socially misaligned hire can reduce the output of five others.
Competence gets you shortlisted. This test decides if you’re safe to be around.
HR is optimizing for friction minimization. They just want to know: Will you increase or decrease the daily stress of the room?
Passing the test is simple: Warm tone, low defensiveness, curiosity without interrogation, and a genuine comfort with silence. Be a pleasant seatmate.