Pure Chemistry? Why Tears Suddenly Start Flowing on a Plane

The Falstaff Travel Editors, 26.06.2026

At an altitude of 10,000 meters, it seems there are unique rules: movies have a greater emotional impact, food tastes different, and even familiar sensory experiences change. Researchers are investigating what lies behind the surprising effects of flight.

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If you've ever cried while watching a movie on a plane, even though the plot didn't really give you much reason to, you're by no means alone. The phenomenon is so widespread that it now even has its own name: the “Mile Cry Club.” This refers to passengers who react much more emotionally when they're up in the air than when they're on the ground.

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