Recently on a Lufthansa flight, I noticed it again: The 13th row does not exist. You jump directly from 12 to 14.
A small, almost inconspicuous indication of how deeply superstition has an effect even on the sober logic of aviation. Maybe it’s consideration for the customers, maybe superstitious employees.
For me, it’s a symbol: culture shapes even the most seemingly rational systems.
✳️ In China, you might avoid the 4th row – because the number sounds like “death”.
✳️ In Japan, the 9 is also considered ominous because it is associated with suffering.
✳️ In Italy it is the 17th, in the USA also the 13th.
These figures are more than superstition. They are cultural codes that are deeply anchored in everyday life: in buildings, in telephone numbers, in wedding dates and even in rows of airplanes.
It shows us that rationality is not universal. What seems self-evident for one culture can be sinister or even taboo for another.
Perhaps the lack of a 13th row on an airplane is a small reminder: Internationally active managers should learn to read the invisible codes of their teams.
Because behind every number and every symbol there is a story. Anyone who ignores these cultural codes risks misunderstandings. Those who understand it open doors to trust and connection.
But it doesn’t matter. I never book row 14 on a Lufthansa flight. Because that’s actually row 13!
➡️ And now I’m interested: What superstitions do you cling to?
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I am Bernd Scharbert and I support you as a manager in implementing intercultural guidelines in your everyday life. It’s about using cultural differences not as a hurdle but as a strength, and creating real connections in globally composed teams.
If this topic resonates with you, then let’s talk.
