Air Travel Etiquettes

Decades ago, flying was an enjoyable experience that involveddressing upin your finest attire, joyfully boarding the plane, and being served full meals. You may even remember the smiles on the faces of flight attendants as they invited you into what felt more like a party than simplytransportation to your destination.

Flying has become more challenging than ever with the regulations, security, and extra seats crammed into the planes with other surly passengers. After standing in line to have your bags checked, your body frisked, and your ID inspected, you’re not in the mood todeal with rude passengers. Make your trip more enjoyable by learning andapplying some good mannersduring the experience.

Respect the Space of Those Around You

No one likes the person who uses the space under all three seats, has a carry-on bag that doesn’t quite fit in the overhead bin, takes over both armrests, and reclines as far back as the chair allows. Limit what you take on board the plane to a small bag that fits in the bin and one other item you can easily fit under the seat in front of yours. The armrests are narrow, so show some respect for the people on either side of you and stay out oftheir personal space. It’s not that difficult to work outa solution if you are both agreeable.

Reclining your chair all the way back can diminish the legroom of the person behind you.

Don’t Be a Chatterbox

Many people enjoy flying in silence, so before youstart running your mouthto the person in the neighboring seat, learn to take a hint. You might want to introduce yourself when you sit down to get a feel for the other person’s mood. If he or she quickly dismisses you by opening a book or plugging inheadphones, be respectful andstop talking.

Moving Around the Cabin

Constant up-and-down movement can annoy your fellow passengers, particularly those in your row whose feet you just trampled.Use the restroombefore you board your flight and avoid drinking so much that you’ll have to go again. If you know you are one of those people who cannot hold it for the duration of the flight, choose an aisle seat and let someone else have the window.

Alcohol

Don’t be one of those people whoquickly drinks an alcoholic beveragein order to max out on what is allowed. If you happen to sit next to one of those people, and the person starts to annoy you, don’t get into a discussion with the boozer. Instead, ask the flight attendant if there is a vacant seat somewhere else. If you have no other options, do whatever it takes to avoid communicating with the drunk person.

Jostled Seats

Show respect by not jostling the seats around you. When you need to stand after a long flight, try not to pull too hard on the seat in front of you. If you are traveling with asmall child, make sure he or she doesn’t kick someone else’s seat. If that happens,apologize to the personand keep an eye on the child. A pre-flight lecture and a bribe for good behavior can solve that in most cases.

Smells and Sounds

Show respect for others by not inflicting odors and noise on your fellow passengers. Avoid the temptation to douse yourself withperfume. If you carry food onto the plane, make sure it doesn’t have a strong aroma that might offend someone who is squeamish. Listening to your music on a device is fine, but keep the volume down so you don’t inflict it on someone who doesn’t have the same taste in music. Don’t be one of those people who chats on acell phoneduring the entire process of going through security and boarding.

Communication with Airline Personnel

Always bepolite when communicatingwith airline personnel. They have quite a bit of responsibility to make sure you arrive at your destination safely and on time. Don’t chitchat with them too long and avoid taking up too much of their time. Chances are, there are other people who need their attention. When someone from the airline or the airport asks you a question, give a direct answer with respect. Don’t forget to say thank you.