We love to travel to visit friends and family, experience new cultures, learn about the world, or get drunk poolside. For some people, the thought of getting there and getting back is stressful enough to keep them from leaving home at all. Flying really doesn’t have to be stressful if we all keep it simple, stay calm, and follow some simple etiquette rules on the airplane.
We are all on this planet together and need to be respectful of one another. Here are some basic rules for traveling. Pass this article on to EVERYONE, so that the most annoying person in the world will learn a thing or two and not drive you crazy anymore.
When you get to your seat on the plane, stow your carry-on away and sit down. Do not get up until you are in the air and the pilot says it’s safe to move about. If your carry-on is small, put it under the seat in front of you instead of in the overhead bin. Save that space for the people with larger suitcases. Coats, jackets, purses, etc. should not be in the overhead bin. Don’t move someone’s stuff unless you kindly ask if you can reorganize in order to fit more.
Don’t hit people with your computer bag or carry-on when walking down the aisle to find your seat. Hold it close to your body in front of you.
If you have time in the airport, go to the bathroom BEFORE you board the plane. No need to get up and congest traffic while everyone is still finding their seat, thus delaying the take off time.
If you’re traveling in coach, you will be sitting very close to complete strangers. No one likes to smell bad odors, let alone bad odors, from strangers. Shower before traveling, put on deodorant, brush your teeth, and do NOT drench yourself in cologne. A soft, subtle body mist or lotion is fine if you insist. Speaking of smell, if you must pass gas, please excuse yourself to the lavatory and do what ya gotta do. That smell WILL linger in a confined airplane, and no one deserves that. No one!
If you must recline your seat, look behind you first to make sure you’re not going to take away the majority of someone’s leg room. It’s small enough of space (and you wouldn’t want anyone doing it to you). Courtesy people, courtesy.
Speaking of elbow room, both arm rests do not belong to you. If you’re sitting in an aisle, the armrest to your right is all yours. If you’re sitting at a window seat, the window, wall, and armrest on your left is all yours. Life sucks bad enough for the person in the middle, the least you can do for them is let them have the arm rests on their right and left, or at least leave room to share.
Feel the need to cough? Cover your mouth! Same goes for sneezing--keep tissue in your bag and use it. Also, keep hand sanitizer wipes in your bag so you can freshen up and avoid nasty germs as best as possible.
Stay in your assigned area. Just because a person seated next to you is skinny and doesn’t take up the entire seat doesn’t mean you are entitled to the remaining free space. It’s still THEIR space that THEY paid for and they don’t want you touching them.
Don’t pick your nose, scabs, dead skin, pimples or other things on your body. That is disgusting. Do it in the privacy of your own home.
If you need to get up and are not in the aisle seat, do not climb over people. Tap them on the shoulder to let them know you need up, and they will adjust accordingly. People’s bodies are not your jungle gym (in this case anyway). That said, if someone is trying to get by you to go to the bathroom, please get up, move, and don't force them to climb over your lazy, rude self!
Try to chew food and gum with your mouth closed. And, if you’re one who snores loudly….do something to stop it!
The seat back in front of you is not to be used as a drum or for kickboxing practice.
Bring a noise cancellation headset to wear if you really can't take the madness around you.
Anything we left out? Leave a comment!
