These days, there are almost more reasons to hate travel than to love it. Recent stories in the news about frustrated flight attendants and angry passengers underscore the changing landscape of flying. What this means is that it is more important than ever to treat each other with respect! Keeping basic rules of etiquette in mind will put us on the path to calmer, happier travel.
If I were to write a comprehensive list of travel etiquette, it would be as long as a book. There are so many ways to be a polite fellow traveler that I don’t think I could write them all even if I wanted to! There are also many different categories: security, carry-on, food, cell phone, middle seat… I could go on and on. The following list of travel etiquette is a compilation of what I think is the most important. But I fully realize that if someone else were to make a list, it could be completely different!
- Be prepared to go smoothly through security. Know what the current security rules are for the location you are traveling through, and follow them. Have everything ready to go (laptop, bag of toiletries, shoes off, etc) as soon as you get to the bins. Have all change out of your pocket. Have your boarding pass out for people to see. If there is an option to choose your security line based on your level of experience, please choose honestly.
- Know the carry-on rules. European airlines and U.S. airlines have slightly different carry-on requirements—make sure you know them. Know how many bags you can bring on board—in most cases, but not all, it’s two. If a flight attendant tells you that your bag is too big to fit, allow them to gate check it.
- Put your suitcase on the correct side of the airplane, facing the correct way. Listen to what the flight attendants tell you to do, and do it. If one side of the plane is made to hold rollerboards, please put your suitcase there. That way there is room for everyone’s stuff. And while we’re on this subject, if you have two bags, please only put one in the overhead space.
- Don’t grab the seat in front of you. A huge pet peeve of mine! Every time you touch the seat in front of you, the person sitting there can feel it. Please don’t use it as your personal handle. You can use your own seat if you assistance.
- Let the middle seat have the armrests. You may be tall, have long arms, need a lot of space… It doesn’t matter. The person in the middle has less space than you, and it makes their flight better if they get the armrest too.
- Respect the crew. If the flight attendant tells you to turn off your cell phone, do it. If they tell you where to put your bag, put it there. The crew is responsible for the transport and safety of over a hundred people. They are not your personal chef, bartender, or secretary.
- Be patient during de-planing. Hundreds of people rushing down the aisle to get off the plane all at the same time… it’s just not possible. Even though it can be frustrating to have to wait what feels an excessive amount of time, be patient. And when it is your turn, grab your stuff quickly. If there is someone who has a tight connection, it is polite to let them go first or pass you in the jetbridge if necessary. Think of how you would like to be treated in that situation!
Overcrowded airplanes, fewer amenities, harried flight attendants, long lines at security, delayed flights… It’s easy to become frustrated during travel. The way to keep all of us from turning into wild eyed, air-raged crazies is to exhibit a modicum of etiquette. Remember that you are not the only traveler on the road! Treat people the way you would like to be treated, and we can be a calmer community of fliers, one passenger at a time.
Road Warriorette is a professional woman who travels for work, a lot, from her home base in Texas. Because of her extensive travel experience, the Road Warriorette wants to share valuable tips and tricks she has learned, in hopes to teach the world about how to be good fellow travelers. She writes a blog, RoadWarriorette.com, for her fellow women business travelers. She loves to help people pack better! Learning to pack efficiently was a huge and fun challenge for the Warriorette who has a slight obsession with clothes and shoes (paring down is not easy, ladies!). In addition to writing and travel, both professionally and recreationally, she enjoys knitting, yoga, and spending time with her husband, the Home Warrior, and their two dogs. Read More »
Is it me or are airline frequent flier programs impossible to understand?
People are often surprised to see how a few clothes, shoes and books can become so heavy when packed in a suitcase. These days, in order to make more money, as well as comply with union safety rules, airlines employees at the check-in counter will not hesitate to make you pay an excess / overweight baggage fee (or worse, buy another bag and repack) if your luggage is even one pound over the weight limit. To avoid the humiliation of repacking at the check-in-counter, or pay unnecessary fees, it is always a good idea to weigh your luggage before heading to the airport. As your regular home or hotel scale isn’t designed for luggage, consider buying a hand-held luggage scale that can fit in your luggage… And, don’t worry, they are usually quite small and light!
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