I am torn between how I feel about airplanes.
They are great because instead of having to drive 17 hours to see my boyfriend I can take a 2 hour flight. And be there to visit. It saves me a lot of time.
But I have to be cramped up in a small space with, sometimes smelly, strangers who
often lack knowledge of proper Airplane Etiquette…
Since this time of year many people are flying to get to and from holiday destinations and home I thought it would be appropriate to post this reminder.
*Throughout these rules I am assuming you do not know the people you are sitting by or around.
Proper Airplane Etiquette
- Please, check your ticket before sitting down. If you are in Row 15 Seat B, you are in the middle. No one likes the middle seat on an airplane full of strangers. Most people book their seat early so they can secure an aisle or window seat. If you sit in another person’s seat, expect to be asked to move. And when someone politely tells you “that’s my seat”, apologize profusely and just move!
- If traveling with children – please remind them to use their indoor voices. There’s nothing worse than a child screaming at their brother or sister etc, on a plane while you’re trying to relax or get some shut eye. A plane is “indoors” therefore reminding your children to use their indoor voices will make the plane ride better for everyone on board!
- Again, when traveling with children you have to remember they may not be aware of who they might annoy. Often children get restless on a plane – they might start swinging their legs. If you notice that it is hitting the seat in front of them please, tell them to stop. There’s nothing more annoying than a thump – thump – thump on the back of your seat during an eight hour flight.
- Flights can be very boring and if you decide to bring your laptop, remember – bring your headphones! If you choose to watch a movie, play loud computer games with sound effects – no one else wants to hear your game or listen to your movie. Be courteous and bring your headphones. If you’ve forgotten them buy a pair for $3 from the flight attendant, read your book or find something else to do.
- I’m not a person who has to pee often, but if you are one of those people who often use the bathroom and are flying by yourself (especially on a long flight) try to get an outside seat. Often, people decide they want the window seat so they can see the landscape during the taking off and landing, but if you’re a frequent bathroom user, and you know this, make the right decision and try for an aisle seat. There’s nothing more annoying than being asked to move several times during your flight so the stranger sitting next to you can go to the john – again.
- But – perhaps the most important time to make an exception and decide to go to the lavatory during a flight is if you have to break-wind, fluff, make a stinky – you know, fart. NO ONE wants to smell your lingering gas after you let one go. Just be courteous, hold it as long as you can or get up and head to the bathroom.
- Getting comfortable on a plane can be difficult (especially when you’re trying to catch up on some sleep or are on the red-eye), so if getting comfortable means getting in the personal space of the stranger next to you, that’s fine, right? WRONG. Don’t put your feet under my butt, or any other stranger’s for that matter. They’re not going to like it! And if you’re traveling with someone who you notice is invading a strangers personal space – let them know it and ask them to stop, or put themselves in the strangers shoes.
- The armrest. This is a touchy subject because EVERYONE wants to use their armrest. Therefore I have made a rule. Right arm gets the back half; left arm gets the front half. Spread the word (I was inspired by escalator rules (left is for walking, right is for standing, in Vancouver there are signs to remind you of this). Therefore I think this is acceptable, left to the front, right to the back. If you can’t deal with sharing an arm rest then maybe you should either: pay for a first class ticket, take a bus or give up on travel altogether.
Although I know my blog post will not reach the entire world, let alone the frequent flyers who frequently forget their etiquette, but I am hoping the few people who do read this pass it on. When you have to be stuck in a plane with strangers anywhere from a half hour to 20 hours it can get brutal. So, let’s think about our Mom’s favourite quote “treat people the way you want to be treated” the next time we step foot on a plane.
What are some other inappropriate things that happen on plane rides which I've forgotten?
What are some other inappropriate things that happen on plane rides which I've forgotten?
