Now that travel is back up again I think it's time we talk about etiquette. You know, it's that thing you do to ensure that traveling is comfortable for you as well as everyone around you?
Even though it's 2022, it seems some people forget their manners when it comes to flying. So let's remind them. Shall we? Here are some things you should be doing and not be doing when getting on a flight.
"Before going through security, please don't wear a million pieces of jewelry. It takes forever to get through and holds everyone up."
Why would you want to wear that much jewelry anyway? I don't get it. Just put it in your bag and show it off later, ha, ha.
"After going through security with your shoes off, don't stand in the middle of where everyone goes through. Put your shoes back on in one of the designated areas/benches — or else you're just a roadblock."
Yup, just get out of the way already, okay?
"Shower and wear deodorant prior to flying. We are in a windowless aircraft."
OMG, that goes without saying, but yet, people feel the need to say it because they're tired of sitting next to someone with major BO!
"When they start the boarding process, you don't have to stand up and queue. It usually takes a long time and you have a seat assigned to you anyway, so relax a bit more before your flight."
I guess people think that by queuing, they can speed things up, huh? I don't think it works like that.
"Have your boarding pass, your ID, and passport (if applicable) on-hand BEFORE you approach the gate."
How many times did you get stuck in front of someone who can't find their boarding pass, or ID, or passport? Oh, I've been there, and it's annoying AF.
"KEEP. YOUR. SHOES. ON."
Ha, ha! Okay, confession time, I have taken my shoes off on the plane. My feet get very tired. But I have socks on, so no, there will be no smelly feet there. I swear.
"I’ve flown over a million miles so hopefully this helps. Make sure to check behind you before you throw your seat back when reclining."
Oh my goodness. I can tell you there have been so many times when a person in front of me just started to recline, and I felt totally trapped. I hate that.
"The overhead bins are shared spaces — if you have a backpack, it’s best under the seat in front of you to save room in the overhead."
I always do that. Besides, I want to have easy access to my backpack anyway, so it only makes sense.
"Depending on the plane, the person in the window seat gets the wall and an armrest, the middle person gets two armrests, the aisle person gets a little extra leg room and an armrest."
I can't stand when people start hogging the armrests as if they belong to them. Just think about it. It's not that complicated.
"But if it's one of the planes with six armrests if you have the window or end seat, don't glom the shared armrests for the middle person!"
It sucks to be the middle person enough without having to put up with this, too. Do you agree with me on that?
"This one is pretty general, but from experience, I guess it still needs saying: If a person has headphones on, earbuds in, whatever, don't try to make small talk. It's nothing personal, but some people have really long days at airports. Can't tell you how many red-eyes I've caught after waiting for standby all day and just don't want to talk."
Duly noted!
"If you're listening to music, be reasonable about the volume. The people around you shouldn't be able to hear your tunes."
Yes, I don't want to hear Drake pumping through your headphones. No, thank you! I need my own peace so let me have it. Okay?
"For the love of God, if everyone could learn that people should get out of their seat by alternating rows, de-boarding would be so much easier."
Oh, wouldn't that be nice, huh? For some reason, I don't think anybody would listen to that. People are just stubborn. That's all.
“Don’t assume things about people’s races or nationalities, since you encounter people from all over the world in an airport. My mother tried talking to a guy in Japanese, and he was like '... I’m from Canada.'"
Yikes!
"If your kid kicks my seat one more time — ugh! Control your kids and correct them."
This is what I hate about flying. I don't know why, but I always get stuck sitting behind some kid who thinks kicking, shaking, or jumping on their seat is okay. And sadly, the parents don't usually do anything about it. That's not right.
"Keep your hair, feet, and hands to your effing self."
If you have long hair and you fling it over your seat, watch out. You may end up with a haircut you didn't expect, ha, ha. Oh, wait, we're not allowed to bring scissors with us. Dang! I guess you're in luck.
"ONLY people in the bulkhead should put both of their bags in the overhead bins."
The bulkhead is the wall that separates one cabin from another. The seats facing it don't have a seat ahead of them to stow anything under, so these folks really need those overhead bins more than the rest of us.
"Treat your flight attendants with respect. Most of all flying is inherently miserable, so don’t be a dick."
Amen to that. I honestly don't know how they do this job. The jetlag alone would get to me, so I applaud them for doing something that I couldn't do and with a smile too.
If only people would follow these etiquette 'rules,' flying would be so much better for all of us, no? But there's always somebody who either doesn't know this, or is pretty much oblivious to the rest of the world, and that's why I don't enjoy flying anymore. How about you?
