Getting to the airport early and going through security is hassle enough. When you're on the plane, you want peace and quiet.
Our team of CheapOair-experts has come up with the basic Do’s and Don’ts of airline travel to ensure that you can maximize the enjoyment of your flight.
Some people cram two week’s worth of gear in their bags for a long weekend. Others pack a bit too lightly and forget important things like medicine or passports.
The CheapOair-Experts have compiled a great deal of packing tips to strike the perfect balance, so you bring everything you need for your vacation.
Persistent Talker
For some travelers, the few hours on an airplane provide the perfect amount of alone time. That is, until your neighbor strikes up a conversation and just won’t stop. Incessant talking is a common airline issue. Start by introducing yourself when you sit down. If your introduction is met by a quick opening of a book or an immediate grab for the headphones, it’s safe to assume your neighbor is not in the mood to be social. Unfortunately, some incessant talkers can’t be stopped.
Be Mindful of Other’s Space
Avoid bringing a broadsheet newspaper to read on the plane. It's OK in the terminal, but can violate the personal space rule. If you want to bring a newspaper, be sure to fold it, so as not to impede on your co-passenger’s space. Or, consider a magazine or a book.
Avoiding In-Flight Injuries You’re on a long flight and it’s time to get up and move around. Due to limited space on airplanes, this can be a tricky situation. Your immediate thought is to grab the seat in front of you as leverage to lift yourself up. However, doing so might give the patron in that seat a slight case of whiplash. Instead, try this approach to getting up: engage your core and lift. You’ll get a mini-abs workout and you won’t injure the person seated in front of you. You can practice this at the airport before boarding the flight. While seated in the boarding area, tighten your tummy and stand up from your seat without using the armrests for support.
If you Frequent the Bathroom Often, Book an Aisle Seat When you gotta go, you gotta go. Before boarding the plane, we suggest you try to go at the airport. It’s one thing to get up during the flight for a bathroom break; it’s another thing to get up every 30 minutes for the bathroom. If you have a window seat and a small bladder, you risk finding yourself in the awkward position of straddling your neighbor as you attempt to get out of the row to use the bathroom. This is especially awkward if your neighbor is sleeping. If you know you use the bathroom more frequently than others, request an aisle seat on your flight. Conversely if you’re seated in the aisle next to an individual who frequents the bathroom often, switch with that passenger, or suggest another seat.
You're Not the Flight DJ If you're going to listen to music on your iPod, Walkman or MP3 player, keep the volume down. The volume might be louder than you think; especially if the headset is not an ear bud. We realize airplanes tend to be loud, but it is possible to listen to music without holding a karaoke contest on the plane.
Rubbernecking
If you have an aisle seat, don't lean across your fellow passengers to look out the window. Conversely, if you're in the window seat on the right side of the plane and the pilot says there's an excellent view of Cape Canaveral on the left, ask your fellow passenger if you can take a peek.
Don't lean over your passenger to read what s/he is reading. This can cause great discomfort for other passengers. Be mindful and respectful of other’s space.
Alcohol In-Flight Some of us enjoy a good cocktail. During a flight, some people will have a cocktail just to relax and unwind. If you choose to have a cocktail, for whatever reason, you should know that oxygen in-flight is slightly less at 36,000-feet and the alcohol you consume hits fast and hard. If you find yourself seated next to someone who’s had a lot to drink and their behavior is making you uncomfortable, politely remove yourself for a quick walk around the plane. Seek out an alternative seat, or ask the flight attendant to find another seating option for you.
Deplaning
When the plane lands, you don't need to stand up if you're more than five rows back. Most airlines don't even begin deplaning for at least five minutes, and then it takes at least a minute or two for those first five rows to move. So if you're in Seat 37D, there's no reason stand the minute the plane pulls up to the hangar. Again, be mindful of other passengers. If a passenger in front of you is a little slow pulling down his or her luggage, instead of leapfrogging past them, consider assisting them.
Share the Armrest
here are times when it seems as if two passengers are willing to go to battle over an armrest. If an airplane leaves Miami with three seats on one side of the aircraft, and every seat within the airplane is full, how is it possible for three adults to share four armrests and still be comfortable? There’s not an easy answer, and it’s one of those times when playing nice with one another pays off. If you do get an armrest, however, make sure you don’t spill over into someone else’s space.
Now that you have some tips on how to handle potentially uncomfortable behavior and avoid being labeled a bad etiquette flier, sit back and enjoy your flight. The airlines really do want you to have a pleasant flight, even if the person sitting next to you might not.
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