Airplane etiquette could be the golden ticket for better flights, and in extreme cases, it could save a life! Have you heard about the 4 yr.-old going into anaphylactic shock when a fellow passenger opened a bag of peanuts? Shocking! She lived, but this serves as a reminder that our actions can affect other passengers onboard.
There are many unspoken rules of in-flight behaviour. As someone who loves flying, I’ve observed a lot over the years and learned sage advice for air travel. Here are my top seven airplane etiquette tips to help make those long flights a little more bearable for everyone:
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Turn it down
If you’re like me, there’s nothing better than listening to music or watching a movie on a long flight, but, keep your fellow passengers in mind. Make sure you’re not blasting the volume! It disturbs other passengers trying to read, enjoy some quiet time, or catch some z’s.
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Clean up your act
It goes without saying, but cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze to prevent the spread of germs and illness. Basic hygiene is always appreciated! Be a good fellow passenger and keep the bathroom clean too.
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Don’t space out
Space is at a high premium in the air, so be respectful of personal boundaries. Don’t spread out too much, share the armrests, tuck away anything that might occupy legroom, and be mindful of other passengers when storing carry-on luggage.
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Check before you recline
To recline, or not to recline? That is the question. A neutral solution to this problem is to let the other person know before you recline your seat, especially if they’re mid-meal. Easy peasy, right?
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Ease up on the fragrance
Don’t wear strong perfumes or colognes. Your neighbour could be allergic or sensitive to scents, which would make your long haul flight even more uncomfortable for you both.
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Mind your four letter words
Resist any urge to use vulgar language, especially with children around. A flight’s not the right time for that impressionable 5 yr.-old old to add these words to her vocabulary.
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Lastly, leave the peanuts at home!
Peanut allergies are increasingly common, and potentially lethal. Fae Platten’s traumatic experience is a good reminder. So don’t open that bag of nuts, no matter how tempting! If you can relate to this scary situation, here are some tips for travelling with food allergies.
Remember, the golden rule of thumb for air travel should be to treat others the way you’d like to be treated.
If you have other air travel tips, or airplane etiquette tips, share them with us in the comments below.
Safe travels,
Tanya
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