Air Travel Etiquette 101
Doing Your Part To Fly Friendly Skies
By Kevin Streufert
As I’m sure you’ve seen on the news, incidents of air rage have been increasing. Airline passengers are getting riled up, and it’s usually because they feel unjustly treated by someone else, be it an airline employee or a fellow traveler.
Specific airplanes raise the tension level, too. A recent study performed by the University of Toronto and Harvard Business School revealed that the chances of an air rage incident are four times higher when the plane has a first class cabin, then double again when coach passengers are forced to board through those extra-comfortable rows to reach economy. The scientists concluded that “the modern airplane is a social microcosm of class-based society,” and “the increasing incidents of air rage can be understood through the lens of inequality.”
Despite the class issue, we can still do our part to avoid incidents in the skies by observing a code of ethics that most frequent fliers instinctively adopt over time. It reduces the frequency of trigger events and makes air travel more pleasant for everyone.
To lean, or not to lean
Reclining one’s airplane seat has become a heated issue over the last couple of decades as airlines have reduced legroom, particularly in coach. People at one end of the spectrum demand their right to lean back, while those at the other end are bothered by the discomfort when people do. But the tacitly understood flight etiquette isn’t so much about “whether” to lean back. It’s “how” and “when.”
FAA regulations require our seatbacks to remain upright during takeoff and landing, but I always find it amusing how many people slam their seats into a fully reclined position a nanosecond after the wheels leave the runway. This arguably tests the limits of “when” to lean back, but definitely violates the “how” rule with respect to being sensitive toward other passengers. If a tall person is sitting behind you, his or her knees are most likely pressed against the back of your seat, so it’s important to lean back slowly, giving that person fair warning and a chance to adjust before their kneecaps are crushed.
You also never know what items might be sitting on that tray table connected to the back of your seat. If it’s a drink, reclining quickly might spill it all over the passenger’s lap, not to mention his portable electronic devices, thereby potentially instigating a skirmish. But the idea here is to prevent provocations, not create them. Right?
On the subject of “when” to lean back, it is customary to refrain from doing so during any meal service, thereby giving everyone room to eat. Otherwise, it’s a matter of abiding by FAA regulations.
The key is not to arbitrarily whip back your seat as if you couldn’t care less what’s going on behind you. That’s the No. 1 catalyst for air rage. Instead, check out the person in that seat, see how tall they are, figure out what they’re doing, and make an equitable decision. For example, if he or she is busy on a laptop, take into account that you will be shutting down their work, as they probably won’t have enough room to keep their screen open, much less type.
In instances like these, the accepted etiquette says we should think twice about reclining or at least ask the passenger if they mind. Most likely, they’ll give you the all-clear regardless, and you can lean back without any worry of repercussion.
In the bathroom
Let’s face it. Airplane bathrooms are already disgusting and germ-ridden, so the collective agreement among veteran fliers is to lessen the yuck factor as much as possible.
First, close the solid top lid of the toilet when you’re finished. Not only does this add an extra barrier to the smelly stuff below, but you prevent the ill-mannered men of this world from peeing on the seat because they’re too lazy to lift it up and don’t care that another passenger will eventually need to sit there. But if a solid lid is in their way, chances are they’ll lift up both sections.
It is also courteous to pick up and throw away any toilet paper or hand towels that may accidentally fall to the floor, lest the place look like a gas station bathroom. And finally, take five seconds to wipe down the washbasin with your hand towel, just like the little courtesy sign recommends.
The lavatory may not actually be clean, but at least we can work together to make it seem that way.
No peeking
If you board an airplane and see that all the window shades are closed, it’s usually to help keep the plane cool on a sunny day. In this case, wait until the engines have started and the air conditioning is fired up before you open your shade. I know there’s a lot of interesting stuff going on out there, but let’s help with climate control first.
On overnight flights, when passengers are sleeping in a dark cabin, it’s appropriate to check the people around you before opening a shade to the morning light. If they’re still asleep, keep it closed, despite the fact that you’re anxious to get your first glimpse of the coast of France.
Getting on
Everyone needs to work together to achieve a speedy boarding process and an on-time departure. Part of that is stepping into your row to let others pass by while you situate your belongings. Remember that overhead compartments should only be used for items that won’t fit under the seat in front of you. Otherwise, there won’t be enough storage room for everyone. If you have two carry-ons, place the larger one overhead and the smaller one under the seat.
If you’re wearing a backpack or have a bag draped over your shoulder, keep your body facing forward as you walk down the aisle. If you turn, chances are you’ll whack someone in the shoulder or head without even knowing it. This happens on every plane during every boarding process.
Getting off
Almost everyone knows this one, but there’s still the occasional passenger who thinks he’s the only one with a short connection or is otherwise the most important person on the aircraft.
Let people in the rows ahead of you gather their possessions and head for the door before you follow suit. This not only results in a civilized and efficient disembarkation process, but prevents injuries from people bumping into each other or tripping over bags and straps.
If you’re in danger of missing a connection, others are likely in the same boat, and everyone just needs to wait it out. Sorry.
With more than four million actual miles logged in the air, I’ve learned a lot and seen it all. But on all those thousands of flights, I’ve never had an altercation. In other words, I’m living proof that these practices work.
Kevin Streufert is a Park Hill-based travel advisor and an Amazon #1 bestselling novelist. He has traveled the world since age 3, with a particular focus on Europe. He can be reached at kevin.streufert@cruiseplanners.com.