While we all love to travel, flying can be a pain. It’s fraught with inconveniences and annoyances, but it should be better! If responsible travelers lead by example and follow these rules for preflight etiquette, flying will prove a more enjoyable experience for everyone.
Acting For the Greater Good
Sometimes in life, we have to do things for others. Think of it logically: when everyone is out doing what benefits themselves, everybody else suffers. Then, nobody is happy. When more people strive to do what is nice for others, more people benefit. There will always be those who, for whatever reason, behave without any consideration for others. We have to let them, but we don’t have to be like them. Display some dignity and a little decorum. We are civilized people.
If you think about it, you don’t want others encroaching on your freedoms and comfort. Ask yourself who does that sort of thing. If you are encroaching on someone else’s liberty or comfort, then what does that make you? It probably turns you into that which you don’t like.
These are suggestions to make flying more pleasant for everyone. If everyone on the flight does these things, then, as the saying goes, a rising tide raises all ships.
Or do it because it is the right thing to do.
Preflight Etiquette Before You Leave Home
I’ll begin with 8 rules of etiquette to practice before your flight.
1. If You’re Sick, Stay Home
There may be no worse preflight etiquette violation than traveling when you’re sick.
If you’re sick, stay home. I don’t want a sick person getting on the plane and infecting me. I’m sure you don’t want that either, so it’s up to us not to do what we don’t want others to do. If we’re sick, we need to stay home and not travel by plane, as this can spread germs.
Get trip insurance. I’ve got an episode coming up in a few weeks in which I will dispel all the common reasons for not purchasing trip insurance. For today, I’ll recommend just being a responsible adult traveler and purchasing trip insurance. The important thing will be not to spread your sickness to someone else.
2. No Smells!
Take a shower before your flight. At least the night before. Slap on a bit of deodorant. Maybe a little perfume. A LITTLE. A strong body odor is generally considered bad etiquette. My wife reminds me of this every time I return from a run. Ensuring you don’t smell bad is a preflight etiquette that everyone will appreciate.
Did you notice I wrote “A LITTLE” in all caps? Even if someone wears one of your favorite scents, it’s almost as offensive to your nose when they wear too much perfume. Go easy on the ‘fumes.
I love to snack. I seldom stop snacking. It’s not healthy. I know. We always take snacks on airplanes. Don’t take smelly snacks.
One of my favorite snacks is salt-and-vinegar chips. Although I can’t say no to them on the ground, I won’t take salt-and-vinegar chips on an airplane as their smell is super strong. No eggs, no garlic, and no fajitas. Yes, fajitas smell delicious in a roomy restaurant, but there’s no point in showing off. That’s just rude.
Be a Preflight Etiquette Pro: Make Security Fun!
3. Don’t be a Security Log Jam
Security takes long enough when it runs smoothly. Yes, security is annoying. That doesn’t give us cause to abandon good behavior. Security might be the most vital place to display proper preflight etiquette.
We don’t always enjoy our treatment when going through security. TSA agents strive to follow the rules and expedite the process for everyone, ensuring a smooth and efficient experience.
They have to deal with way more annoying people than you and I do. Just smile and do what they say so that we can all get through security. I know that they’re inconveniencing you. They inconvenience everybody. It’s their job. Don’t make it worse because you disagree. Just do as they ask, smile, and get on to where you need to go.
Before you arrive at the belt and trays, put everything you need to remove from your pockets into the bag you’ll put through the scanners. Then, all your items are in one place.
After the scan, gather your things and move to the chairs to put on your shoes. Even if you have outstanding balance, as I do, and can tie your shoes while balancing on one leg, grab your things as quickly as you can, make sure you get everything, and move out of the way of others exiting the scans.
Preflight Eqiquette for a More Pleasant Pre-Boarding Experience for All
4. Crowding the Gate is Terrible Preflight Etiquette
Recently, I paid extra to board first. When the gate agent called us, my wife, kid, and I had to fight through all the people huddled around the gate who weren’t boarding until a later zone.
Be considerate. Wait until the gate agents call your boarding zone to approach the gate. At least wait for the zone before yours. Yes, I know you want to get in so you can find space for your carry-on. I get it. However, it’s considerate not to block the gate. When everyone blocks the path, everyone is miserable.
Unless you’re at a campfire and it’s cold, crowding is generally poor etiquette. Form a nice queue, display good preflight etiquette, and leave room for those who need to get to the gate.
Go to the Bathroom Before Boarding
Bathroom advice isn’t so much for preflight etiquette as it is for your own comfort.
The human-to-lavatory ratio on airplanes is way out of whack. Go before you board. I’ve heard that airplane lavs aren’t the cleanest place in the world. I always go. Sometimes twice. If I don’t have to go, I take what I call a “Preemptive Strike.” I learned to take The Lavatory Preemptive Strike (the LPS) before every flight and before every movie when I saw “The Avengers” for the first time. During that 2-hour, 23-minute movie, I sat in complete misery for an hour and a half because I didn’t take an LPS.
Never again!
What if there’s a lot of turbulence? What if someone didn’t leave their germs at home and has to occupy the lav for an extended time?
Take my advice and make the Lavatory Preemptive Strike part of your preflight etiquette protocol.
Preflight Etiquette When Boarding Your Flight
5. Don’t be Backpack Whacker
I don’t mean a person who whacks backpacks. I mean, don’t be a person who whacks others with your backpack. While walking down the aisle to your seat, ensure your backpack doesn’t hit those already seated. If your backpack or bag is that big, maybe it’s not a carry-on.
I take off my backpack and hold it in front of me with both hands. Holding my backpack with both hands helps me remember another essential aspect of preflight etiquette: using the seats to balance.
6. Don’t Use Seats for Balance
As you board the plane and walk around during the flight, avoid using the backs of seats to balance as you walk up and down the aisles.
People are sitting in those seats. You’re going to wake up the ones who were sleeping, make people spill drinks if they’re drinking, drop food they’re eating, or just unnecessarily harass them.
Yes, someone is going to do this to you. It will happen eventually. Just let it go unless the same person does it repeatedly. To increase your chances of making sure it doesn’t happen to you, share this with everyone you can think of. If everyone were to heed this advice, then nobody would do these annoying things on planes. For the good of all humankind, share this preflight etiquette with everyone.
7. Sit Quickly and Clear the Aisle
When you arrive at your seat, please place your items in the bin above your seat and take a seat promptly.
We all want the plane to depart on time, so we should put our bags away and take our seats as quickly as possible. The sooner we free the aisle for other passengers to get by and find their seats, the sooner the plane will soar through the happy blue skies.
8. Use the Overhead Storage Above Your Seat
Use the storage bin above your seat. Some people prefer to store their bags in overhead storage in front of their seat so they can keep an eye on them, as they’re concerned that someone might steal their belongings. Have you ever heard of someone having their bag stolen from the overhead storage bin on an airplane?
When someone has to look for a place for their bags because someone has taken the space over their seat, it means they will have to find a place to put their bags on someone else’s seat. They, in turn, will have to take the time to look for a place to put their bags. Not putting your bag above your seat doesn’t accomplish anything, but it does take longer for everyone to put away their bags and find their seats.
Nobody is going to steal your bag from the overhead bin. Place your bags in the overhead bin located above your own seat. It makes boarding the plane faster and will make getting off the plane faster.
We love to travel, but flying can be a pain. Here are a few ways that flight etiquette while onboard can make flying a more enjoyable experience for everyone.
Travel Should Be Fun for Everyone!
Security and boarding only begin your flying experience. What about during your flight? Following these rules of flight etiquette during your flight will make the experience more pleasurable and smooth for everyone.
Make all your travel and travel-planning easier and more fulfilling by following this massive list of travel tips!
You might also enjoy Travel + Leisure’s Overhead Bin Rules to Follow to Avoid Being the Most Annoying Passenger on a Plane.