10 Rules of Proper Airplane Etiquette

While air travel can be a bit stressful for some, there is no reason to add to the annoyance and stress of flying. Like the old saying goes, "a little consideration can go a long way." To make your next flight as smooth as possible for both yourself and your fellow passengers, follow these 10 rules of proper airplane etiquette.

1) Silence is Golden: For most travelers, the airplane ride is perfect time to kick back, relax and catch up on some much needed rest. So don’t be “that passenger” which decides that sitting next to you is the ideal time to make a new friend. Now while being kind to your neighbor on-board is cool, don’t overdo it. A little chitchat is perfectly fine, but just don’t become a chatty Cathy 30,000 feet in the air.

2) Curb Your Reclining: I must admit that when flying the friendly skies, you will often times find me reclining my seat back for maximum comfort. But there is a time and place for this great airline chair feature. One time it is not acceptable is when food is being served by flight attendants. How am I supposed to eat my rubbery Salisbury steak and tiny bag of peanuts with your chair on my lap?

3) Seat Grabber: You’ve seen it happen time and time again, someone is sleeping peacefully in their chair and the person behind them needs to use the bathroom. Upon getting up the person grabs a hold of the chair in front of him causing the person in front of him to nearly suffer from a case of whiplash. Use common sense when getting out of your chair and skip grabbing the seat in front of you.

4) Bathroom Abuser: If you’re someone that suffers from a weak bladder, then please do not choose a window or middle seat when flying. Why on earth would someone that knows they “gotta go, gotta go, gotta go right now” quite often, book themselves into an annoying situation? If you are one to get up a lot on a plane, go for the aisle seat and make it less stressful for the people around you.

5) Carry-on Craziness: Thankfully airlines have limited passenger’s allowance when it comes to bringing aboard carry-on bags. But there are still plenty of passengers that just do not get it when it comes to storing their items on a plane. If you do not see enough space in the overhead compartment by your seat, don’t try to crush your item to fit. You could wind up breaking someone’s valuables or even cause an avalanche when someone later tries to open up the compartment. Simply walk down an aisle or two or ask the flight attendant for assistance.

6) Deplaning: For some reason when a plane lands and pulls into its gate, every single passenger wants to get out at the same time. Unfortunately this causes a traffic jam on the plane and will cause you even more of a delay. Did you know that most airplanes don’t even deplane for up to 5 minutes after pulling into their gate? Chill out, let the rows before you get out and wait your turn. 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.

7) Armrest-ler: If you find yourself sharing an armrest with someone next to you, make sure you are not spilling over into their space. Also if someone is comfortably using the armrest, skip the elbow war with a stranger and just fold your arms.

8) Alcohol Airlines: Now while departing for a trip to someplace fun like Cancun or Miami might put you in a party mood, please understand that not everyone is traveling for pleasure. What’s more, no one wants to be stuck next to a loud and obnoxious beer soaked individual while stuck on a plane.

9) You’re Not a Flight DJ: The new Jay-Z album is out? Great! But not everyone is interested in your musical taste when flying. If you're going to listen to music on your MP3 player, keep the volume down.

10) Kids Will Be Kids: I understand that you think your offspring are absolute angels and can do no wrong. But if your kid is screaming, yelling and kicking the back of other’s seats, its time to step in and be a parent. Don’t go to sleep or zone out on a movie while your little one is wreaking havoc in the aisle.

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Flickr: WexDub