Remember Good Airplane Etiquette

Everyone has a story about having traveled in the vicinity of people who are lacking in manners. On an airplane, no one wants to sit next to the person who drinks way too much or who doesn’t stop talking — loudly — throughout the entire six-hour flight. Some airplane etiquette questions aren’t quite as obvious, though. Here are a few things to be aware of before flying so that you don’t become part of a stranger’s “bad seatmate” story:

• Keep fragrances in mind. Whether it’s a chili burrito or lavender-scented body spray, remember that your seatmates might not appreciate sniffing strong smells. Between the cramped conditions and the lack of fresh air on an airplane, considerate passengers refrain from applying cologne and bringing stinky sandwiches aboard. Skip the fragrances after your shower (but please, do shower before heading to the airport!), and carry along only relatively scent-free snacks, such as fresh fruit or plain crackers.

• Settle for the amount of space that you have. When you fly economy, cramped seats are par for the course. Do your fellow passengers a favor and share the armrest, and refrain from reclining your seat, particularly if it’s meal time and the person behind you has his or her tray down. If you do need to recline, let the person behind you know first. If you end up behind or next to someone who is taking more than his fair share of space, try to gently let the person know, or call a flight attendant over if you foresee an uncomfortable flight.

• Bring your own diversions. It’s not good manners to expect to chat away an entire flight with the person sitting next to you, unless she also wants to swap stories, so bring something to do. Say hello and engage in small talk for a few minutes, but then allow the other person to do whatever she had planned on doing during the flight. With any luck, the two of you will either both be either chatty or quiet, but what should you do if you just want some peace and quiet, and your seatmate wants to tell you her life story? It’s perfectly acceptable to listen for a few minutes, then to politely tell her that you really must get some work done, some reading accomplished, or a podcast listened to. Even if you just want to sleep, put earbuds in your ears and you’ll seem less approachable without being rude.

• Be a good sport. If a parent and child are separated from one another and you’re asked to switch seats, do so. You don’t really want to sit next to someone elses unattended child, do you? Also, try to take up as little room as possible in the overhead storage bins: Place your jacket on top of your carry-on instead of next to it. Don’t try to take what looks like an unattended seat until everyone has been seated and the plane doors close. Follow the crew’s instructions: When it’s time to shut off your electronic devices or put your seat in the upright position, just do it; it’s annoying to the crew to have to remind individuals after the announcements have been made.

If you follow these rules of good airplane etiquette, you should feel secure that you are being a good seatmate, and with any luck at all, you will have a smooth flight, free of annoyances caused by other passengers as well!

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