It can be the largest game of Russian roulette as you walk down a planes narrow aisle looking at all the people you don’t want to sit next to for eight hours. Judging all the faces as you get nearer to your seat. I don’t want the mother and the young kid, I really don’t want to sit next to that large man that has the middle seat, oh no please not the kid playing music so loud everyone can hear. No not him he is fighting on his phone pre-flight. There are snap judgments that we all make on people for the behaviors or actions. A lot of these things are happening to unknowingly passengers. I want to help anyone who thinks that their seat has a bubble around them and no one can smell your feet. There is simple flight etiquette I would recommend everyone to follow.
Why wouldn’t I want to bring food from home for a long flight you might ask. Why would I want to pay for overpriced snacks in the maze of the store the airport snakes you though on your way to your gate. Every few paces there is another restaurant or food stalls set up to lighten your wallet. There may be a few times to choose airport food. AT the type of places that have pre-packaged items such as sandwiches, salads, and bowls or restaurants for a hot burger to go. All of which don’t have an overwhelming odor and are relatively not messy. If you don’t mind dropping some extra money for ready to walk on board with a decent meal. There are deals if you look hard, sometimes. Look for where the crew eats at, they work there every day and know where the best deal is. Sometimes a full day of flying with tight layovers all you can do is buy and fly. You know you get a little envious when you see that mother three rows up with the young child break out multiple bags filled with cookies and crackers. Bringing snacks seems to get left with childhood but is a great cost-effective way to eat until you arrive at your destination. Cookies, crackers, beef jerky, and candy and my favorites to stash in my pack. Avoid eggs, garlic, onions, and other strong odors. There is no amount of mints that truly get rid of garlic breath. Annoying loud crunchy chips are also on my foods to avoid list.
If you are getting a free meal on a flight, consider yourself lucky with all the budget cuts in the airline industry. On a meal service on a long flight, there are usually two options to choose from and possibly a kosher meal. Depending on how full the flight is, you may not get a choice at all. If you plan ahead there are special dietary meal option through most airlines. When the whole flight is eating the same thing it doesn’t matter if it has a weird smell. When I was taking a short flight from Hong Kong we all received a hotdog in a roll in a paper bag with a small container of water. I could smell the snack being handed out long before I could see it. I was still very thankful for this free snack on a travel day and devoured it.
The same goes with meal service on the flight it may have an odor but the while flight is evolved so no one will notice. How your food is eaten is another topic. Although eating on a plane is not a fine dining experience, please don’t leave your manners on the ground. Be aware of how you are eating and what it sounds like. It makes for a long flight when Mr. Middle seat is slurping his food or audibly drinking. For the love of everything, please do not burp or fart in the main cabin. Try to save those gems for the lavatory.
Please keep your clothes on. There I said it. If you are flying a few hours leave your shoes on, besides jackets and cold weather gear, there is no reason to start shedding your clothes. On long flights, you will have a small packet of goodies from some airlines. When you open the in-flight toiletries bag, you may have toothpaste, toothbrush, earphones, and socks. On long flights, you can take off your shoes but make sure you put your sweaty feet in the socks the airline provides. It is never ok to walk to the lavatory in bar feet, that may not be water on the floor. If your shoes are terribly smelly then maybe you should suffer and keep your shoes on the rest of the flight instead of making the passengers around you suffer.
If you have to ask yourself if it’s ok to do something on a flight, then it most likely isn’t. Never put your feet between the seats in front of you if there is anyone in those seats or not. Don’t even think about painting your nails in an enclosed airplane. Tweezing is gross when you are in public, don’t try on a flight. Where are you going to put the hairs you remove? There is a toilet on board and before you say it; I know there is always a line when the cabin lights are turned on after a long flight. Everyone wants to get cleaned up and ready for their arrival. Please be patient, ad wait for your turn to do the five minute clean up in the lavatory. You would think something as innocent as brushing your hair could cause some dirty looks. What you may not notice is little pieces of your hair are now floating around the cabin. Never ever spray cologne, perfume or other types of smelly sprays until you are off the flight. What may smell amazing to you could start a full-blown asthma attack on the passengers around you.
- Boarding and Disembarking
We all know the drill when boarding an airplane. Disabled individuals, parents with small children and active military usually get to board first. Then comes the fancy perk members with all the points and miles or peoples who pay extra for early boarding. Then comes the common folk. At things point in the boarding process, everyone is already crowded around the gate waiting to rush over to the already formed line to enter the jetway. When your group is finally called and you start the slow one-two step onto the flight remember a few things as you look for your seat. Mind your bags. If you have a backpack, keep the straps on both shoulders until you are ready to take not off. I have been hit and also have hit others in the head with my bag walking down the aisle. Purses also should be kept under control for the same reason. If you need help placing your overweight carry on suitcase in the overhead compartment then please ask for help. Getting hit by a suitcase is much worse than a book bag or purse. I know you are trying to save money and overpacked a carry on but dropping a suitcase can potentially take out a row of passengers. The only thing that would make this worse is your seat is right next to the row of angry and bruised travelers you just accidentally assault. Take your time and don’t rush the person in front of you. Disembarking the same rules apply. Everyone wants to exit as fast as possible but there is no reason to stand so close that I can feel your breath in my hair. Personal space is important, especially after a long and full flight.
I wait until there is almost no line at all at the ticket counter before I even get out of my seat. I have never seen a good reason to stand in a mob waiting for the next group to be called, just to add to the already long sluggish moving line. I will wait even if my group has already lined up. I know the flight isn’t going anywhere, I know I have a seat assigned, and I am not missing out on anything by waiting to board nearly last. The airline does not, however, have to wait until every passenger is on. They will leave you at the airport bar or the duty-free shops fifteen minutes before take-off time. Flights are also allowed to leave ten minutes if everyone around the gate has board.
Be kind to those around you. You never know who you are sharing a row with. You may sit next to the best single-serving friendship and the most amazing conversation, but don’t break the unwritten rules of flying. There will be private time soon enough when you are off the aircraft, so please be sensible
Heidi goes everywhere 