With AAA’s recent report that nearly 80 million Americans are expected to travel over Thanksgiving this year, there’s no better time to review the guidelines for airplane etiquette. These unofficial rules are a reminder, whether this is your debut flight or you spend more time in the air than on ground, that it never hurts to be a considerate passenger. Be aware of your surroundings while in the airport and the airplane.
Picture these common airport scenarios that fly in the face of flying etiquette: You’re hurrying to get through the crowds to the gate, and the person in front of you stops cold to read a text message, causing you to nearly bowl them over. Or you’re sitting at the gate trying to knock out some work while the person next to you Facetimes with the volume set on high. Or you’re queuing up for the plane, and someone walks right up to the gate attendant as if there’s no line.
These are the times that try men’s and women’s souls, and they’re all avoidable by simply being aware of those around you. The key is to remember that no person is an island. In fact, each person is only one of tens of thousands, all trying to get to their destinations in as calm a manner as possible.
So if you’re walking with the flow of traffic, keep walking. If you need to stop, veer out of the traffic before doing so. If you want to have a conversation, find a spot where you are out of other passengers’ ways.
And if you want to have a phone conversation, step to as p.