Air Travel Etiquette

No one wants their dream trip to begin with an argument with the airport staff, cabin crew or fellow passengers. So to guarantee a happy flight, here are some air travel etiquette tips to practice: 

1. Be all set for security screening – Keep your documents (passport, ticket and boarding pass) handy. Also, empty your pockets and transfer your items (phones, laptops, iPad, and other gadgets or jewellery) into the security tray for the x-ray machine. Once you’ve gone through the process, move out of the way to put your belt or shoes back on, and to re-distribute your belongings as you wish, rather than cause an obstruction.
2. Put all your liquids in a transparent bag. Remember, all liquids, gels, aerosols, and creams you can bring are limited to 3.4 ounces (100 ml) per item. 
3. Use headphones- Can you imagine all the passengers on a long-haul B737 plane playing their favourite music at the same time? That would definitely be one hell of a noisy flight. If you are planning on using your tablet or smartphone to listen to music, play games, or watch a film, then consider bringing a headphone with you. Also, keep your phones on silent. 
4. Reclining airplane etiquette- On long-haul flights, if you want to get some sleep, you can’t really feel comfortable with your seat upright, especially in the economy class. So follow airplane etiquette and simply signal to the person behind you before you recline your seat. They may have their laptop or some food on the seatback tray table and you don’t want to cause an accident by suddenly reclining your seat.  
5. Try not to take too long in the lavatory, your 45-minute bathroom routine will not be appreciated by the rest of the passengers waiting in line.
6. Stow your pieces of luggage quickly- When you get to your row, place your carry-on bag in the overhead bin, and your personal item or bag under your seat QUICKLY! There are dozens, if not hundreds, of people waiting to board behind you, and every second counts during boarding. Don’t block the aisle.
7. Be courteous about conversations. If you are in a chatty mood, watch your seatmate’s body language and other cues. Do they look tired or irritated? If so, it’s probably best to keep the conversation limited to a smile before leaving them to themselves. 
8. Be kind and courteous to the flight attendants. Flight attendants have very important, safety-related duties that go above and beyond keeping your beverage filled. Let them know you appreciate them. Give them a warm smile and a sincere “thank you” as you exit the plane. 
9. Don’t monopolise the armrests- If you’re sitting in the window or aisle seat, cut the poor person in the middle seat a break, and let them have some armrest space! It is better than bumping elbows the entire flight.
10. Do not ask a stranger to watch your stuff- For security reasons, do not leave your baggage unattended or ask a stranger to watch them for you.
11. If you have to use an airsickness bag, double it, because they are usually fragile and may fail you in a crucial moment, leaving you with a lap full of last night’s dinner. 
12. Stand back from the carousel- At the baggage claim, stand back from the carousel until you see your bag approaching, then step forward to retrieve it. If your bag is late, loitering against the baggage carousel will not make it magically reappear. 
13. Don’t get drunk- Alcohol is free on long-haul flights, but that should not be an excuse to be drunk during the flight. You may be having the time of your life, yet be a nuisance to your fellow passengers. Also, there are airlines which don’t allow any passengers on board suspected of being over the limit on alcohol consumption).
14. Utilise the overhead space above your own seat row. Do not place your bags in the overhead at the front of the plane unless you are sitting in that row. Taking the storage space of other passengers is rude and can potentially delay departure as they search for storage.
15. Take care when retrieving luggage from the overhead compartment! It may be positioned to fall on you or someone else. If you have a lot of bulky, heavy luggage in the overhead bin, wait until others have left or ask somebody to help you get your luggage down.
16. Supervise your children – Remember that babies and children don’t understand air pressure differences in their ears and may cry during takeoff and landing. Bring plenty of books, games, snacks and other things to keep your child quietly occupied. 
17. Always bring a tissue or handkerchief with you in case you sneeze or cough. Also, although many countries have relaxed their COVID mask rules, it is still highly advised that you wear one to protect yourself.