17 Airplane Etiquette Rules You Should not Forget

[CAustin]

Rules Rules and more Rules. But they are all just common courtesy!

 

[TRAVEL EXPRESS]

Rules Rules and more Rules. But they are all just common courtesy!

Yes, it really all boils down to common sense and courtesy. Tempers can flare and patience can be tested during travel so it can be a challenge to keep your cool.

 

[thi9elsp]

I fly for work 40+ weeks a year. I'm ok with all except the following: 4, 7 and 10. I will eat what I want, I will recline my seat, and I will sleep soundly regardless how much I snore. Put on your noise cancelling headphones! John

 

[enysse]

I hate #7. It annoying to have that seat 5-7 inches from my face and sometimes not be able to recline my seat due to person behind me doing things with their table. The seats should just not recline at all or more space should be given for a little comfort in economy class.

 

[Hank2211]

You should have to agree to all these rules before purchasing a ticket.

As many have said, these 'rules' really amount to no more than common courtesy. But then they woudn't have to be rules if courtesy were at all common.

As for the argument that since the seats recline, you are meant to recline them, well, there are lots of things in life you can do, but only do in certain circumstances. If there is no one in the seat behind you, if you ask and the person has no issue with it, etc., then feel free to recline to your heart's content. Or, if you must, at least do it the way @Delta5Cav suggests. A bit of warning of what's about to happen is always welcome. Otherwise, save sending the meal of the person behind you onto their lap for another time.

 

[sestoppelman]

On my most recent trip to Africa, I swear I had the same big ol triple 7 both ways because the decline button did NOT work!!! We had the same seat numbers both ways. A trip ago, a little Asian man came on the plane with a carry on waaaay beyond whats supposed to be allowed. Of course he then asked me to stow it in the bins for him, which I did, but I also asked him how he got this giant bag on the plane to start with!?!??! He just laughed at me and took his seat. Of course upon landing he asked me to take it down for him as well, lol. On that same trip, I was trying to stow my little bag in the overhead and some gal had put her bag in such a way as to virtually take two spaces, so upon trying to slide her bag over a tad to make room for mine, I got into a little tussle with it trying to make it slide over. The gal got all irate with me and my boy says she actually slapped my arm, but I didn't notice it. Thinking I may have given her some level of justification for her displeasure I hurried to get her bag and her daughters bag down upon landing. I really hate those long trips. I think if I ever go again its going to be to one of the more northern countries and avoid that ever so long flight to JO! I just don't think I can do that anymore..

 

[VonJager]

I am a big supporter of Rule #7, and very glad to see it in the list. If you're over 6 feet tall, you have virtually no leg room in economy on today's planes. If the person in front of you reclines, you have so little leg room you cannot normally move. I get you want to be more comfortable, but reclining won't help all that much, and it can cause serious issues for those behind you.

And another thing. Why is it that when people recline, they "pop the clutch" and throw the seat backwards, giving you no warning and no ability to move your knees out of the way? If you choose to recline - and I can't stop you - then how about a little consideration in how you do it? And once you've reclined, you need to understand that every time I move, I will likely hit the back of your seat. I don't mean to, but I am so squished there really is no way to stop that. If it was up to me, the recline function would be disabled on all economy class seats.

If we only think of ourselves when flying, then it will quickly become even more unpleasant for everyone.

Here endeth the rant.

I disagree. I am over 6 feet tall, but when the seat reclines it doesn't impact my leg room not at all. The seat bends at or above my knee, only impacting the space above my legs. With that being said, everyone flying knows the seats recline. And on 16 hours, reclining is the only way I can fall asleep.

And it is impossible to ask the person in front of you to not recline, so let's not go there.

 

[sestoppelman]

I hate #7. It annoying to have that seat 5-7 inches from my face and sometimes not be able to recline my seat due to person behind me doing things with their table. The seats should just not recline at all or more space should be given for a little comfort in economy class.

We don't call it "baggage class" for nothing. I had a worse experience this last trip on the bloody bus on the way home from the airport. Guy in front me on a packed bus threw his seat back all at once and there was simply not enough room for my knees for him to do that. He pulled forward upon making first contact, then came raring back for round two! I told him, "uh, that's my knees you keep ramming". He eased back ahead a little.. what a guy.

 

[K-man]

Maybe they should go over the list before takeoff instead of showing the exit drill....

 

[CAustin]

View attachment 200893
Most of these issues become non Issues when you have one of these seats!
Save those SkyMiles folks!

 

[cpr0312]

Unfortunately these days way too many people are all about self and really dont even care (or know) whats going on around them and how it effects other people on the plane.

 

[cagkt3]

View attachment 200893
Most of these issues become non Issues when you have one of these seats!
Save those SkyMiles folks!

Can I borrow yours Charlie??

 

[BWH]

Maybe some Gas-X too...... the average person farts 14x a day (1.166/hr). 16 hour plane ride. 300 people on a plane ride. 300x1.116x16 = 5,596.8 Farts on that flight. If @gizmo is on the flight, then double that number!

 

[BWH]

Sorry my math was wrong.... should be closer to 3,000 farts per 16 hour flight. Probably a lot more if you're on Emirates though!

 

[enysse]

We don't call it "baggage class" for nothing. I had a worse experience this last trip on the bloody bus on the way home from the airport. Guy in front me on a packed bus threw his seat back all at once and there was simply not enough room for my knees for him to do that. He pulled forward upon making first contact, then came raring back for round two! I told him, "uh, that's my knees you keep ramming". He eased back ahead a little.. what a guy.

I pay the extra money to choose my seats and always pick the window seat. But it still pissed me off to have the seat thrown immediately in my face, it happen every time the last trip...really pissed me off. It's everyone for themselves on a plane flight.

 

[thi9elsp]

My last trip through Atlanta - Joberg I paid the extra $175 per seat (Ann and me) per leg = $350 round trip each to get extended seating. We're short but that extra 6 inches made a huge difference in comfort. Then, who cares if someone puts their seat back. At some point, saving money on the airline flight when you are spending that much money and time doesn't make sense to me.

Unfortunately, I don't have the points Charlie has or I would go for the top seats too!

 

[Hogpatrol]

My last trip through Atlanta - Joberg I paid the extra $175 per seat (Ann and me) per leg = $350 round trip each to get extended seating. We're short but that extra 6 inches made a huge difference in comfort. Then, who cares if someone puts their seat back. At some point, saving money on the airline flight when you are spending that much money and time doesn't make sense to me.

Unfortunately, I don't have the points Charlie has or I would go for the top seats too!

I do the same and buy early to get the seats behind the first class bulkhead. The only thing that may be a problem for some is that the video screen and tray table are in the arm rest and it's a long walk to the john. Personally, it's not a bother.

 

[Bert the Turtle]

My main rule is that I get to decide if things are going to bother me.

The airlines can (and often times will) treat me and everyone else poorly. They will delay my flight and tell me that there will be time to make the next leg on their own airline, then strand me at the airport while I watch the plane pull out after I've run my entire family to the gate. They will fail to enforce carry-on limits so that I am not allowed to take my very small carry-on bag on board and then I will get to watch people struggle to pull down their carry-on limit sized bag, and a full, Appalachian trail through-walk sized backpack. They can delay my flight so that I could make the trip in less time had I driven. They can bust my chops about a 51 pound bag carried by my 150 pound self while I get to watch a 300 pound person check a 49.75 pound bag no problem. I used to get pissed about it. Maybe I kept it to myself, maybe I didn't. But I finally learned how to never have a problem traveling. I simply changed my mindset.

They cannot change the fact that flying at 36000 feet and seeing the world from up there is still amazing and beautiful no matter how many times I do it. They cannot change the fact that when they delay my flight, I just use the time to read another book on my Kindle and maybe have a drink. The cannot change the fact that my vacation starts the minute I leave work, not the minute I arrive at my destination. They cannot change the fact that I am friendly and outgoing and I will meet new friends whenever I feel like it. They cannot change the fact that I am going to have a good time.

I decided to view their nonsense as simply an opportunity to prove that my ability to enjoy myself is stronger than an outside agency's ability to ruin it for me. I decided that however miserable they try to make the interaction, I am not going to be bothered by it. I simply decide that at some point, I will no longer be interacting with this person and take vengeful joy in the fact that no matter where they go, they will be in the company of a miserable SOB, namely themselves.

Once I adopted that rule for myself, everything got better. The first flight I took after making that conscious decision, I got delayed several times. No problem, more time to read in peace. Then they jacked up the seating somehow. No problem, I ended up sitting next to a woman who would have been kicked out of a Sports Illustrated photo shoot for making the other girls feel bad about their looks. Once I pointed out that the view is magnificent even if the seats are cramped and the flight is two hours late, it made her happy too and we ended up having a nice conversation for the entire flight and it felt like we were at our destination in no time.

 

[Hogpatrol]

Good post Bert. Reminds me of the old saying, "Time to spare, take to the air".

 

[cagkt3]

Bert that is the best advice I have heard in a long time. Thank you sir!