My husband and I took an early flight from Aspen to Dallas last week after an incredible weekend in with friends to celebrate his 33rd birthday and the flight back proved to the end of my “relaxing” vacay.
The incredible weekend came to a jolting end when a the passenger next to me decided to puts both his hands inside this pants after take off, and fell asleep. When I noticed it (4 minutes into the flight) I froze and felt confused.
While I was deciding what to do next, I asked myself: What are basic rules any flier should follow for the sake of everyone around them? So I decided to write this article while flying hoping it would calm my nerves… it didn’t.
Here are the 10 travel commandments you should follow every time your travel, unless you are flying in the comfort of your own plane:
1. Shower and brush your teeth: It is completely inexcusable to not smell nice and clean for others, especially in the close proximity we are forced to be seated.
2. Dress well: Please leave your pajamas at home. Those are meant for only you to see and not the public. Work out clothes? Are you working out at the airport? Leave those at home as well.
3. No aromatic food: If you decide to eat in an enclosed space, make sure it is something that doesn’t smell strong like a sandwich or a cookie. We understand you are hungry, but remember the rest of the airplane is not. Leave Panda Express behind!
4. Leave your feet in the ground: No matter if you are in the bulkhead, leave your feet on the ground. There is nothing worst than the entire flight having to stare at un-pedicured feet. If you are wearing open toe shoes, you should be thrown in the lavatory for your lack of sensibility.
5. Don’t lose your cool: There is nothing more awkward than people losing their cool and bickering to other passengers or gate agents. The best way to get what you want is by being courteous and nice. Even if the other person is not having it, once you respond in a nice manner their attitude will change immediately. Plus, it is not everyone else problem if you are having a bad day so lower your voice.
6. Help others: Offering help to people in front or behind spreads kindness and good manners. The fact that you are traveling alone doesn’t mean you get to worry only about yourself. Rule of thumb: If you are stronger than the person next to you, offer a hand.
7. Change seats: When a family or a couple are traveling together and ask you if you mind changing seats just say yes. Traveling alone means you need to be flexible to accommodate other people, especially if they ask nicely and the other seat is close by. If you have a good seat, say an aisle, and they want to change you to a middle seat (which rarely happens due to common sense) just kindly say you need to be in the aisle due to constant bathroom runs and say you would be happy to change to another aisle seat if the person finds one.
8. Passengers with kids: We understand it is annoying to have a screaming child or a toddler kicking the back of your seat. However, chances are that no one is suffering more than the parents, so quit the occasional evil look and annoyed face. If you cannot handle it, ask the parent nicely if you can change seats with them so you are behind them rather than in front. Remember you were a kid once and you most likely did the exact same thing!
9. Wait until the person in front of you deplanes: This is my biggest pet peeve. If you are behind them, wait until they gather their belongings and start walking unless they ask you to skip them. There is nothing more uncivil than not waiting for your turn. We are all in a hurry to get off, and you do not have any privilege over the person in front or behind you.
And of course the most important…
10. Leave your hands where we can see: I am not naive and I understand there is a certain enjoyment on scratching your private parts when you are a guy. However, STOP! Do that in the comfort of your own couch, not in public.
Want to know what happened next with my fellow passenger?
Before landing I locked myself in the bathroom and wrote this note in a napkin: Just a friendly suggestion. When you are in public do not put your hands under your pants, it makes people around you uncomfortable.
I deplaned before him and anxiously waited for him to come out. As he walked past me, I said: Excuse me this is for you. He was a little thrown off, but I delivered the note and walked as fast as I could without looking back.
I wasn’t sure if I had done the right thing, but better to say something than not for the sake of the next passenger.