Airplane Travel Tips & Etiquette {Air Travel}

Post Last Modified – April 29, 2023 ¦ gr8traveltips.com
Airplane Travel Tips & Etiquette – Good To Know
Table of Contents
After many years of flying and observing the behavior of others, I thought I would do a little research on ✈ Airplane Travel Tips Etiquette.
Are there really airplane travel etiquette rules one should follow you ask?❓
Well, as I soon discovered, the answer is …
“Yes There Is!”
I’m quite sure many things mentioned in this post will come as a 🎉 surprise most of you!
In my research, I ran across an interesting article from an {etiquette professional}, on the simple rules of courtesy, when 🛫 flying.
This individual explained that plane travel, does have some rules of etiquette in place and that everyone should try to follow on their flight.
Below, is a sample of what I discovered and what you should follow the next time you fly the friendly ⛅ skies!
It really just involves a little; consideration of others and simple – common courtesy.
First, check out this short, but excellent 📹 video on {5 Airplane Etiquette Tips}, from a seasoned travel expert.
Airplane Etiquette – YouTube Video
Five Airplane Etiquette Tips You Should Follow
Let’s have a look at just a few of the more common courtesies, everyone should attempt at least. to follow on airplanes.
Everyone has different ideas in regards to how they feel about certain rules and manners to follow. Here are a few of my personal thoughts on this subject, after years of flying all over the world and reading what this {etiquette professional}, had to say about this subject.
Hopefully some helpful guidelines for you to think about and perhaps, even use the next time you take a flight.
If we all would exercise a little common courtesy and etiquette while flying, I am sure it would make plane travel much more enjoyable for everyone. 😀
Common Travel Courtesy Goes A Long Way
Airplane Travel Tips # 1
Common Travel Courtesy
I feel this is perhaps the most important tip I can make regarding – Airplane Etiquette.
It involves just being {polite and respectful} of others, especially when in confined places. Showing respect and gratitude for your flight crew especially, goes a long way.
These people work hard and put up with a great deal of disrespect during many flights. Displaying some common courtesy and a little respect, is always greatly appreciated!
It just might get you a little more attention and pampering, especially on those long haul flights as well. 🙂
All of us and I am quite sure, want to travel; safely and comfortably. Having a person on board that is demanding, obnoxious and rude, can certainly cause a great deal of stress for most everyone on the plane.
So, mind your manners and try to be polite with everyone around you!
Don’t Forget About Personal Hygiene
Airplane Travel Tips # 2
Second on my plane etiquette considerations, deals with …
Obvious Flight Rules For Passengers – Hygiene
As we all know, traveling in an aluminum tube at 35,000 feet, has us all confined in a small air restricted space. On long haul flights, this has us sitting right next to others for many hours at a time.
Try to make every effort to; smell clean and be as 🧄 odor free as you possibly can, before boarding the plane.
“If you can smell yourself, then those around you are taking in twice what you smell!”
I cannot think of anything more disgusting and inconsiderate, than having to sit next to someone with horrific body odor and/or bad breath!
You know that 🧄 Garlic Breath odor, that just lingers on and on!! 😥
A terrific way to begin your flight is having to be 💺 seated next to someone that smells really bad!!
Be Respectful Of Thy Neighbor
Airplane Travel Tips # 3
Next on my list of manners is try to …
Travel Courtesy Tips – Respect Your Neighbors
Sitting next to a stranger for most of us, can be awkward at times. I have always found it difficult to start a conversation with most, at any time.
I do however, try to be polite and say a quick 🙂 hello and how are you. In most cases, you can catch on quite quickly by the response you receive from that person, by just saying; hello – how are you today. 🙂
It is important to try and recognize, that if the person does not wish to carry on or continue a conversation with you, then just leave them alone.
It really doesn’t take 🚀 rocket science to tell, if someone wants to be left alone or not.
For example, that person immediately stops any conversation with you, or they start reading a 📖 book. They may have music headphones in their ears, or may be working on their 💻 laptop computer.
These are obvious and pretty clear signs of …
“Leave me alone, thank you!”
Be respectful of your neighbors during the flight, unless of course, they do say something or show a sign saying otherwise.
This brings me to the topic of … Personal space.
On airplanes, the tiny bit of space you paid for is yours. The same goes for the person next to you. Try not to invade their territory.
If you move a leg into my space or an arm, I will give you an elbow, especially when you are just about to nod off into 😴 dreamland!
Do your best and be mindful of keeping; elbows, legs and other body parts in your zone and away from the person sitting next to you!
Keep the Noise Level Low
Airplane Travel Tips # 4
In consideration of others around you, do try to …
Flight Rules For Passengers – Keep Noise to A Minimum
Once again, try not to forget the tight space you are in and that there are many others, very close by. Do try to be considerate of those people 💺 seated next to or close to you.
For people traveling with 🧒 young kids 🧒, please do your best to keep them under control during the flight.
There is nothing more aggravating then an out of control screaming child, and whose parents just let them carry on. This, without having any regard for or being considerate of the other passengers on the plane.
A great photo depicting what some people would like to do with a misbehaved child in an airplane! 😀
Or even better, with a parent who chooses to ignore their child’s outbursts!
My wife and I always packed 🍪 snacks and games to keep our kids busy and entertained, during the flight.
Today, with all the inflight entertainment available, laptops and so forth, it’s so much easier to keep your children busy and happy, unlike years ago.
One other 🧙 magic potion we often used when our kids were very young on long haul flights, was children’s Gravol,or similar; anti-nausea/non prescription product.
It’s a safe product, that can definitely help relax both kids and adults. It assists in getting your child to 💤 sleep.
There Is Someone Sitting In That Seat In Front Of You
Airplane Travel Tips # 5
Airplane Etiquette Reclining Seat
This has to be one of my worst pet peeves of all!
You know, those people seated behind you, that grab the top of your 💺 seat, to get up and down! Arrghhh!!
Yes, chances are someone is occupying that seat in front of you and may be;
✔ Resting;
✔ Eating;
✔ Have a beverage in their hand;
✔ Working on their laptop.
I am sure you get the idea! 🙂
Grabbing or pushing on the 💺 seat in front of you, definitely falls under the category of simply being … Inconsiderate of others!
I am quite sure, most people would agree with me on this one. While we are talking about 💺 airline seats, how about those people that kick your seat (small kids) or adults, that push on the back of your seat with their knees?❓
Bad etiquette!!
Try Not to Kick That Seat In Front Of You
In finishing up with seating, how about those arm rests? ❓
Have you ever been the victim of an; 🐷 Armrest Hog? 🐷
You know, those people that use both armrests and also have their elbows invading your … Personal Space.
Airplane Etiquette Middle Seat
Believe it or not, there are specific {armrest etiquette} rules, but that’s a whole new subject!
Yes, that poor individual who is stuck being the “🐖 Pig In The Middle 🐖” seat, gets priority to the armrests on both sides. 🙂
These are just a few simple procedures to think about the next time you travel in an airplane. It really just boils down to a little; common sense and courtesy.
Be sure to check out my article on the 💺 Reclining Economy Airplane Seats 💺 controversy.
How do you feel about having that seat in front of you recline all the way down onto your lap? 🙁
As you can see in a survey completed below, reclining economy 💺 seats 💺 is still a hot debate, and ranked {very high} in passenger annoyance.
Air Travel Etiquette Survey
Airplane Travel Tips # 6
Rules For Traveling On A Plane
A few facts regarding a recent survey conducted with over fifteen thousand responding:
Of the 15,000 people surveyed;
✔ 48% stated they had experienced some form of air anger during one or more of their flights;
✔ The greatest annoyance to passengers was fidgety and noisy children;
✔ The second highest agitator was those annoying reclining seats;
Also scoring high on the list were;
✈ Sitting next to irritating people;
✈ Unfriendly cabin crew;
✈ Broken in-flight entertainment devices;
✈ Flight delays/cancellations.
Surprisingly, meal availability and air turbulence ranked very low in the air travel pet peeve response. 🙂
Airplane Etiquette Deplaning
Airplane Travel Tips Etiquette #7
Not surprising and one thing that seems to be getting more and more attention these days, becoming an increasingly irritant for passengers is; 🏃 The Queue-Jumper!
You know, it’s that irritating person who rushes to deplane!
Their seat belt comes off before the 🛑 sign goes out, jumps up and rushes to the front of the plane to get out first!
Along the way, bumping and pushing people trying to get up out of their seat. These people in many cases, also try to put their 🧳 carry on bag in an overhead bin at the front of the plane as well.
I did catch a flight attendant on one of our previous flights who spotted this, grabbed the bag from the bin and took it back to the owner.
That was so great to see! 🙂
If we all use a little common sense and apply a few rules of {Airplane Travel Tips Etiquette} along the way, it will make everyone’s flight just a little more enjoyable.
This especially so, for us poor economy class travelers, where seats are getting more and more cramped each year.
😎 Safe and Healthy Travels!
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Unauthorized use is strictly prohibited. 🚫
✨ Did You Know …

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✈ Matt’s Flight Review – Finding You Discount Flights
🙂 Don’t Forget It … Be Sure To Pin It! 🙂
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