‘Tis the season for the hustle and bustle of travel! Many of us will be jetting off to stay with our nearest and dearest for a few days, or maybe even a few weeks, as we celebrate the joy of the winter holidays. Often, the flight is one of the most frustrating parts of the trip. While we all have to just grit our teeth and deal with airline delays, not as much air circulation as we might like, and cramped legs, one of the most irritating things to content with is an annoying fellow passenger. Sometimes people know that they’re annoying you, such as when a parent’s baby is screaming, and there’s nothing that they can really do about it. Worse is when someone does not even realize that his behavior is annoying! Here are a few things that you might not have thought of that can help you to not be one of those annoying airline passengers on your next flight:
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Keep your coughs and sneezes to yourself. Obviously, you can help it if you have a cold, and unless you’re really sick, it would be silly to cancel a flight on account of an upper respiratory infection. Still, try to keep your germs to yourself. Cover with a tissue, sneeze into the crook of your arm, and wash your hands often. If anyone gives you the stink eye, at least offer them some antibacterial gel to make them feel better.
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Don’t chomp on your gum. Yes, it helps to clear your ears when you are going up and coming back down, but the cabin is small and no one wants to hear you chewing. Chew quietly, with your mouth shut.
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Don’t hog the overhead bin. There’s enough room up there for each person to stash a small bag. At least, that’s what the airlines say! Trying to put your bag, a coat, an umbrella and the book that you might read later in the bin is annoying to everyone else.
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Wait your turn. You’ll be called on to board in a logical order, and you shouldn’t try to get ahead of the crowd unless you have special status that allows you early boarding. In the same respect, no one can get off of the plane if everyone is trying to jam the aisles, so have a seat and relax for a few minutes until it’s your row’s turn to leave.
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Be reasonable about the bathroom. On the one hand, it’s not your seatmate’s fault if he has to use the rest room every half hour; let him pass without comment. On the other hand, it’s annoying to be constantly climbed over, so try to limit your own excursions to when they’re really necessary. Yes, this is a double standard; do your best to be gracious in any instance.
What can you do if you are seated next to someone who is doing something totally annoying? One idea is to politely mention it. In the case of the overhead bin hog, it is acceptable to nicely ask if they could keep their coat in their seat with them so as to allow you your one item in the bin. You could offer a sniffler or sneezer some tissues, if you have them. You can also ask the flight attendant if you can move, though this is not always possible when it’s a full flight, as is likely to happen during the holiday season. Finally, the best option might just be to ignore it. The flight will be over eventually, after all!
