I travel on airplanes often. When I write about my in-flight experiences it’s usually a shameless plea for Otis Spunklemeyer Cookies to be served to economy class travelers. Warm cookies are gratis in business class and first class on American. I look forward to using my upgrades for this reason. No joke. I hit the upgrade button and think, “Ah yeah…warm cookie, boss!”
Maybe cookies should be a reward for being a considerate traveler. I’ve witnessed some seriously poor travel etiquette so today I’m compelled to post:
Travel Tips for People Who Would Like to Act Like Decent People While Flying on Airplanes with Other People:
So…you wanna take your shoes off. I get it. If you must unleash your dogs please keep in mind that you’re in public. Not everyone thinks your socks rock. Slip your shoes off when you’re seated if you must and put them back on when you traipse down the aisle. Please have unsmelly foot zones.
Putting your foot on the armrest in front of you is downright rude, gross and intrusive to the person whose arm is supposed to rest on the armrest which is, by the way, their armrest. Arm. Dig?
When you put your feet or knees on the back of the seat in front of you…the person seated in said seat can totally feel that. It sucks. Try not to suck.
When you get up from your seat try not to haul your weight up by using the seat in front of you. That is not how I like my world rocked. This tip also applies to hanging onto every seat as you mosey down the aisle. Sometimes you gotta steady yourself. Cool. Use this method sparingly.
When you stand in the aisle facing into your row and you bend over at the waist…your butt is face level with the person seated in the aisle seat opposite your row. Awkward.
Don’t crowd the gate. You have an assigned seat. You will get to sit in it.
Headphones are not optional. On a flight to Lisbon I got to listen to Alvin and The Chipmunks because a toddler didn’t want to wear his headphones.
If someone asks you to have your kid wear headphones don’t get riled and then read stories to your child in a loud, animated voice for the rest of the flight. Being passive aggressive to your fellow travelers is not good parenting.
Use your inside voice. You’re inside.
Keep in mind that people may be traveling for many reasons…some joyful, some not so joyful. Being considerate doesn’t cost you more.
Being a jerk to the flight attendants makes you look like a jerk.
Be thoughtful, considerate, self-aware. Maybe they’ll give the nice people cookies.
This has been a public service announcement. And another shameless plea for warm cookies!
Please feel free to add a travel tip, vent about rude travelers or join me in my pursuit of warm cookies for all classes in the comment section.
As much as I love warm cookies, I did not deserve them on my next flight this day. Some years ago, I was in a waiting area of Chicago’s O’Hara and sitting a few seats away was a family of Mom, Dad, and two kids. He was constantly on his cell phone, I thought, ignoring his family’s presence, and I determined in my mind that he was one of those hot shot executive types not giving his family proper attention. His wife and kids went for a walk around the terminal, and after I had thoroughly demolished this guy in my resentful brain that day, they returned. Being friendly, they stopped and struck up a conversation with me, during which time, I was told that one of his family members had just passed, and he was informing friends. I have forgiven myself for this misstaken judgement long ago, but I surely did not deserve warm cookies that day. Admitting my sins helps me forgive myself. Now, can I have a cookie?
You totally deserve a cookie…two! Owning your less than stellar moments is brave, respectable and ultimately makes you a person I want to know and give warm cookies to. Thanks for your story!
Fun … and true! My pet peeve is immediate recline of seats. It’s no fun for the person behind you.
I HATE when people put their feet up. So very disgusting.
Have you ever succeeded in getting that cookie? I talked them out of an apple once, but never a cookie!
No…I only get the cookie if I upgrade to business class but my commitment to the cause endures!
This is awesome. Socks on a mother effin plane! I want a cookie!
I think some people relish in this bad behavior because they believe they will never see you again, so they do not care. By all means, there are a lot of things you do at home that are not acceptable in public! I think everyone that travels has been a victim of this behavior, unless they were the wrong doers.
Great points and I am glad you posted this!
This is hilarious! I’m always so amazed at what people think is completely acceptable public decorum. I always wonder what the people are thinking who crowd to the front of the gate about an hour prior to boarding. You’ll have a seat buddy, this isn’t the Hunger Games, it’s a sure thing.
Hilarious! And more so because every word is so true!
OMG, beyond true!! How do some people not get common public etiquette??
I love the butt shot with the Pork issue of Bon Appetite! Ha!
Thank you, Jodi! You should have seen me setting up to take those shots. It was pretty hilarious and I was hanging out alone so it made me feel kinda kooky.