Etiquette of air travel — Boarding, in-flight, deplaning, and waiting for baggage
The etiquette of air travel is relatively simple. Look around, and most of the passengers follow the unwritten etiquette quickly. One needs to follow the golden rule. Treat everyone as you would like to be treated yourself.
The etiquette of air travel is simple whether you are boarding, in-flight, deplaning, or collecting baggage.
Boarding aircraft
Say hello to fellow passengers.
Don’t be so concerned with your own comfort that you forget others. Wear noise cancelling headsets after you’re at your seat.
Board in your correct group.
On Southwest — Line up by numbers.
Get out of the way when you get to the row.
Don’t forget to tip wheelchair assistants.
During flight
Stay within your space. Don’t spill over.
Who gets the armrests — it is always the center seat.
No bare feet.
Don’t clip toe-nails.
Check with seat holder behind you before reclining your seat.
Don’t speak with others on speaker phone. Don’t shout into the phone. If your phone or game makes noise, use headphones.
Don’t drink alcohol.
Deplaning
let a flight attendant know so they can help you get off quickly.
Deplane by row.
Do not try to rush to the front of the plane.
If you placed your carry-on in the overhead bin behind you, wait until there is a break in the line of deplaning passengers to get your luggage.
Waiting for baggage
Stand back from the baggage delivery belt.
When you see your bag, move up to the belt and remove your luggage.
Charlie Leocha is the President of Travelers United. He has been working in Washington, DC, for the past 14 years with Congress, the Department of Transportation, and industry stakeholders on travel issues. He was the first consumer representative to the Advisory Committee for Aviation Consumer Protections appointed by the Secretary of Transportation from 2012 through 2018.
