Last week, like many travelers, I read the story about Southwest Airlines passenger, Pogos Paul Sefilian. He was flying from Los Angeles to Salt Lake City, and apparently was in great need of a “nicotine fix.”
After being seated, while passengers continued to board, Sefilian pulled out an electronic cigarette and began to inhale its nicotine vapors. (According to Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, the smoking ban on airplanes includes electronic cigarettes.)
A flight attendant informed Sefilian e-cigarette smoking wasn’t permitted, and instructed him to put it away. After a brief argument he did. After takeoff, Sefilian started smoking the e-cigarette again. According to court papers, at this point, Sefilian argued loudly with the flight attendant, then later threw peanuts and pretzels at them.
Later, as the plane approached Salt Lake City, Sefilian stood up and opened overhead bin doors, despite the flight attendants telling him to close the doors and sit down.
Is that any way for an adult to act on a flight? Where was Sefilian’s consideration for other passengers and his responsibility to not endanger them?
A discussion of whether or not e-cigarettes should be banned on airplane flights is for another day. Many don’t realize that e-cigarettes are banned on planes, but having been told they were, it should have been enough for Sefilian to put his away for the duration of the short, under 2 hour flight.
More important, despite being upset, for Sefilian to endanger fellow passengers, by standing up and opening overhead bin doors, permitting baggage and other belongings to possibly spill out on to passengers’ heads, as the plane approached its final destination, is an outrageous act of passenger irresponsibility, and selfishness.
As airline passengers, we owe it to other passengers to behave with due consideration for them and the flight crew, and take personal responsibility for our conduct aloft.
Here are my top five rules for airline passenger conduct:
• Follow the instructions of the flight crew — Air travel today isn’t easy. The often long lines at airline check-in, and airport security, are aggravating and often exasperating. It seems that we need to be at the airport longer and longer before our flight is scheduled to depart. Getting through airport security checkpoints can upset the most unflappable among us. It’s no wonder so many passengers arrive at the gate frustrated and perturbed.
Even if we’re upset, it does no good to take it out on the flight crew. Ignoring their instructions isn’t going to make one’s flight easier, and actions like Mr. Sefilian’s above, may endanger passenger safety. When you’re told to turn off your cellphone and put away your iPod or laptop computer, just do it. If you’re told to remain seated while waiting to take off, even through a long delay, do it.
Follow the flight crew’s instructions because it’s the right thing to do, because the flight crew has the law on their side, and because, in the long run, cooperation can pay off.
• When boarding, carry your bag in front of you and low to the floor, as you move down the aisle to your seat — If you hold a bag at your side, or sling a backpack over your shoulder, you will inevitably knock into already seated passengers on their arms, shoulders, and worse, heads. It’s just not fair to fellow passengers.
• Use the overhead space above or just in front of your own seat row — If you’re not seated in the front of the plane, don’t place your carry-on bag in the overhead bin there. It’s not fair or considerate. Filling up the front overhead bin, while seated elsewhere, means a passenger will have to wait until the entire plane has emptied to walk back to get their bag. I’ve seen this kind of rude behavior delay departure, as passengers seated forward had to search for storage space aft.
When you do get to your seat, stow your bags and gear quickly and sit down, so others can do the same, and the boarding process can be completed quickly and easily.
• Recline your seat back slowly — Let me answer your question immediately. I believe that airplane passengers should be able to recline their seat, especially on long flights. Aircraft seat-backs, when upright, are extremely uncomfortable for many passengers, in my opinion.
That being said, too many passengers press the button on their armrest, and slam the seat back down so forcefully it sends beverages and laptops flying. My rule is to let the passenger behind me know I’m about to recline, go back slowly, and only as far as necessary.
• Don’t be a prima donna (female or male) — We’re all special, but once in the plane, no one individual deserves special treatment, and has the right to monopolize the crew’s efforts to the detriment of other passengers. Making demands, and acting out isn’t going to give anyone what they want, or make any friends, or positively influence crew members to grant future favors while aloft. Delays and other problems affect everyone on the plane. Griping about them won’t change a thing, but pleasantness and a kind word might.
After many years working in corporate America as a chemical engineer, executive and eventually CFO of a multinational manufacturer, Ned founded a tech consulting company and later restarted NSL Photography, his photography business. Before entering the corporate world, Ned worked as a Public Health Engineer for the Philadelphia Department of Public Health. As a well known corporate, travel and wildlife photographer, Ned travels the world writing about travel and photography, as well as running photography workshops, seminars and photowalks. Visit Ned’s Photography Blog and Galleries.
