BUDGET TRAVEL BLOG

UNWRITTEN RULES OF TRAVEL ETIQUETTE

Image   Russell Hannon - August 9, 2022



Crowded airports, long lines and crammed planes are part of the travel experience. If airlines added the following travel etiquette tips to their pre-departure safety presentation, it could a long way in making the travel experience great again (or at least a bit less tedious). With many trips starting at the airport, that's where we'll start with unwritten rules of flying etiquette.

                                                           
CLICK HERE to hear me discuss travel etiquette on CBC.
                                                           
When embarking:
If you block the aisle for more than 5 seconds and people are waiting behind you, you should move into a row to let people pass.

Don't put things that fit under the seat into overhead bins until everyone has boarded. I wouldn't be surprised if airlines make this a policy one day. We've all found ourselves to be the last to board with a carry on bag that doesn't fit under the seat, only to find the overhead bids are filled with small items that have to be shuffled around to make room for our bag.

Keep the cabin odor neutral, so no strong perfume or food with a strong odor.
This ABC News article explains how Air Canada disallowed a passenger from flying due to strong body odor that 'overwhelmed' other passengers. According to the article, the airline offered the person a seat on the same flight the following day so long as the situation was rectified.

Once on Board: 
When meals are served, take the lead and offer to the person behind you to move your seat up. After doing this once, I noticed a few people around me offered to do the same. Yes - courtesy can be contagious!

When disembarking:
Let those seated in front of you out first unless they clearly are not ready to disembark.

When arriving at the carousel to claim your checked luggage, imagine how easy it would be to claim your bag if everyone stood 5 feet away from the carousel.

If you have unruly kids on your flight and are uncomfortable raising the issue directly with their parents, simply bring it up with a flight attendant.   

If you are flying with your kids, its common to give the kids tablets with games and movies to keep them occupied. Just make sure they either have earbuds or that the devices are on mute. On a recent flight to Minneapolis, I noticed a flight attendant instructing parents to turn a kid's tablet on mute as she said 'others nearby don't want to listen to that.'

If you fall sick on flight day,
this survey by National Foundation for Infections Diseases found two-of-three Americans would still fly knowing they had the flu. If that doesn't make you queasy, I can vouch this is exactly how I caught my last bought of the flu.

The reality is that strict airline terms often pressure you to fly sick. If you ever find yourself in this situation, please consider wearing a hygienic mask on the plan (available at any pharmacy). If the plane isn't full, mention to the flight attendant you aren't feeling well and ask if you can be seated further away from others.

When the person next to you falls asleep and slouches onto you, keep in mind this innocent intrusion of space can happen to anyone, so it's important to handle it as you would want it to be done if you were the infringer. Next time someone dozes on your shoulder, simply wake the person and apologize for waking him/her only that they had slouched onto you.

When visiting scenic areas,
it fascinates me how I've sometimes found everyone taking in the view through their phone and no one looking at it with their own eyes!  When you are taking pictures or filming, abide by the 'Pokémon Go' warning by keeping aware of your surroundings, and be careful not to turn into anyone.

If people are waiting behind you, give yourself your fair share of time to take in the view, yet be considerate to those waiting behind you. The first few minutes of soaking in a spectacular view are the most dramatic. After that, the incremental benefit of looking at it longer is less and less the longer you stay.


                                                      

Odds are you've seen pictures posted online of people demonstrating poor travel etiquette. As tempting as it may be to do this, it is a form of 21st century bullying, and if the person catches you recording them, it will embarrass that person at the very least (and may embarrass you too), or worse it could escalate into an ugly confrontation.

With so much to remember, a simple rule of thumb that will steer your clear of any travel 'faux-pas,' is to abide by the same policies you do in the workplace, while also showing the same courtesy you would at church. 


CLICK HERE to hear me discuss travel etiquette on CBC
 
 

Once feeling unable to afford to travel, Russell Hannon uses lean principles to travel at a fraction of the going rate. He has been featured on CNBC, FOX,, CBS, America Tonight, CTV, CBC, Around the World Travel TV and nationally broadcast lifestyle and personal finance shows. He also wrote 'Stop Dreaming Start Traveling: The Ultimate Guide to Traveling More and Spending Less'.

FREE GUIDE: Download 'Beat the best Online Fare - Every Time, Every Flight at BreakTheTravelBarrier.com                               
 

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