Rules of Travel: Behaviour That Doesn’t Fly When Travelling

Last time I flew to London, a gentleman yelled across the plane to a helpless mother whose child would not stop crying; another time when I flew to Spain, a rude gentleman deliberately stood directly in front of me so that he could claim his suitcase before me. And again, when I flew to Phuket over Christmas, I was forced into a conversation with a stranger in the lounge when all I wanted was to do was bury my head in my book.

Air travel is great, the journey is the tough part and if we were to follow some rules and practice good etiquette when travelling, it would make the experience a whole lot more pleasant for everyone.

Following our guide on how to dress on a plane, we spell out the rules on how to behave when travelling. From check-in, boarding the plane, meal times, the plane ride to baggage claim, we give the appropriate etiquette for air travel.

Learn more about inflight dress code here.

Checking In:

- Line up in the queue, have all your documents ready
- Keep the chat with the check-in attendant to a minimal, there are other people waiting to check-in and more than ever, on a flight, time is money
- If you see someone struggling to place their suitcase on the conveyor belt, lend a hand
- Don’t have your documents sprawled across the counter, it looks messy

Boarding the Plane:

- Don’t be late when arriving at the gate, it is inconsiderate to others flying especially, when they decide to offload your suitcase
- If you need to put your bag in the overhead luggage, never move a bag that is already inside to squeeze yours in. Ask the flight attendant for help to see if they can find you another locker

Meal Times:

-If you wish not to be woken for a meal on the flight, make sure you use the indicated method suggested by the airline
-Place the napkin on your lap, it is not just for wiping your mouth
-Consider the person next to you and the proximity before opting for the garlic bread
-All dining rules apply, use cutlery, never your fingers
-Don’t chomp loudly, it’s disgusting
-The effect of alcohol is multiplied when in air, so don’t abuse the free flow, there is nothing worse than having to sit next to a drunk – a smelly one, too
-If you don’t want peanuts, extra bread roll or any other part of your meal, don’t accept it from the flight attendant. Food wastage is so crass
- If seated in economy, always pull your seat forward when the meal trolley comes around

Click here to get tips on how to behave in a lift.

Plane Ride:

-Keep conversation with other passengers to a minimum without being impolite, planes seats are a luck of the draw, so unless there’s a clear indication by both parties that conversation is invited, don’t say anything more than “excuse me” if you need to get past or “sorry” if you accidentally bump their elbow
-Give other passengers a hand with their luggage – especially with overhead luggage
-When removing your shoes, please wear socks or slippers provided
-If you’re ill, wear a face mask
-If you’re seated at a window seat and would like to head to the lounge or go to the washroom, politely say ‘excuse me’ before you scuffle out
-Don’t play music audible to anyone else but yourself
-While using the inflight entertainment system, be sure to be considerate to others, try not to laugh or cry aloud
-Respect the personal space of others, only your seat, desk and television is yours for the duration of the flight. Do not let your belongings drape over to your neighbour’s seat and never stare at your seat mate’s television screen over their shoulder
-Keep the washroom clean
-Consider others before you bring your toddler/ baby on board
-Don’t tap, fidget or do any repetitive movements
-To get the flight attendant’s attention, press the service button. Don’t yell across the plane
-Don’t wear strong or overbearing perfumes on the plane
-When leaving the plane, say thank you to the flight attendants
-When leaving the plane, let those in front of you exit first, if they have to attend to an overhead luggage, wait patiently and offer your assistance

Waiting for your Bags:

-Stand about a metre away from the conveyor belt
-Help others with baggage when needed
-There is an unspoken rule about the queuing of bags, don’t stand in front of someone and block their view of the conveyor belt
-Park your trolley away from the conveyor belt, it is bulky and you should make sure that there is enough room for everyone to await their bags
-Place your suitcases on the push trolley, not scatter them around your trolley like a yard sale, taking up valuable space
-No children at the conveyor belt. It doesn’t matter how fascinating they find the belt, it is dangerous and if they get whacked in the head by someone trying to take their luggage off, you only have yourself to blame
-When you’ve retrieved all your bags, leave, don’t dwell in the area making small talk with your travelling buddies
-If you have spotted your bag and you require space to pull it out, excuse yourself so that others acknowledge your intention and give you space before you retrieve the bag