We might be living in the 21st century but some of us still need to get educated on proper airplane passenger etiquette. Now that we’re mere days away from a new year where travel is expected to pick up once again thanks to everyone deciding COVID is gone, airplanes are about to be booked. What do you need to know so you won’t be that annoying passenger? Let us count the ways:

Avoid standing up as soon as the seatbelt sign is off

This happened within just seconds as soon as the airplane landed. Yes, people standing up even though we were still taxiing our way to the terminal. The FAs kept on telling them to sit to no avail. What should be done?! This is no longer amusing. Fasten seat belt sign still on. pic.twitter.com/LJgaSRY95i

— Mindanaoan – Maria Irene Aserios 👑 (@mindanaoan) November 30, 2022

ICYDK, the seatbelt sign turning off is not the signal for standing up and crowding the aisle. A common pet peeve among passengers is fellow passengers who act like their seats are on fire the millisecond the pilot hits the brakes. The doors are closed, and the ground crew still has to attach the bridge, yet the aisle is clogged with people scrambling to grab their bags. And then they just stand there for a whole ten minutes. What’s even worse is standing up even while the airplane is still taxiing to the terminal. Get it together, people!

Let the middle seat take the armrests

[credits to=”Unsplash” url=”https://unsplash.com/photos/5sAq9YzRek0″]

In a tight aircraft with limited personal space, be mindful about where you put your limbs. Window and aisle seat people already have the advantage of having one whole armrest to themselves. Don’t you think it should be common courtesy to give up the middle armrests for the person squeezed in the middle? Or take turns using it, but whatever you do, avoid hogging the armrests.

Acknowledge the cabin crew

This doesn’t only mean listening to the cabin address, it also means smiling at the crew and thanking them. It’s a tough job having to tend to hundreds of people in a metal bin thousands of feet in the air, the least we can do is be kind to the crew.

Don’t hog the overhead bins

If you have two huge bags with you, don’t just chuck them in the overhead bin and call it a day. Check if you’re leaving space for others in your row with bags of their own. And if fitting things in the bin is a horrible game of Tetris, you can always call the attention of the crew for help.

Strategize your trips to the restroom

Avoid standing up every hour to use the restroom, especially if you’re in the window seat. Sometimes folding your body a certain way to squeeze past the other passengers won’t work, so they have to get up and wait for you to come back too. So if you’ve got a small bladder or you’re planning frequent visits to your friend nine rows over, maybe choose a different seat. Or buy the whole row.

Respect the restroom

Speaking of trips to the restroom, proper airplane passenger etiquette also means using it as quickly as you can and keeping it clean too. Everyone on the plane has their own business to do so make sure you move along. And make sure to throw that tissue paper inside the bin properly without it peeking out!

Don’t bring food that emits a strong odor

Airplane food isn’t the best and the price tag is atrocious (cup noodles for P100?! Does it come with boiling Evian water and gold leaves?) but that doesn’t give you license to bring your odorous fast food or homecooked meals as baon like this guy. In fact, you shouldn’t bring any food that emits a strong odor. Particularly those that might make other people nauseous or even have an allergic reaction.

Keep an eye on your kids

If you think kids kicking airplane and cinema seats are only exaggerated scenes in movies, no sir. That happens IRL and it is not pleasant. Sometimes kids are cute, like when it’s their first time to board or they’re babbling away about how excited they are for the trip. But when they start giving you a private earthquake simulator, all bets are off. If you’re bringing kids on a flight, pay attention to them to minimize disrupting other passengers. You can also prepare their favorite toys so they won’t be restless the whole trip.

Got any other tips for airplane passenger etiquette? Share it with us below!

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