When traveling by airplane, you’re sometimes forced to talk with people you don’t know. In close areas and for extended periods of time, a little consideration can go a long way. In order to have a smooth flight and avoid dirty looks, practice airplane etiquette as follows.

It is suggested that you carry your bag in front of you and low to the ground as you walk down the aisle to search your seat. Lifting it up and at your sides will surely knock seated passengers on their arms, shoulders, and heads.

Make use of the overhead space above your own seat row. Do not put your bags in the overhead at the front of the plane unless you are sitting in that row. Occupying the storage space of other passengers is impolite and can potentially delay flight as they seek storage.

Keep your chair upright at least until you’re told the back can be lowered. Don’t recline your chair as soon as you get on. When you do lean your chair back, do it slowly. Otherwise, you might bump the head of the passenger behind you who’s getting something from the bag at his/her feet but unaware of your action, or you could overturn the drink on his/her tray. If possible, wait until drinks are finished being served and cleaned up.

Do remember to check behind you if that person is tall, or they have a child on their lap? If so, keep your seat upright out of consideration, especially if it’s a short flight. By leaning back, you’re depriving the passenger behind you of some space. Never do anything to your profit at another’s expense. You can also ask them if leaning your seat back would be all right. If you’re someone who can only feel comfortable by reclining, then try your best to choose an aisle, bulkhead, or exit row seat when booking the flight so that the person behind you has more space.

If you’re a tall/big person or have a child on your lap and know that the reclined seat in front of you will make you uncomfortable, choose a bulkhead or exit row seat (If you have a child, you should never choose an exit row seat.). Both you and the person in front of you will have more space and he/she may decide not to recline his/her seat out of consideration for you. If you sit in the middle, however, the person in front of you is cramped, and will probably want to lean their seat back, whether you like it or not.

If you are traveling with one or more children, make sure that they are under your watchful eyes. Children are inclined to bump, kick, or jerk the seat in front of them unconsciously throughout the flight, which can make the person in front of them very uncomfortable. It’s difficult enough to restrict some children on a long flight, but it’s even more difficult to cope with an angry passenger in front of you. If your child has difficulty taking a flight, do everything you can to keep the child at ease so you do not disturb other passengers nearby. Bring abundant books, games, snacks and other things to keep your child quietly engaged. You can also try walking to the kitchen area of the plane to extend your child’s legs. Change diapers in the restroom on the plane. In most restrooms there are tables for diaper changing and waste bins for diaper disposal. When breastfeeding, use a curtain, both for your own privacy and for the comfort of other passengers.

If another passenger breaks etiquette by, for example, constantly hitting or pulling your seat back with force, and doesn’t accept your polite request not to do so, don’t get any further involved. Ask a flight attendant to deal with the situation, and if they can’t or even won’t (this does happen), insist on asking for the chief flight attendant (purser) to handle it in a polite manner.

Don’t drink too much alcohol during (or before) the flight. You may be having the time of your life, but the other passengers may not think so (there are airlines which don’t permit any passengers on board suspected of being over the limit on alcohol consumption).

Avoid grabbing the back of the seat in front of you. Grabbing the seat back as you walk in the aisle or in your row, can be offensively jarring to the person sitting in it. Copy the flight attendants who balance themselves in the aisle by seizing the luggage compartments above their heads, rather than the seat backs.

Personal space should be respected. No matter how much you love to make new friends on the plane, the person next to you might have some work to do, or simply may not feel like chatting with strangers. If a friendly comment receives a minimal answer, take the hint and give up the attempt of a friendly talk. If you’re traveling with children, try to avoid letting them disturb passengers by asking them to play with him/her. Some passengers will not refuse directly and smile to be polite, but may not feel like playing “peekaboo” with the child.

If you want to see a film on your personal DVD player, remember passengers behind can see your screen. If your movie has nakedness, graphic violence, etc. it may be offensive to the more sensitive viewers (e.g. children) looking on.

Do not occupy the overhead luggage space of others. Try to put your luggage in your own space assigned for your seat number. If you need more space ask a flight attendant to help you.

Pay attention to your elbows. If you’re reading a newspaper or using a laptop, try not to let your elbows invade someone else’s personal space. Try your best not to take the arm rests greedily, especially if the person next to you is in the middle and has limited space to begin with.

Use your own arm rest and earphone plug outlet. It is forbidden to use someone else’s because it’s more convenient for you.

Don’t keep your stuff open. If you put a bag or a jacket at your feet, make sure that it doesn’t spill over onto the legs or feet of the person sitting next to you. Don’t compel them to share a blanket or pillow with you, either (as comfortable as it may be).

If you take an aisle seat but still want to enjoy the view, it is impolite to lean over the person next to you to look out the window.

Don’t read someone else’s reading material. They’ll notice, and it’s nosy and ill-mannered.

Pack a pair of headphone for any portable electronics, especially games and DVD players. It is annoying to hear someone else’s music and sounds.

Don’t occupy the aisle. Keep in mind that space is limited on board. Always be quick and vigilant while putting things in the overhead lockers, as other people need the aisle space to skirt around you and to their seat. Put the items that you will often use in your seat back pocket or under the seat in front of you. Get up to use the toilet or to walk around only when necessary. Go through your carry-on luggage once in a while. If you need something, think beforehand and get items you might need back later on during the flight.

When you stand up, use the seat armrests instead of yanking on the seat in front of you for support.

When you walk down the aisle, lift your hands and use the storage compartments for support. This is what flight attendants do to prevent themselves from pulling on the passengers’ seats.

If you want to stand up but there is one or more passengers between you and the aisle, request in a good manner that they get up to let you pass. Don’t try to climb over them; except for the discomfort this will unavoidably cause, you might hurt you/them if you lose your balance and fall. If someone is sleeping and you indeed have to get up, don’t arouse them yourself, ask a flight attendant to help you.

Show consideration for other passengers when you exit the plane. Try not to push your way out first; let those closest to the exit leave the plane first. When it’s your turn, move fast so people with connecting flights can make it in time.

Be careful when getting luggage back from the overhead compartment! It may be placed to fall on you or someone else.

If you have a lot of large, heavy luggage in the overhead bin, wait until others have left before standing and preventing other people from leaving the plane (they may have another flight to get to), or ask somebody to help you take your luggage down while everybody is waiting to leave the plane. This will be conducive to traffic flow and allows all passengers to leave the plane as quickly as possible.

If you know you’ll need a connecting flight, think in advance and reserve your flight early so you can get a seat up front and get off quickly.

Tips of Airplane Etiquette:

◇Wear deodorant, but do not have a strong perfume or cologne.

◇Remember to bring a tissue or handkerchief with you provided you sneeze or cough. In closed areas, it’s especially important that you don’t diffuse germs.

◇Converse with your fellow travelers in a low voice.If you speak too loudly, you’ll disturb someone’s sleep or make your fellow passengers upset.

◇It’s impolite to put your feet up on the bulkhead if you are sitting by it. If you must lift your feet, put your bag on the floor and place your feet on that.

◇When movies start, ask the passenger next to you if they’d like to have the window shade down. The dazzling glare on the TV monitor created by the sun’s ray makes it harder to see a view from a specific seat in the airplane. The person next to you may or may not be annoyed by this; sometimes they’d prefer to enjoy the light from the window.

◇At the baggage claim, stand away from the carousel until you see your bag getting closer, then step forward to get it back.

◇If you’re traveling with a pet, ask the passenger next to you right away if they’re allergic before you sit down.

◇If you have any skin problems, such as dandruff, be thoughtful and do not scratch constantly onto the person next to you.

◇Be attentive to the instructions of the flight attendants. The rules concerning no head phones during take-off and landing, no mobile phones, luggage kept in bins or under the seats, tables stored seat upright are not only for the other passengers, but also for you. Complying with all rules allows things to go smoother and much happier flight attendants.

◇Make sure that you know the latest security rules (amount of allowable liquids in a small plastic ziplock bag etc). Security checks are slowed down every time somebody tries to get through with items which are not permitted.

◇Make sure that you don’t smell too strong. Don’t have too much perfume or body spray, but don’t reek off anything either. If you’re a tobacco user, try not to smoke too much the day of the flight, and also, please have a shower. The smell of cigarette smoke can be offensive for some people.

◇If you snore, don’t fall asleep on the plane, or at least try not to. Everyone will be annoyed by the snoring during the flight. This is especially important if you are an extremely loud snorer.

◇Removing your shoes generally will be considered ill-mannered by your neighbors, but if you have to, it would be best to inquire first. Taking off your shoes is generally accepted on trans-continental or other very long flights but you should always respect others.

◇Do not eat strong smelling foods (e.g. tuna sandwich) on the plane.

◇Do not play jokes about bombs or terrorism. The movies don’t exaggerate, you really will be removed from a plane and possibly permanently forbidden to take the plane over what you thought was a harmless and obvious joke.

◇Abstain from using vulgar or offensive language.

◇Remember that even if you wear headphones while you listen to loud music, your nearest neighbor can catch it, and will likely be upset about it. Turn your music player to a more moderate level for the flight.

◇If the person in front of you has lowered the seat, which makes you uncomfortable, politely ask him/her if him/her could lift his/her seat a bit. If you don’t, you may always kick their seat throughout the flight and both of you would end up being annoyed.