Things every passenger should know
 

1) How to thank the airline
2) How to say "please" and "thank you."
3) How to not expect to be the center of an agents attention at all times
4) How to help fellow passengers with heavy luggage
5) How to not yell at an agent for something beyond his/ her control
6) How to not yell at an agent at all (think about this: the agent is possibly someone's mother).

Ten easy ones:

1. To exit the security area when greeting people there to pick you up, no matter how long since its been since you have seen them rather than stand and hug where you block everyone else's exit... just move to the side or something.. this used to be for the jetway until people were prevented from going through security without a ticket.. I love this rule

2. Not to use the space between the bulkhead middle aisle (F or Y) as a passageway when going to the restroom

3. To carry on carry on's not full size suitcase or two.

4. To not talk so loud on the cell phone, I don't care about your conversation and neither do the other pax

5. Please don't ask me to give up my front aisle seat (in Y) for a middle back seat so you can sit next to someone you know... switching aisle for aisle in the same gen'l area, no prob... but 5C for 35B isn't going to cut it

6. If you have kids.. please plan accordingly.. you do have to take a lot more time planning and ensuring seat assignments, stuff for them to play with etc.. Its not the airlines responsibility or fellow pax. as much as it has been or will be a long day for you, it has or will be for most of us as well. If you go stand by, don't expect three or four seats next to each other

7. If your flight is delayed and they say do not leave the gate area.. please DON'T or if you do, make sure you check back every 10 minutes.. Waiting for delayed flights that are cleared to go and then half the pax are somewhere else but in the gate area is a total bummer.

8. No you can't use the space under my seat, I like to stretch out and my one bag is overhead just so I could stretch out. Sorry that you couldn't think that far ahead or get on soon enough to find overhead space.

9. Please wait for the FA to come get your dishes/trays/waste after a meal rather than having to get up and give to the FA because you don't want it there any more. We other pax have our trays down and they are covered with the same stuff and would like it taken away as well but have the patience to wait.

10. If I'm on the Window, don't just stick your upper torso in front of me without asking b/c the pilot said the Grand Canyon is out the left side of the plane.. thats just plain rude..

[all of the following from personal experience]

11. Don't stop just after getting off an escalator at the airport to adjust your luggage. Where are the people just behind you supposed to go?

12. Don't get on a flight with an almost-full bladder, such that you have to get up shortly after takeoff before the captain has turned off the "fasten seat belt" sign and endanger your fellow passengers. Do you really think I want your 300 lbs in my lap because of your lack of planning combined with an unexpected bump?

13. Don't arrive at the airport 30 minutes before your flight, and expect to be wisked to the front of the line at the check-in counter or security line just because "you'll miss your flight."

14. Don't recline your seat quickly and without regard to the person behind you and their laptop.

15. Don't play your CD player's speakers loudly for half the cabin to hear, just because you forgot your headphones, are a professional sports player, and can get away with it.

16. you are going to bring carry-ons, bring carry-ons that are of a size and weight that you can manage (if you are not handicapped) without assistance.

17. If you wear noise canceling headphones, remove them when the FAs try to talk to you http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/wink.gif

18. Regardless of what the departures monitor says; there is no such thing as a 5 minute delay.

19. Airline personnel do not have any control over the weather, but they do control where you baggage goes!

20. We understand that you're hungry and the airlines don't provide meals on many routes any more but please keep the stinky cheese sandwich on the ground.

I was guilty of this one just today. I find that when there's no audio source for the noise cancelling headphones, they actually improve the ability to hear your seatmate or the FA talking. But, if there's a sound source, then you can't hear a thing.

21. Don't assume your fellow travelers have had the opportunity to get some food or visit the loo in the terminal. Late-arriving flights and/or widely-separated gates can result in very little connection time, hence the need to take care of business once onboard.

Try to be understanding; they like it no better than you, but have to make the best of a poor situation.

[This message has been edited by taucher (edited 05-13-2002).]

22. Please do not let your children climb on, touch, or throw things at other passengers on board.

23. Please wipe their little mouths, hands, and feet after any meal service (snacks you brought, or the airline meal).

24. If you are on the window/middle w/your child and child will be up several hundred times during the flight - please be kind and offer the window to the person on the aisle - who probably does not want to get up that often...especially if they're watching a movie or trying to sleep!

I know travelling with children can be a very difficult thing (I know - I've done it several times myself), but it truly is torture to the people around you if you cannot control your children. And I don't mean things out of your hands (like teething...), but few things gross me out more than a two year old covered in cookie crumbs and slober appears over the back of the seat in front of me...crumbs falling into my food or on my laptop...grubby little hands all over the seats...YUCK!

25. Also, when the FA says, "please remain seated until the aircraft has come to a complete stop at the gate"....JUST DO IT!! A few extra seconds in your seat is not going to kill you.

These are all great suggestions and I can only wish the people who need to heed this advice actually read "Flyertalk". http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/wink.gif

[This message has been edited by egtravel (edited 05-14-2002).]

Don't throw water at your flight attendant.

Just had to add this. Had a TEN HOUR flight from PHL-LAX (four hours on runway) and an elderly man threw water on a flight attendant. Was arrested at LAX.

This is the second elderly (70+) gentlemen I have seen arrested after landing in the past three months. It's all that dern classical music, I tell ya.

Robyn

26. Stand to the right on escalators or the moving people movers so that passengers in a hurry can easily pass you. Be aware of those behind you!

27. Don't try to extend a conversation beyond pleasantries (e.g. can you please pass this to the flight attendant, excuse me, I need to pass you to go to the lav, etc.) to include your life story that just goes on and on and on. The person you are trying to engage is really more interested in their book, their computer game, the movie, the magazines/newspapers or just plain shuteye than being your rapt audience for the remainder of the flight. Please respect their personal space and wishes, especially if they start dropping cues that they don't want to talk to you!

I know there are exceptions to this one, e.g.:

When you are single and there is a hot guy (used to be my case, now I'm married http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/cool.gif) or a hot chick who is just hanging on to your everyword.

You happen to find out a good networking prospect.

These cases are the minority, tho. I'm sure most of you have already visualized the scenario I listed as 27.

#1 -- Don't pull on the seat in front of you to get out of your own seat. Incredibly annoying.

#2 -- Don't let the tray table fall out and jolt me in the back, please lower it all the way with your hand. Incredibly annoying.

Unfortunately, most people reading this already know. It's the ones who don't that are annoying me...

28. When boarding, if your boarding group has not been called, do not wait right in front of the ticket machine, keeping other people from boarding.

cnk