“I’ve never known which side of the armrest I should put my hand on when I get stuck in the middle seat of an aircraft,” said a friend to me a few days back. I’ve always hated long-haul flights myself. It is a test of one’s civility, according to me. The thought of sitting next to a complete stranger for 11 hours or having to entertain a child in the confines of a seat could drive anyone crazy. With a drastic reduction in legroom and services to save costs, passengers feel the pinch. It can be an effort to maintain a positive attitude. As for minor incivilities, you have little choice but to smile and put up with them. Anything truly unacceptable or behaviour that is of concern can be brought to the notice of the flight attendant. For all other times, here are some basic manners that may hold good in most cases.
Airplane Etiquette 101If the person in the aisle seat is asleep and you need to get out, an “excuse me” and a gentle tap on the arm is acceptable. It is perfectly okay to wake someone up as long as you are gentle.
Be understanding if a passenger in your row repeatedly asks you to let her out – she may have a medical condition. You could offer to switch seats for mutual comfort.
If you are working onboard, it’s polite to keep work to your space.
Never read the paperwork or what’s on the laptop screen of the person beside you.
If you’re reading aloud to a child or the child is playing a video game, use the headset or earphones. Your neighbour should not be able to hear it.
Your makeover can wait till you land. Exit the toilet as soon as you can.
To chat or not with the person next to you: You are not in the mood to chat, but the passenger next to you is warming up for a marathon conversation. To avoid offending him, smile and reply with a polite yes or no. If this doesn’t work, be direct and let him know that you intend to use this time to read/work/sleep. Then bury yourself in a book or simply put on your earplugs.
Seat etiquette: Your seat is perhaps the only thing you have control over in an airplane. At the same time, it can spell trouble, starting with the recline feature.
Is reclining rude or is it your right?: The battle rages on. It is considered acceptable to recline your seat partially, or turn around and ask the passenger behind you if you want to recline all the way. If you’re the one being squeezed, calmly ask the passenger in front if he could move his seat back up a little.
If you have an aisle seat, keep your elbow and hand away from the aisle. Then there’s the shared armrest. Ideally, your and your seatmate’s elbows will alternately occupy the armrest without causing trouble. If your seatmate doesn’t seem to understand, you could propose a compromise: ‘Why don’t you take the front half of the armrest, and I’ll take the back half?’
Middle-seat occupants face double trouble over armrest use. It is only fair if the aisle and window seat occupants give up the centre armrest to the one in the middle.
Whenever you have to leave your seat, it’s natural to steady yourself by grabbing the back of the seat in front of you. But for the person sitting (or sleeping) there, it’s a rude surprise. Instead, use your armrests or the back of your own seat to help you rise.
Another jostle alert: When you unlatch or secure the meal tray on the back of the seat in front of you, try not to push too hard.
Long or short, everyone gets restless towards the end of a flight. It really doesn’t do any good to jump up and crowd the aisles. I think this is the best time to show how stylish you are and let the others pass.
