10 Rules Nobody Told You, But You Need to Know About Air Travel

I have recently started traveling frequently (5 days a week) again and that has inspired me to share my rules for traveling. Please let all of us know if I have missed anything! Bring your sense of humor!

1) Ok the airlines already told you this one, but they really mean it. Wait until your row number is called to board. You are not any more important that the rest of us. Airlines have developed efficient boarding processes since 9/11 and they work well to get everyone on and off the plane quickly. PLEASE do not mess that up by acting as if you are more important than the rest of us.

2) Ok they told you this too. You are only allowed TWO carry-on bags. See # 1 about whether you are more important than others and deserve special treatment.

3) Put your bag in the overhead bin and sit down within 60 seconds. This will require you to get organized prior to boarding. If everyone takes 5 minutes to get settled and there are 180 passengers… you can do the math. Again, see #1 to see if you are more important than the rest of us and deserve more time.

4) You do not have to check in AGAIN at the gate. The airline gave you your boarding pass ( or you printed it yourself) so you could get through security. If you do try to check again, you will only be clogging the line for me as I try to talk the agent into upgrading me instead of the five people ahead of me on the upgrade list. I know, I need to see #1.

5) DO NOT, under any circumstances, recline your seat. That’s right. Nobody ever told you this before, but it is just plain rude and inconsiderate. The two inches that you recline behind you makes it IMPOSSIBLE for the person behind you to read, work on a computer, or otherwise function for the duration of the trip. If you start to feel uncomfortable after reclining, it is because you have likely trapped the knees of someone 6’ tall or taller and they can’t feel them anymore so they have to move them every sixty seconds to be sure they are still there.

6) Don’t be a LOUD talker to your neighbor, especially if they are clearly trying NOT to engage in your conversation by putting on their headphones, surrounding their face with their newspaper or book or working on their computer.

7) DO NOT knock me over to get to your bag on the conveyor belt. Find your own space and wait until the bag gets to you.

8) DO clean up after yourself in the airplane restroom. It’s gross enough in their already.

9) DO everything you can to help a parent that is traveling alone with kids. If you have traveled alone with kids before you are shaking your head in agreement vigorously. If not, you probably DISAGREE violently. You just need to trust me, You will be re-paid in spades later for a small effort now. I am sure whatever God you worship is shaking his or her head.

10) DO travel in your comfortable clothes, keep a toothbrush and any medications with you on the plane, and see #1 one more time.

Please don't take any of my poor humor too seriously, but please do follow the rules! Happy and Safe Travels…..

For more on this topic from some of my heroes, mentors, and/or thought leaders, check out these out:

Freakonomics Blog @freakonomics Captain Steve Answers Your Airline Questions
Freakonomics Blog @freakonomics Captain Steve Answers More of Your Airline Questions
Tim Sanders @SandersSays Travel Tips

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Joe Lavelle is an Executive Management Consultant and a Personal Coach who also blogs at http://www.actasifblog.com and is the author of the soon to be released Act As If It Were Impossible to Fail.