Every time I step into an airplane, I consider it to be my temporary home. I also view the other guests on-board as my temporary neighbors. With that said, we all share responsibility to get along and make the experience as pleasant as possible for one another.
The challenge comes in when we try to define what “pleasant” means. For some, pleasant is telling your entire life story from wheels-up to wheels-down. For others it is getting an extra pillow or pacing the aisles. Still others define pleasant as sneaking all their big bags on the plane as carry-on luggage.
Regardless of what your definition of pleasant may be, I can think of a few basic courtesies that can assist in providing pleasant travel for all, and never go out of style.
1. To talk or not to talk, that is the question
As a rule, I try to smile and say hello to the person that takes the seat next to me. This is being nice. However, that may be the only contact I have with him the whole flight, as I don’t really like to engage in long personal discussions. A polite way to let the person next to you know that you are not looking for conversation is to put your earphones on, or close your eyes. It not only gives you privacy, but helps you relax as well.
2. The race for space
Being mindful of what overhead compartment space you take is important. I have seen individuals put their bulky bags in the overheads at the middle or front of the plane, so they didn’t have to drag them down the tiny aisle to their seat at the rear. That is not being fair to those who occupy the seats in that section. I always take the designated overhead space right above my seat.
3. My bathroom is your bathroom
Nothing is more disappointing than entering the tiny airplane bathroom to find an absolute mess. I notice that airlines frequently do not refresh the bathrooms during the flight. This is why I try to leave the bathroom better than I found it. For instance, I push down the paper towels protruding out of the bin. I have also wiped the mirror down when it needed it, and always clean the sink with a paper towel after brushing my teeth.
Keeping these few points in mind can help make the journey a little more bearable for everyone. As always, I wish you happy travels!
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