When You Fly, Don’t Leave Your Manners at Home

By Juanita Ecker

I’ve been traveling quite a bit lately, both for work and pleasure. One thing I can’t help but notice is how many people seem to resort to an almost childlike state. They bang on their tray tables and kick the seat in front of them. They whine and bicker. They show up looking like they just rolled out of bed. They ignore the rules. Few people see flying as a particularly fun experience, but this breakdown in etiquette just makes it all the more unpleasant.

As such, I’ve listed a few basic guidelines for being on your best behavior while traveling. Let’s help put the “friendly” back in the friendly skies!

Be polite to flight attendants and airport staff. Think your job is tough? Imagine dealing with hundreds of irate passengers on a cancelled flight. I have experienced flight issues that have really tried my patience, but I find it’s far more effective to be firm yet polite and respectful (not raising my voice, maintaining eye contact, etc.) rather than flippant or belligerent in these cases. It’s also nice to greet the flight attendants warmly when you board the plane, thank them when you disembark, and be pleasant when they serve you. Acknowledge them with a smile or “thank you,” and the journey will be much more enjoyable.

Respect your fellow passengers. Here are some of my top pet peeves: hogging seats in the airport lounge with bags or coats; kicking my seat; blocking the aisle for an unreasonable amount of time (move into the row and let others pass); moving my luggage without asking permission; reclining your seat just as I’ve lowered my tray table; getting up to use the bathroom during dinner service (if I’m in the aisle seat, where am I supposed to put my tray of food?); hogging the arm rest or leg space; spending a long time in the bathroom, especially when there is a line of people waiting; and going barefoot and putting your feet on my seat or the arm rest.

Juggling Holiday Plans

By Juanita Ecker

A friend of mine has divorced parents who don’t speak to each other. Throw in in-laws, and holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas become very stressful. Either someone gets left out, or there has to be three different gatherings to accommodate everyone. It’s easy for the spirit of the season to get lost in the shuffle.

As we get older, our family life can become more complicated. Suddenly it’s not just Mom, Dad, and the kids. There are in-laws and other families to consider. There may be divorces, split custodies, and hurt feelings. Everyone wants a piece of the pie (literally and figuratively), but it’s hard to see how to please everyone, short of cloning yourself or flying in Dr. Phil.

So how can you survive the holidays with your sanity intact? These tips will help.

Compromise when you can. If you’re in a serious relationship, or have children who are married, you can’t expect that things will always be the same. Even if you’re not crazy about your in-laws, you have to accept that you will have to spend time with them during the holidays. Be fair, and don’t give people guilt trips.

Realize that you can’t please everyone all of the time. Sometimes when we try to please everybody, we wind up exhausting ourselves and satisfying no one. What’s the fun in rushing from family to family on Thanksgiving if you can’t actually spend quality time with anyone? Rather than trying to be in 5 places at once, prioritize your holidays with your partner. Perhaps you can spend Thanksgiving with his family, and Christmas Eve with yours, and Christmas with another group of relatives.