Be Kind and Respectful to Your Fellow Travelers

 By Deborah O’Connor

Kids kicking your seat from behind, the person in front of you reclining his seat into your lap, an infant seat falling out of the overhead bin onto your head, waiting in lines for over an hour, hotel neighbors yelling and screaming late into the night; no wonder travel has become almost unbearable. There has to be a way to improve upon this ever-worsening situation. Actually, there is, and it is called the Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” (Matthew 7:12). Here is some advice to help you follow the Golden Rule.

• Don’t hog empty seats in the boarding area at an airport. Space is limited and travelers pile their luggage and other belongings on the empty seats beside them, causing many people to stand unnecessarily.
• Control your children. Parents let their kids run amok in airports and on planes. They don’t stop them from yelling, screaming, or kicking the seat in front of them. If you are having a problem, kindly ask the parents to quiet their children. If they do not do so, call the flight attendant and ask for his or her help. Perhaps they can even change your seat if there is space available.
• Parents traveling with children, do your best to keep them happy and occupied. Bring enough distractions to keep them busy, such as books, toys, crayons, etc. Also bring snacks and drinks, as service can be very slow.
• What about the middle armrests? They actually belong to the person sitting in the middle. Aisle and window passengers are guaranteed at least one armrest.
• Board with your zone. There is a reason for this, and usually people who are able to board first pay extra for it. So either pay up or wait your turn.
• If you want to recline your seat, you have every right, but turn around and look at who is behind you. If a person is working on their laptop, wouldn’t it be nice if you could tell them that you are going to put your seat back so that you don’t crush their laptop? Simple, common courtesy!
• Moving sidewalks are clearly marked, “Walk on the left, stand on the right”. Some people either cannot read or they just don’t care, because they stand in the middle with their luggage around them, preventing people from getting by. And you guys that are flying down the moving sidewalk with your rolling luggage, be careful not to club someone or run over their feet.
• Put all your smaller items under the seat in front of you so as to leave more room in the overhead bins. Most people carry on their luggage and there is never enough room for everyone.
• Mind your own business. If your seatmate is working on a computer, watching a movie, or reading, leave them alone. Some people like to chat, but others do not. If you receive one-word answers to questions, take the hint and end the conversation.
• After your plane has landed and as you are exiting, smile and thank the flight attendants. They did their best and remember it is not an easy job.
• Let people sitting in front of you off the plane first. Actually, most people do this, but there is always someone who climbs over everyone else to be the first off. We would all like to be first off, but it’s just not possible.
• What do you do if the people next door to you in your hotel are noisy and disruptive? Don’t knock on the door and ask them to be quiet. Better to call the manager on duty and let them handle it. If the noisy neighbors are totally uncooperative, you may want to move into another room if possible. Also, always travel with earplugs; they come in handy on the plane and in your room.
• We’ve all been awakened or disturbed by a slamming hotel door. For some unknown reason, people think they have to slam their doors. This is very disruptive and can be easily remedied by shutting it gently.
• Keep the volume down in your room. Loud conversation, television, and music can be very disruptive to your neighbors. Keep your children quiet as well. It’s not fair to the people next to you to have to put up with noisy, loud, screaming children.
• When dining with children on vacation, try to be seated away from guests who are not. As adorable as you think your children are, not everyone wants to be next to them, nor do they see the charm of your little one throwing food across the table. Many of these people have already raised their children and want the peace and quiet they deserve.

Traveling is a wonderful way to see the world, conduct business, and have a great time. Just be mindful of others, and remember to treat everyone as you would like to be treated. Happy travels!

Please feel free to send questions to Deborah at: www.successfulimage.biz.

She will answer them in her weekly column.

Deborah O’Connor is a social strategist and founder and president of Successful Image LLC with offices in Columbia and Atlanta. She offers training and seminars on image management, workplace etiquette, and social skills necessary to succeed in life professionally and personally. Contact at:  [email protected]        www.successfulimage.biz