Don't Let Your Manners Take A Summer Vacation

Summer has arrived in Florida.  The weather is hot, the traffic is light and the livin' is easy.  Dress codes are more relaxed and our schedules are less rigid.  It's time for more socializing, a lot of "out and about" time and, of course, the time-honored family vacation.

If you are lucky enough to travel this summer, you won't have to pay a baggage fee to take your manners along.  Smile, be patient and practice the Golden Rule.  This isn't always easy when security lines, airline employees, food kiosks and coffee vendors are stretched thin.  Take a good deep breath and treat others as you would like to be treated.  You'll be surprised how far a kind word or random act of courtesy can go.  Here are a few hints.

At the Airport: 

• Arrive early. This helps keep your stress level low.  Your fellow passengers who are running late will have enough stress to go around and may come down with a case of poor manners.  Just give them a big smile and treat them kindly.  Maybe they will pay it forward.

On board the airplane: 

• Eat before you board the plan if possible.  Taking food on board should be the exception, not the rule.  If you must take food on the airplane, choose carefully--in tight quarters almost any food item can emit an offensive odor.  Be considerate of your fellow passengers who might not love Chinese food or a juicy burger.  And chew with your mouth closed. 

• If you need to use your cell phone while the plane is on the ground keep your voice low.  Talking loudly in such close quarters is just plain rude.  Talk quietly—or text instead.  

• If you have to get up during the flight, try not to grab the back of the seat in front of you. It jars the person in front of you under any circumstances and if your action happens to wake him up, he will definitely be grumpy.

• When reclining your seat, do it thoughtfully and slowly.  A full recline puts your seat in the face of the person sitting behind you.  A sudden recline can topple drinks and spill whatever is on the tray table for the passenger behind you.  Bring your seat up at least a little bit during snacks and the occasional meal--this lets the person behind you eat more easily.  

• If you see a couple or a family who looks like they would like to sit together, help them out if you can. You might find yourself in the same situation sometime. 

• Help anyone who looks like they are having trouble getting their carry-on in the overhead bin.

• Store anything you might need during the flight, such as a laptop, glasses books or an iPod, under the seat in front of you.  Getting up and down to get something out of the overhead bin is aggravating to others, especially if you are in a center or window seat.

• Try not to invade your seatmate’s space.  Turn the volume on your iPod or portable DVD player to low, and keep trash to a minimum. 

• When it’s time to deplane, wait your turn and get off row by row.  If you have a tight connection, let the flight attendant know.  The flight crew will usually ask that passengers with a tight connection be allowed to exit the airplane first.  

We can't return air travel to the glamour days of the past but we can try to remember that everyone on the plane is not lucky enough to be going on vacation.  Most travelers are businessmen and women with a job to do.  Others may be traveling for unpleasant reasons.  Use as much kindness, good manners and patience as you can muster, even if others seem to be all out of both.  


Bon voyage!