When we board a plane, our goal is straightforward: arrive at our destination safely and comfortably. But all too often, our own behavior can get in the way. To ensure a smoother, more courteous journey for everyone, don’t make the following 11 airplane mistakes.
Steering clear of certain behaviors can help you stay in your fellow passengers’ good graces, while avoiding others might actually save your life. Read on to find out what not to do on a plane.
Don’t Tune Out the Safety Briefing
I know—the briefing is boring, you’ve heard it a million times, and you already know how to buckle a seatbelt. Although it may seem tedious, the information could save your life one day. At the very least, take a few seconds to figure out where the nearest emergency exit is and how many rows away it is from your seat. (In a dark or smoky cabin, you’ll want to be able to count the rows by touching the seats as you make your way toward an exit.)
Don’t Inflict Your Feet on Other Passengers
I have no problem with people slipping off their shoes to be more comfortable on a long flight, with a few important exceptions.
First, your feet should be as unobtrusive as possible to everyone else (so don’t prop them on top of a seatback, or wriggle them into the gap between the wall of the plane and the poor person in the seat in front of you who just wants to lean against the window without getting a faceful of your bare toes.)
Second, put your shoes back on before going to the bathroom (we’ve seen a lot of mystery liquids on those floors.) And finally, if you know you’re prone to bromodosis—the polite scientific term for smelly feet—be considerate of your fellow passengers and leave your shoes on.