The etiquette of flying

Fasten your seat belts and prepare for takeoff.

Whether you’re headed to Europe to study abroad, China for a business meeting for your Econ class or just headed home for the holidays, college students are constantly on the move.

While traveling can be educational and exhilarating, flying can be one of the best or most miserable experiences of your life.

I know, you are probably that guy who sits near the window and drowns out the world with his headphones -- not bothering a soul. However, others of us are guilty of breaking several little known but important etiquette rules when flying.

Say what? There are rules for flying? You betcha! So, as a courtesy to your fellow travelers, let’s go over a few simple rules.

Don’t be a monopolizer
Unless you are flying first class in your private jet, most planes are not spacious, so you are going to have to share that space with one or two passengers for a few hours. Unless you are positive a flight is not full, taking up an extra seat with your purse or laptop case is rude and makes it hard for fellow passengers to take a seat on a full flight.

However, the most notorious thing that is monopolized on a plane are arm rests. It can be very frustrating to have to turn to a complete stranger and tell them to get their mitts off of your arm rest.

“Absolutely, without a doubt, the most forgotten piece of etiquette involves the armrest,” said Cortland Blomquist who is studying business at Brigham Young University. “Just because you checked in late and got a C boarding pass on Southwest and have no choice but to take a middle seat, does not make it okay for you to be an armrest monopolizer.”

This rule is simple. Pick one of the arm rests and stick to it.

Don’t dress like Lady Gaga
Airports are some of the best places to people watch -- part of this is due to the outfits people wear when they are flying. Some women wear high heels and tights when they are traveling to a destination where it is snowing.

“Wearing real clothes [is definitely at the top of the list],” said Chad Anderson, who is studying computer science.

While wearing bizarre outfits is not against any real rules, this is just a friendly reminder that people do see your ridiculous outfits and laugh at you. Do yourself a favor and put on some jeans and a hoodie. You might as well be comfortable.

Wild thing
Many college students are not yet parents, but for those that are, keeping your children happy is important on a flight. While children have minds of their own, you should care about your own child’s well being and not making someone else babysit for the whole flight.

“...I've literally seen mothers put in their earphones, lean back and read a magazine and ignore their screaming kids while the flight attendant tries to deal with it,” said Elizabeth Goodrich who is a student at the University of California at San Diego.

“I find this in stark contrast to a crying, frightened child whose mother is trying to calm them. I'm not anti-child, I'm anti parents-who-don't-care.”

Keeping a fussy baby happy can be a lot easier said than done and no one (including you) enjoys hearing the cries and screams of an unhappy baby. However, it is also important to be patient with parents of young children. Most parents are trying their hardest and are often embarrassed by their child’s loud cries.

“As a parent, it's hard to be around people on a flight who aren't very understanding if my child cries, gets restless, gabs or even laughs,” said Kimberly Fisher who is a student a Brigham Young University Idaho. “The flight will be over sooner than later. Be patient with families.”

Keep your hands to yourself
This may seem like common sense, but do not touch other people, their property or their seats. People are very protective of their seats and how much they are kicked and grabbed. There is nothing worse than being woken up to someone shaking and moving your seat.

“The people who grab onto the back of your seat when they stand up and shake your chair violently [are on the top of my list],” said Rachel Morrison, who is graduated and currently working in the Washington, D.C. area. “Every other time you've ever stood up in your entire life you haven't needed to grab onto something in front of you. You just stand up.”

Practice good hygiene
This rule really should be common sense, but so many people forget this rule that it is worth mentioning. It is a general understanding that if you are flying, you want to be comfortable. Sweats, hoodies and a comfortable pair of slipper shoes are fine. However, please remember that fellow passengers do not need to be submitted to your body odor and halitosis.

“Not showering before you get on the plane [and] not covering your mouth when you cough [is pretty disgusting],” said Elizabeth Hollingshaus who is studying communications at Brigham Young University.

Even though passengers cannot smell your cold, no one wants to get an airborne virus either. Bring tissues and use them.

Next time you are flying take a minute to review these simple rules. They are more interesting than that information in your seat back pocket and, to some passengers, are more important.

Ah, we’re finally landing.

This story originally appeared on the Paste BN College blog, a news source produced for college students by student journalists. The blog closed in September of 2017.