Hitting the road with good manners in hand!

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Travel stress free and with good manners

Travel stress free and with good manners

Hitting the road with good manners in hand!

by Olivia Varnson

Travel Etiquette may seem like common courtesy, but sometimes our restlessness can get the best of us. It is understandable. We all want our trips to begin and the hassles of transportation to come to an end. As we make our way from point A to point B, a little consideration can go a long way.

For many of us, the journey begins in an airport. If there is anything I have learned passing through Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport over the years, it is that everyone seems to be in a hurry; hurrying to get through security, hurrying to board the plane and hurrying to exit the plane as soon as it lands.

There is nothing wrong with wanting to leave the airplane and airport as quickly as possible, but it is important to remember that your trip is no more important than anyone else’s. Everyone has somewhere to be and we can all make the experience a comfortable and enjoyable one by showing patience and respect towards one another.

 

 

Once you’re aboard the plane is when the real fun begins. We all have horror stories from flights gone awry and it can be helpful to keep those stories in mind when we find ourselves growing frustrated or short-tempered. One way I like to prepare myself for a long trip is to keep the items I want to use during the flight, such as my laptop or a book, nearby in the seat pocket or on the floor underneath the seat in front of me. That way I won’t have to squeeze by my fellow passengers and maneuver through the luggage compartments during the flight.

 

A pet peeve of mine is when the person in front of me reclines their seat with seemingly reckless abandon. Sometimes I am on my laptop or resting my head on the foldout tray, and the seat reclines so quickly I don’t have time to move out of the way. It is courteous to make sure you aren’t disturbing the person behind you before you try to get comfortable.

The armrest often sparks debate amongst passengers. There are typically four armrests for six arms to a row. My father, a frequent flyer, believes it is proper etiquette to give the passenger in the middle seat two armrests because the window and aisle seat passengers each have other advantages. However you decide to divide the armrests, remember not to let your elbows do the talking.

Long flights can take a toll on our patience. It can be helpful to remember that, even though an hour may feel like an eternity, the flight will eventually come to an end and we will all go our separate ways. When the plane finally does land, do your best to avoid the worst known offense against travel etiquette – pushing ahead to exit the plane first. It is rude, insensitive and for the most part ineffective. If one person thinks they can rush ahead of everyone else, more and more passengers begin to follow suit and before you know it, the aisle is jam-packed. When you find yourself trying to edge your way forward, remind yourself that everyone will be able to exit the plane. You will be off the plane and on your way out the door in a matter of minutes.

Once you reach your hotel, you may encounter various instances that require patience and courtesy. Sometimes simply checking in to your hotel can take a good twenty minutes while your room is prepared. If you have any needs that require assistance, such as a specific type of pillow or type of food, it is important to state your needs clearly and to remember that the staff is trained to help make things easier for you. You can show the staff the same etiquette by remaining patient and concise as they accommodate your needs.

For travel etiquette and social etiquette as a whole, the Post family has long been a reliable source. Starting with Emily Post and her book Etiquette, published in 1922, the Post family continues to provide information about good manners, networking and etiquette standards. There are currently two generations of the Post family working with the company, as well as direct descendants, who have published books about etiquette. From business etiquette to wedding etiquette, and everything in between, a visit to www.emilypost.com will give you valuable tools for displaying respect and sincerity in every social situation.

If you are in a foreign country, chances are you will have to adapt to a different culture and set of customs. The website www.traveletiquette.co.uk provides travel etiquette guides for cities and countries all over the world. If you find it difficult to keep track of certain do’s and don’ts in a particular country, I think there is a general set of rules that can be applied to all aspects of traveling: be patient, be kind, show respect and be willing to adapt. Maintaining a positive attitude in the face of frustration is often its own reward.

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