Top five NO-NOs on your overseas flight
 

dutyfree asked what TO bring on your overseas flight.

I'm asking what NOT to bring and what NOT to do on your overseas flight. You'd be amazed that there are people out there who really have no idea about airplane etiquette! :-o

1. Please do NOT attempt to paint your nails with nail polish.
2. Please do NOT spray yourself with perfume. I don't care that it's Gucci!
3. Please do NOT use that perfumy lotion or moisturizer.
4. Please do not change that baby diaper in the seat beside me...there's a lav for that! This actually happened to me once. I still remember the smell! gross!
5. Please do not bring that can of tuna/mackerel/salmon for your inflight snack. I was on a flight once where this guy had a nice big can of tuna for a snack...the smell just made me want to wretch!

Make that any seafood! Believe it or not, that was the snack of choice of a (otherwise very cool) Mom and her two young sons on a recent flight. Tupperware containers of broiled shrimp and halibut. Man did they stink!

And "yes" I CAN feel your toddler when he kicks the back of my seat over and over again (as one frazzled Dad asked me innocently when I repeatedly looked over my shoulder).

1. Don't board the plane unless you've had a shower in the recent past. (rememeber OWJ's trip from smell report?) :-O

2. Don't attempt to travel if you are so sick you belong in the hospital. One time I was about to board a flight to London and a very sick-looking young lady and her BF were waiting at the gate. I knew from looking at her that something was very wrong, and soon she fell on the floor and started having a seizure of some sort. The paramedics were called and while she's lying on the floor, her BF was insisting that she's OK to travel. The paramedics checked her out, and thank God she was denied boarding.

3. Be considerate of people trying to sleep. Do not try to carry on a conversation with your seat-mate when it's obvious they want to sleep. (been down that road) Along those same lines: When the lights go off, do not talk above a whisper to your travelling companion. I had to shush my Dad last year when he started talking loudly to stepmom while everyone was trying to sleep. :-(

4. Do not wear shorts or a skirt in case of an evacuation. I know this isn't likely, but I've been through that and the people with no covering on thier legs all got friction burns.

5. Do not grab the top of the seat in front of you when you get up unless nobody is sitting in it.

On any flight, of any distance, it makes me queasy when people open up their own carry-on meals-- like salami sub sandwiches laced with onions, peppers, oil and vinegar! Yecho. It may taste good to them, but it sure smells bad to everyone else.
Speaking of smells, on my last flight overseas, the man next to me had the strongest body odor. I couldn't belive my bad luck, or his insensitivity. I had to sit next to him the entire 9 hours. I directed the overhead fan so the air would stream down between us and create a 'curtain' of air. It helped somewhat.

I am sure there are many herer who will disagree with me BUT please do NOT ask me (when I'm in the seat in front of you) to

put my seat forward because there isn't much space for you (and also because you are fat)...in other words, I'm supposed to make myself uncomfortable just to accommodate you???

If you want/need that much space, pay for a seat in First or Business

Do not even think of allowing your kid to kick the back of my seat and think you are going to get away with "not noticing" it..when I smck the kid up side the head i suspect you'll suddenly remember the kid belongs to you.

Do not call your Mother and SHOUT to her you are about to take off, but if you must do so, please go to the rest room and do it there.

Actually I do agree with you, Dukey. I will pull my seat forward when meals are served, but I do not like people who expect the person in front of them to sit straight up throughout a long flight.

It's inconsiderate to leave seats tipped back during the inflight meal.

Nice name, Dukey. Yes. Alot of people will disagree with what you say.

Please try not to read my computer screen. It's not top secret stuff, but it is private! :)

Flying in economy is miserable at best. I think it's like childbirth, you don't remember the pain because if you did, you'd never do it again.

As far as not using the seat in front of you to pull yourself up...if it's reclined, I find there is no choice. If I have to get up I have to tilt backwards and I end up supporting myself with one hand on my seat and have to grab on to something. I try to get an isle seat if at all possible, and then helps in being able to get up and out when needed. I swear I would never fly like that again if there wasn't such a "handsome reward" at the end of the flight.

It is inconsiderate not to provide enough space for people to have a meal in the first place without someone else having to be uncomfortable.

You get what you pay for.

I can your point, crefloors.

Do not carry all your earthly belongings on the plane with you. Carry-on luggage allowances should be strictly enforced.

Try not to fly with a very bad cold; it's not good for you to fly with a cold, and VERY annoying to the person sitting next to you. I know people can't help having a cold, but sitting next to someone who sneezes and blows his nose throughout the entire flight is not very nice.

Rats, I meant to say I can see your point, crefloors. :-[

Dukey,

Why are you uncomfortable sitting upright while eating? Don't you do it at home and in restaurants?

MaureenB,
Regarding the BO. Don't feel so bad, OneWanderingJew had a similar experience and apparently didn't remember the overhead fan! :))

Thanks for this reminder P_M! Funny...

http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34701198

Don't be that girl. That girl is the one who:
talks loudly on her Pink RAZR before and after landing.
doesn't wear headphones while watching "Mean Girls" on her laptop/portable DVD (so you can hear it, too!).
sprays perfume and such, thinking that it is a good thing.

Don't be that guy. That guy is the one who:
dresses like a homeless frat boy.
hits on the girl sitting next to him by saying "sorry these guns are so wide (indicating bicep) but I'm an athlete."
smells of way too many different products.
tries to get personal just after landing.

And, finally, don't be that person who is just generally rude and disagreeable and who cites a million different things that everyone is doing wrong while being a complete jerk the whole time.

I have flown with all of these people.

Well Dukey, you can wave at me from first class. As you say, you get what you pay for. Most of us end up flying economy and the space alloted is pretty rediculous, even for people who aren't fat. We all endure, and as for me, I try to be as considerate and unobtrusive as possible. I had two "stinky" seat companions on one of my trips: the british biker boy going to visit his mum in London, and the French woman on the return trip. It wasn't easy...LOL. The masses travel coach so you get some of everything. Some people can be unbelievably thoughtless and if you are "lucky" enough to be next to them, behind them, or in front of them, sometimes, like food choices or body oder...well, there's not much you can do but endure. I can't sleep so that's why I always try to get an isle seat if possible. Now I hear that some airlines are charging more for those seats and depending on the cost, I may have to just pay. It is really almost impossible to get up and out of your seat without disturbing those around you.

Please do not shuffle cards when others are trying to sleep! This drives my DH crazy.

Please do not remove your shoes if you know you have a potential foot odor problem.