How to Board an Airplane Without Being a Jerk

Before you walk up to the gate agent, make sure your boarding pass is either pulled up on your phone or the printout is in your hand—not in your bag. Ditto for your identification; remember that if you’re traveling on an international flight, you’ll need to present your passport open to your picture page along with your boarding pass. Don’t scramble to search for it when you’re checking in.

Airlines have started cracking down on impatient passengers who try to cut the line and board before their time. Don’t risk being gate-shamed or having to slink back to your seat. Check the group number that’s clearly listed on your boarding pass, and only queue up or head to the gate when your number (or cabin class) is called. And remember: as the name implies, pre-boarding comes before any listed group number, so those with accessibility issues, families with small children, active military, and those with top-tier status will be eligible to board before group 1. (For those traveling on United, 1K is NOT the same as group 1; the former is eligible to pre-board, but the latter is not.)

Even though numbers are clearly listed above rows, for some reason, the process of finding your seat still seems to baffle some people. You’d think it goes without saying, but if you’re in row 33, for example, you don’t need to start searching for your seat as soon as you step onto the plane—keep on moving back. (Yes, to maintain consistency and avoid unlucky numbers, sometimes some row numbers are skipped.) Also, use the handy diagram to know exactly where you’re sitting in your row; the picture of a person by your number means you’re on the aisle, a curved pic of a window means you’re by the window, and neither means you’re in the middle seat.

After you’ve located your seat, it’s not the time to stand in the aisle and search your carry-on bag for your iPad, book, glasses, headphones, or whatnot. If they’re not already in your hand or easily accessible via a quick swipe from your bag, step into your row to shuffle things around and get out what you need. Alternatively, stow your luggage in the overhead bin and get it after your flight reaches its cruising altitude and the captain turns off the seatbelt sign.

There is often insufficient overhead bin space on a flight since passengers wishing to avoid hefty checked baggage fees fill them with their wheeled luggage. Don’t add to the problem by trying to stow your luggage AND your coat, souvenirs, purse, laptop, or backpack overhead—put the latter underneath your seat. Greedily taking up more space than you’re entitled to is just going to lead to delays as the cabin crew tries to move things around and search for unfilled bins for the passengers who boarded after you. Only if there’s still room after everyone has boarded should you try to relocate any of your items.

Obviously, if possible, you should store your bag in the overhead space located directly above your row. However, if you’re in a higher boarding group or just board late, it might already be taken. In that case, try to find a space located near your row. If you can’t, pull your luggage out of the row, hit your call button, and ask the flight attendant for assistance. And unless they say it’s okay, don’t use space in first or business class until you’re seated in that cabin.

Slamming your heavy, hard-sided roller-board suitcase on top of someone’s backpack or soft-sided luggage might damage fragile contents inside their bags, including glasses, cameras, and cell phones. If you can easily readjust someone’s bag to fit your own, do it; otherwise, ask the passengers seated around you to see whose bag it is so they try to move it. Also, be sure to stow your roller board suitcase the way that you’re instructed, in newer and reconfigured overhead space that’s on its side, like a book.

While there’s nothing wrong with asking someone to move so you and your partner, kid(s), or friend can sit together, it doesn’t mean they have to say yes. The person or people you’re asking to move probably selected their seats for a reason; it’s not their problem that you booked your flight too late or didn’t want to spring for the fee for seat selection. If they say no, don’t stand around, cause a scene, or refuse to go back to your original seat, all of which can delay the flight. View it as a teachable moment and either book earlier next time, pay for your seat selection, or choose another flight with more available seating.

Just because a seat is open doesn’t mean you’re entitled to sit there. A perfect example is the exit row, which usually incurs an upcharge, as does the “economy plus” cabin class or its equivalent. If you don’t have the appropriate status level, you can’t just move to that seat. You might, however, be able to pay to upgrade yourself after you board. Ask the flight attendant, but remember that it might not be possible. In the meantime, remain in your original seat.

Airlines have majorly cut back on serving food onboard. Even on flights lasting several hours, you might only get a measly bag of pretzels. While bringing your breakfast, lunch, or dinner onboard is perfectly acceptable, no one around you wants to smell it. Culprits to avoid: tuna salad, egg salad, sushi, curries, and any dish with onions or garlic.