The Women’s Travel Group teaches you to say NO.Air travel is not as disruptive as hyped by press, or, as home made videos record. There are times when you have to tolerate bad behavior; there are times when you need to say NO.
Once your boarding pass and/or face are scanned, is there a check that you sit in your assigned seat? Here is a new word: seat squatting. Seat squatting is defined as taking an airplane seat that is not assigned to you. Apparently flight attendants do not match assigned seats with people. The end result is the squatter might steal an empty seat next to you – your loss. They might snag a seat for free that wasn’t. You can ask to see the person’s boarding pass – but very bold and aggressive. If you ask flight attendants to check, they might want to avoid a confrontation. Rules for seat squatting are loose. If you know the seat is illegally held, learn to say NO and get staff involved. PS be aware people now keep boarding passes from prior flights and to fake their new seat.
Airline staff is not obliged to lift bags into the overhead rack. They will insert a bag to close the compartment before departure, but that is the extent of legal involvement. The person near you asks you to help with their overhead bag. Learn to say NO. Overhead space is free for all and never assigned. If someone complains that your bag is above them, learn to say NO.
So you want to watch a movie or sleep and a seat mate keeps window shades open? Can you ask them to lower the shade? General thinking is the person at the window controls the shade. General etiquette is if all shades are down, and it is a overnight flight, you can ask for the shade to be lowered. There is no rule. Learn to ask and not take NO or an answer.
Using the outlet to charge devices. On some planes, there is one outlet for 2-3 seats. If one person hogs the outlet, wait a reasonable time. Then ask to use it. In one case, I asked my seat mate to allow use of the outlet; she said NO. I waited 30 minutes, swapped out her computer for my phone. She was astonished, then said nothing. I recharged my phone, and released the outlet to her.
Your seat mate- even a child- has messy food. Don’t argue with parents who ignore their child’s behavior. Here is where you go right to staff for help. Food complaints are hard to resolve and there is no law beyond decency or dangerous slipping. Seat mate is drinking alcohol and getting obstreperous? ere yyou have TSA on your side; alcohol carried on cannot be more than 3.4 oz.
Bare feet are propped up against your seat. Definitely say NO and ask for staff help. Some Airlines state they have the right to remove anyone ‘not dressed appropriately’ which covers bare feet. (American Airlines). SW and JetBlue do not allow bare feet for anyone over 5 yrs. Most airlines have no rules; generally staff will enforce the bare feet icky rule. Let them say NO.
Passengers push ahead of you to board. Pushers are now called “gate lice”. If you need help boarding, have the upgrade that puts you in front, minus an emergency, do not be a pussy. Say NO.
Stand up for your flight rights. Send us other annoyances and how you dealt with them. We like to hear from you.
Travel Tips from award winning tour company, The Women’s Travel Group. Contact us for more information on our tours: https://www.thewomenstravelgroup.com/tours/ 646 309 5607/
