TraumaRUs's Rules for Air Travel

If gate agents ask to to check you bag at the gate, I recommend doing it, so I that I don't have to get my bag in and out of the overhead compartment. Most baggage pick-ups are near ground transportation anyway, so you can just swing by and get it. 

If you do use the overhead bin, notice how everyone is loading and align your bag with the others. Airlines vary about whether wheels should be in or out. I prefer them in so I can just grab the handle. But there is always someone who has just slung their backpack in, taking up about 3 spots and then us shorties have to adjust it to get our back in.

Take some antiseptic wipes to wipe down the tray table and armrests. Have your charger cable, ear buds or headphones, and a book handy. Also, a pen is nice to have. 

I agree with your rules 100%! Rushing and pushing to get off the plane 'first'; I mean, you KNOW how narrow the aisles are, and you KNOW you're ALL going to have to be patient because you can't walk through the ALL the folks in front of you. Do we need the plane personnel to say over the loud-speaker, like a grade-school teacher, "Form a single line, and NO pushing!"

I gotta tell you, the last time I flew was 9 years ago, and it was bad enough then; I reckon if I fly again I'll have to save $ first so I can afford First Class. It's bad enough having your arthritic knees banged by the back of the seat in front of you. And OH!  the people who 'sneeze into their elbows' as has been the general rule...end up sneezing on their neighbor from UNDER their elbow. ( Eeeaauuuuwwww! Way to go; thanks for sharing!) Carry some kleenex or paper-towel or a handkerchief, for cryin' out loud!

Agree with all! I have also traveled recently and can definitely see a difference in people/society compared to travel 20+ years ago. Number 4 drives me absolutely crazy, even with nonverbal cues people still continue to share their life history, WHY?! 

And to add one more to your list: you do not have the right to have your carry on directly over your head, and move the flight attendants bag to do so, and then argue that it is "my right".

I just don't even know anymore!!

On my flight I also remember the people who would get up to try to remove their stuff from the overheads well before the plane had come to a "complete and total" stop. I saw REALLY p.o.'d attendants come barreling down the aisle SLAMMING the overheads shut and angrily saying "SIT DOWN!"     

Scary! I could tell they seriously meant it! So, I just sat and read until the crowd had thinned out, and then deplaned.     

Air Travel lessons learned while living in Alaska, Vol 1.

Plan ahead with long layovers in the middle of your circadian night.  Set your alarm to wake you from your between flight nap with time to walk to the furthest nethers of the airport, where they have moved your boarding gate. 

Don't sit by the window if you took Lasix within 4 hours of boarding. 

Never fly to Orlando if you hate flying with children. 

Edited Jun 1 by Tweety

2 hours ago, traumaRUs said:

 

What has been your experience?

I fly about the same amount. But I run into more and more delays, so tempers get shorter. I will say that parents seem to have better ways to amuse the little ones and I don't hear quite as much crying. But yeah, the people who leap to their feet as we approach the gate are ridiculous. You will get off when the person in front of you gets off. But being a shorty, some nice person always offers to get my bag down. I think they are terrified that I am going to drop it on someone's head. 

I travel internationally once or twice a year and haven't noticed people being more rude as time as gone on.  Most people know the rules, follow them, and mind their own business.  When told "the baggage racks are full and you have to check your bags" most people quietly comply.  I've had to do that myself on my last two trips. Plus I'm always the one that gets pulled out of the line for a random search.  

The immediately jumping up to stand and wait the second the plane lands is something I never do.  I just site and wait.   Being no the aisle this forces the others to wait as well, but I make sure I get up in plenty of time not to lose my turn.  But there is no need to jump up so quick, especially if you're in the back like I prefer.

I fly super long haul Melbourne to Dublin.  To the woman who demanded an extra leg room seat when she was 4ft 11 claiming she had a bad back and throwing a tantrum when she was refused a exit row seat due to her bad back.  To the woman who was cut off from alcohol don't scream about it for 2hrs.  Please don't answer the is there a nurse or doctor aboard call if you are a psych nurse with a complete undergraduate degree in mental health nursing, sorry but not helpful in an acute surgical situation.

When the doctors and nurses recommended that your parent fly business class due to a stroke please listen.  It was not enjoyable having your dad grab my head everytime you walked to the bathroom and proceeds to aspirate on thin fluids and list to the side.  Buy travel insurance!!!!