6 ways we can all be more civil and helpful to each other on planes
It was a heartwarming story that went viral and gave us all a tiny slice of faith that there may still be hope for humanity. The tale of a blind, deaf man traveling alone and the towheaded teen who stepped forward to help him flooded Facebook feeds. It’s only a matter of time before this heart-tugger is adapted into a major motion picture, or at least a basic cable production.
In case you somehow missed it, Tim Cook was flying solo from Boston to Portland on Alaska Airlines and unable to communicate with staff and passengers because he’s blind and deaf. A flight attendant came on the PA and asked if there was anyone on the flight who knew sign language. Clara Daly answered the call, and the 15-year-old became Cook’s guardian angel for the flight.
The story is lovely and shows what can happen when we reach out to help others on an airplane. So here’s the $64 question: If we’re all so moved by this act of avaiation kindness, why are we all so nasty to our fellow passengers and crew when we board? Why are we anxious to share this sweet story on social media, but not happy to share a smile or trade a kind word with the person sitting next to us on a plane?
You don’t have to learn sign language to show a little civility on a flight. Here are six easy steps that will make air travel more pleasant for everyone. Your actions may not go viral, but at least you and your fellow passengers may feel less stressed.
Please wear headphones when you watch or listen to entertainment on your smart phone or tablet: If you can remember your personal electronic devices, you can probably remember your headphones. It really sticks in my craw when a passenger is discourteous and blasts their music or movie through the cabin. Sadly it seems to be getting more prevalent. If you forget your headphones, buy an inexpensive pair on board. Keeping your personal entertainment personal and not disturbing other passengers is one of the kindest things you can do and shows that you respect those around you.
Lay off the booze: Alcohol seems to be a frequent co-conspirator when passengers turn ugly and wind up in fights. Last month, an American Airlines passenger fought with a flight attendant when the attendant refused to serve him more beer. During the altercation, the violent passenger even spat blood. If you’d like to make the journey more enjoyable for everyone, just abstain for a few hours. At the very least, limit yourself to one or two celebratory cocktails. Then switch to something less intoxicating.
Just smile: This is the easiest one of all. When the flight attendant asks you what you’d like to drink, smile and give your answer. He’s dealing with 200 other passengers, and some of them are quite cantankerous. This is your opportunity to brighten someone’s day. Don’t like the flight attendant’s tone of voice? Be the bigger person, smile, and say “please’’ and “thank you’’ when ordering. Perhaps your sweet-as-a-Pop Tart demeanor will have a domino effect.
Don’t be a reckless recliner: If you’re going to ruin someone’s flight by reclining your seat, at least be courteous about it. As you know, the world is divided into recliners and non-recliners, and, like it or not, we somehow must co-exist. I’m a staunch non-recliner. I’ll likely be buried in the upright position. I appreciate someone who at least looks behind to assess the situation before they recline. If you must recline, do it gently. I always find the experience slightly less painful when a recliner doesn’t slam their seat back as if tackling a UFC opponent.
Be helpful with the overhead bin: Inevitably you will find yourself standing in the aisle behind someone wrestling to get their carry-on into the overhead bin. Instead of rolling your eyes and cursing under your breath, offer to help, particularly if the luggage wrangler in question is too short to reach the overhead bin, has difficulty hoisting weight above her head, or is a senior citizen. No one is particularly thrilled when a passenger blocks the aisle performing the awkward overhead tango, but you have the power to help move the bottleneck.
Be sympathetic toward crying babies and small children: It should be obvious to all, but babies don’t really have any idea what’s happening when they’re on a plane. One moment they’re at home chilling, the next they’re crammed into a sardine can with wings. If that isn’t bad enough, funny things start happening inside their tiny ears. The cherry on top of the misery sundae is that they’re no longer allowed to crawl around. Cut these ankle biters some slack and don’t roll your eyes. It’s not exactly a field day for the beleaguered parents either.
