Travel etiquette

[IrishPete]

"For your comfort and convenience, you can leave the plane by the forward and rear exits".

And then there's an airbridge they should conversely say "for your discomfort and inconvenience, we'll be forcing you all through the same door, and letting the First and Business Class passengers off first" (because priority exit doesn't matter so much with multiple exits).

 

[IrishPete]

NOTE: I'm not yelling at the fine folk reading this here on AFF... but after last two weeks of Xmas travels (MEL/ADE/MEL/BNE/CNS/SYD/MEL) I'm venting at all the 1D10TS who sadly will never read it... But I see Super Mums with family of three in tow (four if you count Dad) who are super organised and ready... so I know it CAN be done.

One of my biggest etiquette peaves when travelling is people who are not prepared. BE PREPARED. By "prepared" I mean those people who stand in a queue for many many minutes and only when they get to the front do they go "Oh.. so now I have to get out my laptop/liquids/keys/take off my belt/shoes etc etc etc... When everyone else has already prepared themselves and are ready to go. And then we find out they are wearing more jewellery than Liberace, and then we have to go seven rounds with the screening staff who say "you need to take that off please... and that... and that... yes that too... no mam' it ALL has to come off to through the screening point... " said with a "kill-me-now" look on the poor security persons face.

Same thing extends to when boarding the plane. They walk down the aisle, find their seat and then go "Oh... so what do I need with me in my seat... oh yeah, my book.. now where is that.. (reaching into cavernous carry-on bag) searching searching.. finds book.. now I need my glasses too... now those are in my other bag..." ARRRRGGGHHH !!! :evil:

Meanwhile the rest of the humans have to stand there and wait for them to organise themselves.... PLAN AHEAD PEOPLE... KNOW what you want with you on the plane. HAVE IT READY and out BEFORE you even get NEAR the boarding gate. This INCLUDES having your boarding pass ready too people. Then walk down to your seat, throw your bag up into the overhead, take your seat and GET OUT OF THE AISLE. If I see you putting your bag on the seat and stop to get stuff out... I will be punching you in the face (sorry Nana.. even if it's you )

Same extends to deplaning. We've been in the air for at least 1-3 hours people. We had to "prepare the cabin for landing" at least 20 mins out from landing. Then we landed. Then we taxied. Then we arrived at the gate. Then the doors were open and then all the people at the front of the plane have started to leave. So WHY WHY WHY do you wait until it's your turn to leave to "gather up all your s**t" and re-pack it into your bags and hold up the rest of the plane. Grab your stuff, and your bags and GET OFF THE PLANE.. it's NOT a hotel with extended checkout time.

Is probably one of my favourite things about coming here, learning about JASA seats and/or accquring status to get front seats... is not having to deal with the unorganised deplaning crazies.

Granted it's always MUCH worse at this time of year when the airports and planes are full of once-a-year holiday travellers.

NO. It is quite possible to get stuff out of my bag before putting it in the overhead locker, and v.v. packing stuff away after landing, without disrupting other passengers - just keep looking around to see if you're in anyone's way, and if you are, sit down with the bag on your lap for a moment.

In fact, if you're not in an aisle seat, it is far better to do this organising yourself before taking your seat and after landing, as otherwise it means disrupting the one or two people between you and the aisle.

I may already have been travelling for hours, days or weeks. I haven't just come from home. Maybe I was organised until security or customs or someone decided to up-end all my belongings.

 

[IrishPete]

This also applies to people who get to the supermarket checkout, the operator packs their bags and says "that's $123.45 please". The shopper then starts rumaging around in their handbag looking for their purse, as if they're surprised that they have to pay!

sorry - you got in days before me with this one... With contactless credit cards maybe we won't have to get our cards out in future Though how it will know which of my cards to charge the shopping to?

 

[IrishPete]

I concur. Several times i've been waiting at a carousel for it to start, around a meter or so back, along with others next to me on either side. Pretty much every time, i've had someone barge through and stand directly in front of me. I don't get some people...

I can't remember what airport, but there was a line as you mention (wasn't ARN for me) and there was an actual audio message on repeat advising people to wait behind the line until their bag appeared, and staff were enforcing it. It made things so much easier!

Safety too - a child died on a carousel in Spain late last year.

 

[maninblack]

As a matter of principle, I won't use a wheeled carry-on.

What is the principle that you are applying?

 

[IrishPete]

I also have never had a problem with wheeled carry ons.Always a back pack that wacks into me as people really have no idea of whats around them-and don't care.

Funny avoiding the elderly in security queues-I try to avoid the ones with younger people.But that is in the premium lines where us dinosaurs are used to air travel and experienced.

Older people are statistically more likely to have metal implants of one form or another. Also to wear glasses.

 

[blackcat20]

SUPERMARKET QUEUES! And unfortunately, it seems to me that women are worse at this than men.

But anyone, if you've been standing in a queue for a few minutes, even just seconds, why is it such a surprise that you have to get your money or cards out of your pocket/wallet/handbag?

Because I can't hold my purse in my hand while also loading the shopping into the trolley, especially as the new check-outs require two hands to get your bags off the darn hooks.

 

[cmon0005]

One of my biggest etiquette peaves when travelling is people who are not prepared. BE PREPARED. By "prepared" I mean those people who stand in a queue for many many minutes and only when they get to the front do they go "Oh.. so now I have to get out my laptop/liquids/keys/take off my belt/shoes etc etc etc... When everyone else has already prepared themselves and are ready to go.

Also when I am stuck behind one of these types of people and I 'cut' in front of them as the conveyor is empty and that said un-organised person gets huffy and puffy that I went in front of them because I already had my stuff in the tub and they were still fumbling with their neck pillows and aerosols!!

 

[straitman]

Older people are statistically more likely to have metal implants of one form or another. Also to wear glasses.

The number of people with implants is low across the community and it is normally obvious who will cause delays. Glasses are irrelevant IMHO as most people wear them through the Baylis.

 

[amp-qld]

What is the principle that you are applying?

Wheeled carry-on bags are much more of a nuisance on board aircraft than a reasonable sized, preferably soft, bag. It is, after all called CARRY-on baggage. As well as the sheer (hard) volume of the cases, there is the extra room taken up by the handle when the bags are being wheeled. I fail to see the need for them except for people with limited carrying ability. My principle is that I try to avoid causing other people problems so I won't use a wheeled carry-on bag.

 

[IrishPete]

Because I can't hold my purse in my hand while also loading the shopping into the trolley, especially as the new check-outs require two hands to get your bags off the darn hooks.

You misunderstand. We are talking about the idle time in the queue, not the time loading shopping onto the conveyor belt or into bags or into the trolley. If you spent no idle time in a queue, you are exempted, and lucky.

 

[blackcat20]

You misunderstand. We are talking about the idle time in the queue, not the time loading shopping onto the conveyor belt or into bags or into the trolley. If you spent no idle time in a queue, you are exempted, and lucky.

But, I can get my purse out while I'm waiting, and still have to put it away to pack the shopping before I've paid....

 

[IrishPete]

The number of people with implants is low across the community and it is normally obvious who will cause delays. Glasses are irrelevant IMHO as most people wear them through the Baylis.

I used to work in a prison, and there are very large numbers of people with implants (knees, hips etc), pins supporting fractures, rods in spines, etc. Perhaps the airport detectors are better able to ignore them. The older you get the more likely you are to have one. It may be that the implant technology is changing too, with more non-metal materials - outside my area of expertise. I just know how many people used to have difficulty entering the prison to visit.

 

[maninblack]

Wheeled carry-on bags are much more of a nuisance on board aircraft than a reasonable sized, preferably soft, bag. It is, after all called CARRY-on baggage. As well as the sheer (hard) volume of the cases, there is the extra room taken up by the handle when the bags are being wheeled. I fail to see the need for them except for people with limited carrying ability. My principle is that I try to avoid causing other people problems so I won't use a wheeled carry-on bag.

Okay I kind of understand where you are coming from now. Whilst you are entitled to hold true to your 'principles' I completely disagree with your assertions. The wheeled bag, whether it be a carry-on in one of it's many forms or a SUITcase which may or may not contain a suit has been one of the better inventions for the busy traveler on the go. Many of us at times only travel with a carry-on which may be to the maximum weight and size as we are entitled to do and which saves us a great deal of time. The actual volume of the handle of my current main wheeled carry-on (you are concerned by the room it takes up) is approx 3cm x 2cm 40cm extended plus small 'T' handle which is a volume of about one quarter of a litre :!:

 

[serfty]

Rollaboards are fine, and since I rarely check luggage, they are basically essential for me - and no I don't overload mine.

I simply do not roll it down the aisle - retracting the handle and picking up and toting in front of me before entering the aircraft.

In fact all bags should be carried on - this includes backpacks!

While sitting down on my aisle seat I have lost count of the number of times I have been collected on the head¹ by one still attached to someone back. People tend to forget they have an artificial 20cm appendage as they pirouette² upon arriving at their seat.


¹ ... or nearly collected once I wised up

² ... looking around for a place to store their stuff etc.

 

[prozac]

.....................

I simply do not roll it down the aisle - retracting the handle and picking up and toting in front of me before entering the aircraft.

In fact all bags should be carried on - this includes backpacks!
.........................

Should be airline boarding policy.

 

[maninblack]

In fact all bags should be carried on - this includes backpacks!

Quite right, even more essential for backpacks IMO.

 

[OATEK]

<Snip>
In fact all bags should be carried on - this includes backpacks!

I can't count the number of times I have been hit by a backpack being worn as the owner makes a sudden careless turn. On planes, buses, trains/ stations etc.

Can't agree more that all bags should be carried on in front of the PAX. Would certainly show up those with the equivalent of a bag of cement in them!

 

[SeatBackForward]

People tend to forget they have an artificial 20cm appendage as they pirouette² upon arriving at their seat.

Ahh but to deny the pirouette that is "watch, me business man, removing coat jacket and put in, overhead locker" would be to deny one of the prime corporate mating rituals..after all it is hellishly cold walking down the aerobridge.

 

[boomy]

Ahh but to deny the pirouette that is "watch, me business man, removing coat jacket and put in, overhead locker" would be to deny one of the prime corporate mating rituals..after all it is hellishly cold walking down the aerobridge.

Good one, big Like