As if air travel isn't stressful enough, shrinking amounts of space on board are turning planes into pressure cookers. Passenger scuffles over legroom and reclining seats have led to three recent flights making unscheduled landings in the U.S. within an eight-day period.
It's a fact that airlines are making rows and seats narrower to pack more passengers on board. According to a recent AP news story, several major airlines have taken an inch away from each row to add seats or create more space in more expensive cabins. The result is that if you choose to fly, you need to bring your sense of courtesy and compassion for your fellow travelers. As airplanes become increasingly cramped and uncomfortable, good etiquette is more important than ever. Here are the new rules for air travel:
- Look before you lean. Just because you can lean back doesn't mean you should. The reality is that you can no longer just carelessly kick back when the plane hits its cruising altitude. Yes, you paid handsomely for the seat you occupy, and you are entitled to your personal space. However, the person behind you also paid for his seat and had the same expectations. We can no longer assume the people who designed the planes carefully calculated the angle of your seatback in relation to the knees or face of the person seated behind you. They haven't. If you'd like to recline, look behind you first. If you are seated in front of someone who is tall or traveling with a child on their lap, consider not reclining at all to give them the maximum amount of room. If the person behind you is working on a laptop or reading a newspaper, ask them if they would mind if you lean back slightly, then do so carefully. Take only the space you need.
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