30 Do’s And Don’ts When Traveling By Plane, As Pointed Out By Folks In This Online Group

Traveling is a thing everyone should experience at least once in their lifetime. It offers you heaps of great emotions and fills you up with memories that you're bound to cherish till the end of your sweet days.

You get to learn about different countries and people's cultures, meet great companions, and try all the mouth-watering foods of our world.

However, the actual travel process can be rather stress-inducing. The packing, a dreadfully long wait at the airport, and what seem like endless security checks – and don't forget the unforeseen circumstances – these things are not fun for most.

But worry no more – a couple of netizens turned to one of Reddit’s communities, wondering what handy tricks and etiquette rules there are to bear in mind before heading off on your next adventure. The questions were directed to frequent flyers; they received up to 29K upvotes and got showered with helpful comments discussing the ins and outs of air travel.

More info: Reddit 1 | Reddit 2 | Reddit 3

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30 Do’s And Don’ts When Traveling By Plane, As Pointed Out By Folks In This Online Group Keep your hair, feet, hands to your f*****g self.

GrimmandLily , Lenny DiFranza Report

Final score:

159points

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Brian Early 2 years ago

Flying a few years ago, person in the seat in front of mine flips their hair over their head rest and blocks my video screen. Was told to « deal with it » when I protested. Many bits of chewing gum later I was done dealing with it.

10points

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30 Do’s And Don’ts When Traveling By Plane, As Pointed Out By Folks In This Online Group Make sure to pet the plane right before you get on and tell it that it is a good plane. I do that every time and the plane never crashes.

thetailofdogma , Derral Chen Report

Final score:

142points

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Peppy Piplup 2 years ago (edited)

I did this! I gave the plane a little pat right before my brother pointed at the "Do Not Touch" sign. Whoops.

40points

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30 Do’s And Don’ts When Traveling By Plane, As Pointed Out By Folks In This Online Group 1. Take a picture of your passport. Keep a copy on your phone and a hardcopy in your luggage.

2. Take a picture of your luggage. If it is lost, showing the picture to the lost luggage person helps a lot.

Leabhras , sean hobson Report

Final score:

140points

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DuchessDegu 2 years ago

Very good advice, when my luggage was lost it was a new bag I bought when abroad, so it was really difficult to remember what it looked like "oh it's blue... and a red ribbon... and a front pocket... and wheels" 😅

34points

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30 Do’s And Don’ts When Traveling By Plane, As Pointed Out By Folks In This Online Group This one is pretty general, but from experience I guess it still needs saying: If a person has headphones on, earbuds in, *whatever,* don't try to make small talk. It's nothing personal, but some people have really long days at airports (Can't tell you how many red-eyes I've caught after waiting standby all day) and just *don't want to talk*.

Follow-up, for the flip side of this instance: If you're listening to music, be reasonable about the volume. The people around you shouldn't be able to hear your tunes.

Maj_Prismatic , Sascha Kohlmann Report

Final score:

127points

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ArodTheHorrible 2 years ago

Don't assume that because people exist they must want to chat with you, headphones or not LOL

56points

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30 Do’s And Don’ts When Traveling By Plane, As Pointed Out By Folks In This Online Group If you have a lot of time to kill, find the area in baggage claim where pets are reunited with their owners. It's a blast watching those dogs get out of their carriers, and they all behave differently.

Scrappy_Larue , zhao hui Report

Final score:

124points

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MellonCollie 2 years ago

I never saw this in real life, I need to do this some time!

36points

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30 Do’s And Don’ts When Traveling By Plane, As Pointed Out By Folks In This Online Group I’ve flown over a million miles so hopefully this helps. Make sure to check behind you before you throw your seat back when reclining, the overhead bins are shared spaces, if you have a backpack it’s best under the seat in front of you to save room in the overhead. The person in the window seat gets the wall and an arrest, the middle person gets two armrests, the aisle person gets a little extra leg room and an armrest. Treat your flight attendants with respect. Most of all flying is inherently miserable so don’t be a d**k.

Kazimierz3000 , kooikkari Report

Final score:

119points

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JMil 2 years ago

We live in a society!

34points

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30 Do’s And Don’ts When Traveling By Plane, As Pointed Out By Folks In This Online Group Late to the discussion, but... If you're a smaller person and a large person sits next to you, do not say "yes" if they ask to put up the arm rest between you. I feel a little bad for them because they are crammed into a small seat, but the most miserable flight I've ever had was having 1/3 of my seat taken by another person.

jasonf_00 , Tom Mascardo Report

Final score:

116points

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BadCat 2 years ago

I would request to change seats politely, or ask the flight attendant if another seat open. If someone does need more room than 1 seat offers they should book 2 seats ahead time to avoid uncomfortable, embarrassing situations with other people.

62points

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30 Do’s And Don’ts When Traveling By Plane, As Pointed Out By Folks In This Online Group Once the plane lands and the seatbelt sign is switched off, just...chill. Stay comfortably in your seat until people start exiting the plane. There is no point standing with your head hitting the overhead locker for five minutes - it's not going to get you off any sooner.

Danvan90 , Edward Simpson Report

Final score:

103points

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Jerry Mathers 2 years ago

Some of need to stand. We know we are getting off quicker, but our backs need to stretch after sitting through the flight in a cramped chair where you have to contort your shoulders and legs to dodge aisle walkers and middle seat passengers.

64points

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30 Do’s And Don’ts When Traveling By Plane, As Pointed Out By Folks In This Online Group You can't bring a bottle of water through security, but you can bring an empty bottle through security and fill it up once you are inside the terminal.

alexja21 , oatsy40 Report

Final score:

95points

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T Kory 2 years ago

Yes, and many airports have bottle fillers.

21points

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#10

30 Do’s And Don’ts When Traveling By Plane, As Pointed Out By Folks In This Online Group Quit crowding the f**king gate when it's not your turn. Your seat will be there.. Unless you're on southwest then stand where you belong.

Edit: in order to answer the question-- to improve your gate experience, and the experience of those around you, wait for your turn instead of crowding the gate. Really bumps up your experience from s***ty to almost s***ty

lolwuuut , frankieleon Report

Final score:

87points

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ArodTheHorrible 2 years ago

Can't upvote this enough

30points

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#11

30 Do’s And Don’ts When Traveling By Plane, As Pointed Out By Folks In This Online Group Not a frequent flyer but in my experience frequent flyers say try not check bags if you can help it. If you have to, try to have medicines and a change of clothes in your carry on if they lose your checked bag

42of1000accounts , Francisco Antunes Report

Final score:

82points

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Remi (He/Him) 2 years ago

Your medicines should always be in the carry on anyway with copies of your recipes. Especially if any of them are the "red triangle" type meaning that they affect the central nervous system

30points

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#12

30 Do’s And Don’ts When Traveling By Plane, As Pointed Out By Folks In This Online Group It doesn't matter how much time you think you have before your flight, find your gate first, and confirm it is the right one for your flight. Then, set an an alarm on your phone to give you plenty of time to get back in time to board.

Missing your flight because you don't realize how far away your gate is will be a mistake you only make once, but better to not make at all.

FuglytheBear , Keenan Pepper Report

Final score:

76points

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JMil 2 years ago

Spot on. Find it first, then scout where you want to eat/shop.

38points

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#13

30 Do’s And Don’ts When Traveling By Plane, As Pointed Out By Folks In This Online Group Early morning flights FTW — a lot less can go wrong with the first flight of the day, that plane is typically there overnight so you aren’t waiting on crew or equipment. Security lines are shorter. Traffic to the airport sucks less.

Reclining, especially in steerage, is a moral failing and should be avoided at all costs.

wwb_99 , Steve Lynes Report

Final score:

73points

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Patsy 2 years ago

Also, from my own personal experience, less turbulence

14points

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#14

30 Do’s And Don’ts When Traveling By Plane, As Pointed Out By Folks In This Online Group When they start the boarding process, you don't have to stand up and queue. It usually takes a long time and you have a seat assigned to you anyway, so relax a bit more before your flight.

annievaxxer , Alan Wilson Report

Final score:

67points

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JMil 2 years ago

Thank you!!! I do not understand this behavior, especially since there are boarding zones. You are in boarding zone 7? Well, I suppose you need to stand up when they call boarding zone 1.... Also, can we talk about the bag claim carousel? Is your bag going to come out sooner if you stand inches away from the carousel, blocking every other reasonable person?

38points

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#15

30 Do’s And Don’ts When Traveling By Plane, As Pointed Out By Folks In This Online Group For the love of god, if everyone could learn that people should get out of their seat by alternating rows, de-boarding would be so much easier.

A2134263148a , Mark Hillary Report

Final score:

64points

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Hill Branda 2 years ago

Wait....you mean a sudden rush of tired passengers, slamming their overstuffed carry-on bags into everyone, who are then forced to stand in very tight quarters for 20 minutes while waiting for the door to open ISN'T how it's supposed to be done?

63points

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#16

30 Do’s And Don’ts When Traveling By Plane, As Pointed Out By Folks In This Online Group If you get stuck in a middle seat, you can put a coat or blanket over your legs and tuck it under you to hold your legs relatively close together. This will allow you to fully relax your leg muscles without bumping into your neighbors.

s3rpic0 , Jay Cross Report

Final score:

61points

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WordWeaver 2 years ago

Get one of those neck support half moon cushions - you'll be glad you did.

17points

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#17

30 Do’s And Don’ts When Traveling By Plane, As Pointed Out By Folks In This Online Group If you are taking a bus to the airport, and there is one that gets there 3 hours before your flight, and one that gets there half an hour before your flight. Take the one that's there 3 hours before and just have time to relax, and you don't have to worry about your bus being late/stuck in traffic.

FrenchWoodChesse , Simon_sees Report

Final score:

59points

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Emil Iyog 2 years ago

Buy an airline lounge access to use for long waits :)

9points

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#18

30 Do’s And Don’ts When Traveling By Plane, As Pointed Out By Folks In This Online Group I learned the hard way my first time flying overseas: drink a s**t ton of water while you're waiting on your layover. Just bring an empty canteen or aluminum water bottle to fill up at fountains.

I know you don't want to get up to pee all the time, but on a long haul flight you'll get sick, bloated, headachey, and dried out if you don't hydrate. Drink up. You'll thank me later.

BowmanTheShowman , faungg's photos Report

Final score:

58points

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JMil 2 years ago

Oy. I understand the sentiment. But I have been on delayed flights, sitting on the tarmac for a very long time, desperate to use the lav... Once the seatbelt light turns off, then I'll hydrate like crazy.

26points

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#19

30 Do’s And Don’ts When Traveling By Plane, As Pointed Out By Folks In This Online Group The most important tip: NEVER fly Spirit!

scotchleaf , Raymond Wambsgans Report

Final score:

51points

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Wooly 2 years ago

Talk about getting nickel and dimed… need air to breathe? $10 fee… Need to flush twice? $8… Frown? $2 per minute … Seatbelt click fee of $5 … Enjoy your flight!

27points

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#20

30 Do’s And Don’ts When Traveling By Plane, As Pointed Out By Folks In This Online Group Screenshot your boarding pass and keep your ID in your front pocket makes security as simple as possible. EVERYTHING goes in your bag before you even get in line (wallet, keys, belt, shoes).

Edit: Turn the brightness on your phone ALL THE WAY UP when presenting your boarding pass in security lines or when you board the plane.

Lock the orientation on your phone, with the QR code open, and place your phone about a foot above the scanner. Push the phone down onto the glass scanner, and then raise it back up. This is the best way to scan that QR code... those scanners can be finicky.

[deleted] , Nate B Report

Final score:

50points

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Talon 2 years ago

Also always have a picture of your ID, passport, ticket, and all the important files and stuff on your phone just in case

11points

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#21

30 Do’s And Don’ts When Traveling By Plane, As Pointed Out By Folks In This Online Group Pack half the clothes and twice the money.

If you have to check a bag, keep changes of underwear with you in your carry-on.

Over-the-ear headphones are much more comfortable for long haul flights than on-ear or buds.

Start doing stretches to limber up your hips and back a few weeks before a long flight.

Don't use public wifi. If you have to, use a VPN.

[deleted] , Todd Porter Report

Final score:

50points

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Jerry Mathers 2 years ago

I'll throw in after security, take a fast walk to the terminal gate. The exercise will help before you are stuck sitting for a few hours.

14points

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#22

30 Do’s And Don’ts When Traveling By Plane, As Pointed Out By Folks In This Online Group Don’t be a douchebag and assume everyone who’s the same race as the majority in that country is from that country. (My mother tried talking to a guy in Japanese, and he was like “dafaq? I’m from Canada “)

anon , Jun Seita Report

Final score:

49points

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Toni HA 2 years ago

Eh! 🇨🇦

19points

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#23

My personal favorite is taking a sturdy, empty, reusable water bottle and a bottle of Koolaid/Mio/etc concentrate. That way you have something yummy to drink, the concentrate is small enough to get through TSA, and you're not paying for expensive drinks past security.

Geekprincessia Report

Final score:

46points

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Patsy 2 years ago

Update to remove a down vote and honestly, a perfect idea! Those little concentrate bottles that you can squeeze into your water bottle are perfect!

27points

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#24

30 Do’s And Don’ts When Traveling By Plane, As Pointed Out By Folks In This Online Group There's a clip in the film Up In The Air where George Clooney basically profiles the respective people in the security line. Watch it; everything he touches on is correct. Then choose your line accordingly - tl;dr = line up with business travellers.

thekingoftherodeo , ERIC SALARD Report

Final score:

43points

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Carolyn Scott 2 years ago

Global Entry helps enter countries 'easier' but it also helps you use TSA Precheck.

9points

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#25

30 Do’s And Don’ts When Traveling By Plane, As Pointed Out By Folks In This Online Group The white zone is for loading and unloading only.. Do NOT stop in the red zone

theREDdot- , Avinash Bhat Report

Final score:

39points

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Remi (He/Him) 2 years ago

What is a red zone and where? And unloading what

33points

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#26

30 Do’s And Don’ts When Traveling By Plane, As Pointed Out By Folks In This Online Group 1. You will lose luggage eventually.

Be ready for that by having cash and essentials for overnight on your person.

2. If the overhead bins are completely full, they'll usually check your bag free.

So no need to worry about rushing the door before your group is called. Chill out. Wait for your group. You'll be fine.

3. Netflix episodes can be downloaded to watch offline. Great for when there's no in flight wifi.

thwinks , Stock Catalog Report

Final score:

38points

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JMil 2 years ago

I have mixed feelings about number 2. I'm the sucker that pays to check the bag because I don't want to fight for overhead space like a bloodsport, then a whole bunch of people end up getting theirs carted away without spending the $30+ like I did.

18points

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#27

30 Do’s And Don’ts When Traveling By Plane, As Pointed Out By Folks In This Online Group Take all that stuff out of your pockets before you get to the security checkpoint and put it in a small compartment on your carry-on. Now you have one less thing to juggle while trying to keep your belts-less pants up after going through the x-ray machine.

MyKidsArentOnReddit , Dan Moyle Report

Final score:

38points

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ArodTheHorrible 2 years ago

Plus, you won't look like an idiot for having stuff in your pockets still

9points

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#28

30 Do’s And Don’ts When Traveling By Plane, As Pointed Out By Folks In This Online Group Study the terminal maps before you get to a connecting airport. Knowing where you're going - especially with limited time to make a connecting flight - is a godsend.

[deleted] , Konstantinos Koukopoulos Report

Final score:

36points

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Eat Dirt Crow 2 years ago

We had a 1 1/2 hr layover in Newark from Europe. Didn't realize that you had to leave the secure area and go back through security for the domestic flight. We barely made it.

17points

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#29

30 Do’s And Don’ts When Traveling By Plane, As Pointed Out By Folks In This Online Group After traveling to the same cities multiple times, I make sure to know what each airport has to offer in case I have extra time there. For instance, Portland has a great little free theater with local short films. Many airports have massage places. Midway has a free use yoga studio. Sitting around being bored is for suckers.

[deleted] , whity Report

Final score:

35points

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BadCat 2 years ago (edited)

I find airports disorienting. Before you do anything leisurely, find your gate and pay attention to announcements of gate and time changes. I had a flight that changed gates 3 times at the airport in Toronto. That airport is a nightmare enough to navigate.

19points

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#30

30 Do’s And Don’ts When Traveling By Plane, As Pointed Out By Folks In This Online Group There's a little latch underneath the outside arm rests. When pulled, you can adjust your arm rest up or down. For larger people it can give you a few more inches of a** and hip space.

platyviolence , Phillip Capper Report

Final score:

24points

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MorgothBauglir 2 years ago

Yeah, but takes the space of people next to you.

28points

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#31

30 Do’s And Don’ts When Traveling By Plane, As Pointed Out By Folks In This Online Group If you fly a lot, get a rewards credit card with that airline. After flying frequently for work for a couple years, I now have platinum memberships with different airlines. Which means I get free checked bags, priority boarding, access to the lounge in airports that has free food and booze, and best of all free upgrades to first class if there are open seats. Not to mention all the free flights I've gotten from racking up points on the card. My company reimburses my flights, so I charge them to the card but get to keep all the points for personal use

[deleted] , Tomás Del Coro Report

Final score:

9points

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JMil 2 years ago

Unfortunately I can't use personal credit cards for business trips, just corporate cards that don't have such perks.

3points

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#32

30 Do’s And Don’ts When Traveling By Plane, As Pointed Out By Folks In This Online Group You wanna know the secret to surviving air travel? After you get where you're going, take off your shoes and your socks then walk around on the rug bare foot and make fists with your toes.

SternumBush , imke.sta Report

Final score:

7points

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elsieairhead 2 years ago

Hahaha! Seriously though, I used to see a chiropractor who swore by taking his shoes off when he got outside of the airport and "grounded" himself by standing bare foot on grass or pavement for a little while. Said it cured jet lag. Never tried it, can't testify to any truth in this.

1point

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#33

30 Do’s And Don’ts When Traveling By Plane, As Pointed Out By Folks In This Online Group I carry one of those neck pillows in it's neck pillow bag clipped on to my carryon. I put everything in there I want to have quick access to in the flight. My tablet, headphones, cables, and a pen if flying international. That way I don't have to get up and try digging through my carryon after I'm already seated.

Plus I leave that stuff in there and it doesn't have to touch the inside of the seat back pocket.

blargh2947 , DanaK~WaterPenny Report

Final score:

7points

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BadCat 2 years ago

Definitely bring a pen. Not everyone will be willing to let you borrow theirs to fill out the customs forms, and flight attendants don't hand them out.

7points

#34

If there are no good ($0) seats left during seat selection proceed without selecting a seat. There's a good chance all the crap middle seats will get selected by others and you'll end up getting a seat they were trying to charge $30 for.

dinardo Report

Final score:

5points

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BadCat 2 years ago

For Air Canada, you can assign a seat for free 24 hours before you board. You've already bought your ticket, so you're still entitled to be on the flight. You may not get the exact perfect seat you want, but you save money.

6points

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#35

30 Do’s And Don’ts When Traveling By Plane, As Pointed Out By Folks In This Online Group ONLY people in the bulkhead should put both of their bags in the overhead bins.

sln84 , Hideyuki KAMON Report

Final score:

1point

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BadCat 2 years ago

You don't have much choice. You're only allowed to place smaller bags under the seat. Those carry on luggages have to be placed in the overhead bin. If you don't do it the flight attendant will.

6points

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What do you think ?

zak 2 years ago

Get noise canceling headphones. That way you don't have to turn your volume up to 11 in order to hear movie/tv dialogue over the sound of the engines or that crying baby. Best money I ever spent.

13points

Memere 2 years ago (edited)

One thing that really angers me is the a$$holes who will put their carry-on in an overhead bin close to the front, then go sit in the back of the plane. Then the person who is sitting towards the front has to find an overhead bin in another row from where they're sitting. Put your carry-on in the bin above where you sit, you jerk!

Gilbert Slater 2 years ago

Absolutely. Flight crew should police this behavior too.

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Zophra 2 years ago

Also, my doctor prescribes me 4 pills - 2 going and 2 coming home of valium/diazepam for anxiety. It helps tremendously if you're like me an nervous about the "no escape"/"no control" situation of being on the plane.

8points

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30 Do’s And Don’ts When Traveling By Plane, As Pointed Out By Folks In This Online Group

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