How to deal with “air”ttitude: dos and don’ts for rude passengers
A crying baby. The guy with his headphones turned up so loud you can hear everything. The woman who’s leaned her seat back too far. Rude passengers can be one of the worst parts of flying. Here are some dos and don’ts for how to deal with those passengers and still maintain your own sanity.
Do stay polite
Air travel can be stressful, and when someone does something rude, sometimes it takes everything we have to stay calm. Be aware that how you approach the situation will have a direct impact to how it is resolved. Yelling at another passenger or making nasty comments to the flight attendant won’t get you anywhere. But bringing the offense to someone’s attention in a calm, respectful way will get you a lot further. You catch more flies with honey.
Do stay clear-headed
We can all get a little, ahem, rowdy after a drink or two. That can only make a bad situation worse. You will have plenty of time to enjoy some alcoholic beverages when you arrive at your destination and aren’t stuck in closed quarters with hundreds of people. For now, stay calm and drink some water.
Do know when to speak up
Flight attendants are there for your safety, but they are also there as quasi-customer service agents. If you have a problem with another passenger and are too uncomfortable to handle it by yourself, then speak up! Flight attendants are trained to handle these situations. It’s their job.
Don’t turn to technology to solve your problems
Turning up your music to drown out someone’s snoring or using a device to stop someone from leaning their seat back will only turn you into an equally rude passenger as those who have frustrated you. Instead of using technology to solve your problems, try a little bit of human interaction.
Don’t sweat the small stuff
Flying can be stressful for everyone and tensions can run high. Before you start an argument or lodge a complaint, ask yourself, “Is this really a big deal?”
And when all else fails, do laugh it off
Because sometimes that’s all you can do. And remember: who doesn’t love hearing a ridiculous travel story? At the very least you’ll have a good story to tell your family and friends when you land at your destination.
Following these tips will ensure that your next flying experience is a much more pleasant one. Happy travels!
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