Flying can be a stressful experience to say the least. But, you can make it easier by observing good inflight etiquette. Not only will it prevent conflicts with other passengers, but it can also score you perks and privileges from grateful flight attendants. To get the most out of your air-bound travels, here are just a few etiquette tips to take note of the next time you fly.

Be Polite to Flight Attendants

First things first: Treat your flight attendants well. Smile at them when you enter the plane, and say “please” and “thank you” when they deliver any food items. If you encounter any kind of problem, flag them down without raising your voice. And, don’t blame the flight attendants or accuse them of anything that’s out of their control. (They don’t fly the plane, they don’t control the weather, and they’re not the ones to blame when your carry-on bag doesn’t fit.)

You might be surprised at how often other passengers lack these basic courtesies. So by having good manners, you can make yourself memorable in a good way. Your flight attendants will remember you when there are extra sodas to go around. The same thing goes for gate attendants, boarding agents, and ticketing clerks. It’s a nice little hack for getting free upgrades on flights! As grandma always said, you get more flies with honey than with vinegar.

Don’t Take Off Your Shoes or Socks

It’s one thing to go barefoot during a road trip with friends and family, but a commercial airplane isn’t your personal property. You shouldn’t force strangers to deal with the sight or smell of your feet. This is especially true if you’ve been walking around the airport all day!

Another thing to consider is the germs that you might catch and spread with your bare feet. You have no idea what’s been on those plane floors. You don’t want to pick up all kinds of microorganisms with floor-to-skin contact. Taking off your shoes/socks could increase your risk of warts, athlete’s foot, bacterial and fungal infections, and more. You could also be exposing future passengers to the same hazards.

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Don’t Hog the Overhead Space

Baggage costs are on the rise. Therefore, it makes sense to save money by cramming as much into your carry-on luggage as possible. However, it’s considered bad inflight etiquette to take up more than your fair share of the overhead bins. It might even be against airline policy.

For example, if you have a laptop case and a carry-on bag, the laptop case might be considered a “personal carry-on item” and need to be stowed at your feet. Another no-no is to stuff the overhead bin with your jackets, pillows, souvenirs, or other non-bag items. It’s meant to be for luggage only. Let’s try and save some room for other passengers.

Don’t Argue. With Anyone

Flying brings out the worst in some people. In fact, bad behavior is on the rise. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, investigations into passenger misconduct have risen from the hundreds to the thousands in just a few short years.

If you see or hear another passenger getting into an argument or causing a fuss in some way, the best thing to do is just ignore it. Mind your own business. Even a well-meaning interjection like “hey, let’s stay calm” can just make people more upset. The only action that you should take during a passenger meltdown is to call over a flight attendant if they aren’t already aware of the situation.

Accommodate Your Seatmates

Seating arrangements can be tricky on a flight, especially longer international flights. Who controls the armrests? Who gets to say when the window shade goes up or down? In general, the Golden Rule applies here: treat others as you would want them to treat you. Even better, treat them as you would want them to treat your grandmother.

One thing that isn’t up for debate is letting your seatmates pass. If you’re in the aisle seat, you simply have to let the middle- and window-seaters pass by you. They might need to go to the bathroom or to get something out of the overhead bins. They might just need to stretch their legs for a bit. Regardless of their reasons, you’re obligated to let them by. You can’t trap them in their seats. So be a good sport about it. Don’t sigh or grumble under your breath. And don’t refuse to move and make them clamber awkwardly around you.

Remember: The inconveniences of travel are no reason to take things out on other people. Don’t be a jerk! 

What other inflight etiquette tips can you think of? Share them with us in the comments below!