Let’s be honest, being crammed like sardines into a relatively small tube for hours on end isn’t exactly ‘fun’. With airlines, location is everything. I’d love to simply suggest “Always fly first class”, but that is a luxury that most folks can’t afford on a regular basis.

Here are a few tips for making the decision on where to sit.

Window Seat

Window seats are good if you don’t plan to move much. It’s nice to have the wall of the plane to lean into for a little extra room.

Aisle Seat

Aisle seats are good if you have long legs, or know that you will need to be up and down a bit. It’s always awkward to ask the 2 people sitting next to you to wake up so you can go use the bathroom.

Front of Plane

There are a few reasons why the front of plane seats are more sought-after, and often cost more money. If you have a short connection, it’s great to get off the plane right away. Actually it’s always nice to get off the plane right away, I mean who wants to spend extra time on an airplane? Also you are closer to the bathrooms, and these seats are often slightly larger than the seats in the back. And for whatever reason, it’s always much louder in the back of the plane.

Emergency Row

As long as you are not a child, you can sit in the Emergency Row. Some airlines charge a premium to sit here. But if you can grab an emergency row seat, do it! You need to be able to answer the questions the flight attendant asks about being willing and able to help in an actual emergency. So don’t forget how important that is. If you can answer yes, you’ll be rewarded with a few extra inches of legroom and seats near the front of the plane.

Upgrade to Premium Economy

Premium Economy seats are available on the major airlines, such as Delta, American Airlines and United Airlines. These seats have more legroom, are towards the front of the plane, and offer added amenities such as free alcohol, entertainment and early boarding. They come at a premium cost, but they are much less than the price of a First Class ticket. And oftentimes, you can justify the cost for the experience. Consider this option if you have to fly across the country, or take an overnight flight and go right to work when you land. It’s totally worth it.

Contact your Must Love Travel Planner today!

With Holiday Travel about to hit full swing I thought I would share some tips for travel etiquette.  Travel can be stressful for people who don’t travel frequently, especially during the busy holiday season.  For those of us that do travel often, our tempers can run high because we are impatient with others.  I hope this article will make you laugh, sigh, and provide you with a little insight into airplane etiquette.

At one point or another, you’ve probably all sat next to THAT person on the airplane. I recently had the chance to join my husband while he traveled on business and was just so overwhelmed by the amount of rudeness etc. that I just wanted to share some travel etiquette with you.
Perhaps people don’t travel often or perhaps in this day and age, they simply don’t think about their fellow passengers like they should. Let’s step outside ourselves for a moment though and think about how to be considerate when you travel.

1. When you board your aircraft…please, stow your smaller bags like purses and backpacks under the seat in front of you. Many people bring rollerboards onboard these days as carry-on and you really should be leaving the overhead bin for them. If you have an empty seat between you and someone else, don’t assume that you should just go ahead and use that tray table and area for yourself.

2. Don’t take your shoes off and keep your feet in your seat area….this isn’t your hotel room or your personal house, you are sharing with strangers that probably don’t want want your feet by them. Going along with that….don’t put your feet up on the bulkhead..again, be considerate of people around you. It’s just rude.  And PLEASE….put your shoes back on before you go the airplane lavatory….as a flight attendant friend likes to say, “That’s not apple juice on the floor!”

3. Pay attention in security screening areas….listen to what TSA is telling you. Everyone is trying to get where they are going with minimal hassle. If you’re unsure of procedure, ask before you get in line, read the website before you leave for the airport, educate yourself. Nothing is more annoying than being stuck behind the person who has the bottle of water in their bag, the change in their pocket, etc. Because they simply didn’t pay attention and now they are holding up the line.

4. Everyone will get served on the flight…for no reason should you feel it’s necessary to reach into the flight attendant’s cart and help yourself. Nor should you really feel the need to ask for 6 bags of pretzels for yourself. Seriously, I watched this happen on my flight….I was incredulous.

5. Just be polite….we all have bad days, we’re all trying to get someplace….remember to just be nice. It will make the journey go faster.

Flight resources:
Your airline’s website FAQ’s
TSA’s website
State Department’s Travel Page

I’m always happy to chat with you about travel and questions you might have so feel free to contact me at Carrie@MustLoveTravel.com or call direct at (321) 323-9835.

________________________________________________________________________________

Blogger, Traveler, Wife, Runner….I’m known as many different things.  But I’m here to be your Travel Professional.  Ever since I was a little girl I had an interest in travel. I would collect the postcards books that my grandparents brought back to me from their travels and I kept them in a special box that I loved to pull out and flip through. As I traveled with my family I started collecting postcards on my own and pictures, maps, and other mementos of my travels.

Believe it or not, I still have those postcards and every once in awhile I’ll bring them out and flip through smiling at the memories they bring back. Although I might not collect postcards anymore I collect photos, stories and information on my travels. I love to soak up a destination, reveling in the local food life. I absolutely love sharing my travel stories, foodie moments and special encounters.