I recently returned from an intercontinental trip that totaled eight flight segments. Although this does not make me an experienced globetrotter like one of those million-milers, the many flights allowed me to see how society’s rules often deteriorate as our stress level increases. To make airplane travel a pleasant experience for everyone, I’ve jotted down a few unwritten rules to follow when we take to the friendly skies.

First is security. We all need to show our picture identification and boarding pass to the TSA agent in the plexiglass cubicle, so have these items ready when it’s your turn. This means having all the correct documents in your hand, not in the bottom of your bag.

Being efficient is the first rule in a multi-step process to get to the gate without snarky glances from everyone else in line. Then put all your belongings into the large, gray bins and don’t ask if you need to take off your shoes, pull out your computer, or take off your belt. Just do it and don’t act all surprised when the process is slightly different than at your small, regional airport. Remember, being a good listener helps keep the line moving and will help everyone have a more sanitary experience because we all want to put our shoes back on as quickly as possible.

Next, remember to stay right for your own safety. If you are one who gets to the airport with plenty of time to leisurely stroll to the gate or have a travel partner that makes you arrive more than two hours before departure, then please walk throughout the terminal on the right-hand side of everything. This is a straightforward and common courtesy that also goes for escalators, walkways, and while window-shopping through duty-free.

Kindly leave the left lane open for the likes of me, an individual who runs to the gate with her travel backpack flapping against her spine, sweat dripping between her breasts, and shrieking, “Excuse me, I’m on your left.” Best to pay attention and keep your kids close on those moving walkways because my pack and people like me will clobber you senseless if you don’t move over to the right lane fast enough.

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While we wait to board the plane, please conduct your last-minute phone conversations in hushed tones away from the crowded gate. I have been a reluctant bystander in discussions over dinner plans, spats with loved ones, and have inadvertently sat in on meetings not meant for me. We all know you have important business that needs to be buttoned up before take-off, but our pre-flight jitters don’t need the fuel of your stressful board meeting with your overcaffeinated coworkers.

Once in flight, snacks and meals should be taken as if you were sitting next to a Bloodhound, a dog with 40 times more olfactory receptors than humans. Airplanes typically serve food that is easy to eat with a pleasant smell, meaning they won’t be serving cauliflower or cabbage. Therefore, if you choose to buy a quick meal at the kiosk near the gate, think twice before picking up the egg salad or healthy-option tuna fish sandwich. 

Getting comfortable. Comfort is elusive on a flight unless you’re on a Dreamliner in first class. For the rest of us back in coach, following a few additional courtesies could make the experience less brutal on the body, especially on a long-haul flight.

For starters, we need think of the armrest as a boundary. An individual’s space should be confined to the space between the armrests and includes all the way down to the toes. Do not splay your legs all over the sides. Next, the only person who has the right to use the middle armrest is the person seated in the middle seat. Consider this a small luxury for being awarded the worst seat in the row.

Additionally, we all need to acknowledge that the little reclining button on the armrest is false advertising. It routinely causes physical stress for the button’s owner because tilting back 3 inches in no way alleviates back pain or the snoring and drooling when trying to take a nap. There’s also the emotional stress the reclining button causes the individual seated directly behind the button pusher, because once engaged, the reclining seat is as obscene as a foot to the groin. 

Lastly, when the plane’s wheels touch the tarmac during landing, we are not even close to getting off the plane. Stand down. There’s no need to get out of the seat or retrieve overhead luggage unless you are late for a connecting flight and let everyone around you knows your itinerary beforehand. We still need to taxi from the runway, arrive at the gate, and then wait for the ground crew to usher us in. Every kindergarten teacher taught us how to file out of rows smoothly without chaos, so we should all follow this systematic protocol every time. Failure to do so adds to the overall stress flying induces in so many of us.

We’re no longer in the “golden age” of air travel that was marked by comfort, elegance, and high-quality service. Nowadays we often fly stressed, dehydrated, constipated, and in general discomfort — but it doesn’t have to be that way. If we arm ourselves with a little common courtesy, a glass of water, a couple of stool softeners, and a quality travel pillow, we could bring back a truly positive experience for those seeking a special journey in the sky.

Andrea Chacos lives in Carbondale, balancing work and happily raising three children with her husband. She strives to dodge curveballs life likes to throw with a bit of passion, humor and some flair.