Communication Coach Roshini Rajkumar Offers Tips for Friendly Flights Roshini Rajkumar, Communication Coach and founder of Roshini Performance Group, may offer your audience airplane etiquette for the upcoming spring travel season. As we all know, traveling with others on a plane can be a challenge! Roshini offers communication strategies to make yours a pleasant one, along with those seated next to you. After all, nobody wants an Alec Baldwin incident! See below for Roshini’s tips on doing your part to keep peace in the air.
Airplane Etiquette 101
•Use your indoor voice.
•Be aware of how much you drink as to not get tipsy or drunk.
•Share the armrest. The rule tends to be the passengers on the aisle and window each get one armrest; the poor soul in the middle gets two.
•If you are on an aisle or window, lean that direction and give the person in the middle more breathing room.
•When reclining your seat, do it slowly and gently as to not smash the person’s knees behind you. Remember that, although you want to be as comfortable as possible, the person behind you needs leg room as well.
•Use headphone for electronic devices. People around you do not need to listen to your music or movie.
•Store your carry-on above YOUR row. Do not grab the first overhead bin you see. That space belongs to someone else.
•Dress comfortably, but appropriately. Remember you will be sitting next to strangers and they do not need to look at your cleavage the whole plane ride. Be freshly bathed and avoid strong perfumes and colognes.
•Consider using the bathroom when other folks in your row are using it as well. Avoid making people get in and out of their seats several times.
•The window shade is not a toy. Put it up or leave it down. Do not continue to play with it. If putting it down, ask others in your row they mind. Some passengers might need it open for a sense of calm and safety.
•Cell phones should not be used on a plane. Games and other devices should only be used when deemed appropriate by airplane personnel and with headphones.
•Do not bring food on the plane that will have a strong or lingering smell.
•Wait until your row has arrived to leave the plane. There is no need to jump on and clog the aisles. Waiting patiently, in your seat, will make the deplaning process much easier. •Try your best not to be annoyed with kids on the plane. Parents are trying to best to make the plane ride as peaceful and as enjoyable as possible for both their child and for you.
•Offer polite chitchat with your seatmate, but know when the conversation should end. If your seatmate is trying to read or waiting to work, give them the change to use the time how they would choose.
•Carry your bag in front of you as you walk down the aisle. This will help you avoid hitting other passengers as you walk by them.
•Don’t grab the seat in front of you when you are getting up from your seat. You will yank the seat back and bother the person in front of you.
When Traveling with Kids
•Bring all the proper gear for feeding, napping, changing, soothing, etc. so their basic needs can always be met without leaving their seat.
Keep your kids busy. Make sure you bring enough activities to keep them happy.
Do not let them continue to kick the seat in front of them or continuously put up and bring down the tray table.
Be prepared to entertain the entire way. This will not be a relaxing flight for you. You will not get to read your book or take a nap.
Author: Roshini Rajkumar is an executive communication coach and author of book Communicate That!, where she shares insider tips for dynamic communication and authentic presentations. Learn more at www.CommunicateThatBook.com.