Airport Bad Behavior: Boarding Area No-Nos

by Christopher Elliott / SLF

It’s the complainers that make frequent travelers such as Shawn L. Fitzpatrick complain — specifically, the folks who shuffle around the airport waiting area, griping about something over which neither they nor their airline has any control.

On a recent flight, Fitzpatrick witnessed something remarkable: As a passenger whined loudly about a weather delay, a pilot stepped forward to calmly explain why flying in a storm was a bad idea. “He said, ‘It’s always better to be down here wishing you were up there instead of up there wishing you were down here,’ ” remembers Fitzpatrick, an Activity Director from Los Angeles. Words to live by.

The scenario is also instructive. Almost every bus ride, flight and plane trip starts with a brief stop in a waiting area. Now more than ever, what happens in that boarding area sets the tone for the entire trip.

Which brings up the question: How exactly do you behave? No bellyaching about that blizzard, obviously. What else? You don’t have to be a frequent traveler or an etiquette expert to know any of this. Your parents should have taught these good manners to you. But in a day and age when we can’t take good manners for granted, what’s the harm of a reminder?

Do you have a right to a seat in the waiting area?
Generally, no. It’s first-come, first-served. The color of your loyalty card doesn’t matter here. “If there is an elderly person (standing), give up your seat,” says Toronto manners expert Adeodata Czink. Also, surrender your seat to pregnant women, families with kids under 2 and anyone traveling with these groups.

To whom does the power outlet next to my seat belong?
“It belongs to the first person to use it,” says Rohan Gupta, a vice president for a software company in Sterling, Va., and a frequent air traveler. But don’t forget to share. The savviest frequent travelers carry extension cords, and they offer their plugs to others who need a charge. It’s the polite thing to do.

Can I ever put my feet up?
No, not unless you have a medical condition that requires your feet be elevated.

May I bring food to my boarding area seat and eat it?
Sure. But keep it light and avoid overly spicy fare, which can be distracting to your fellow passengers. If you want a full meal, sit down at one of the restaurants in the terminal, and eat in a civilized way. I speak from experience. I’ve arrived at my destination with more stained pants than I care to admit from eating takeout at my seat.

May I save seats for my party?
Yes, but there’s a limit. “If the waiting area is not yet crowded, reserving one or two seats by placing your bag in one of them and sitting two seats away is acceptable,” says Sharon Schweitzer, the founder of Austin-based Protocol & Etiquette Worldwide and a frequent traveler. “However, if the waiting area fills up and your party hasn’t shown, let those who have already arrived take the seats, and reunite with your party during boarding or at your destination.”

When can I stand near the gate to board?
When they call your group. Don’t crowd the boarding area, it’s rude.

Is it OK to make a phone call?
Yes, but it’s not an absolute right. If you fire up your phone, be mindful of those around you. “The best choice is to go somewhere more private to talk,” advises frequent flier Tim Pylant, an engineer from Austin. “But if not, then be considerate, and keep your volume down.” Also, always use headphones when listening to music or watching a movie.

Alternate Waiting Areas – don’t want to wait with everyone else? Try these alternatives.

• Buy your way into the lounge. You don’t have to be a first-class passenger to get access to a quieter, well-appointed airport lounge. You can buy a day pass or flash a credit card with lounge benefits or check an app such as Loungebuddy, which allows you to purchase lounge access online.

• Take the kids to their own waiting area. Several airports have kids’ play areas. At Los Angeles International Airport, it’s a section called “LAX Beach,” and it features sculpted foam artwork resembling waves, surfboards and beach toys.

• Visit the military-only lounge. Many major airports offer USO Welcome Centers, which cater to troops and military family members transiting through the airport. Among the amenities: business stations with internet access, gaming stations, a sleeping room and complimentary food and drinks.

 – Christopher Elliott is a consumer advocate and editor at large for National Geographic Traveler.

“Do not go where the path leads, travel instead where there is no path and leave a trail.”  @wbbrjp

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