I try not recline when in coach. It’s only fair, since I can’t let the person in front of me recline. My knees simply don’t let them.
I try to avoid anything that involves sitting an an airplane bathroom, because the knees (again) make the door hard to close. In some configurations I know which is the big bathroom or which bathroom has the transverse toilet, so it’s not so bad. For 16 hour flights, it’s not always possible to hold it.
I love traveling by plane. However, I do not like to use the restroom. I am a very friendly person, but I do respect that others may be shy or not want to talk, so I always let my seatmate set the conversation level.
Sorry, voted w/o reading. On short flights I generally don’t do any of the things you list except recline the seat. When you push 5 hours, I might need the bathroom, but normally I’d just rather dehydrate myself so I don’t need it. That’s what I do now on my 10 hour bus trips to Tokyo.
I will NOT sit next to an overweight person. I have asked (successfully) to switch when I find myself in a situation. I also always try to sit in an exit aisle seat. Also, I try to avoid the restroom at all costs. I have peed on the wall several times due to turbulence.
I generally make sure everything I want for the flight is with me in a small tote bag (book, MP3 player, water, etc.) so I don’t need to access the overhead bins. It’s just awkward and you run the risk of biffing other passengers on the head.
I don’t recline my seat. The seat room is small enough for everyone already.
I usually don’t request things from the attendants, because I usually make sure I have what I might want. I’ll grab a pillow and blanket out of the overhead bins as I’m boarding if I think I want them - there are always ones shoved in the bin just lying there, as far as I can remember.
I don’t mind conversation, and sometimes the conversations are interesting and fun, but I always let the other passenger(s) initiate them. If the other passenger(s) are annoying bores, I get out the earplugs for my MP3 player.
Flying SUCKS. No matter where, or for what reason, it’s something that one must grit one’s teeth to get through, so I try to avoid making it more unpleasant for other people as well as myself.
I’ll just act like a normal human being. If I need something out of the over head bin, I’ll get it with as much politeness as required. If the person next to me wants to talk, I am Ok with that , although I won’t initiate the conversation. Certainly drinks and comfort items (does Vodka Cranberry count as a comfort item?) if needed. I’ll recline when on long haul and not in business, but only when the lights are going out. No issues using the can, although I always give it a visual once over from the doorway before entering. Bad occasion when I didn’t, I leapt out of the bathroom, scared the crap out of the flight attendent and was dry heaving, it was nasty.
Pro tip: if you brace your hand or head against the wall in front or above you, you can then pretend your dick is gyroscopically stable while your body moves around it.
I chose “Use the restroom”. See the long-winded complaint about airplane aisle chairs in GD for the reason why. 
I mostly travel internationally, so some of these are pretty hard not to do in a 15 hour stretch. I never drink alcohol on planes, it just makes my dehydration worse and I am not the least bit interested in talking to my seat mate beyond the brief hello.
Yeesh, I had no idea so many people were so neurotic about flying.
You get on the plane, you do something to occupy your mind until you land, you get off. I don’t make any special attempt to do or not do anything.
By this logic, no one seated behind the exit rows should ever recline their seat.
In my opinion, if you end up with the last seat in the plane, you’re stuck with someone’s head in your lap and you have no right to complain about it. Next time get your ticket earlier.
Didn’t we have a thread about whether or not to recline fully? Maybe the airlines should be offering discounts for seats that don’t have the same benefits as all the other seats on the plane.
And sometimes you just get placed there by random computer action.
+1 on reclining the seats in economy. I might do it if I can see that the person behind me has their seat back and appears to be in a coma. Personally, I get all stabby when somebody tries to crush my laptop/meal/book in order to show me their hair lice instead. I’m the real reason why they don’t allow sharp objects on planes any more.
i guess the thread title has gone one further than i would like to do for starters, which is get on the bloody thing. i hate flying. if i absolutely have to (and can’t get train or boat), then i’ll get as drunk as i can get without running the risk of not being allowed on the flight. if i’m going to die, i want to die drunk. i just hope the pilot isn’t following the same philosophy
Or be 6’2" (or taller), like me and have your knees rammed up against the seat in front before they recline. Being British, I’m far too polite to ask someone to put their seat back up as they are in the process of destroying my knees. Far better to sit through it and then moan like a bastard for the next week.
This happened to us last year on the flight from Singapore to London. 14 hours of the pricks in front with their seats back and we were like sardines.
I don’t eat what airlines laughingly refer to as food.
On an international flight all bets are off. But since you specified short flights of < 5 hours I do tend to avoid doing anything and just try to ride it out.
International flights, however, I do try not to touch the overhead compartment, I don’t ask the attendant for anything, and I never order anything. But as soon as the person in front of me reclines, I recline. I’ll eat anything they throw at me in an attempt to ward off boredom. I’ll even talk to the people next to me if they seem willing. I’ll go to the toilet 11ty bajillion times. When I’m in my seat I vibrate quietly in place.
Hate flying, hate hate hate it 
I’ll use the restroom if I have to - but they’re tiny and smelly and I hate it so I try not to have to!
Comfort items? what are those? Pillows / blankets? I haven’t seen those on an airplane in years!
Overhead bin? Well, if I absolutely have to but I do try not to. Too much trouble.
I think I answered incorrectly. I only voted for “talking with strangers” (which I would never want to do), but I would mildly prefer to avoid doing most of the things on that list. The exception is getting drinks & snacks; I always get those and sometimes I even ask for extra water since planes are so dry.
And I should add that apart from Adelaide, every flight to a capital city here is at least 5 hours so we get a bit strange I guess.