# Some tips for those who are about to go on an airplane flight for the first time ever **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 16, 2013, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-tips-for-those-who-are-about-to-go-on-an-airplane-flight-for-the-first-time-ever/676462 "2013-12-16T14:09:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-tips-for-those-who-are-about-to-go-on-an-airplane-flight-for-the-first-time-ever/676462/161 "2013-12-20T05:50:22Z")
> [@CanvasShoes](#): > > I’ve been lucky enough to have never been on a plane where the seats reclined into the face of the person behind, or reclined on the bottom half into the knees of the person behind, or really reclined much more than an inch or two. Same here. Never on any flight I have ever taken has the person in front of me reclining had any big effect on how much space I had. No one has ever reclined “into my lap” :rolleyes: like people on this board are so fond of exaggerating. The tray tables aren’t affected by the seat reclining, so reclining during a meal makes no difference. I have never heard anyone on a flight tell people they could not recline while meals were being served. That’s a new one. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-tips-for-those-who-are-about-to-go-on-an-airplane-flight-for-the-first-time-ever/676462/162 "2013-12-20T07:36:22Z")
How tall are you? I’m 6’1 and people reclining absolutely do affect me, me knees are almost touching the seat back before anyone reclines and you absolutely are not supposed to recline during meal service. ETA: anyone ever try these [The original Knee Defender - travel gadgets accessory - airplane legroom, DVT - travel accessories](http://www.gadgetduck.com/goods/kneedefender.html)? ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-tips-for-those-who-are-about-to-go-on-an-airplane-flight-for-the-first-time-ever/676462/163 "2013-12-20T12:56:41Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > How tall are you? I’m 6’1 and people reclining absolutely do affect me, me knees are almost touching the seat back before anyone reclines and you absolutely are not supposed to recline during meal service. > > ETA: anyone ever try these [http://www.gadgetduck.com/goods/kneedefender.html](http://www.gadgetduck.com/goods/kneedefender.html)? Looks like you have to choose between crushing your knees and having the knife edge of the tray aimed at your belly for the flight. ---
**Author:** ![DragonAsh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/db5fbb/32.png) [@DragonAsh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DragonAsh)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-tips-for-those-who-are-about-to-go-on-an-airplane-flight-for-the-first-time-ever/676462/164 "2013-12-20T14:00:46Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > Same here. Never on any flight I have ever taken has the person in front of me reclining had any big effect on how much space I had. No one has ever reclined “into my lap” :rolleyes: like people on this board are so fond of exaggerating. **The tray tables aren’t affected by the seat reclining,** so reclining during a meal makes no difference. I have never heard anyone on a flight tell people they could not recline while meals were being served. That’s a new one. Um, mostly incorrect, unless you’re on one of the few airlines where the seat reclines by shifting the bottom portion of the seat forward while the back stays in place. These are rare in economy class. Far more likely is the back of the seat reclines, and the tray table reclines with it. Or at the very least the seat is so far back you can’t actually get to your tray of (mostly inedible) food. There’s a reason they ask you to stow arm rests/tray tables and put seat backs upright on takeoff & landing… ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-tips-for-those-who-are-about-to-go-on-an-airplane-flight-for-the-first-time-ever/676462/165 "2013-12-20T14:31:36Z")
> [@DiosaBellissima](#): > > Why didn’t you just ask the flight attendant to ask them to move their seat? On more than one occasion, I’ve had the FA bring a meal while the person in front of me was reclined in my crotch. I’ve never even had to say anything-- I just shrug at the FA and point down to the person laying on me. Every single time, the FA has politely told the person in front of me, “I’m sorry, but you need to have your seat in upright position during meal times. I’ll let you know when it’s good to recline again.” > > I mean, I guess it’s better to be a passive aggressive baby and clip fingernails at them (WHO CLIPS THEIR FUCKING FINGERNAILS ON A PLANE? JESUS CHRIST). > > Seriously. I fly a lot and am generally anti recline (at least anti full recline), but just _ask the flight attendants_, that’s what they are there for. I did, he asked during the meal service, she feigned sleep,or she did not care! Really there was no room for me to contort myself to reach my bag on the floor under the seat and get my emery board, i would have snapped my neck, the guy next to me tried to reach my bag too, even with his face tween my knees he could not reach it! so i bit off the hangnail and flicked it away, happened to be at the lady in fornt of me. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-tips-for-those-who-are-about-to-go-on-an-airplane-flight-for-the-first-time-ever/676462/166 "2013-12-20T14:42:47Z")
> [@chela](#): > > I did, he asked during the meal service, she feigned sleep,or she did not care! _This_ is when you grab onto the seat in front of you and started bouncing it up and down, hard. I’m 6 feet tall, and i have no problem with people reclining their seats in front of me. And this is even the case when i’ve got a drink and a packet of nuts or whatever other crappy snack they serve. But on a long flight during proper meal service that seat-back better be upright. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-tips-for-those-who-are-about-to-go-on-an-airplane-flight-for-the-first-time-ever/676462/167 "2013-12-20T15:23:01Z")
What I do is start reading the paper and letting it rest on the top of their head. They move. ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-tips-for-those-who-are-about-to-go-on-an-airplane-flight-for-the-first-time-ever/676462/168 "2013-12-20T15:52:38Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > Same here. Never on any flight I have ever taken has the person in front of me reclining had any big effect on how much space I had. No one has ever reclined “into my lap” :rolleyes: like people on this board are so fond of exaggerating. The tray tables aren’t affected by the seat reclining, so reclining during a meal makes no difference. I have never heard anyone on a flight tell people they could not recline while meals were being served. That’s a new one. Well, I have to admit, my experiences with flying are mostly within Alaska Airlines which are (IMHO), reasonably comfortable (as comfortable as a plane seat can be). ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-tips-for-those-who-are-about-to-go-on-an-airplane-flight-for-the-first-time-ever/676462/169 "2013-12-20T16:03:23Z")
> [@DragonAsh](#): > > Lovely, another thing you’re wrong about! > Cite? > > It might be tradition, it might be habit…but it’s not ‘industry standard’. Unless technical writers all only work on typewriters, never ever publish anything (or simply decide to ignore every publisher guidelines & style guides (CMOS etc) in the world). > > And you’re still wrong about the sugar high, btw. Continue to believe ‘what you know to be true, science be damned’. Within the industry I work in, it is industry standard, I didn’t say it was THE industry standard across the entire world. Within the DoD, and other three letter gov’t agencies for whom I write site reports, that is the standard. Times New Roman (though there are a few renegades who insist upon [blech] Arial), double space, after a sentence 12 pts after a paragraph 1.0 NOT 1 on the first chapter, etc). It sounds as if you work, or are familiar with computer manual type standards, I’m not surprised that they would make type as unpleasant as possible with squished together words and ugly font. As to the sugar, other studies (as I put with just two sites) support that there are affects. Something happens with some kids when they eat half a bag of Halloween candy (or too much cake after a church social etc.) if not sugar, then what? What turns a perfectly (okay, relatively) normal kid into Princess Motormouth? So you’ve never seen it, okay fine. I have. As have other moms who were outlined in the links I posted. ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-tips-for-those-who-are-about-to-go-on-an-airplane-flight-for-the-first-time-ever/676462/170 "2013-12-20T16:20:40Z")
requested cite [http://www.jber.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-100107-097.pdf](http://www.jber.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-100107-097.pdf) I’m not going to post to my documents due to my wish to remain anonymous, but here is one done quite a bit before I started in that particular area and which I worked on in later documents. Just a guideline, but the full on reports are the same across all agencies within my industry. ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-tips-for-those-who-are-about-to-go-on-an-airplane-flight-for-the-first-time-ever/676462/171 "2013-12-20T16:22:27Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > What I do is start reading the paper and letting it rest on the top of their head. They move. om gosh, i almost did that with my seatmates paper. I was able to fall asleep with my forehead leaning against the seat, thought about flipping my hair over her face… ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-tips-for-those-who-are-about-to-go-on-an-airplane-flight-for-the-first-time-ever/676462/172 "2013-12-20T17:28:17Z")
Well, I’m sitting at the gate at San Diego airport right now. I’ll be interested to see what sort of retarded behavior people manage on our short flight to San Francisco. One thing that really struck me when we were checking in was how few people print out their boarding passes before getting to the airport. Southwest has separate lines for people who need to print boarding passes and those who just need to check bags, and the first line was at least ten times longer than the second. We had printed our passes at home, and it took us about a minute from walking into the airport to handing off our bags. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-tips-for-those-who-are-about-to-go-on-an-airplane-flight-for-the-first-time-ever/676462/173 "2013-12-20T17:33:08Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > This bears repeating a few hundred times. and I am going to ignore it a few hundred times. I’d rather grab the seat than fall. If I fall, I am going to cause a lot more problems- including grabbing your seat violently. Don’t fly when contagious. Ignore the fucking TV ads for cold symptom treatments. They are just trying to get you to go into public with your flu so they sell more worthless dangerous snakeoil. No applying fingernail polish on a plane. Don’t reek of anything. No heavy perfume, aftershave, deodorant. Smokers, be extra careful. And yes, double-space is _required_ in several industries. Mind you , I can’t figure out why anyone would get annoyed when it’s used. It’s not like it makes it any harder to read. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-tips-for-those-who-are-about-to-go-on-an-airplane-flight-for-the-first-time-ever/676462/174 "2013-12-20T17:36:55Z")
> [@curlcoat](#): > > While I can understand why this would be irritating to the people in those seats, if I don’t grab them I’m going to fall on the folks I’m climbing over to go potty. Especially if the backs of those seats are reclined. > > YES! You really want to get something for this - I’ve been on flights where I had such minor congestion that I didn’t even know it, and it felt like someone was trying to force my teeth and eyes out from the inside, especially when landing. I just routinely take a Benadryl now. > > I have things that I cannot replace at the other end, not like clothes, toiletries, etc. So I always take a carry on. Right. Benadryl is a antihistamine. You need a decongestant, like real Sudafed. Right again. The airlines manage to screw up my checked baggage about 1/3 of the time on flights that change planes. It’s too much of a risk. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-tips-for-those-who-are-about-to-go-on-an-airplane-flight-for-the-first-time-ever/676462/175 "2013-12-20T17:55:48Z")
> [@DiosaBellissima](#): > > Forgive my ire, but I just don’t get people who miserably crawl through the airport, lugging their giant carry ons. Why? Why would you do that to yourself? Depending on where I’m going, I might throw an extra dress or something in there in case my luggage is lost-- but that’s really if I’m going somewhere like Egypt where I’m not sure I’ll be able to find proper clothes easily. Going to Chicago? ALL THE CLOTHES GO IN THE CHECKED BAG and if it’s lost? They’ve got Target there, it’s fine. No, it’s not “fine”. Say I go to Chicago for a 2 day business trip, and my luggage is misplaced for 24 hours. Do I just show up for my meeting in my casual travel clothes? Do I go to fuckingTarget to buy a suit? Really? Most “lost” luggage is merely delayed a day. There’s no recompense, and it can be a huge hassle. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-tips-for-those-who-are-about-to-go-on-an-airplane-flight-for-the-first-time-ever/676462/176 "2013-12-20T18:12:46Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Don’t clip your toenails aboard the plane. > > And don’t even just take your socks off. Just don’t. Right. And wear sensible shoes that go on & off quickly, unless you are one of the few that get to keep them on. No super high heels, no flip-flops, no lace to the knee combat boots. Don’t even clip your fingernails. Well, Ok, if you have a hangnail or broken nail that has to be fixed now, sure, but routine clipping is not a airplane thing. ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-tips-for-those-who-are-about-to-go-on-an-airplane-flight-for-the-first-time-ever/676462/177 "2013-12-20T18:36:26Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > One thing that really struck me when we were checking in was how few people print out their boarding passes before getting to the airport. Southwest has separate lines for people who need to print boarding passes and those who just need to check bags, and the first line was at least ten times longer than the second. We had printed our passes at home, and it took us about a minute from walking into the airport to handing off our bags. I use my Delta phone app for all domestic flights so I don’t bother with printing those out. When we were at Dublin Airport a couple weeks ago, we looked up Ryan Air’s policy which was…interesting: > [@](#): > > Passengers who arrive at the airport who have lost/forgotten their printed online boarding passes will be required to pay a Boarding Card Re-Issue Fee in order to receive a new boarding pass at the airport. This facility is available up to 40 minutes prior to the scheduled flight departure. Boarding Card Re-issue [Fee €15/£15](http://www.ryanair.com/ie/terms-and-conditions#regulations-tableoffees) ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-tips-for-those-who-are-about-to-go-on-an-airplane-flight-for-the-first-time-ever/676462/178 "2013-12-20T19:08:52Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > No, it’s not “fine”. Say I go to Chicago for a 2 day business trip, and my luggage is misplaced for 24 hours. Do I just show up for my meeting in my casual travel clothes? Do I go to fuckingTarget to buy a suit? Really? > > Most “lost” luggage is merely delayed a day. There’s no recompense, and it can be a huge hassle. Yes, agreed. I had to attend a Board Meeting (my first for that organization) in jeans and a shirt I had been wearing for two days. Landed around 11:00 p.m. Meeting the next morning at 8:00 a.m. No time to shop. Bags arrived around noon. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-tips-for-those-who-are-about-to-go-on-an-airplane-flight-for-the-first-time-ever/676462/179 "2013-12-20T19:14:55Z")
Now that someone mentions it – please, if travelling on business, fly dressed business casual, jacket over your shoulder. Then at least you can throw on a tie if the luggage goes missing. And the airline is likelier to find you a new booking if there is a delay if you look the part. ---
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-tips-for-those-who-are-about-to-go-on-an-airplane-flight-for-the-first-time-ever/676462/180 "2013-12-20T19:46:10Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > One thing that really struck me when we were checking in was how few people print out their boarding passes before getting to the airport. Southwest has separate lines for people who need to print boarding passes and those who just need to check bags, and the first line was at least ten times longer than the second. We had printed our passes at home, and it took us about a minute from walking into the airport to handing off our bags. Well, we don’t have a printer at home. The need to print things is so rare that when we last moved we dumped the printer. Most of the time we’ll print boarding passes at work (assuming I just don’t have it sent to my phone) but never in my life have I had to wait in a significant line to print a boarding pass at a kiosk in an airport. Also, while printing passes before leaving on a trip is usually easy, getting them printed for return can often be more hassle than its worth when I’ve never had any issue just doing it at the airport. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-tips-for-those-who-are-about-to-go-on-an-airplane-flight-for-the-first-time-ever/676462.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-tips-for-those-who-are-about-to-go-on-an-airplane-flight-for-the-first-time-ever/676462.md?page=10)