# The Definitive Rules of Flying **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 15, 2023, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-rules-of-flying/994650 "2023-12-15T19:52:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Tride](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tride/32/13907_2.png) [@Tride](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tride)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2023, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-rules-of-flying/994650/21 "2023-12-15T21:52:13Z")
I put that in but deleted it. Even I have limits! ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2023, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-rules-of-flying/994650/22 "2023-12-15T21:52:22Z")
Thank you, **kenobi\_65**. 1st time I’ve seen the tuna thang, tbh. Guess I (a) don’t find it particularly pungent, and (b) it is one of my fave sandwich foods. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2023, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-rules-of-flying/994650/23 "2023-12-15T21:59:27Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > Thank you, **kenobi\_65**. You are very welcome! > [@](#): > > 1st time I’ve seen the tuna thang, tbh. I’ve encountered people bringing stinky food onto planes a few times (tuna, egg salad, etc.) It’s just not a pleasant thing to have to sit next to, especially when they then let the stinky wrapper sit there for the rest of the flight. (FWIW, I can’t stand tuna.) ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2023, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-rules-of-flying/994650/24 "2023-12-15T22:09:29Z")
So, how the fuck are we supposed to get to the airport?? ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2023, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-rules-of-flying/994650/25 "2023-12-15T22:14:48Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > So, how the fuck are we supposed to get to the airport?? Lyft or Uber, according to my experience visiting my extended family over Thanksgiving. ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2023, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-rules-of-flying/994650/26 "2023-12-15T22:19:47Z")
Pretty much agree with all of it. Now do one about rules the airlines and TSA should follow to stop treating the flying public terribly. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2023, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-rules-of-flying/994650/27 "2023-12-15T22:40:48Z")
Water bottles sold inside the security zone are not banned on flights from the SF airport. How old is that list? ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2023, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-rules-of-flying/994650/28 "2023-12-15T23:16:55Z")
Except you can’t buy plastic single use water bottles at SFO since 2021. I’m guessing that compostable bottles are available, but I don’t know much about that. > **[SFO Expands Plastic-Free Policy to Prohibit Sale of All Plastic Bottles | San...](https://www.flysfo.com/media/press-releases/sfo-expands-plastic-free-policy-prohibit-sale-all-plastic-bottles)** > > |FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:CONTACT:  Doug YakelPublic Information OfficerExternal Affairs OfficeSan Francisco International Airport650.821.4000Doug.Yakel@flysfo.comSF-21-15 SFO Expands Plastic-Free Policy to Prohibit Sale of All Plastic... ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2023, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-rules-of-flying/994650/29 "2023-12-15T23:25:09Z")
Can you buy an aluminum can of water? There are some companies that actually sell canned water. ---
**Author:** ![peccavi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peccavi/32/388_2.png) [@peccavi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peccavi)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2023, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-rules-of-flying/994650/30 "2023-12-15T23:28:28Z")
> [@WildaBeast](#): > > Can you buy an aluminum can of water? I’m trying to recall…I flew in and out of SFO and that may be the airport that only had metal bottles of water (Dasani, I think). I remember thinking it was strange that I couldn’t find a plastic bottle of water. Like this (the one on the left): [![](https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Screen-Shot-2019-08-13-at-10.26.35-AM.png) ](https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Screen-Shot-2019-08-13-at-10.26.35-AM.png) ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2023, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-rules-of-flying/994650/31 "2023-12-15T23:30:04Z")
> [@WildaBeast](#): > > My biggest flying pet peeve is when people board the plane, and immediately toss their purse and coat in the overhead bin. That stuff goes under the seat. I disagree. I paid extra to check bags and I have as much right to space in the overhead as the guy who is trying to squeeze a bag up there. I’m 6’ and the only thing that goes under that seat are my feet. I might feel different if they allowed me to stow something under my own seat, but they don’t. ---
**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 15, 2023, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-rules-of-flying/994650/32 "2023-12-15T23:33:15Z")
Pretty good list to me, no notes. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2023, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-rules-of-flying/994650/33 "2023-12-16T00:08:30Z")
Thank you to **Kenobi\_65**. Although I prefer accessible articles, it is not always clear to me which articles are paywalled. In cases where I subscribe I cannot tell, and a gift opinion is not always visible, sometimes being an opinion but often not. It’s not a bad list. But expecting all your travel companions to be registered for TSA Precheck is unrealistic. I never want to see your grimy feet, but can understand if they are sore can one might doff the shoes - as long as nothing stinks and they are on the floor, who cares? I don’t much care if you bring soup or tuna sandwiches or when you drink a beer. One should always be polite to the staff, but asking politely for drinks at appropriate times is reasonable. Cleaning up after yourself is good, but this ain’t home ec class, and a couple wrappers in a visible spot is okay but not buried in the seat pocket. I will say “no” if I don’t want to switch seats, but asking is not offensive. People who don’t understand babies cry because their ears hurt and so yell at the parents are indeed morons. Most of the list is good. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2023, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-rules-of-flying/994650/34 "2023-12-16T00:23:36Z")
> [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > But expecting all your travel companions to be registered for TSA Precheck is unrealistic. But if you put it the other way around - if you don’t have TSA Precheck and your travel companion does, would you expect them to not use the service they paid for, and make them wait in the longer line with you? ---
**Author:** ![JeffB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeffb/32/188_2.png) [@JeffB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JeffB)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2023, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-rules-of-flying/994650/35 "2023-12-16T00:45:39Z")
I wouldn’t be surprised if they sold [Boxed Water](https://boxedwaterisbetter.com/). I was recently and Thunder Valley Casino in Sacramento, and they had switch to those instead of small plastic water bottles. ---
**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 16, 2023, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-rules-of-flying/994650/36 "2023-12-16T01:04:29Z")
> [@WildaBeast](#): > > > [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > > > But expecting all your travel companions to be registered for TSA Precheck is unrealistic. > > But if you put it the other way around - if you don’t have TSA Precheck and your travel companion does, would you expect them to not use the service they paid for, and make them wait in the longer line with you? The few times where either I, or someone traveling with me, had PreCheck and the other didn’t, it never even occurred to any of us to wait in the other person’s line! The one who had it went one way, those who didn’t went the other, we met up again on the other side of security. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2023, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-rules-of-flying/994650/37 "2023-12-16T01:14:58Z")
And I don’t think the article is saying that you should expect your partner to have Precheck. Just that if they don’t then you take the long line and I’ll take the short line, and I’ll get to the concourse afore ye. ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2023, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-rules-of-flying/994650/38 "2023-12-16T01:16:17Z")
> [@WildaBeast](#): > > Second biggest annoyance are the people who get up and stand near the gate as soon as they start boarding first class, even though they’re in boarding group 5 Yes, gate lice. Perfect name for those who exhibit this puzzlng behavior. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2023, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-rules-of-flying/994650/39 "2023-12-16T01:47:11Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > If you wouldn’t like what you’re about to do being done to you, don’t do it. Not a foolproof rule. What if the person next to you, for instance, would _love_ for a stranger sitting next to them to tell them about Jesus nonstop for the next four hours? ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2023, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-rules-of-flying/994650/40 "2023-12-16T02:40:27Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > The few times where either I, or someone traveling with me, had PreCheck and the other didn’t, it never even occurred to any of us to wait in the other person’s line! Kinda depends if that’s your SO the nervous traveler, your 12yo kid, Bob from the cubicle down the hall, or 3 local adult friends going to a [whatever hobby] convention out of town. Some of those folks are a lot more self-sufficient, or a lot more prone to take offense at second class treatment versus some others. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-rules-of-flying/994650.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-definitive-rules-of-flying/994650.md?page=3)