Nicest things to do when you fly for others around you

When planning to go on a plane, for those that have never flown before, and as a reminder for those that have, here are some handy tips that will make your fellow travelers, and your flight crew grateful for the extra measures that you took to make your emotional footprint as small as possible. 


Eat before you leave. Even if you are getting up and leaving from a hotel, plan to bring a small snack with you. Flights get delayed, airport food is expensive, catering to the plane sometimes gets fouled. Even if it is merely a small granola bar or a piece of fruit, keeping your blood sugar in the sane range is something that really WILL help you if Murphy throws his monkey wrench into your travel plans. 


Hydrate. But not with alchohol. Drink something. Juice. Water. Coffee even. But avoid the booze. There is no such thing as a fun drunk when you are being obnoxious, or ill, or any other host of effects that can happen to people when they have been drinking. Alcohol DOES affect you differently on a plane than it does on land. Do you really want to use the air sickness back because of a glass of wine and some well timed turbulence? Ruin the white shirt that you are wearing because of same glass of wine? Don't drink alcohol. Drink water, water is your friend. If you cannot stomach the taste of water, there are plenty of companies that sell little powders with flavors that you can put into your water. Carry a water bottle and fill it at the water fountains to save on the cost of food and drinks purchased at the airport. 


Take a long bath or shower in which you soap up your entire body with a non-offensive or unscented soap. You may adore your wonderful perfumed soap that smells just like a field of flowers. Your seat mates may be suffering from allergies and/or asthma, and the whole flight will be uncomfortable to them. DO practice good hygiene. Wash everything. If it seems really dirty, wash it a few times. Wash your hair. Again, try to keep the scent load down. 


Perfumes and other skin scenting items. I have a lot of perfumes that I adore. I do not use them in a metal tube that recycles the air that we are breathing. I DO wear a strong unscented anti-perspirant/deodorant. I use it under my arms, and I use Gold Bond powder under my breasts, and in my panty area. I also sprinkle some on the insides of my shoes. 


Choose clothing that is not floppy or flowing. Last time I flew to Europe, the lady across from me wore a long caftan that was strung with beads of all different lengths. Every time she would get up to go to the restroom, she would turn around, and the little beaded caftan became a beaded dress of cat-o-nine tails. Those little whips really hurt and stung when they got me. 


Comfortable shoes. Your feet might swell. I coveted a gorgeous pair of Ferragamos when I flew once. The woman looked so attractive and sleek in them. Her foot looked liked a painting. At the end of the flight, she was hobbling out on the arm of her gentleman companion, unable to walk well. Why? Her feet swelled and she took off her shoes. Her feet swelled some more. When the flight ended, her shoes no longer fit. Be considerate to yourself and to others. Wear comfortable shoes. 


Clean clothes. Now I am not talking about when you are stranded and you have to re-wear the same clothes you were wearing. I am talking about normal conditions. Wear clean clothes. No heavy fragrances, just clean clothes that are not beaded, bangled, and so forth. Clean clothes means I do not have to smell your prior adventures if we are seated near one another. 


If you are a person of size, call ahead and learn the dimensions of the seat that you are going to be in while you are flying. Ask what the policy is if you are unable to fit in that seat with the armrest all the way down. American Airlines is one of the carriers I am aware of that tries very hard to accommodate larger passengers without charging them an extra fee. Of course, if all of the seats are filled on a flight, they will not be able to do that. Make yourself and your fellow passengers content and check this fact out. As we all know, seats have gotten smaller and smaller. 


If you have to use a seat belt extension, you may not be seated in an exit row. This is not the flight attendant being mean, this is the law. 


Bring something to entertain yourself. If you have a laptop, check and see if there is a row that has a power port if you are going to be on a very long flight. Travel to Paris was a lot of fun when a friend and I were able to watch movies in between naps. 


Pack a change of underclothes and medicines in your carry on bag. 


Remember essentials such as chargers for all of the things that need them. 
Have a piece of paper stored somewhere that has the most important numbers on them, in case something happens to your cell phone.