Deplaning Etiquette

Yes - Etiquette. In case you didn't know, there is one. OK, everybody else may not think there is, but in my mind and many of my co-travelers, there is.

Simply put, you deplane in an orderly fashion, one row at a time, starting from the front. One of my biggest pet peeves is the person that jumps up upon parking at the gate, and rushes to the front of the plane, pushing past all others. That's just rude.

So, rude is what I experience again just this weekend. My sister and I took a girls getaway weekend to Florida. Though our flight to Memphis arrived early - we didn't have a gate to park at as ours was occupied by a delayed flight. We sat on the tarmac for over an hour, turning our 1 hour 15 minute nice leisurely layover into a mad dash. We were in the front of the plane, and as soon as the seat belt sign was off, I stood up and started gathering our belongings from the overhead bin. All of a sudden this woman was crashing into me, trying to push her way from somewhere behind me to the front of the plane. I said (probably in a not so nice tone - I wasn't feeling very friendly at the time) "EXCUSE ME..." She replied "Well I've got a tight connection - I'm going to miss my plane." To which I of course responded, "Well so do we - so do a lot of people on the plane." My statement was followed by a lot of other folks stating "so do I" and "I've only got 10 minutes to get to mine". Her response was a simple "oh, well, uh..." upon realizing that low and behold she was not the only person on the plane who had a connecting flight.

Now if she had known the deplaning etiquette, this little exchange wouldn't have happened and she could have avoided the embarrassment.

Another part of the deplaning etiquette that seems to be routinely disregarded is the "rule" applying to late arriving flights. In situations like the late flight mentioned above, any passenger that does not have a connection (or even if they do, still have plenty of time to catch it) should remain seated to allow those who are in danger of missing theirs deplane first. However, I can't tell you how many times I have seen people that I know were at their final destination selfishly crowd into the aisles and deplane in front of folks trying to make a connection. Seriously, are they that busy that the extra 5 or 10 minutes would hurt them? As anyone who has ever "just" missed a flight, 5 minutes can be the difference between making your flight to see grandma or ruining the weekend because the next flight isn't until the following morning.

So - Etiquette. 'Nuff said.

Is there really a comfortable airplane seat?

Well, is there? The answer is yes - if you are willing to spend up to 20 times the cheap fare for First or Business class.

Truth be told - there really are not any truly comfortable coach seats. Airlines have been continuously making the seat width smaller and decreasing the pitch (the amount of room between the back of one seat to another) over the past seven or so years. The goal of course is to squeeze another row of seats into ever skinnier planes. However, if you do your research you can find the most comfortable seat available to you.

Not all planes are created equal.
Older planes generally have more space - the Northwest Airlines Airbus 319 and 320 still have wider seats and aisles. The newer Continental Boeing 737-800's and 900's (listed as 738 and 739) have very small seats.

Identify the good seats.
In order to make sure I get the most comfortable seat I can, I rely on SeatGuru.com. I was turned on to this website by a co-worker who is over 6 feet tall. (He obviously is looking for the seat with the most legroom.) Seat Guru has maps of all major (and some smaller) airlines planes. For each plane they list the seat width, pitch for all classes. They also list anything to look out for such as no window in the row, close proximity to the lavatory or galley, or the fact that the seat doesn't recline, or a bonus such as extra legroom or power supplies.

Using the conveniently color coded guide for each plane, you can easily see the best seats on the plane. Getting them though may be another challenge.

The best seats on the plane are generally reserved for the airlines elite frequent flier members. For example, the only way to get pre-assigned an exit row on most airlines is to be an elite member. The first several rows of coach are also reserved for elite members. For the general public, some airlines have started reserving aisle and exit row seats and then offer them for additional cost at check in.

Tips for Getting a Good Seat

1. ALWAYS reserve a seat upon purchase or as soon as seat assignments are available. Any seat is better than no seat. Not having a pre-assigned seat could mean that you get left behind if the flight is oversold. Having a seat means you at least have a guaranteed space on board.
2. Check the seat assignments frequently. Seats open up all the time as people cancel or upgrade.
3. Know your airlines elite upgrade schedule. For example, Northwest and Continental provide complimentary first class upgrades to their elite members. The upgrades are automatically processed starting 5 days prior to the departure date. As elite members are moved to first class, their coach seats open up. You may be able to snag a good aisle or window seat this way.
4. Check in online as soon as it becomes available. For most airlines you can check in starting 24 hours prior to the departure time of your first flight segment. Many airlines only allow a percentage of the seats to be pre-reserved (perhaps 75%) and the rest become available for assignment at check-in. During the check-in process you will have the opportunity to change your seat. The earilier you check-in, the better pickin's you get.
5. Arrive at the gate early and check with the gate agent for better seats. The gate agent will be processing last minute upgrades and exit aisle seating prior to boarding. Wait patiently in line to speak with the agent and politely ask if there is a better seat - but be specific about what you consider better. They may think a center seat in the exit row is better than an aisle seat in the back. Be sure you ask specifically for what you want ("is there by chance an open window seat towards the front of the plane?")
6. Ask a flight attendant if there is an open seat you can move to. People miss flights - and when they do their premium seat remains open. Once boarding is completed, you can check with a flight attendant if you see an open seat you'd like to move to, or to ask him or her if there is one. You may have to wait until after takeoff to move. However, despite what some other travel sites and experts might suggest - do not just sit down in a seat that you are not assigned to assuming that the person will change seats with you. Chances are that if you have a seat you don't want, they probably don't want it either, and then you'll cause a holdup while you gather your things to move.

Here's wishing you a comfortable flight!

Take Off!

Ah travel. It can be glorious - it can be miserable. It can be easy, or it can be a nightmare. I've been doing it for business regularly for nearly 10 years. Friends, co-workers, and family tell me that I'm a bit of a guru. I do like to make sure that I'm getting the most bang for my buck - maybe that's why.

I've started this blog to share some of that information with others. Travel once a year, but want to know how to do it like you went every week? Well hopefully you'll find the information here will give you the knowledge you need to do just that!

So welcome!