Airplane hassles could be eliminated, pilot says, if travelers acted smartly: 'Not a form of torture'

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What is proper etiquette for airplane seats?

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A pilot based in Los Angeles who has worked for three different airlines and who has 17 years of experience flying planes (and is still flying today) is offering some solutions for the many air travel frustrations and snags that Americans are experiencing. 

Especially during spring travel and with summer travel coming up quickly, these suggestions could aid in smoother and more civil airline travel.

"Flight rage incidents," he shared in an email with Fox News Digital, "could be mitigated if people learned the reasoning behind them."

The pilot said there are "so many things people don’t know about airline operations" that are causing unnecessary frustration today. 

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The pilot revealed advice for better air travel experiences.

Here are his smart and commonsense tips.

Know that wearing a seatbelt ‘is not a form of torture’ 

Regarding the use of seatbelts and seat-backs, the pilot said, "Please wear your seatbelt and put your seat-back upright when told. This is not a form of torture by the flight crew."

There are specific reasons flight attendants tell passengers to wear their seatbelts and put their seat-backs in an upright position, a pilot shared — and knowing that might help people travel more comfortably and without hassle. (iStock)

The seat is actually "engineered (multiple G loading in various directions)," he said, "to save your life during an accident (if upright and belted)."

So when those flight attendants give frequent reminders to apply seatbelts and put the seats upright at various times during the flight — they're doing so for travelers' safety, he suggested.

‘Have your window shade open’ at these key times

The pilot said, "You should have your shade open for takeoff and landing."

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There's a good reason for this, he said.

"In the event of an accident, you can rapidly determine which side to evacuate to," he said.

"You should have your shade open for takeoff and landing," one pilot advised. (iStock)

He said, for example, that in the unlikely event of a fire on the right side of the aircraft, then "evacuate" to the left.  

But travelers won't know about such an event if they keep the shade down and stay in the dark about any such occurrence.

Leave those flip-flops and pajamas at home — or pack them in a suitcase

The pilot advised travelers, "Consider your attire when flying."

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He said sure, "flip-flops and pajamas might be comfy." 

A girl travels with her suitcase through the airport. (iStock)

But what if, at some point in your airplane travels, "you have to walk over sharp debris?"

In the terminal, get out of the way of others

Get out of the way of others while making your way through the terminal, he said.

"If for any reason you have to stop [walking] in the terminal — step aside," he advised.

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"Leave the main walkway open for people trying to make connections or are in a hurry."

Open the overhead bins once you're standing in the aisle 

Once the plane lands at your destination and comes to a stop — and you've been given the all-clear by airline personnel to remove your seatbelt, get out of your seat and stand up — the pilot suggested that for those who are standing, "Please open the bins around you."

Once the plane lands, "please don’t open a bin, take your bag and then close the bin again — I see this frequently," said a pilot based in Los Angeles. (iStock)

He said that action "helps people remember their bag location and speeds deplaning."

He noted pointedly, "Please don’t open a bin, take your bag and then close the bin again — I see this frequently."

Understand important facts about gates at the airport

The pilot suggested that many travelers — once their plane lands and their gate is occupied — often say about a nearby empty gate, "Why can’t we just park there?"

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He said there are "multiple layers of infrastructure with that gate" that people should realize.

"If operations parks you there, then another plane might have to wait," he said. 

"Be polite to everyone you encounter. Be patient. Dress with dignity. Don't talk back to airline personnel. Sit quietly and keep yourself occupied," advised one traveler. (iStock)

"Down in the terminal underground, people are loading bags for another flight leaving at that gate. If they park you there, they’ll have to redirect that."

Also, he said, "the fuel truck will be confused."

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He added, "Maybe your aircraft is too big for that [empty] gate. There are lots of reasons" why a particular plane may not be able to use an empty gate.

Added the pilot, "I always thought that educating people would help give them a better understanding."

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One commenter on an earlier airline etiquette article shared this additional advice for air travelers.

"Be polite to everyone you encounter. Be patient," the commenter wrote. 

Also, "dress with dignity. Don't talk back to airline personnel. Sit quietly and keep yourself occupied."

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