Travel Etiquette

 I want to be clear that I realize how incredibly blessed and frankly spoiled I have been when it comes to travel for the last 7 years. I have traveled to many countries and have been in some of the nicest parts of airports in wonderful seats. Please take my rant with a grain of salt. 

I have not had to think about an airline seat for 7+ years. It's either been business or first class or on the rare occasion it wasn't I was asked a simple question- Window or Aisle. I haven't had to remember to pick a seat in a very long time. Today I flew and forgot to pick my seat- so I ended up in the middle in the rear of the plane not the very back, but close enough.  Here is my rant from today's travel. 

1. Is it not common knowledge that the person in the middle gets both armrests? Because I ended up with neither and that's just not okay. 

2. We deplane from front to back, this means if you are behind me you wait your turn. Unless it's announced that there is a tight layover- However we landed early so that doesn't fly with me. So imagine my surprise with a group of teens and their adults tried to push through me as I was getting my stuff. The kid maybe he doesn't know better but the adults- give me a break. 

3. I should not be able to hear your conversation through my noise canceling headphones. Keep your voices to a whisper when communicating with those around you. 

4. Cursing on a flight is never okay. Especially just in that casual conversation that is already too loud.  You do what you want at home, but on a flight with strangers who have different levels of comfort with that and other people's kids, it's not cool. 

5. It's not your business why anyone else needs to board early. I board early due to anxiety and routines due to my autism. When I don't I get more anxious and am prone to panic attacks. It helps me fly better to get myself seated, have my stuff arranged the way I need it before there are people pushing behind me. When we as a couple flew 1st class I had that built in, now that I don't this is how I manage. It's against policy for the airline to ask, and most of the time they do better, but sometimes they don't and the general public certainly doesn't.  Just because someone's disability or need isn't visible does not give anyone the right to ask personal questions. 

C