Air travel can be stressful. Tons of people crammed into a tiny space for hours on end...not my idea of fun -- especially when people have differing views as to what is appropriate, what the rules of basic hygiene are, and how to behave amidst perfect strangers. Here are some basic rules of air travel to make sure you and your fellow passengers can get through a flight without losing your sanity. Don't leave home without them (and print out a copy for the rest of the flight)!

Up Next: The Personal Bubble

Do: Pretend there is a bubble extending from every plane passenger 9 inches into space. Respect that space!
Don't: Recline your seat the second you get on board -- wait until you are in the air and when you do, do it slowly so as not to knock the person behind you. Also, don't try to read/look over your seat-mates shoulder. It violates the aforementioned bubble and they WILL notice. On the flip side, make sure you're not showcasing your own personal documents.

Up Next: Families

It can be so difficult traveling with young kids and many of us have been there. Some tips to help respect the rest of the flight:
Do: Park yourself near the back of the plane if possible. You'll be close to the bathroom and a spot to get up and stretch or do whatever it is you and your little ones need to do.
Don't: Allow your child to have free run of the plane. Sometimes screaming children can't be helped. But what you can do is make sure they keep their arms/legs in their seats. Having your seat kicked or your face smacked as the child next to you has a tantrum can make a flight unbearable.
Up Next: Chatty Cathy

Do: Be polite. Here's an easy way to avoid obnoxious conversation: "I'm sorry I've taken a sleep aid" + big sunglasses, usually does the trick.
Don't: Be that person! If your conversation seems one way or you're getting one word answers TAKE THE HINT. It's nice to meet interesting people on a plane, but not everyone is looking to make new friends -- they could be working, sleeping, or just not in the mood. Be respectful!

Up Next: The Noise Issue

Do: Be aware of the noise you're making -- if you're sitting next to a friend, whisper or use a hushed tone -- people DO try to sleep or get work done on flights!
Don't: Turn on your personal media without doing the volume test:
1) Find the volume you like.
2) Take headphones off.
3) If the music/movie is still audible, turn it down to the volume your seat-mates will like.

Up Next: Body Odor

It may seem obvious, but if you travel frequently, chances are you've encountered those charming individuals who don't adhere to the following rules:
Do: Shower! And please use deodorant or antiperspirant before climbing into an extremely small space with more than 50 people.
Don't: Take your shoes off if you know you have smelly feet. Also, take it easy on cologne/perfume that day -- people may not share your appreciation of the scent and some are allergic to the chemicals in perfume.

Up Next: The Armrest War

The armrest war is an infamous airplane debacle. Here are (what I feel to be) reasonable rules of the armrest:
Do: Let the poor sucker who's jammed in the middle seat have two.
Don't: Shove or steal the armrest the second your seat-mate raises his/her arm, or violate the space of the person next to you if you should be the victor of the armrest battle.

Up Next: Aisle Etiquette

Don't: Be aggressive when boarding/disembarking. It is not a race. Your seat is already assigned, and they're pretty much all the same anyhow. There is no reason to push or shove people trying to stow or retrieve their luggage from overhead bins.
Do: Let the flight attendant know if you've just got to catch another flight/connection. We all know how painful it is to watch the minutes go by while people try to get their stuff in order and you're already late. A flight attendant has the ability to move your seat up to begin with or help you get off first.

Up Next: Your Stuff

Do: Keep your bags low and in front of you when getting on and off the plane to avoid knocking the people who are already seated. Also, consolidate your stuff BEFORE you get on the plane so other people can get to their seats and you don't dump your things on the person sitting next to you.
Don't: Put your suitcase into any old overhead bin. Make sure it's the one next to your seat -- otherwise the people who sit below the overhead bin you've randomly selected won't have a place for their stuff.

Up Next: The Call Button

Do: Push the button if you have a good reason.
Don't: Get button happy -- the flight attendants have more passengers to deal with than just you, not to mention other duties on the flight than to cater to your every whim. It's usually a good idea not to irritate the people that have the ability to make your flight comfortable or miserable.

Up Next: The Bathroom

Do: Book an aisle seat if you know you MUST go to the bathroom every hour. It's obnoxious to other people to have to wake up, move their stuff, and be climbed over.
Don't: Make the person next to you climb over you should they need to get up. It's rude. Get out of your seat and stand in the aisle so they can get out.

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