The Golden Rules of Airplane Etiquette—Because We Have Simply Seen Enough

Forget everything you heard about dressing well for an upgrade

Maybe there was once a time, in a faraway land, when dressing nicely for a flight might have improved your chances of an upgrade. No longer. “Today, upgrades are much more likely to be determined by status, algorithms, bidding, or other systems, so I don’t think your wardrobe is moving you up the list,” Tumpowsky says. “Dress comfortably. Being comfortable will have a much bigger impact on your flight experience than looking like you belong in first class.”

Instead, dress well because you respect yourself

You can do so comfortably! May I interest you in a cashmere jogger set or a wrinkle-free traveling suit? Figure out a travel uniform that works for you—something comfortable that also makes you feel put-together. It’s a proven fact (by me, anecdotally) that looking good helps you feel good, like you can handle any travel hiccup like flight delays or lost baggage with dignity and grace. But hey if it’s not your literal style, no one says you have to.

Finally, be kind

“Always be polite to the plane crew,” Caulcutt says. Flight attendants aren’t responsible for the weather, delays, baggage fees, or most airline policies, so don’t take your frustrations out on the people who are there to keep you safe and comfortable to the best of their abilities.

Patience and kindness can go a long way, Henderson says, and Seshadri reminds everyone to extend that respect to the airport staff and your fellow passengers. Moving with respect and courtesy, he says, “will earn you not just a better flight but a good dose of karma and happiness too.”

Yes, cabins are getting stuffed with more seats, and those seats are getting smaller, while crew staffing keeps getting cut. And yet, even in the face of all this, on top of everything going on in our world, we get to travel. So it’s more important than ever to cultivate a sense of solidarity as travelers. As Liam puts it, “We’re truly all in this metal tube together.”