The do’s and don’ts of traveling are what travel etiquette is all about.
When traveling on a flight there are rules and regulations at the airport as well as on the airplane.
Understanding that your family’s or members of your travel group’s social behaviors
and interactions with one another will reflect on the entire group.
This post is about understanding travel etiquette.
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Airline Itinerary
Every airline company has what is called an airline itinerary or flight itinerary.
The main focus of an itinerary is all about time.
Time can consist of arriving at the airport, flight check-in, boarding time, departure time, etc.
So, being on time is the key.
Making Reservations
When making reservations for your trip, always remember there are several things to keep in mind.
Starting with your destination, your dates, how many will be traveling, and how much is your budget if you have one.
When it comes to your destination, you will need to know which airport is the closest to where you are going.
Are there multiple airports within that area?
Is there a particular airline company that you would like to take, and do they travel there?
What about nonstop flights versus having to make a flight connection in another city?
Then think about your departure and return dates.
Are they set dates, or can your travel dates be flexible based on the prices?
Most of the time booking your reservations, especially flights can be less expensive if booked ahead of time.
It has been well known that if you book your flight at least 14-21 days ahead of your departure, you may find some better rates.
Most last-minute flight bookings tend to be the most expensive.
TSA – PreCheck
Are you traveling soon on an airplane?
Wondering about the long TSA lines?
How would you like to be able to bypass the long security lines?
Well, this is where the TSA PreCheck comes in.
It’s a shorter security line, that allows you to bypass removing your belt, jacket, and shoes.
You will have to qualify, and it only costs about $85 and lasts for five years.
Transportation Security Administration – Travel Etiquette
The Transportation Security Administration is an agency of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Moreover, they help to expedite traveling passengers through a screening process,
that will allow them to be able to board their flights.
Travel By Airplane – Travel Etiquette
When you travel by airplane, that aircraft has a flight schedule.
The flight schedule includes what is the “turnaround time”.
An aircraft’s “turnaround time”, is usually about 30-45 minutes domestically,
and up to 90 minutes internationally.
There is a process of checking in the passengers
and sending checked baggage through the TSA for screening.
First, comes the arrival of the aircraft from another city or country.
The second is the unloading of baggage on the incoming flight.
Next, there will be the cleaning, fueling, and servicing of the aircraft.
The following steps will be loading the outbound passengers’ baggage.
Then, the boarding process starts.
Once all passengers are on board,
and certain information is transmitted to the flight crew, the aircraft door is closed.
Finally, the aircraft is ready for takeoff.
Traveling Alone – Travel Etiquette
When traveling alone, be responsible.
Whether traveling alone for the first time,
or whether you are traveling alone as a woman.
Nonetheless, always keep family and friends aware of your whereabouts.
Furthermore, make sure someone has a copy of your full itinerary.
Always remember your interactions with someone can sometimes be misinterpreted by the wrong person.
Never engage in conversation and leave with a stranger.
Don’t ever drink anything that is handed to you, that isn’t sealed.
In addition to everything that is said to you,
always be aware of your surroundings.
Airport Connections – Airplane Landing and Takeoff
Most airports have some sort of aircraft-to-aircraft transfer connection process.
Some airport transfer connections could be a monorail train or an airport bus.
Usually, the monorail train is on the secured side of the airport,
meaning passengers have already gone through the TSA checkpoint,
yet some passengers may have just arrived on an inbound flight
however they need to make a connection to another flight.
The airport bus usually just transports passengers from terminal to terminal
in the same way but on the unsecured side of the airport.
Either way, they should be able to get passengers from one terminal to another
but also to make their connections in time.
Tourism
Tourism is partly defined as the movement of people to places outside of their usual environment.
Most cities, countries, and places will have tourist attractions.
With these tourist attractions will come lots of interaction with other people.
Remember to stay in your travel group, and do not venture away with anyone outside of your group.
Do not allow someone to guide you into an area that was not part of your plans.
Keep your money positioned on your body in front of you, not in a back pocket.
Most importantly, do not put yourself or your group in a situation to become a target to a thief.
Travel Journal
Encourage all members of your group to document their journey in a travel journal.