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4 mistakes to stop making on a plane, according to an etiquette coach

4 mistakes to stop making on a plane, according to an etiquette coach

Alyshia Hull

There are several things passengers should avoid doing on a plane.Alvaro Lavin Renteria/Getty Images

Business Insider asked an etiquette coach what things passengers should avoid doing on airplanes.
She said reclining your seat is OK as long as you're being mindful of the person sitting behind you.

From holding up the bathroom line with your skincare routine to playing music without headphones and attempting to bring on more bags than allowed, there are numerous etiquette mistakes people make when flying on airplanes.

That's why Business Insider asked Mariah Grumet, an etiquette coach, about the things passengers should avoid doing while on a flight.

Here's what the expert had to say.

Be wary of when and how you recline your seat.

Reclining your seat is OK, but be courteous to the person sitting behind you. Cherdchanok Treevanchai/Getty Images

When — or whether — to recline your seat on a flight is a hot topic when it comes to plane etiquette.

Grumet told BI that even though some may find it rude, she thinks passengers should be able to recline since they paid for their seats.

However, she added that they should still be mindful of the person sitting behind them while considering when and how to go about reclining their seats.

For example, Grumet advises against reclining if the person behind you has things on their tray.

Don’t stink up the plane.

Avoid bringing smelly food and toiletries on the plane. Stephen Schauer/Getty Images

Grumet said it's really important to be mindful of anything with a strong scent.

For example, if a passenger brings a piece of fish onto the plane, the smell can be disturbing to those around them.

Grooming can come with extra smells, too. Items like nail polish or perfume could be distracting or irritating to fellow passengers, so Grumet advised leaving those at home.

Be polite to parents.

Giving parents dirty looks can just add fuel to the fire. d3sign/Getty Images

Young children may act out if they're hungry or exhausted from a long day. Even if the crying is annoying and disruptive, Grumet said it's important to be respectful to the parent.

"It's likely that the parent is already super embarrassed as is, and you don't want to add fuel to the fire by whispering or giving dirty looks," she said.

This also applies to children who are a bit older. Grumet added that even if they're running down the aisle or doing something you think can be controlled, it's still important to be kind.

Don't try to be the first one to get off the plane.

Unless you have a connecting flight, always let those in front of you go first. AlxeyPnferov/Getty Images

"The most polite way to deboard a plane is to let the people in the front go first," Grumet told BI.

However, she pointed out that many passengers try to rush to the front as quickly as possible.

Even if you had a difficult flight, Grumet said you should allow those ahead of you to go first. The exception to this is if you're running to make a connecting flight.

In that case, she advised notifying an airline staff member to help you get off the plane as quickly as possible.

Be a helper whenever possible.

Offer a hand if you see someone struggling to get their bag in the overhead bin. BongkarnThanyakij/Getty Images

According to Grumet, there's one thing you should always do on a plane that's aligned with proper etiquette: be a helper.

"If you see somebody struggling to put their bag in the overhead, do that simple act of assisting them if you can," Grumet told BI.