Traveling is a wonderful experience that many people love, but there are always going to be a few bad apples who ruin it for everyone else. While you can’t control the actions of others, you can control your own actions and make sure you’re not one of those people who ruin the whole flight for everyone else. Here are some tips on how to make sure you’re the best passenger ever!

1. Be kind to the flight attendants and crew.

2. Be mindful of your hygiene and personal space.

3. Be mindful of your luggage in the overhead bins.

4. Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it.

5. Respect others around you.

6. Know the rules and follow them!**

Here are a few tips to help you be the best passenger ever:

1. Be on time. First, download the airline’s app to your phone. Most airlines have them and they provide you with information such as gate changes, estimated arrival time, and baggage claim number. If you don’t have a smartphone, take a look at the departure board located at your gate to see if there are any changes in your flight status. Second, arrive early at the airport so that you can get through security without rushing or feeling stressed. Third, after security, take note of how far your gate is and how much time it will take to reach your gate. I like to leave plenty of extra time to reach my gate, especially if I need to use the restroom or grab a quick snack before boarding.

2. Dress comfortably. You will be sitting down for hours at a time during your flight so make sure you are wearing something comfortable (shoes included). I also recommend wearing layers since temperatures on planes fluctuate frequently and not every airport has good temperature control for their terminals (looking at you Denver!).

3. Don’t recline your seat all the way back unless it’s an overnight flight and everyone else is doing

When you’re in the air, you have a responsibility to those around you to be considerate. You don’t want to be that passenger that everyone hates.

1. Seat recline: When it comes to seat reclining, there’s not really a right or wrong way to go about it. Some people say you should never recline your seat unless the person behind you has done it first, while others say that if you’re going to do it, do it subtly so as not to disrupt the person behind you. At the end of the day, it’s your comfort level in relation to the person behind you that should dictate how far back that seat goes.

2. Window vs. aisle seats: This one is purely a matter of preference and usually depends on how much leg room you need for an extended period of time. If you like looking out of the window, or are afraid of flying, then by all means go for the window seat! But if you hate getting up every five minutes when someone else needs to get out (or in), then go for the aisle seat!

3. Overhead luggage: If you’re asking me, this one is really simple and clear-cut—if your bag could fit under your seat, put it there

1. Don’t talk to the driver unless you need to.

2. Know where you’re going and how long it will take to get there.

3. Have an idea of how much the fare should be.

4. If you need directions, ask for them before getting in the cab.

5. If you’re looking for a place to eat, ask for suggestions before getting in the cab, but concentrate on what you see along the way once you’re moving.

6. Avoid the back seat if possible; it makes your driver nervous when he can’t see you in his rearview mirror. If you must sit there, be sure to communicate with him regularly and put your bag between you and him rather than on the floor by his feet.

7. Tip appropriately (10 percent or 15 percent is customary) and don’t forget to bring cash for that purpose — most drivers don’t accept plastic, even when paying fares does!

8. When arriving at your destination, thank the driver as soon as he opens your door and wait until he puts your bags on the sidewalk before climbing out of his vehicle yourself. You may also want to ask him if there’s a good place nearby where he’d recommend getting something to eat or drink while he

1. Don’t over-share with fellow passengers

2. Do be polite to the cabin crew

3. Don’t delay the flight

4. Do be kind to your fellow passengers

5. Avoid moving around too much

6. Be clean and tidy

7. Be mindful of your personal space

8. Mind your noise levels

9. Be mindful of what you bring on board

When you’re flying, remember that you’re in a public place. If you’re giving yourself a mani/pedi or clipping your toenails, you might want to rethink the location.

If you have a carry-on bag, make sure it fits in the overhead compartment. Nobody wants their flight delayed while they try to squeeze that bag of yours into the bin. The same goes for your seat; if it doesn’t go completely back, then don’t recline it. It’s just common courtesy.

Don’t leave your stuff in the aisle — this is especially important when your flight is landing and people are trying to get out of their seats quickly.

When you’re sleeping on a plane and your neighbor needs to go to use the restroom, don’t wake up grumpy — just move your legs so they can get by!

Don’t be that person who gets on the plane and takes off their shoes and socks. Try to keep your bare feet away from other passengers as much as possible (that means no putting them up on the armrest).

If you’ve got an aisle seat and need something from under your seat, ask the person next to you nicely (and be prepared to do the same for them).

If there’s turbulence

1. Throw out your book when the plane takes off

I know you think you won’t have time to finish it, but trust me: you will have time. You’ll also have time to read it on the way back and reread it at home before returning it to the library. And how often do you really get to spend hours in a row of uninterrupted reading? It’s kind of luxuriant, isn’t it?

So don’t ruin it by keeping your book open while the plane takes off. What if there’s turbulence on ascent? What if something goes wrong and the plane crashes? Who wants to die with their face in a book?

2. Tie up your hair

If your hair is long enough that it hangs over your shoulders, tie it up while you’re on the plane. If you’re wearing a ponytail, put that sucker up and away from your neck (or else tuck it down into your shirt). If you have long bangs, pin them back and keep them away from your eyes (which are only slightly less important than your brain). You don’t want to be that person who gets her hair caught in the tray table as she tries to extend it for landing.

3. Don’t put anything in the