Polite behavior in an airplane is not always natural. But heeding a few simple rules can make all the difference between a pleasant and an unpleasant flight.

When cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin first entered the spacecraft in which he would be the first man to fly around the earth forty years ago, he took off his shoes. Why? Out of “respect” and “courtesy” before the trip. When one enters an airplane today, one does not need to follow the example of the famous cosmonaut, but there are still some rules that make flying more enjoyable for all passengers. The most important: speak to your neighbors for a few moments!

A good example is the often daily “struggle” concerning who gets the armrest. Is it reserved for the person who has taken the usually thankless position in the middle? Most guides suggest this – after all, those with window and aisle seats have more “wiggle room”. “Still, it would be nonsense to insist on this,” says Andrea Sydow, editor of the German-language portal on etiquette, knigge.de. It’s better to make quick contact with one’s neighbors. One can usually find a way to agree.

Generally, a short greeting after boarding should be exchanged with one’s neighbors. After all, the traveler will spend a number of hours sitting next to them. But “next to each other” does not mean “with each other”. It is neither impolite not to converse with them, nor is one obligated to do so. Tip: open your book or magazine or close your eyes to rest if you have no interest in hearing your neighbor’s life story.

Exaggerated hurry is neither appropriate when entering nor when leaving the aircraft. “There are never more boarding cards handed out than there are seats on the machine. Pushing people aside or going out of turn during boarding is simply not proper,” emphasizes Sydow. And when you leave an airplane, the rule is that those next to the door should always be allowed to exit first. Handicapped persons do not necessarily have to go first. They are often picked up when there is more space in the machine, i.e. after most passengers have already left. Take the time to ask!

When you stand up after the machine lands, but above all, during the flight, you should pay attention to the passengers in front of and behind you. Never pull yourself up on the seat in front of you and then let go of it just like that. In addition to the headrest, you might even end up with a handful of hair. You also run the risk of pushing the person in front of you – and perhaps his or her coffee cup – a few centimeters to the front. This is also why you should not just bounce down on your seat, and – if at all possible – should only change your backrest after previous eye contact. The passenger behind you will thank you.