Want your next getaway to run as smoothly as possible?
These etiquette experts have the do’s and don’ts for your entire journey covered.
Sara Jane Ho – host of Netflix series Mind Your Manners and author of new book Mind Your Manners: An Insider’s Guide to Social Fluency – Diane Gottsman, founder of The Protocol School of Texas, and the British Merlin of manners William Hanson reveal the best travel practices to adopt, from the very start of your trip until you step into the lift in your hotel and weigh up whether to greet those inside.
Along the way tips are dispensed on hot-potato in-flight issues such as how to decline a seat-swap request and deal with noisy children.
Is there anything to avoid wearing on a flight?
Comfort and practicality are number one when it comes to travel, says Sara Jane Ho
According to Sara, there are some fashion no-go’s when it comes to travelling. The etiquette expert suggests straying from white outfits, which can easily catch dirt, as well as high heels.
Why?
She says: ‘Because comfort and practicality are number one when it comes to travel. You don’t want to be tottering about in heels running to your gate.’
Is there a proper way to interact with cabin crew, train conductors or other transport staff?
Sara suggests keeping it simple when it comes to interacting with cabin crew
There’s plenty of advice on how to interact with cabin crew and transportation staff floating around the internet, but Sara suggests keeping it simple by ‘looking at them straight in the eye with a smile’.
To catch their attention, she suggests addressing them with, ‘Excuse me, ma’am or sir.’
Are there any specific rules for using overhead bins and storage space on planes and trains?
Knowing where to place your items on a plane can be confusing for many passengers, especially when the overhead bins are already crowded with luggage.
According to Sara, the rules are simple, it’s ‘first come, first served’. But, she says, ‘try to stay within your row’.
Etiquette guru Sara Jane Ho reveals her travel tips
Is it okay to decline someone’s request to switch seats?
The debate around swapping seats is ongoing, with many passengers certain they’d never give up their assigned seat and others much more willing to move.
However, according to Sara, declining a seat-swapping request is perfectly acceptable. ‘You are not obligated to switch seats with anyone,’ she says.
Of course, she explains, this depends on which seat they want to move to. ‘If it’s better, take it gladly. If it’s worse (like a middle seat) then you are justified [to decline].’
What’s the best way to decline a request?
Sara advises to politely brush it off. ‘”I paid a lot for this seat, thank you for understanding,”‘ is a good dismissal, she claims. ‘Nobody knows exactly how much you paid anyway.’
She adds: ‘Or you can say, “32G is my lucky seat, I always have to fly in this seat otherwise I get anxiety.”‘
When it comes to seating arrangements on planes, Diane Gottsman, founder of The Protocol School of Texas, told MailOnline Travel it’s best to plan.
If that isn’t possible, she said: ‘When asking a fellow passenger if they would mind switching seats, always expect the answer may possibly be “no” and be prepared to accept the answer gracefully. Smile and assure them you understand. Avoid showing frustration because they will not give up their seat – they may have paid an additional fee for extra legroom.’
How can passengers be considerate of others when reclining their seats on a plane?
While the rules on seat reclining are heavily debated online, Sara claims the best way to do it is to ‘recline slowly’.
How should passengers deal with someone else’s noisy children?
Be prepared for noisy youngsters on public transport. To quieten them down, Sara advises non-verbal communication to begin with
Cacophonous children are almost a given on public transport.
To quieten them down, Sara advises non-verbal communication to begin with.
‘Eye contact should be enough of a warning,’ she says. ‘If it really is getting out of hand, you can try to come across as though you are giving advice [to the parent] out of the goodness of your heart. [With babies, for example] something like, “Poor baby, do you want to try changing their nappy?”‘
And for the parents?
Sara says: ‘Look apologetic and at least appear to look like you’re trying to pipe them down.’
What should travellers keep in mind when using electronic devices in shared transport spaces?
‘It’s never okay to have your phone on speaker phone in public. Wear headphones if your volume is on’, says Sara
When up in the air or in the middle of a long train journey, passengers may want to unwind by watching a movie or listening to music on their devices. But, there’s one thing they should keep in mind.
According to Sara: ‘It’s never okay to have your phone on speaker phone in public. Wear headphones if your volume is on.’
How should travellers handle situations when experiencing delays or cancellations?
According to Sara: ‘There’s not much you can do, except use the lost time as an opportunity to read a book, watch a show, or make phone calls.’
What should travellers keep in mind regarding tipping etiquette?
Tipping is cultural, according to Sara, who advises checking the rules with the hotel concierge
According to Sara, tipping is cultural. The etiquette expert advises checking with the hotel concierge what the rules are before making assumptions.
As a general rule of thumb, etiquette expert William Hanson told MailOnline Travel to tip for good service and never be afraid not to tip for bad service.
He explained: ‘In many Western countries, especially the UK and Europe, tipping should only be done when the server has gone above and beyond. When tipping cash in the UK it’s a case of giving an additional 10 per cent – but of course, you can always tip above that if you wish. If the service has been drastically below expectation then do not be afraid to ask for any imposed service charge to be removed, but you will need to justify your reasoning to the manager.’
How should travellers be respectful of other hotel guests?
Once travellers reach their destination, there are some rules to bear in mind. Sara suggests keeping your voice down in the corridor and greeting other guests in the elevator.
She suggests: ‘Say “good morning, afternoon or evening” immediately, the longer you wait, the harder it is to interact. Staying silent isn’t necessarily rude if you haven’t made eye contact.’
Sara’s Mind Your Manners: An Insider’s Guide to Social Fluency (Bluebird) is out on April 11, 2024, and available from Amazon. For more from Sara visit her Instagram profile.
Sara’s Mind Your Manners: An Insider’s Guide to Social Fluency ( Bluebird ) is out on April 11, 2024
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