Making the Skies Friendlier

I travel quite a bit. Being an engineer with an eye for problem-solving and a Lean practitioner, I can't help but spot the inefficiencies involved in airline travel. In the spirit of giving back to the community, here are some tips which can make your travel experience---and mine---a bit friendlier.

1. If you can't lift it, check it. Yes, it's $25, but if you really need to bring your collection of designer concrete blocks or your concert cello with you, it will be safer and far more convenient to ship it properly (say, not through the airline) or, failing that, in the cargo hold. Insurance is a wonderful thing too. Your back and shoulders will thank you, as will the passengers behind you hoping to board sometime today.
2. Don't overpack. Clothes, particularly trousers and skirts, may be worn more than once in a week. If you need to, you can use the laundry and dry cleaning services at your hotel or destination; turnaround is usually quite good. All you'll be doing otherwise is dragging a pile of dirty laundry home with you.
3. Shipping is cheap. Even for international travel. That big aluminum cannister you sit in is a pretty expensive way to move property compared to boats, trucks, or even cargo aircraft. Most hotels make it very convenient to ship items back and these shipments may be insured. Why be your own sherpa if you don't have to?
4. If you do have to pack it, bundle it. There are many YouTube videos on this topic showing different methods of bundling clothes so that they remain largely wrinkle-free. I did a three-week Asian trip with one small carryon through a combination of bundling and leveraging the laundry services at the hotels I was staying at. It made airport-hopping much easier and less stressful and didn't take much effort on my part.
5. The hotel shower is your dry cleaner. So TSA rifled your bag, destroying your expertly-packed bundle in the process and wrinkling your garments. No worries---when you get to the hotel, turn the shower on as hot as it will go. Hang your clothes in the bathroom. Leave them in there while you take a nap and they'll be wrinkle-free when you wake up.
6. No hard luggage. Hard luggage may not fit in the skimpy overhead bins on some aircraft. Rather than gate-check it and lose time on connections, put anything fragile in the middle of your bundle (you ARE bundling, right?) and go with a nice soft leather carryon bag. you can then squeeze it into tight compartments.
7. Put your bag in rows in front of you. Boarding can be a free-for-all and the last thing you want to do is find out there's no overhead bin space when you get to your wonderful seat by the rear lavatory. Look for a good opening and stuff your bag in it. Take a quick cell phone picture of the row if you have a lousy memory. Chances are by the time you deplane, it will be the only bag in the bin and easy to spot anyway.
8. Don't put two bags in the overhead bin. It's rude. Everyone needs some space and experienced travelers see you pulling that trick and think less of you for it. If we have to leave the plane in an emergency people who do this will be getting the patented Deacon Jones head slap and swim maneuver by the rest of us on the way out.
9. Always know where the nearest exit is. This isn't negotiable. Better safe than sorry.
10. The armrests are for the poor soul seated in the middle seat. Always.
11. When you board, if you're not a Double Secret Platinum frequent flyer, try to line up at the end of the previous boarding group. That makes you first for yours and gives you a shot at some overhead bin space, presuming Rule 8 violators haven't claimed it all.
12. Be kind to families with small children. Yes, I know, nobody wants to risk being hurled upon by Little Johnny. But few Hells are hotter than those endured while traveling with children and the karmic payback of being nice to parents (and kids) in these situations is large indeed.
13. Don't depend on airline monitors. Get yourself a flight app like FlightStats and use it---these will generally know about gate changes and cancellations BEFORE announcements are made.
14. If it's daylight out, do not lean your seat back. People behind you may well have laptops open and be working. Yes, you have the right to be as inconsiderate as you like---this is AMERICA, darn it!--but don't be. The 2 inches of recline aren't going to be a difference-maker for you anyway.
15. If you have to leave your seat, take a moment to arrange your seatbelt so that you can easily find the straps when sitting back down. Few things are more awkward than removing a seatbelt strap from under the buttocks of a stranger.
16. Help a window seatmate with their drink and trash. It beats having either spilled in your lap because there is a bad handoff.
17. Use the restroom right after the Fasten Seat Belt sign is turned off. This will keep you out of the way of service on most flights and give you a clear shot at the lav before other passengers demolish it.
18. Carry a little packet of baby wipes. Most useful items on the planet to have. Sanitizers, cleansers, coolers---you can even use them to tie up sagging seatback trays.
19. If you don't have tissues, cough and sneeze into your sleeve. No need to be Patient Zero of an epidemic. CDC Monthly does not feature cover photos for your portfolio.
20. Get a portable phone charger. Not every plane or airport has convenient outlets, but if you get a portable battery charger you won't need them.

There---that should make your trip a little bit better. Bon voyage!