manners MATTER
BY KAREN LA CORTE
Travel
It ’ s that time of year when most folks want to take that long-awaited vacation . Kids are out of school , the weather is pleasant , and it ’ s the much-needed break from your daily routine . No matter what your reasons are for travel , whether business or pleasure , there are always a few snafus that may come up that need to be handled with grace and civility .
Karen La Corte is an etiquette and manners expert trained and certified by the Emily Post Institute in Vermont . She has been teaching etiquette and manners to children and adults for over thirty years . She is also a certified image and fashion consultant . Karen is happy to answer any personal etiquette or image questions you may have by emailing her at karen @ marxtowing . com
Although you can ’ t control some of the difficulties you encounter , like delayed or cancelled flights , you can control how you react . That ’ s where manners come in . There are three courtesies of travel etiquette that apply whether you are taking the RV trip with the kids or cruising the Caribbean .
Respect is the most important . Treat respectfully and be kind to those who are traveling with you , those whom you meet along with way , and those who serve you .
Keep your requests reasonable . Asking to switch hotel rooms is fine . Making a scene when all the rooms with an ocean view are booked is not .
Don ’ t leave a negative impression . You are a guest of sorts in another city or country . Avoid littering , confrontations of any degree , or arrogance that things are better back where you are from . Folks take pride in their country , customs and culture .
Traveling with family is one thing . Traveling with friends is another . I am very picky when choosing who I travel with . I know who I can be compatible with . I set up a small meeting before the trip to talk about what we all want to see , and do , what time we want to start each day , and how much money we should bring . I suggest we all put in a certain amount of money at the start of the trip and then one person is the “ banker .” This person pays for the food , drinks , activities and any other agreed-on items . If we run out of money in our kitty , we all pony up and put more in . If there is money left over at the end of the trip , we divide it equally . It ’ s the perfect way to make sure it ’ s fair and no one gets stuck with more expenses than others . This has worked for me whether it ’ s a trip to Vegas or Europe .
Pre-planning any trip makes for stress-free travel . I make a checklist days before I leave . This includes my wardrobe items ( including shoes , hat and jewelry ), medicines , toiletries including sunscreen , personal or business documents , photo ID , and passport if necessary .
I recently took a trip to Hawaii . Since I was flying , I observed a lot both in the airport and on the plane . I will share a few things with you that caught my attention .
Make sure you check with the airlines on size limits for carry-on luggage and the number of pieces allowed . Be prepared for security . If you get wanded by a screener , or they go through your carry-on , don ’ t get upset . It ’ s their job . Be respectful and kind . Remember you can ’ t be too safe nowadays when traveling by air . Have your ticket and ID ready . Wait until your boarding time . Find out early which rows board first . Be patient . Be mindful of others waiting as well . Don ’ t put your luggage or purse on the chair next to you . Leave it open . Don ’ t talk long or loudly on your cell phone .
When boarding , never push ahead of others . Be patient with the elderly or folks with children . Take your backpack or carry-on in your hands in front of you . This helps you avoid bumping into aisle-seat passengers with your bag as you make your way to your seat .
Put your bag in the overhead bin , wheels out , and place your smaller bag underneath the seat in front of you . ( If you ’ re sitting in the bulkhead , all bags go up in the bin ). If you ’ re wearing a coat , wait until the end of boarding before your put it in the overhead bin , since it can easily fit into the remaining space . If you want to sleep , reserve a window seat . Be kind about the armrests . It ’ s an unwritten rule that the middle seat gets both armrests . Wear earbuds and keep the volume low when listening to music , watching a movie or playing video games . Always smile and be courteous to your seatmates . Please bring activities to keep your kids busy , like coloring books .
If you bring food onboard , make sure that the odors aren ’ t going to offend others . Be showered with clean clothes . That said , make sure you don ’ t wear too much perfume or after shave . And while I ’ m talking about the nose here , don ’ t change a diaper in a seat . Take the baby to the lavatory . Don ’ t stay too long in the bathroom . Touching up makeup or doing your hair can wait until you ’ ve landed . If the person in the aisle seat is sleeping and you need to get out of your row , softly say , “ Excuse me ,” and if necessary , tap him lightly on the arm . Oh , and my pet-peeve , putting your seat back without regard for those in back of you . Folks could be eating or working on their tray .
Treat the flight attendants with respect . They are not servants and work extremely hard to make your trip a pleasant one . Don ’ t drink too much . Alcohol hits harder at higher altitudes . Keep noise to a minimum when traveling with friends . Try not to schmooze in the aisles .
Upon landing , wait until it ' s your row ’ s turn to deplane . Be patient . Be considerate of those around you . Thank your flight attendants and pilot on the way out . Smile . Hopefully you ’ ve made a new friend or two with your good attitude and open mind .
Safe Travels !
102
GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN JUNE / JULY 2018 gmhtoday . com
manners MATTER
Travel
It’s that time of year when
most folks want to take
that long-awaited vacation.
Kids are out of school, the
weather is pleasant, and
it’s the much-needed break
from your daily routine. No
matter what your reasons
are for travel, whether busi-
ness or pleasure, there are
always a few snafus that
may come up that need to
be handled with grace and
civility.
Karen La Corte is an
etiquette and manners
expert trained and certi-
fied by the Emily Post
Institute in Vermont. She
has been teaching eti-
quette and manners to
children and adults for
over thirty years. She is
also a certified image
and fashion consultant.
Karen is happy to answer
any personal etiquette or
image questions you may
have by emailing her at
[email protected]
102
BY KAREN LA CORTE
A
lthough you can’t control some of the
difficulties you encounter, like delayed
or cancelled flights, you can control how
you react. That’s where manners come
in. There are three courtesies of travel etiquette that
apply whether you are taking the RV trip with the
kids or cruising the Caribbean.
Respect is the most important. Treat respectfully
and be kind to those who are traveling with you,
those whom you meet along with way, and those
who serve you.
Keep your requests reasonable. Asking to switch
hotel rooms is fine. Making a scene when all the
rooms with an ocean view are booked is not.
Don’t leave a negative impression. You are a
guest of sorts in another city or country. Avoid
littering, confrontations of any degree, or arrogance
that things are better back where you are from.
Folks take pride in their country, customs
and culture.
Traveling with family is one thing. Traveling
with friends is another. I am very picky when
choosing who I travel with. I know who I can be
compatible with. I set up a small meeting before
the trip to talk about what we all want to see, and
do, what time we want to start each day, and how
much money we should bring. I suggest we all
put in a certain amount of money at the start of
the trip and then one person is the “banker.” This
person pays for the food, drinks, activities and any
other agreed-on items. If we run out of money in
our kitty, we all pony up and put more in. If there
is money left over at the end of the trip, we divide
it equally. It’s the perfect way to make sure it’s fair
and no one gets stuck with more expenses than
others. This has worked for me whether it’s a trip
to Vegas or Europe.
Pre-planning any trip makes for stress-free
travel. I make a checklist days before I leave. This
includes my wardrobe items (including shoes, hat
and jewelry), medicines, toiletries including sun-
screen, personal or business documents, photo ID,
and passport if necessary.
I recently took a trip to Hawaii. Since I was
flying, I observed a lot both in the airport and on
the plane. I will share a few things with you that
caught my attention.
Make sure you check with the airlines on size
limits for carry-on luggage and the number of
pieces allowed. Be prepared for security. If you get
wanded by a screener, or they go through your
carry-on, don’t get upset. It’s their job. Be respect-
ful and kind. Remember you can’t be too safe
GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN
JUNE/JULY 2018
nowadays when traveling by air. Have your ticket
and ID ready. Wait until your boarding time. Find
out early which rows board first. Be patient. Be
mindful of others waiting as well. Don’t put your
luggage or purse on the chair next to you. Leave it
open. Don’t talk long or loudly on your cell phone.
When boarding, never push ahead of others. Be
patient with the elderly or folks with children. Take
your backpack or carry-on in your hands in front of
you. This helps you avoid bumping into aisle-seat
passengers with your bag as you make your way to
your seat.
Put your bag in the overhead bin, wheels out,
and place your smaller bag underneath the seat in
front of you. (If you’re sitting in the bulkhead, all
bags go up in the bin). If you’re wearing a coat,
wait until the end of boarding before your put it
in the overhead bin, since it can easily fit into the
remaining space. If you want to sleep, reserve a
window seat. Be kind about the armrests. It’s an
unwritten rule that the middle seat gets both arm-
rests. Wear earbuds and keep the volume low when
listening to music, watching a movie or playing
video games. Always smile and be courteous to your
seatmates. Please bring activities to keep your kids
busy, like coloring books.
If you bring food onboard, make sure that the
odors aren’t going to offend others. Be showered
with clean clothes. That said, make sure you don’t
wear too much perfume or after shave. And while
I’m talking about the nose here, don’t change a
diaper in a seat. Take the baby to the lavatory. Don’t
stay too long in the bathroom. Touching up makeup
or doing your hair can wait until you’ve landed. If
the person in the aisle seat is sleeping and you need
to get out of your row, softly say, “Excuse me,” and
if necessary, tap him lightly on the arm. Oh, and my
pet-peeve, putting your seat back without regard
for those in back of you. Folks could be eating or
working on their tray.
Treat the flight attendants with respect. They are
not servants and work extremely hard to make your
trip a pleasant one. Don’t drink too much. Alcohol
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