Drescription

Few places are as hectic and unpredictable as the airport, where tight schedules, long lines, and unprepared travelers create a perfect storm of stress. Amid the chaos, it’s easy to forget basic etiquette—but that’s all the more reason to mind your manners. To make the experience smoother for yourself and those around you, here are four things you should never do at the airport.

Jenny Dreizen, modern-day etiquette expert and co-founder of Fresh Starts Registry

Aiden, flight attendant

Be Rude to the People Around You

Jenny Dreizen, modern-day etiquette expert, says it’s important to mind your manners when traveling. “Air travel is a real stressor," she says. "It can be easy to get flustered and take it out on the people around you. I am a believer that you catch more flies with honey, but more than that, I am a believer that if you start off at a ten, you have nowhere to go.” Do your best to be kind and considerate to the people around you—especially airport staff.

Not Dress for Airport Security

Unless you’ve never been through airport security before, wearing high lace-up boots and four sweaters while being screened is likely a bad idea. “For your sake and the sake of your fellow passengers, wear clothes that are going to be easy to get through the security line with: slip-on shoes, not a lot of layers, pockets empty, not a lot of jewelry,” Dreizen says.

Drink Too Much

An airport bar is a great place to get a cocktail and relax for a few minutes before a flight, but if your flight gets delayed, it’s best to avoid going overboard. “Do not lose control of yourself," Dreizen says. "Airports are all-day drinking locations, but this isn't an excuse to make the long, un-awaited sequel to The Hangover 2—and don’t forget, you might not be able to fly if you're too intoxicated."

Also, if you plan on having a few cocktails on the plane, it’s probably a better idea to order a mocktail at the airport. “We deal with intoxicated passengers quite a bit," says flight attendant Aiden, who didn't give his last name for privacy reasons. "That’s very tough. What most people don’t understand is that when you drink any sort of alcoholic beverage on an airplane, you become intoxicated at a quicker rate than you would on the ground. This is mainly because the change in atmospheric pressure gets lower. That being said—if you ask for a ‘double,’ you're already getting one!”

Show Up Late

For everyone's sake, try to get to the airport early. “Do not show up to the airport less than one hour before your scheduled departure," Aiden says. "This may seem like common sense, but you’d be amazed at the number of people who think they can show up an hour prior and magically get to their gate on time. TSA wait times fluctuate depending on many factors, so assuming that just because you have a 6:00 a.m. flight security will be fast isn’t the smartest thing to do.”

The plane is already at the gate one hour before departure, Aiden explains. The crew is (most likely) onboard, and the gate agent is handling pre-departure duties. “This is especially important if you are flying internationally," he says. "Showing up one hour prior would just add stress to you and your travel companions because you still have to have your passport verified at the gate, check your bags, get through security, etc. If you are late to the gate—to the point where they are calling ‘final call’—the gate agent may have already given your seats away to other passengers.”

Still, if you get caught in traffic or something unexpected happens before your flight, take a breath—you can't be in control of every situation, and things will be okay. “Rest assured that if this happens, your airline will work with you to rebook you on a later flight," Aiden says.