Airplane and airport etiquette ~ It's not rocket science

**** I travel a lot, and it's always the same story. I always have the same questions and run into the same situations, so I decided to post about it.

1. Can anyone tell me why people have to line up and crowd the gate area when other people are trying to board a plane? Why can't these people sit down and wait for their zones/rows to be called?

The gate agent gets on the speaker and announces that he/she will start the boarding process shortly. Then the next thing you know, everyone has to load up their 15 carry-on bags and try to race to the front of the line. It's like the opening of the concert gates for a general admission concert and everyone is trying to get to the front of the stage. Give me a break. They all aren't traveling with small kids, and they all can't possibly need that much time to board the plane. If you're guilty of this behavior, please sit down and wait for your zone/rows to be called (i.e. like a reasonably intelligent person).

2. How difficult is it to place your metal objects in the trays?

I'll never understand why people can't remember to take the metal objects out of their pockets before they go through the metal detector. Cell phones, money clips, chunky metal jewelry, large belt buckles etc. will set off the machine. It's a METAL detector. Come on, people. It's not that tough.

3. Why do people think they can move forward, when asking someone to switch seats with them so that they can sit with a traveling companion?

If you're going to ask someone to switch seats with you so you can sit next to your traveling companion, you should make sure that the other person isn't being penalized for their willingness to help. If you have a middle seat and want to sit next to someone who's closer to the front, your travel companion should be willing to move to the back. Let me clarify. No one likes the back of the plane, because the lavatory is right there and it makes catching a connection challenging with the "church exit" departure. Bottom line, your travel companion moves to the back and someone else gets promoted to the front.

4. Why do people stand in the ticket kiosk line, but don't move to the empty machine?

If you're not going to use the ticket kiosk machine, get out of that line.

5. Why are you using the first class cabin "amenities" (i.e. overhead bins, any pillows or blankets, the lavatory), when your seat is in coach?

Bottom line: Respect the curtain.

Whew. Now that I got that off my chest, I feel much more relaxed. Traveling can be frustrating, but I really believe that if people would act "right", the entire process can go much smoother for everyone. It's not rocket science.

Typical boarding cluster...

Here's one more story about a "smarty" at the airport, that I had the "pleasure" to experience.  An older guy, who admitted to an airline employee that he had a cracked rib, requested to sit in the emergency exit row.  The airline employee had the sense to deny his request, and the injured guy had the nerve to argue with her.  Score one point for the airline.  Great job!

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Ovechkin's boarding call on Campbell or Downie's hit on Crosby ~ The punishments don't fit the "crimes"...

I saw a clip on TV last night and couldn't believe my eyes.  Hockey is a physical game.  Almost no game is "complete" without some sort of fight, BUT you be the judge...

Sunday (i.e. 3/14/2010), Washington Capitals' Ovechkin was ejected and received a 2 game suspension, after his move on the Chicago Blackhawks' Brian Campbell.  Ovechkin pushed Campbell into the boards, and Campbell has a broken collarbone.  He won't need surgery but will miss the rest of the season.  This is a clip of Ovechkin's hit on Campbell.




Now, check out Steve Downie's move on Sydney Crosby from 3/14/2010.  I know there are plenty of people who don't like Crosby, especially in the DC/MD/VA area (i.e. home of the Washington Capitals and Alex Ovechkin), but come on...  Downie's "move" is absurd and he only received a $1,000 fine (i.e. no suspension)?!?!



According to Wikipedia:
Boarding in ice hockey is a penalty called when an offending player violently pushes or checks an opposing player into the boards of the hockey rink, when the player is facing the board. The boarding call is quite often a major penalty due to the likelihood of injury sustained by the player who was boarded, and officials have the discretion to call a game misconduct on the offending player. However, if no injury is sustained, then a minor penalty will be called. In college hockey, the player does not need to be injured for it to be a major penalty. Boarding is usually assessed to a player when the opposing player is hit 4–5 feet away from the boards and hits their head against the boards on the way down.


I'm not going to get into the difference between a minor and a major penalty because that should be "obvious" IN THEORY.  If you want to read the rules ~ buy the book (i.e. link inserted for your convenience). 

Seriously?!?!?  There's a difference between pushing someone into the boards and hooking a leg.  I'd argue that Downie's move has intent to cause harm, and Ovechkin's was not.  I can't prove it, but I'd argue it.

So let me get this straight. You're allowed to hook another guys' leg with yours and try to tear his ACL, but if you're Alex Ovechkin and known for physical/aggressive play and commit a boarding penalty you're going to serve a suspension...  Unbelievable.

Growing up, I was a bit of a mean/rougher, tomboy kid.  I'm MUCH nicer now.  TRUST ME.  I haven't kicked anyone in the shins in years.  Alas, I digress...  When I was younger, I was a little sneaky and loved to torment my brother and the little kids around me.  I was the "original" suspect if anyone was hurt or something was wrong.  Why?  My mom said, it's because I was developing a reputation ~ so in her opinion, it basically made sense to approach me first if my brother or another kid was crying/hurt  (i.e.  as a result, I think I was unfairly punished more, even when I basically did nothing).   It's no secret that Ovechkin has a reputation for being an aggressive player, and I think in this case, the NHL punished him based on reputation and not the severity of the offense.



Here's a link for all the hockey whiners out there...


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