Air rage is on the increase. Passengers can be removed from planes before takeoff or restrained and then placed under arrest upon arrival if they do not follow simple plane etiquette rules. In order to avoid facing criminal charges related to air rage, you must be very careful about what you say and do once you have boarded your plane.
Never Mention Bombs!
If you have watched the film Meet the Parents, you will probably remember that at the end of the film, Ben Stiller’s character Greg Focker landed himself in a lot of trouble by saying: “It’s not as if I have a bomb”, referring to his carry on items. It is incidents like this that can easily be misconstrued by airline staff. Do not mention bombs, even in jest. It is not funny to anyone who has watched the horror of 9/11 unfolding or other attacks made on planes that cost the lives of many people. The person sitting beside or behind you may overhear what you are saying and then alert a flight attendant, who will then take immediate action.
Where are Your Children?
Children may not find a plane ride easy to handle. Crossing different time zones and not having a bed to stretch out on to take a nap can take its toll on even the best behaved children. But if you are not careful, your children’s screams, temper tantrums and tears can cost you your flight.
Try to keep your children entertained throughout the flight by packing some colouring books and toys. Make sure you have a talk with them before takeoff about what you expect from them. Do not offer general guidance; be specific. That means letting Sarah know that it is not acceptable for her to run up and down the plane pushing people over, or to bang on the seat of the passenger in front of her.
Watch your Alcohol Intake
There is nothing wrong with having a drink while flying. The problems start when you over indulge and get drunk, behaving in an inappropriate manner. It is well known that many people lose their inhibitions when they are drunk and act in a way that they would normally act in. Unfortunately, this kind of behaviour will not be overlooked by flight attendants. Their job is to ensure the safety and comfort of all the passengers on board the plane. If that means throwing off one disruptive passenger, they will do so.
Airline passengers must be very careful about the way they behave and what they say while on board a plane. Anything they do or say can be viewed as air rage and used against them.
