Being location-independent, I’ve spent enough time staring at the walls of various airport terminals to memorize modern travel etiquette. My first goal is to reach my destination in one piece. The second one is to avoid being an annoyance to fellow passengers. And since you’re here, I’ll give you my unsolicited guide to moving through the world with at least a shred of grace.
On how to avoid being the person everyone hates at the terminal
If you want to be a pleasure rather than an inconvenience, you must have your entry documentation ready to prevent terminal bottlenecks. Have your paper or Digital ID ready. As of May 2025, REAL ID is mandatory in the US. But the real secret to world-class speed? Taking advantage of Google or Apple Wallet.
On how to stop acting like you own the entire airport lounge
The lounge is not your living room. Find a seat and fight the urge to claim three chairs for your ego and carry-on bag. If you must leave for a quick trip to the restroom, be back within the 15-20 minutes window. If you’re gone longer than that, be ready to surrender your spot.
- Belongings: Keep them close; don’t spread them like shrapnel across the rooms.
- Hygiene: Grooming—trimming nails or fixing hair—is for the restrooms, not the buffet table.
- Tipping: While the lunch is “free,” it’s standard to tip the bartender a couple of dollars.
And since the July 2025 end of the shoe-removal mandate, you can finally keep your hat and shoes on while maintaining some dignity.
On how to not be a “Barebeater” on your next flight
A barebeater is a person who plays audio through their device speakers in public, a sound akin to a hyena in a blender. Its heartening to read that Indian aviation rules are finally cracking down on this, making headphones mandatory under threat of fines or flight bans. Or, wait for the 2026 release of spatial active noise control, which will hopefully create quiet zones so we can sleep without the incessant perturbations of a neighbor’s TikToks. Anthrophony—this wretched human-generated noise—disrupts the rest of fellow travelers.
Dim your laptop screen when the lights go down and use a quiet keyboard. Be a ghost in the machine. These are what modern travel etiquette requires in a shared cabin or any public place for that matter.
On How to Hide your screen from nosy strangers
Follow the “person-first” standard. Ignore the frantic buzzing of your Garmin when a human being is talking to you. My personal rule is that the phone stays off the table during professional dinners.
Cybersecurity is equally neurotic for me. I use a removable privacy screen to thwart shoulder surfing, because the man in 4C does not need to know my client’s quarterly projections.
I treat password entry like a state secret, creating physical barriers with my hands. I also practice the art of avoiding auditory surfing. I never discuss sensitive corporate data or passwords on a public call. Do you want the entire gate to know your mother’s maiden name and your dog’s birthday?
Two quick tips:
- Turn on Airplane Mode before reaching customs. This prevents officials from searching your cloud data.
- Disable SMS previews so no one can snatch your authentication codes.
On how to master the unwritten rules of tipping around the world
In the US, you tip like your life depends on it. The baseline for “good” service has crept up to 18%–25%. In Japan, you don’t tip unless you want to deeply offend someone’s ancestral honor.
Hand tips directly and quietly in luxury settings, a discrete exchange that avoids the flamboyance of a stage magician. Learn the Thai “wai,” the Japanese bow, and never, ever use your left hand for business in the Middle East. Also make sure your knees and shoulders are covered at sacred sites. Being denied entry to a cathedral because you’re wearing athleisure is a self-inflicted wound of the highest order.
On how to mix work and vacation without ruining your life
When mixing work and vacation, I follow a strict “business first, leisure later” mantra. It’s best to be transparent with your employer about the presence of guests. Keep your personal and professional expenses in separate folders. When traveling with colleagues, better stay within the per-diem. You don’t need the next topic at the office water cooler because you ordered a third Old Fashioned on the company dime, do you? Also, check your insurance; only 12% of travelers realize their employer’s “Duty of Care” doesn’t cover the “leisure” part of the trip.
Final Thoughts
Mastering modern travel etiquette is the only way an introvert like me can survive a world of barebeaters and space-hoggers. Is it possible to be polite? Absolutely. Let’s make a promise to be that this year, shall we?