Airplane Manners: High Road or Load Road

(image: terminalu.com)

This info is from a 2008 Newsday article but I find it's still relevant today. The author presents different scenarios in regards to applying airplane manners (or lack thereof). Have you taken the high road or low road?

IN THE WAITING AREA
Low Road: Cluster around the gate. Put your briefcase on the chair next to you so nobody can sit there. Talk loudly on your Bluetooth and gesture wildly.

High Road: Make sure other travelers know that the seat next to you is available. If someone elderly or pregnant walks up, offer your seat. You might also find a nearby gate that's empty and sit there (while keeping track of time).

FLIGHT ATTENDANTS
Low Road: Argue with them. Be demanding. They don't have anything to do but focus on your needs, right?

High Road: Develop empathy. Smile as you board. Say hello to them by name. Have eye contact, thank them when they serve you a beverage.

OVERHEAD BINS
Low Road: Put your carry-on bag in the first available bin toward the front, so you can jump up, grab it and exit quickly.

High Road: Put your carry-on above your own seat or, better, under your seat.

CRAMPED LEGROOM
Low Road: Aim your vent at the head of the person who is leaning into your lap.

High Road: Before you lean back, look behind you and ask eye-to-eye, "It is OK if I lean back just a little?"

TRAVELERS WITH KIDS
Low Road: Avoid eye contact with a harried parent assigned to a different row than his or her minor child. Is it your fault these leisure-travel losers were forced to take middle seats in separate rows?

High Road: Get over yourself! Be a mensch for three hours and give up your choice aisle or window seat. You'll be richly rewarded in heaven and, if not, you'll be richly rewarded by not having to sit next to the kid.

WINDOW ZEALOTS
Low Road: Drink lots of water (it's good for you when you're flying) and get out of your seat at least three times to use the bathroom.

High Road: Know that you drink a lot of water when flying and reserve an aisle seat.

AISLE ZEALOTS
Low Road: Create a trap for people seated in the middle and window seats. Bring on steaming coffee and footlong sub with chips. Spread out the food, paperwork and laptop on tray table, extend leg into aisle.

High Road: Adapt gracefully to your temporary environment. Discard food trash quickly. Work if you must, but don't forget to acknowledge your neighbors with a smile or small talk so they'll feel more comfortable asking to get past you to the restroom.

FOOD
Low Road: Pick up something in the airport food court that is really stinky. Spicy Italian is good, or onion rings, or maybe something with blue cheese.

High Road: Eat before the flight or pack healthful, smell-free snacks. Consider sharing with your famished seatmates.

Scenic Designs of Upcoming 'Rebecca' Musical

I have to admit that I still gaze in amazement when I see beautiful and extravagant stage set designs despite the quality of the play or musical. These set renderings of the scenic design by Peter J. Davison is likely to captivate audiences. Let's hope the musical a whole lives up to expectations.

'Rebecca' the musical, which will open on Broadway this March at the Broadhurst Theatre, is based on the 1938 Daphne du Maurier romantic thriller. Set in the West Country of England, it tells the story of Maxim de Winter, his new wife and Mrs. Danvers, the controlling and manipulative housekeeper of Maxim's West Country estate of Manderlay where the memory of his first wife, the glamorous and mysterious Rebecca, still casts a shadow.

The Broadway production is based on the 2006 Vienna staging where it debuted and played for over three years. Also starring in New York is Howard McGillin (Frank Crawley), Tam Mutu (Maxim deWinter), Karen Mason (Mrs. Danvers), James Barbour (Jack Favell) and Nick Wyman (Giles).

The musical has been staged in Hungary, Finland, Germany, Switzerland and Japan. The 1940 Academy Award-winning film "Rebecca" directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring Laurence Olivier was also based on du Maurier's suspense novel that begins with the famous line, "Last night I dreamt I went to Manderlay again."

Featuring book and lyrics by Michael Kunze, music by Sylvester Levay, English book adaptation by Christopher Hamptom ('Sunset Boulevard') and English lyrics by Hampton and Kunze, the production will have co-directors Michael Blakemore ('Kiss Me, Kate') and Francesca Zambello ('The Little Mermaid').

Click HERE to view all the photos on BroadwayWorld.com and more articles about the upcoming musical.

(Update: on Jan 24, 2012 producers announced that the production has been postponed until next season)

Marquee of the Broadhurst Theatre.
(image: BroadwayWorld)

Quick Tip: The Ultimate Mileage Calculator

For anyone who constantly tries to figure out how to meet airline mileage goals to earn a flight reward or to maintain elite status with a carrier may want to visit the mileage calculator on WebFlyer.com. Unlike other websites that offer similar applications, the calculator on WebFlyer allows the user to enter layover stops.

I live in Honolulu, Hawaii and my choice of airline is American so if I'm flying to the New York City, I will have layover at one of their hubs in Dallas-Ft. Worth, Los Angels or Chicago. The miles can differ depending on the the number of connections and the location of the layover.

Some flyers intentionally take longer airline routes for the purpose of earning those extra miles to reach airline elite levels. Based on the pre-landing announcement of connecting gates, I have to learn some passengers fly, for example, from Honolulu to Dallas to Los Angeles.

This mileage calculator also offers the option to calculate elite and class of service bonus miles. Enter the price of your ticket and learn what you are paying per mile. Click HERE to view the calculator on WebFlyer OR enter your flight information below and your browser will be re-directed to WebFlyer.

The ultimate Mileage Calculator. Find the distance between two locations using this air mileage calculator. 

Mileage Calculator

Just enter two cities (or airport codes) in the fields below and click How Far?

Departing from:
Then flying to:
OPTIONAL
And on to:
And on to:
And on to:
And on to:
Elite bonus:	None  25%  50%  75%  100% (double miles)  125%  150%  175%  200% (triple miles)  225%  250%
Elite bonus based on:	Actual miles. Minimum miles.
Class of service bonus:	None  25%  50%  75%  100% (double miles)  125%  150%  175%  200% (triple miles)  225%  250%
Class bonus based on:	Actual miles.  Minimum miles.
Special promotion bonus:	None  25%  50%  75%  100% (double miles)  125%  150%  175%  200% (triple miles)  225%  250%
Promo bonus based on:	Actual miles.  Minimum miles.
Minimum per segment:	None  100  200  300  400  500  600  700  800  900  1000     miles  km
Ticket price(in dollars):

      

Note: These air mile distances are approximate and are based on data provided by various outside sources. This mileage calculator is meant to aid in air mileage estimation and may not reflect the actual frequent flyer miles awarded by each airline.

Aquaphor for Chapped Lips and Dry Skin On-the-Go

I first discovered the healing wonders of Aquaphor during a period when I was prescribed that severe acne drug Accutane. One of the side effects of Accutane is extremely dry and chapped lips. Most of us would think of applying a generous layer of Chapstick. But even applying this product regularly did nothing to stop the irritation of dry lips. But my doctor recommended Aquaphor Healing Ointment and I have been using it ever since long after my treatment with Accutane was complete.

From cold wet days in London to freezing snowy weather in Seattle to the dry heat of Las Vegas, I use Aquaphor as a regular therapy either in the morning or at night when I'm traveling. I found that lips irritated by spicy foods were healed with the use of this product as well. Look for the .35 ounce "healing ointment" travel-friendly size. It should be noted that Aquaphor is "petroleum-jelly" like-feeling compared to Chapstick so only a very tiny amount of the ointment goes a long way.

I have nothing against Chapstick which I still use just as often when I'm not traveling. Also Chapstick has one advantage over Aquaphor and that is cost. For example Walmart.com sells Chapstick singles from 98 cents to $1.80 noting that in-store prices will vary. A Chapstick three-pack is $5-$5.76. Walmart.com sells the two-pack Aquaphor Healing Ointment of .35 oz tubes for $5.27 (a better bargain than the Aquaphor Lip Therapy .35 oz single-pack for $3.97).

For more information visit aquaphorhealing.com.  Aquaphor can be found in most drugstores in the skincare aisle. Aquaphor is part of Eucerin's line of skincare products.