Angry travelers add more rules

I received more than 800 messages responding to a Dec. 11 post about in-flight behavior. Many of the emails travelers sent were filled with a level of anger and sarcasm that says a lot about the state of airline and airport service at the end of 2006.

But before going into that, I feel compelled to reiterate that the travel dos and don’ts that appeared in last week’s post were written by Virginia Flores, a consultant and frequent business traveler based in Washington, D.C. About 90 percent of respondents skipped over the introduction and went directly to the list, missing my explanation of how Flores, and not I, penned the list.

I guess that’s why a lot of travelers who wrote in confused me as the author, and several made some comments about me, such as this one from airliners.net:

"I agree with most of her points like a lot of other people, but by just looking at that picture, I'd say she's got divorce written all over her."

It’s kind of fun thinking that my photo could be that intimidating. But the point I take from all this feedback is that air travelers are a pretty angry group of people (surprise, surprise.)

However, if everyone followed most of these rules most of the time, flying might be a little bit less stressful.

Here are a few extra tips people sent in:

PERFUME/COLOGNE: When we're all crammed into a crowded little tube, that perfume or cologne in which you've bathed is giving people around you headaches. Wait until you step off the plane to spray yourself. A normal shower prior to your trip should be fine.

NAIL CLIPPING: This seems to be a habit exclusive to males. They seem to see no problem with doing it just about anywhere, but it is particularly disgusting on an airplane where everyone is held hostage to the flying debris. Go to the lavatory and do that!

USING OTHERS' SEATS AS A BALANCING RAIL or BODY LAUNCHER: These are the people who grab onto the outer corners of the aisle seats to steady themselves as they walk. Or those who can't launch themselves out of their own seats without using yours as grab handles. If you have to do that, at least say "excuse me" as you yank someone's head out of a good sleep.

AND FINALLY … Seasoned travelers should be allowed to carry paintball guns. Anyone with three or more paintball splotches will have to take the bus next time.

Comments? Write to: Barbara Correa at bboydstoncorrea@hotmail.com