If you want to get to the food and beverage public relations conference in Idaho, you'll need to fly if you can't afford to spend all week behind the wheel of a car for a meeting that lasts only a few hours. However, some people dread boarding airliners, not just because they're afraid of flying but because they're afraid they'll be annoyed, abused, and driven insane by their fellow passengers. If you have to fly, here are some rules to follow so you don't become the obnoxious passenger.

Respect Personal Space

On a passenger airplane no one gets a lot of personal space, especially in coach, so respect what little your fellow passengers do have. Don't spread yourself across the seats like you were raised in a horse barn in London, Ontario. Share the arm rests. Don't go climbing unnecessarily over your seatmates to walk around the airplane. Store your belongings in your own space only. Ask before reclining your seat, and never let your children kick, punch, or poke the backs of other people's seats.

Don't Force Camaraderie

Some people like to meet new friends on the plane, but others just want to be left alone. By all means, start a conversation with your seatmate, but if he or she is less than talkative, or tries to go to sleep or read, this is your cue to leave them alone. Never read over their shoulders, no matter how interesting their work on hydro excavation seems. Do offer help if it seems like they need it (for instance, if they are too short to reach the overhead bin) but don't foist your assistance on people who refuse.

Practice Noise Discipline

If you've got things to talk about with the head of Hamilton Home Security over the satellite phone, do so quietly and during daylight hours. Don't have loud conversations, especially with people across the plane. Do your best to keep your kids and pets quiet if you brought them along. Keep the volume on your headset down as well, otherwise your seat mate may be getting an earful. When the lights are turned down for sleeping, keep noise, including conversation, to a minimum.

You're Not Special

Even if you fly every single day of your life, you are no more entitled to concessions than the next person. So don't badger the flight attendants to upgrade you to first class. Don't grouse about the food or not receiving a whole can of soda during drink time. And when it comes time to board or disembark, wait your turn. Everyone's got hotels in Niagara Falls, Canada to get to. That's no excuse for jumping up out of your seat the instant the plane lands and shouldering your way to the front.