But bear in mind that bad behaviour while on the plane can get on the nerves of other passengers who have to share the flight with you.

If you’re guilty of any of the following in-flight behaviours, best to own up and make a conscious effort to change your nasty ways.

1. Hogging armrests

It happens in cinemas and plane flights are no exception – that special someone who feels it’s their birth right to grab everything they see, including the precious armrest between seats.

Short of making a public nuisance of themselves by insisting the armrest be shared, most other passengers simply grit their teeth and remain squashed in their tiny quarters for the entire length of the flight.

The unspoken rule when it comes to sitting in the plane is: the aisle seat gets more leg room, the middle seat gets the armrest and the window seat gets the view. This might not be written in the guide book but it is just common courtesy.

If anything, asking nicely won’t hurt.

2. Talking loudly

This passenger can be found in all modes of public transportation, be it on LRTs, buses or planes. Either talking on the phone or to their travel companion, they are oblivious to the grimaces of the passengers around them.

Is it asking too much to exercise some decency and talk with your indoor voice?

Another variation of chatty passengers are the ones who try to strike up a conversation with their fellow passenger even though the other person clearly is not in the mood for small talk.

So, if your seatmate is avoiding eye contact, take the hint. Zip your mouth, watch an in-fight movie or read a magazine – just stop talking.

3. Disgusting habits

These passengers focus solely on their own comfort and care little, if at all, about the discomfort of others as a result of their actions.

This includes but is not limited to reclining their seat all the way down with no regard to those behind or taking off their smelly shoes and socks and traipsing around the plane barefoot.

Chewing loudly, constantly clearing their throats or burping are other despicable acts that can make sharing a flight with them a nightmare.

4. Control your children

Boisterous kids who are bored silly and wish to play catch in mid-flight are a definite no-no. Screaming for sweets or pulling a tantrum can also turn a peaceful journey into a harrowing trip.

While most people appreciate that travelling with kids can be trying – for the kid and the parent – if you’re a parent, do try to anticipate your kids’ needs and pack the necessary storybooks, toys or games that you know they like and can be entertained with should they get fidgety.

5. Being rude to the crew

Some people turn into entitled jerks on the plane and treat the cabin crew like their personal slaves. “Hey you, I want my drink, asap!” is not the way to talk to a flight attendant.

They are human just like you – they feel stress, fatigue, anxiety – and when officially on the job, some diplomacy when addressing them and requesting for food and drink is not too much to ask.

Some food for thought: when you display bad manners, all it does is show how badly you were brought up.

6. Making ‘dangerous’ jokes

Even though the odds of a plane accident are much lower than an automobile accident, the phobia of flying is still very real for many.

So, joking about crashing into the sea, anticipating roller-coaster-like turbulence or exploding in mid-air from a bomb is the worst thing you can do.

Why not lose yourself in a book, watch a movie or just plain shut up?