Being Nice When Traveling Can Bring Benefits

Be Nice When Traveling

We’re all aware that just like life, travel isn’t perfect. As a matter of fact, it can be downright stressful at times. Cancelled flights, late hotel check-ins, long security lines, a disappointed room location, losing luggage and juggling the needs of travel companions and family can seem overwhelming. 

And while we see many travelers react to these situations in an ugly way, I can guarantee that your attitude and approach to handling the problem at your end will bring a lot more benefits if you take a deep breath and practice civility and understanding. Simply put, be nice when traveling.

First of all, getting your blood pressure up isn’t good from a health perspective. Neither is staying in a negative space that does nothing but breed more negative vibes. A positive, upbeat attitude is key to combatting difficult situations.

As a frequent traveler, I’m well aware, that my travel experience isn’t always going to rank a 10 out of 10. And the more you travel, the more you increase the chance of something going wrong. You may not be able to control the situation, but you can certainly control how you react to it. And reacting properly can pay big dividends.

I was on my way back to my hometown from an overseas trip a few years ago when my late evening flight from Houston to San Diego was cancelled. My hubby, who had been traveling on military orders only had two days in between another trip where he would be gone for a month. So, getting home was important to both of us.

As I was standing in line to explore my options, a red-faced gentleman in front of me was pacing, cursing and using a threatening tone to the desk agent. Obviously, the flight cancellation wasn’t her fault. 

When told there no other options available, he became even angrier and stormed off. When it was my turn at the desk, I told the agent I was sorry she had to deal with situations like this, calmly described my situation and inquired if there was any way I could get on a plane that evening, even if it was another airline. The next thing I knew, I was holding a first-class ticket with the comment, “Thank your husband for his service and enjoy your time together.” And yes, I enjoyed that complimentary glass of champagne on the plane.

On a Delta flight, a family of four with two little children weren’t able to get seats together. The head flight attendant asked if anyone was willing to give up their seat. Before I had a chance to hit my call button, a gentleman in front of me said he’d gladly trade seats. The family and flight attendant were happy, and the gentleman was later bumped to a prime business class seat which I’m certain made him happy.

Agents and airline staff are far more likely to go the extra mile to help solve a problem when you are kind, courteous and understanding. I’ve seen this proven time and time again.

Though being nice and courteous won’t always get you a seat bump-up or moved to first class, it just might make someone’s day and give you a warm feeling inside.

Here are a few small ways to show kindness and be nice when traveling:

• Thank a TSA agent for the work they do. They hear a lot of complaints, but not enough nice words.
• Ask a flight attendant how his/her day is going. Say “please” and “thank you” when being served. Those little rules we learned in kindergarten still apply throughout life.
• Help an elderly traveler get that bag lifted to the overhead bin and offer to retrieve it when the flight parks at the gate.
• If a mom is struggling to keep her little ones under control, offer your assistance. Just letting a young girl play with my bracelet for a while helped calm a recent stressful situation.
• Don’t forget to tip your bellman or housekeeping staff. They work hard and don’t make much money, so your thoughtfulness helps. And you’ll feel better doing it.
• And most important of all – smile often. It’s universally disarming, especially in unfamiliar places.

This article originally appeared in TravelPulse.