A recent business trip made Mr Properly realise that there is not much politeness in air travel. Time to review some basic rules that will make that next red-eye much more bearable for everyone.

Although many of us travel leisurely quite a lot, it is hard to ignore the fact that the flight is usually the least leisurely part of these travels. Even if you are not forced to over-night on a bench at the brand-spanking-new Terminal 5 or to return from your travel with less luggage than you started off with, air travel can be a bit of a drag.

Whilst on this business trip to New York I find myself on a flight with a rather poor selection of movies, so I've started contemplating how trips that cannot be avoided at least can be a little less annoying.

• In this day and age, airline security is necessary to keep us from evil. But anyone who has ever taken a flight knows that you have to empty your pockets and take your jacket off, so don't wait until you are in the front of the queue to do so. If you know that your Hein Gericke belt buckle will set off the metal detector, take it off and spare yourself the pat-down.
• Unless you are flying business and can board at your leisure, it is not rocket science to understand that it is more efficient to fill the plane from the back to the front. Wait until your row is called before storming the plane like an SAS task force.
• Be aware of people wanting to pass you whilst you are stowing your hand luggage. A quick side step into your row will do miracles to ease congestion.
• Once the flight has taken off, be aware that you might have to share your armrest. If you are going to sit next to somebody for half a day, adopting a first-come-first-served approach is unlikely to make your flight hassle-free.
• Recline your seat gradually, if you are going to. That will give your fellow travellers sitting behind you a fair chance to secure their complimentary beverages.
• If you must play with your PSP (or watch a legally downloaded film on your laptop), headphones are a good idea.
• Don't nap on the shoulder of your attractive seat neighbour unless she is - or is open to becoming - your travel companion.
• And when exiting the aircraft, make sure you have your luggage ready when the queue starts moving. Don't have people wait for you to repack the duty free whiskey before they can leave the plane.
• Furthermore, nobody wants to stay on the aircraft longer than necessary, so rushing ahead of those seated in front of you (unless your life or connection depends on it), is bad form.
• And finally, at the luggage pickup belt, give other travellers a chance to get to their suitcases. Parking your trolley in the second row leaves some space for latecomers to access the belt when it's their turn.

This clear, when I land in London, I expect to exit the plane without any undue delay, and greet Mrs Properly in as timely a manner as I can.

Here Is The Writer : Mr & Mrs Properly

Mr and Mrs Properly will never come to your home empty-handed. They hold doors for young and old alike, always say please and thank you (especially to each other), and try not to be judgemental when they witness bad manners. Their bookshelves feature works by Debrett's, Knigge, Miss Manners and Emily Post, and when they're bored, they write this column for Here Is The City while making dinner. Both work in the City.

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