It’s time to talk about one of the biggest elephants in the room when it comes to plane etiquette. We are, of course, referring to having conversations with your seat neighbor on a plane. Whether or not you should, what to do when someone talks to do, and the entire enchilada. This one here’s a whole can of worms, so let’s waste no time and dive right in.
When Someone Talks to You
Let’s start with what you should do if someone talks to you. If you’re in the mood to talk to them, great! If not, things can get a little bit tricky when your neighbor just won’t get the hint. Sure, you can just try to ignore them and throw on your headphones, but that’s easier said than done. When you’re in the thick of it, and you have literally nowhere to go (after all, you’re pretty much stuck with them), it’s not easy to shake off a conversation.
Do what you can to wait for a lull. Ah yes, the beautiful lull of the conversation. That’s your moment to strike. The second you sense that there’s an opening, say something polite like, “I’m going to check out some of these movies,” or “I’m going to try and check a nap.” You got this.
Talking to Someone Else
For whatever reason, you’ve decided that you want to talk to the person sitting next to you on the plane. The first thing you should do is ask yourself if it’s really necessary. If, for whatever reason, you’ve decided that it is necessary, then ask yourself a second question: do they look like they have any desire to talk to you? If the answer is no, then do them a favor and keep your thoughts to yourself.
But if you still can’t help it, keep the conversation minimal. Keep it light, quick, and matter-of-fact. Be aware of their subtle hints. If they seem like they keep glancing at their screen, or their phone, or turning away in any sense of the word—maybe it’s time to give them a break.