Each day millions of us opt to travel. It might be for work or personal reasons; often it’s for a much anticipated (and saved for) vacation.

We board trains, wait for buses, file through airport security, lounge around pools, ride chairlifts and toast our good fortune, often in unfamiliar surroundings; sometimes in places we haven’t ventured to before.

It’s like a symphony, really; a beautiful movement that brings people where they want or need to be.

Until the French Horn player hits the wrong note.

You know who we mean: that person, be they in line at the airport, pacing at a gate or obsessing over getting just the right poolside spot, who just throws a wrench in the whole thing.

Here’s our rundown of how to not be That Person; things to avoid doing for the sake of the rest of us out here.

The TSA Line Ruiner: TSA line ruiners are everywhere. You used to be able to avoid them – for the most part – in the Precheck line but with a surge in sign ups, you’ll spot them there as well. The Line ruiner doesn’t ask about what to take off or leave on until they’re at the conveyor belt (meaning we all have to wait while they dig their mini laptop out of their over-packed bag). They don’t check pockets until they make the scanner beep. And worst of all: they put their shoes and belt back on and repack their electronics standing and the belt exit.

People, those benches and chairs just beyond security? They are there so you can grab your stuff, move out of the way and rearrange yourself without holding up the rest of the universe. Please, please know your TSA line basics and use them.

The Special Customer: It’s a good idea in today’s travel world to assume you may have delayed flights. The one-two punch of the post-pandemic staff shortage and surge in travel has made things more challenging. Know ahead of time what your options are if a delay impacts you (and for goodness sake, pad your stopover time if you have a connection). But here’s what not to do: Scream at the gate agent or an agent on the phone about how much you need to get to where you are! I’ve long marveled at this ubiquitous traveler.

Once, I was stuck at JFK during a snowstorm and a businessman screamed at a gate agent “I have a VERY vital meeting on the other end of this flight!” I thought to myself – as I do every time that “special customer” makes a scene, “do they think the airport is going to say, ‘Oh, Mr. Jones, we didn’t realize! Hold on while we open the runways back up for you.” Stay calm and carry on. It’s best for all of us.

The On Board Menaces: We are all filing onto a metal tube with limited space. We need to do it right to make it work. Do not stand at the front of the boarding line when they call the Triple Awesome Diamond Elite group when you are in group nine out of nine. When you get on board, be ready to quickly place your bag overhead and get in your seat. (there’s plenty of time to pull out your earbuds, power cord and Pop chips before boarding). Do not listen – or let your children listen – to a device without earbuds. No one wants to hear Paw Patrol over and over – except your child.

If you have a baby with you, you don’t need to give everyone on the plane a small gift in case your child cries. For the most part, we don’t hear them. Except for the time I was in a 12-seat first class with five crying infants. One was a set of twins and the parents, once in the air, put tiny beds in the aisle to lay them on during the flight. The flight attendant let them know that was not allowed, to which the mom said, “Well where will we put them for four hours?” Moral: know the rules of travel with kids and be sure you’re comfortable with them.

And I cannot believe I have to say this but: do not hold work meetings while in flight. A few months ago on my way home from Bermuda I endured an entire flight’s worth of a loud group work meeting. The people next to me and behind me, laptops open, spoke at the top of their lungs the whole way, annoying to me and others. And if I was Sue, a co-worker coming back from maternity leave, I’d be a bit miffed after they decided not to add her to a project because “she’ll have baby brain.”

Clueless in Paradise: Yes, you worked hard for your vacation and yes you deserve to do all the things you love. But it’s a cooperative venture there as well.

Let’s start with my pet peeve about resort travel: the lounge chair savers. They are up before dawn, towels and books in hand, down at the beach or pool area to claim their front row space for the day. Then they disappear, using the chairs now and then through the day, blocking them from anyone else.

And here’s another tip: Little kids in floaties do not belong in the hot tub, much less jumping in and swimming around it. It’s a spa spot, not a swimming hole.

I know I sound persnickety, but knowing how to travel better and embracing the cooperative venture makes this all the better for all of us. Now put away that hard boiled egg or tuna sandwich before you board. It stinks to high heaven. And no one wants to sit near that.

The folks who get to the lounge area early to “mark their chair territory” with towels or a book and then come back much later? Don’t be like them. (Photo Metro Creative Services)
Don’t be a TSA line ruiner and wait until you’re at the conveyor belt before asking what to take off or leave. Above, A TSA agent helps travelers line up to pass through security at Love Field airport in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)