WITH summer finally here, many of us are getting ready to pack our bags and take a vacation somewhere warm and tropical.

But before you hop on that flight, there are a few unspoken travel etiquette rules that you should know about.

Etiquette expert and author Jacqueline Whitmore — who founded the business etiquette consulting firm The Protocol School of Palm Beach — is also a former flight attendant.

She spoke to The Sun about the common behaviors people exhibit on planes and in hotels that are considered tacky, and what to do instead.

OVERHEAD BINS

When it comes to storing your bag overhead, Whitmore said to wait until you’re close to your seat to do so.  

“If you’re seated in the back, don’t steal somebody else’s space by throwing your bag in the first bin on the plane.”

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Most people seated in the front pay extra to be there, so you should be courteous and let them use the designated space above.

“And if you see someone struggling to get their bag up or down from the overhead bin, offer to help,” she added.

Not only will this speed up the boarding and deboarding process, but it’s the polite thing to do.

FOODS

There’s nothing worse than sitting next to someone on the plane who whips out a container of food that smells pungent.

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Although many people have dietary restrictions and sometimes they can’t help but bring their own meals onboard, Whitmore said to be aware of what you’re packing.

“It’s tough but I would say avoid any foods with a lot of onions or garlic.

“And don’t bring anything that gets really messy.”

You don’t want to be that person with a tray table covered in sauce or crumbs.

BABY ON BOARD

When it comes to traveling with babies or toddlers, things can get messy—and sometimes, that’s unavoidable.

But there are certain rules you should follow to ensure you don’t cause too much of a ruckus with your little one.

“I’ve seen people change their baby’s diaper right there in their seat. Don’t do that. Go to the lavatory,” Whitmore said.

She added that with toddlers, parents shouldn’t just let them run wild up and down the aisles.

And be aware of your young one kicking the seat in front of them so that you can stop that behavior immediately.

TRASH

Although passengers must sometimes momentarily stow their trash in the seat back pocket, Whitmore said you shouldn’t leave any garbage behind once you deboard.

“You should definitely throw away your trash when the flight attendants come by.

“They come around the plane several times, and especially at the end, I would say dispose of your trash versus putting it in the back seat pocket.”

She added that you should clean up after yourself in the airplane bathroom each time you use it.

SHOES

Although it may be tempting to remove your shoes and get comfortable on a long flight, Whitmore said you should never be completely barefoot.

“I think for sanitary and safety reasons, you should either pack some slippers or at least a pair of socks. Don’t walk around the plane barefoot.”

MIND YOUR NEIGHBORS

Planes require people to be in close proximity to strangers, so it’s important that passengers respect each other's space.

Whitmore has a few no-nos when it comes to space boundaries:

“Don't put your knees or feet on the seat in front of you.

“Don’t have really loud conversations with your seatmate.

“And right before take off and landing, don’t speak loudly on your cell phone.”

She added that she always travels with headphones, and said to never watch a movie or listen to music on the plane without them.

When it comes to the armrests, she thinks the middle seat has priority.

“The person who pays for the window seat has the luxury of the window, and the person who pays for the aisle has the luxury of being able to get in and out quickly. But the only thing the middle person has is the armrest.

“So really, the armrests in the center do belong to the middle person.

“That doesn't mean you can't share the armrest with somebody, but it's technically the only thing the middle seat person gets.”

DEBOARDING

When it’s time to get off the plane, you should keep those manners in check.

Rather than beeline off the aircraft and skip those in the rows ahead of you, just wait your turn.

“Allow the people in front of you to deplane first. That’s the courteous thing to do.”

THE HOTEL

Once you’ve made it off the plane, it’s time to check into your hotel—and there are some codes of conduct you’ll want to be aware of there too.

The state in which you leave your room each day matters.

While you obviously don’t have to make your own bed, you shouldn’t leave the housekeepers with a disaster to tend to.  

“Put your trash in the wastebasket; don’t leave it tossed on the floor or on the table.

“And don't leave food lying around. If you order room service, put the tray outside of the door when you're finished.”

Dirty towels, however, can be thrown on the floor to signal that you want them replaced.

During your stay, you must always remember that you have neighbors paying to be there as well.

“My biggest pet peeve is when people slam the door. That’s a big no-no.

“No running down the halls, no talking loudly while in the halls.

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“And in your room, keep your music down and television down.”

As for whom you should tip, Whitmore said the person who takes your bags up, the housekeeping staff, the room service server, and the valet return all deserve a little cash thank-you.

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