How to Navigate Four Sticky Situations When You Travel

Before you try to switch seats on a plane, or use your phone on the train, learn these points of travel etiquette.

Photo of a smiling businessman texting on his mobile phone at train station
(Image credit: Geber86)
Miriam Cross's avatar
By
published
in How-to

Can I ask a passenger to switch places with me so I can sit next to my son on our flight?

How can I politely (and safely) redirect my taxi driver if my navigation app suggests he’s taking an indirect route?

Instead of accusing the driver of taking you for a ride, assume it could be an honest mistake (or your app’s mistake)—or that he knows a better route. First ask if you’re on the quickest or most direct route, which leaves you an opening to point out the alternate route your GPS shows.

Subscribe to Kiplinger’s Personal Finance

Be a smarter, better informed investor.

Save up to 74%
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hwgJ7osrMtUWhk5koeVme7-200-80.png

Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters

Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.

Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.

Sign up
Miriam Cross
Miriam Cross
Associate Editor, Kiplinger's Personal Finance
Miriam lived in Toronto, Canada, before joining Kiplinger's Personal Finance in November 2012. Prior to that, she freelanced as a fact-checker for several Canadian publications, including Reader's Digest Canada, Style at Home and Air Canada's enRoute. She received a BA from the University of Toronto with a major in English literature and completed a certificate in Magazine and Web Publishing at Ryerson University.