ShareThisQ: I was flying recently and had a close connection, so I asked the flight attendant if she could make sure I got off the plane first. She made an announcement asking people without connections to stay seated, but no one complied. I missed my flight. What else could I have done?
A: Sometimes you have to take matters into your own hands. Stand up and speak up -- politely. Say you have a very close connection and you would appreciate everyone's help in letting you exit quickly. While some jerks might rush the door anyway, most people are pretty responsive to a polite personal request (as opposed to a general cabin announcement that's easy to tune out).
Q: I have to fly to Europe on business soon. I'm still breastfeeding my 8-month-old, but he's not coming with me, so I need to use a breast pump. I know it's bad manners to hog the restroom on a plane, but can I stay in there 20 minutes to pump? And will I look suspicious? If I saw someone take a big bag into the bathroom and not come out in a normal amount of time, I might worry. Help!
A: In general, it is bad manners to spend a long time in the bathroom on a plane, but that's when you're doing something like applying makeup. Needing to pump is a totally different story -- it's absolutely essential for a nursing mom who's away from her baby. So don't fret. You're not breaking any etiquette rules by hogging the bathroom.
I understand your concern about looking suspicious, though. When you board, tell a flight attendant that, at some point, you'll need to use a breast pump in the bathroom for 20 minutes or so. As long as the flight crew knows you're up to no harm, you're fine.
Q: I'm traveling to a city where my company has a satellite office, and someone there invited me to her home for dinner. Should I bring a gift? And if so, what should I bring, since I don't know her that well?
A: Yes, do bring a gift. It doesn't have to be extravagant, but it's a traditional way of showing you appreciate the invitation. Something from your region of the country is nice (when I lived in New England, my go-to present was maple sugar candy). But if it's a last-minute invitation, no worries -- flowers or good chocolates always work.
Just don't give anything too personal (like clothing), and whatever you do, don't try to pass off company swag as a gift! That's tacky, and nobody needs another mousepad anyway.
(E-mail travel-etiquette questions to Lesley Carlin at deartripadvisor(at)tripadvisor.com.)
(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, http://www.scrippsnews.com)
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