If you plan on traveling by air this summer, Peter Shankman founder of AirTroductions.com, a social-networking site for air travelers, has a few tips on how to make your air travel easier and how to avoid being removed from the plane or detained at the airport.
-Be discreet. "The No. 1 tip is the `I wasn't raised in a barn' tip. Whatever you wouldn't do in a church, don't do on a plane," said Shankman. "If there's ever been a time in your life where you don't want to attract more attention to yourself, it's on a plane."
-Prepare if you're traveling with small children. Tell them what to expect on board. Use their car seat on the plane so they're not upset by unfamiliar restraints. Bring snacks. "Bring along games and coloring or connect-the-dots books," said Joyce Gioia, who writes the Herman Trend Alert, a business strategies newsletter. "My tactic was to pack a brand new toy my child had never seen."
-Control symptoms for coughs, colds and other illnesses. Bring tissues; dispose of them in the airsickness bag. Bring a bottle of water for a dry throat.
-Don't make jokes about terrorism. "Jokes and/or comments about threats to passengers or the aircraft will be taken seriously," the Transportation Security Administration's "Summer Travel Tips" brochure states.
-Know the rules and plan ahead. At http://www.tsa.gov you'll find detailed information on what is and isn't permitted in your carry-on.