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.

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

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.

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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.