Regardless of the reason for traveling by air, be it business or pleasure, spending time in close proximity to throngs of strangers calls for a specific set of manners.

When the agent at the counter has to deal with rude customers ahead of you in line, treating them to a warm smile and a show of respect just might make their day. Like flight attendants, ticket agents can’t accept cash tips, so show your appreciation in the form of a smile and patience. Upon arriving at the airport, if a curbside baggage handler assists with heavy luggage, hand them a few dollars; tips are allowed and appreciated.

Before you get in line for security, have your identification and boarding pass ready for inspection. If you travel frequently, consider making the process faster and much more pleasant by enrolling in a Trusted Traveler Program administered by the Department of Homeland Security, such as the TSA Pre-Check, which often has a separate line that provides travelers with a streamlined pre-flight screening experience.

One thing that delays the process of boarding a plane is a passenger attempting to jam oversized luggage into an overhead compartment. Eventually, they will give up and allow the luggage to be checked, but only after disrupting everyone else on board. When traveling with bulky luggage, check it in at the ticket counter. If the flight looks like it will be full and the airline has a loose boarding order, get in line early to make it more likely you will find an open overhead compartment.

At the boarding gate, take advantage of charging ports to top off cellphones. An extended-length power cord can come in handy if the electrical outlet isn’t near your seat, but take care to keep it off the floor lest it trip other travelers. Others may need to recharge their phones, so unplug and share when yours is done. On the plane, look for an outlet on the armrest or on the back of the seat in front of you.

When traveling with young children, don’t burden them with luggage that is as big as they are. Even wheeled luggage may prove difficult to manage for little ones. Keep children close, especially when everyone is rushing to disembark from a plane. If the children are teenagers, keep an eye on them to make sure they don’t get bored and wander off to the airport shops, where they might lose track of time and miss the flight.