Air Travel has become a burdensome and cramped experience. Travelers are either nickel and dimed on discount airlines or given stripped down service on more expensive airlines. It’s extremely unlikely that airline service is ever going to go back to the amazing and attentive service that dominated the airline industry until the deregulation of airline fares in 1981 unless you fly British Airways First or Emirates. We might not get meals and things back but here are a few tips to keep travel fun and friendly.

1. Dress

In the 1950s and 1960s, travel was an occasion for which people dressed well. This can still be true for you here in 2015. Security will be nicer to you and your seatmates will appreciate your well-kept appearance. One of the best things you can do is wear easy on, easy off, shoes through security. Personally, I wear my vibram five finger shoes until security and then put on my boots or suede shoes afterwards.

2. Packing

There is so much advice on packing! My advice is this: pack enough clothes to wear everything twice. Sweaters, shirts and a nice pair of pants which you can wear on the plane and a pair of jeans or casual pants. Do pack enough undergarments for at least a week. I also keep a spray bottle of febreeze and a spray bottle of wrinkle releaser in my travel toiletries to refresh my clothing while I’m on the road.

3. Find your way around

One of the biggest things you can do is use directions or airport apps to find your way around. The best way to learn things are is to use signage and learning some things in advance. Another piece of advice: before you hit the shops and restaurants that populate the terminals and concourses now, find your gate so you don’t have to do the airport sprint to your plane.

4.  Be Nice

It seems like common sense but frankly it bears repeating: be nice! To other people that you are traveling with as well as being nice to overworked airline representatives and the TSA. Remember, when traveling we’re all in it together so its important to be on one’s best behavior.

5. Join Up

For frequent travelers, join every airline club and program as possible. You can get discounted fares, special perks, advance boarding and much more so if you are flying on a regular basis I would encourage you to join every program possible, they really do make it worth it.

The Bottom Line

Never forget the miracle that is strapping yourself into a metal tube and streaking across the sky at 500 mph. We can make that all more pleasant by following a few simple tips to make air travel fun and safe for everyone.