Rules of the Air

We all board our flights with the hopes of scoring a seat without a neighbor. Airplanes are beyond cramped these days and who does not like extra legroom? But beyond the issue of space is the issue of stranger danger. The thought of sitting elbow to elbow for hours with someone that you do not know is not only uncomfortable, it can be scary.
Short of flat out asking for a background check, there is not much you can do to be certain that the person sharing your space is not dangerous. But there are warning signs that a person could potentially be dangerous.
Here are some general tips and things to look our for when flying with strangers:
Does the person around you look nervous? Sure most people do get a little nervous when flying. But people who are constantly looking around and checking their surroundings, sweating, or pacing may be up to no good. Are they constantly checking their bags or pockets? Perhaps they have something that they should not have. Security cannot possibly catch everything.
Does your neighbor avoid eye contact? The best way to get a feel for a person is to look into their eyes. A genuinely good person should have no problem looking you in the eye when you greet them. Try greeting your fellow flyers to get a feel for who may or may not be able to look you in they eye and greet you back.
Will they make conversation? If you are able to get a little bit of basic information about your neighbors you may feel better about sitting next to them for the duration of the flight. Where are they headed? Are they going home? Are they flying for business or for pleasure? When you discover that the man sitting next to you is just a young dad eager to get home to see his new daughter, he may not seem as scary as you initially thought. However if your neighbor is vague with his answers, stutters or hesitates, or is simply unwilling to talk to you at all, he may be someone you want to keep your eye on.
If you find yourself uncomfortable with the neighbor you have ended up with there is always the chance that you could be moved. If there are empty seats on the plane, most flights allow you to move around to be more comfortable. If there are no empty seats, perhaps you could ask someone to switch you so that you can be closer to the restroom. You never know until you ask, and all they can do is say no. Wouldn’t you rather at least try rather than being uncomfortable and nervous for your entire flight?