We might have made ourselves a host of promises to travel better over the last few years. But despite our resolve to be better citizens of the world - to stand back from the baggage carousel, to refrain from abusing the in-flight call button, to not combining anti-anxiety medication with too many glasses of wine - we are still prone to a number of selfish habits in transit. Here are 9 rules to stop you from being that person.

1. Do not put your legs on the armrests

2020 might have been the year we realised coughs and sneezes were not for your neighbours' faces, 2021 might have been the year we realised in-flight yoga was stretching the limits of the cabin crew's patience, 2022 might have been the year we realised it's rude to expect your friends to pick you up from the airport and 2023 might have been the year we realised your oversized baggage is your own fault and your own problem. But there's one revelation missing from our collective consciousness: armrests are not for your legs (yes, even if you're in an aisle seat).

2. Do not return your own food tray

You may be VERY IMPORTANT. Your need to continue watching Friends without the fear of your half eaten ambiguous meat x polenta curry bouncing off your lap may also be VERY IMPORTANT. But you're not more important than everyone else. So don't risk spilling food or drink on your neighbours by returning your own food tray. Sit tight and wait for the flight attendants to come back and collect it. It may feel like an eternity, but they will return. 

3. Don't ask to borrow your seat mate's pen

Did 2020 teach us nothing? Bring your own. 

4. Don't lean over your seatmate and answer their Who Wants To Be A Millionaire questions out loud

If I wanted to play a game with someone, I would have chosen battleship.

5. Don't ask your neighbour if they want to swap seats

People generally loathe influencers, but there was widespread applause last year when one refused to swap seats when asked to by a family. That says a lot. Get organised and book the seat you want: or suffer the consequences in silence. 

6. Don't fall asleep on your neighbour's shoulder 

Travel pillows exist for a reason.

7. Save your pick up lines for the club

What is this, 2004? In this new era of social media and dating apps, all passes must be made by pixels and emojis only. We just want to watch a couple of movies and fall asleep.

8. Don't fill up someone else's overhead compartment with your luggage 

Just because you brought too much carry on, doesn't mean I should have to fight like a salmon against the current at the end of the flight, to the one gap I could find in the overhead lockers, 10 metres behind my seat.

9. Put your compression socks on in the boarding lounge, not on the flight

On a long haul flight taking your shoes off might be acceptable, but taking your socks off just reeks. Please have some consideration for everyone else's noses.