Decorum Apparently All-But Dead On Commercial Flights?

In an effort to create a better travel atmosphere on crowded flights, Delta Air Lines has introducing "Planeguage: The Language Of Traveling By Plane" -- a tongue-in-cheek series of 25 animated videos to be shown on its flights.

While some might call the series a lesson on how to become a "politically correct traveler," Delta hopes others may learn how to act at 35,000 feet from the series.

"We understand what you go through as a traveler," said Tim Mapes, Delta's vice president of marketing. "These videos can reinforce, 'Hey, you don't want to be that guy.'"

The (intended to-be -- Ed.) humorous video segments include "Middleman," about the middle-seat bully; "Kidtastrophe," depicting unruly tots on planes; "Lav Dance," about the person who bumps into everyone in the airplane aisle while returning from the lavatory; and "Shady Lady," about the passenger who raises or closes the window shade without considering other passengers, according to the Associated Press.

The videos were created after Delta officials heard customers complain about their flight experiences. The animations are meant to "help raise travelers' consciousness about what it means to be good travel companions," said airline spokeswoman Betsy Talton.

Customers and airlines have differed on what it means to a good-neighbor traveler. For example, Southwest Airlines banned a woman from flying -- saying that her outfit was too revealing.

"We expect our employees to use good judgment, common sense and good taste and we feel if our customers do the same we won't have issues on board a flight," said Southwest spokesman Chris Mainz, who said his airline may consider following Delta's lead. "Good judgment serves everyone well."

The airlines have done a poor job of educating passengers, said Andrew R. Thomas, an assistant professor of international business at the University of Akron. Growth in the industry means there are thousands of passengers who have never flown, he said.

"The airlines have finally caught on to the fact that the amount of people traveling, especially the amount of people who haven't traveled before, is exponentially rising," Thomas said. "There has to be some kind of (process) where people can become familiar with the travel experience -- and hopefully not while in flight."

Some Delta passengers like the video snippets -- including Larry Pellegrini, a 52-year-old sales executive, who said his biggest complaint on his weekly business flights are passengers who do not cover their mouths when they cough.

"There should be an education process ... when it comes to proper etiquette" in the air, he said.

Anna Post -- the great-great-granddaughter of etiquette icon Emily Post -- also likes the videos, and they could be an effective way to teach passengers how to better fly.

"The more aware people are about how their actions affect others, the better the chances are that they'll make more of an effort to be considerate," said Post. "The times when I see rudeness happening is when I don't see people being self-aware. It's great to see an airline acknowledge they understand the crazy situations passengers go through."

FMI: www.delta.com