Space Invaders On Board

Feeling a little cramped in coach can feel more like a busy New York subway at rush hour at the end of a hectic day.

The last thing you want is to be bumped and poked within your personal space.

But New York subway travelers are used to this.

Air travelers, on-the-other-hand, take personal space seriously.

If they're not claiming the overhead bins as their very own closet, they're fighting over whose elbow has first divs for the armrest; especially if you are lucky enough to sit in a middle seat.

Planes have been diverted because passengers didn't see eye-to-eye.

Usually, the understanding of personal space falls within the realm of personality clashes.

There are some people who just don't mingle well in public places; flying is one of them.

Personal space on an aircraft, however, is more about finding your comfort zone knowing that perhaps a long flight is ahead of you.

In my position, I get to know everybody boarding the aircraft just by a simple greeting. I do this all within my personal space-Galley 1.

If it's not the passengers invading my space, it's ground crew or even the pilots who infringe upon my ability to move around. And I know all-to-well what it means to feel backed into a corner with nowhere to move.

Learning how to share in cramped places like a plane takes a little getting use to, but a smile goes a long way in conveying your willingness to cope.