7. Rookies mistake the cockpit door for the bathroom door.

8. Rookies do not start reading American­ Way from the back, at Jim Shahin's
column.

9. Rookies do not know how to clear their ears during descent.

10. Rookies aren't upset when they're assigned a middle seat. - David Fenstermacher, Media, Pennsylvania


10. Look for a passenger stuffing paper ­department-store bags into an overhead bin.

9. Look for the traveler who tries to go through security with a large cowboy belt buckle.

8. Look for a passenger who has a middle seat and actually asks you to switch your aisle seat with him.

7. Look for a hotel guest who relies on the hotel's wake-up call.

6. Look for an airline passenger who thinks that "all overhead space" means "all mine."

5. Look for a passenger in an airport who's pulling out clothes in the check-in line because his bag weighs 80 pounds.

4. Look for a hotel check-in guest who does not have a room at 11 p.m. because no late arrival was guaranteed.

3. Look for a greenish cruise-ship passenger who had no idea that the ship might rock.

2. Look for a passenger stepping out of a taxi who has no cash or credit card.

1. And, finally, look for a passenger who asks you for a pillow just because you're a woman wearing a navy suit. - Patricia Conover, McKinney, Texas


10. Checks his luggage. (If you can't cram two weeks of clothing in a carry-on, you are not trying!)

9. Looks around when disembarking. (A pro knows where the exits are!)

8. Stays awake the whole flight. (Pros find engine noise so soothing that it's impossible to resist taking a nap.)

7. Lips don't move along with the flight attendants' when they make the preboarding announcements.

6. Forgets to remove shoes at security.

5. Doesn't spring for the GPS system in his rental car.

4. Leaves at least one item of his standard entertainment package at home (iPod, book, DVDs, smartphone with games).