Laptops on planes raise etiquette issues

NEW YORK, Aug. 21 (UPI) -- U.S. Travel experts say the growing popularity of laptop computers is leading to new questions of airline etiquette.

Michael Steiner of Ovation Travel, a New York corporate travel agency, said it can be hard for airplane riders to resist sneaking a peek at a neighbor's laptop screen, USA Today reported Tuesday.

"You're in tight quarters. There's not a lot to look at," Steiner said. "Sometimes it's tough to keep your eyes from wandering."

Jenny Dervin, a spokeswoman for JetBlue, said people glancing at one another's screens are sometimes offended by what they see. She said seat reassignments are often offered to either the offending or offended party, or, if a "mutually agreeable solution" can't be found, the laptop user would simply be asked to turn off the objectionable content.

Delta flight attendant Julene Geilenfeldt said noise is another issue that comes up on flights. She said passengers sometimes complain about laptop users playing games or watching movies with the volume cranked to a disruptive level.

"We have to tell them that they need to turn it down, or I'll give them headphones," she said.