There are unspoken rules in the realm of transportation. But there’s something precarious about silence—yes can mean no, and no can mean maybe—it’s the paramount source of confusion, because when there’s quiet, there are no ultimate standards. Here are some pointers to manage mischief, because some things are still better left said.

When on a plane

If you have hand-carry baggage, make sure that it doesn’t take an entire overhead locker.

We get it—you’d like to spread your legs, but please don’t recline your chairs at the expense of possible claustrophobia for the person behind you. Draw an imaginary line from your armrests to the armrests of the seats in front of you, to create reasonable territory.

Say please and thank you. The cabin crew members are not your in-flight maids.

When you’ve got a view, meaning you’re in the window seat, do close it when you can tell that the person who’s seated beside you are looking like their pupils are about to dilate.

The golden rule: there are other passengers. Though you’ve paid good money to travel, it’s not an excuse to act like you’re on a private jet.

When on a jeepney

Contrary to popular belief (and practice), the seat you should take when you’re the first one in is the one nearest to the driver.

With public transportation, the smaller, the better. Jeepney drivers appreciate passengers who give the exact amount. The man drives twelve-hour shifts a day—be a good Samaritan and give him a break.

Your seatmate is fast asleep—with his head on your shoulder. Tempting as it would be to just push his head off, the proper way to regain your personal space is through sneaky timing. When the jeep passes through a hump, gently jerk your shoulder to force his head off—and you can blame the sudden impact on the bump in the road.

Conform to jeepney vernacular and say (rather loudly), “Para ho!” Or if you’re in one of those fancy jeeps with “Pull the string to stop” configurations, pull the said string—hard.

When on a train

First thing to remember in a train, especially if you are standing up, is to not push or shove everyone else, even if the train is unreasonably crowded and you want even a tiny shadow of personal space.If an elderly person enters the train and there are no seats left, politely offer yours. The same applies for pregnant women or children.

Avoid answering your cellphone and instead, wait until you’ve exited the train before calling back.

Keep your things, especially your bag, settled in your lap. Not only is it rude to spread your things out like you own the bench, but hogging the seat will prevent others from occupying the space.

The train is not a powder room, so avoid putting on makeup or doing your personal grooming during your daily commute.