We all want to be that easy-going, helpful passenger when we fly, especially when we see how hard the cabin crew works. But sometimes, what we think is super polite actually makes their job a little tougher. Here are seven things you might be doing with the best intentions that flight attendants quietly dislike, and what you should do instead.
Organizing The Overhead Bins
I know it feels helpful to rearrange the bags so everything fits perfectly like a game of Tetris up there. But flight attendants actually hate it when you move other people’s stuff around because it causes confusion when it is time to get off the plane. Just quickly put your own bag away, sit down, and let the crew handle the heavy lifting.
Enforcing The Rules On Others
When you see someone breaking a rule it is really tempting to step in and say something to keep the peace. But trying to play the enforcer usually just creates more drama and makes the situation worse for everyone on board. Instead, just quietly let a flight attendant know what is going on and let them handle it professionally.
Asking To Fill Large Water Bottles
We all love staying hydrated and saving the planet with reusable bottles but asking the crew to fill your massive 32-ouncer is a no-go. They only have a limited amount of water catered for the whole flight and they need to make sure everyone gets a drink. Fill your bottle up at the airport after security and just ask for a normal cup of water during the service.
Serving Yourself From The Cart
If the drink cart is right there and the flight attendant looks super busy you might think grabbing your own soda is doing them a favor. It actually messes up their whole system and your hands might contaminate the cart which is pretty gross. Just be patient, wait your turn, and let them hand you what you want when they are ready.
Handing Them Your Trash
You might think it is polite to clean up your area and hand your garbage directly to a passing flight attendant to save them time. The truth is they do not want to take trash directly into their hands, especially dirty tissues or anything gross. Wait for them to come through with the actual trash bag so you can drop it in there without them having to touch it.
Tugging Their Sleeve For Attention
If you need something, reaching out and gently tapping or tugging on their sleeve feels better than yelling across the aisle. But most flight attendants really do not like being touched by strangers while they are trying to work. Just use the call button above your seat, that is exactly what it is there for.
Chatting Because They Look Bored
It is cool to be friendly but calling a flight attendant over just to chat because you think they are bored is a bad idea. They are actually working really hard the entire flight doing things we do not even see behind the scenes. Keep your conversations brief and only press the call button if you actually need help with something.
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