After 21 years as a flight attendant, I’ve seen it all. The
pandemic heightened tensions on board, with the most extreme incidents of bad
passenger behavior escalating to violence. More commonly, though, I see
discourteous behavior led to verbal disagreements or general unpleasantness.
اضافة اعلان
As we enter the busy summer season, it’s worth discussing
some of the common courtesies that could make flying, dare I say, pleasant.
Here are my airline etiquette rules, which aim to strike a
balance between your own reasonable comforts and thoughtfulness toward those
around you.
Everyone has the right to recline — but there’s a polite way
to do it
The wrong way is slamming back the seat as hard and fast as
you can. That has broken laptops, spilled drinks, and caused fistfights that
have caused flights to be diverted. Be aware of your surroundings. Before
reclining, peek behind you and see what the situation is, and nicely ask if
that person minds.
Clean up after your kids
We are not maids. Flight attendants do not have access to
vacuums, brooms or cleaning supplies that go beyond hand soap, wet wipes and
air freshener. You are not required to clean up, but it’s courteous. There are
knock-on effects, too: Messes in the aisle can be a safety hazard, and a big
cleaning job can even delay the next flight. Proactive thinking helps. Can a
small child handle a large bag of snacks? If not, put the snacks in a smaller,
more manageable container ahead of time.
The overhead bins aren’t your personal Tetris game
The bins are first-come, first-serve in economy class. You
don’t own the spot directly above your seat, and it’s not acceptable to take
out someone else’s bag to make yours fit. Sliding bags to maximize space is
fine, but save the complex puzzle-solving for the flight attendant. And
remember, small bags belong at your feet, leaving room for large bags in the
overhead bins.
No one wants to hear your FaceTime conversation
We don’t need to hear both sides of that conversation; plus,
boarding an airplane is not the time for your goodbyes. It’s time for you to
concentrate on finding your seat and stowing your bags as fast as possible so
the people behind you can do the same thing. While we are on the topic, no one
wants to hear your movies, video games or TikToks, so bring headphones. Even
for children.
The middle seat gets both armrests
It’s the consolation prize for being squished between two
people with nowhere to lean. Case closed.
Headphones are a perfectly acceptable conversation ender
Overly chatty seatmate? Headphones are a great way to keep
from being the sounding board for your neighbor who can’t take a hint. It’s my
go-to move: After a long day of being a flight attendant, my noise-canceling
headphones are my haven. I want peace on my commute home.
Keep your socks on
If it’s a long flight, by all means relax and take off your
shoes, but there is never a reason to take off your socks. Foot smell is
inescapable. Also, keep your feet to yourself. It is not acceptable to rest
your feet on the armrest of the person in front. And I highly recommend putting
your footwear back on to use the lavatory.
Use the call button wisely.
If you need something — a coffee refill, assistance with a
medical issue or help with a disruptive passenger — please use it. It is
preferable to poking or tapping the flight attendant, which is not OK. Before
you press it, though, make sure we aren’t already in the aisle with a beverage
cart or a trash bag; that means we’re already coming! If you are having a true
emergency, please hit it several times so we know it’s important.
Don’t discipline other people’s kidsNothing makes a flight more miserable than the back of your
seat becoming a punching bag. However, if a child behind you is being
disruptive, address the parents. You don’t have the right to yell at someone
else’s child. A nice way to approach this is to ask the parents calmly, and
with a smile, if they realize their child is kicking your seat. Then say it’s
bothersome; is there any way you can you make the child stop? This way you are
not accusing in your tone, and are asking instead of being bossy.
Deal with your seating issues before you get on the plane
If your family is split up on the flight, the chaotic rush
of boarding is not when flight attendants can solve it for you. The gate agents
have access to the seating chart and family reservations, so please ask them
first if it is possible to change your seats. Some airlines even have a policy
that families with children under 13 must sit together, so the gate agent is
the best place. Or even better: Call the airline before coming to the airport.
You don’t have to switch seats if someone asks you
I’m going to be unpopular here. No, you do not have to
switch with someone who asks you. If you have paid extra for your seat, or even
if it is just an inconvenience, you can kindly say no. If it is advantageous,
like trading a middle seat for a window seat, or you are happy to help, please
go ahead and swap.
Flush…please
This should be common sense, but somehow it isn’t. I deal
with this all day, every day. I do not want to flush your deposit, and neither
does the passenger after you. If you can’t find the button, please look for it.
I guarantee it’s there. On every airplane.
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