TORONTO — We get it, flying is tough. Being contained in a stuffy tin can with nothing but bad movies to distract you from the fact that your fellow passenger has nodded off onto your shoulder is a predicament not relished by many. But if you think this is tough, imagine how worse it is for flight attendants.
These in-flight warriors, who passengers just love to blame for all of life’s troubles, are professionally trained to handle every possible scenario with a smile. But don’t let their calm demeanor fool you – internally, they’re rolling their eyes at you for requesting a fourth bag of nuts.
There are ways to stay in their good graces, and believe us, you’ll want to stay on a flight attendant’s good side. news.com.au, Australia’s number one news site, recently published a survey by Budget Travel that asked flight attendants to identify their top in-flight pet peeves. Armed with this list, you’ll be able to avoid annoying your flight crew on all future flights, something they’ll be eternally grateful for.
Don’t press the button. For the flight attendants who participated, their biggest job-related pet peeve was the call button. Basically, you should never press it, under any circumstances. Most passengers use it to ask crew members for additional snacks and drinks, to discard trash or to inquire about estimated time of arrival. Passengers are to be reminded of the fact that flight attendants pass by their seat every few minutes – pressing a button to answer every beck and call is both rude and annoying.
Pack smart. With more and more airlines charging for checked baggage, it’s understandable that many passengers are going with carry-on instead. But this doesn’t mean stuffing your entire life into one big duffel bag. Sneaking past gatekeepers with an overstuffed bag only to realize that it doesn’t fit in an overhead bin will get you nowhere. It will, however, draw the ire of flight attendants who now have to accommodate your thoughtlessness.
Keep your feet to yourself. Just like how you would never go to a friend’s house and plonk your feet on their coffee table, it’s considered rude to rest your feet against the walls while sitting in a bulkhead seat. Plus, it can be extremely dangerous to you during turbulent takeoffs and landings, so it’s in your best interest to keep your feet planted firmly on the ground.
Be friendly. Just like anyone else, flight attendants respond best to friendly behavior. So make contact, smile and address them the way you would a friend or neighbor. You’ll find you’re must more likely to get that extra blanket and additional bag of nuts.
Share your snacks. If you really want to get on the good side of the crew, pack a bag of your own treats and share the love! High-quality chocolate is always a safe bet – dish some out to the ground crew at check-in or mid-flight to flight attendants. They will be extremely touched by the gesture.
