Flying is a regular part of life for most of us—but even the most experienced travelers may have habits that make the flight less enjoyable for everyone on board, especially the crew! Flight attendants see these behaviors all the time and they have a list of things they’d love passengers to avoid. Here are twelve habits flight attendants wish regular flyers would break. If you do any of these, you might want to stop to make things easier for us all.
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Blocking the Aisle During Boarding
When people board the plane & then stop in the aisle to dig through their bags, it holds up everyone behind them and creates a line of impatient passengers—so flight attendants wish people would step into their row first. Then, they should sort out their belongings because it keeps everyone moving and gets them settled faster. Just slide into your seat before rummaging for that book or snack!
Ignoring Safety Briefings
Many frequent flyers think they’ve seen the safety demo a hundred times & tune it out but flight attendants wish passengers would pay attention—the procedures are often different between different aircraft. Staying alert during the safety briefing makes sure that you know what to do if something unexpected happens & it’s easy enough to do. Yet it’ll make a big difference in an emergency so pay attention.
Pressing the Call Button Repeatedly
Some passengers get impatient and hit the call button multiple times when a flight attendant doesn’t appear right away, even though the crew might be busy helping someone else. They could also be dealing with important jobs and pressing the button over & over doesn’t make them come faster—it just makes them more stressed! A little patience goes a long way in keeping things running as they should for everyone.
Leaving Headphones On When Speaking
Trying to talk to the crew while still wearing your headphones will just create confusion and flight attendants really appreciate it when passengers remove their earbuds. This way, everyone’s able to hear each other clearly & it avoids misunderstandings. It’s also polite—so when you need something, just take off your headphones for a moment to talk!
Overpacking Overhead Bins
Stashing oversized bags or cramming lots of stuff into the overhead bins means there’s less space for everyone else—so flight attendants have to rearrange items to make everything fit. Sometimes, bags have to be checked at the last minute & that makes things even harder! Instead, try packing reasonably & use the space under the seat to make sure there’s room for everyone’s carry-ons.
Standing Up Immediately After Landing
As soon as the plane touches down, some passengers jump up as if it’ll get them off faster yet a lot of airlines make everyone exit row by row instead. Standing early just crowds the aisle and it’s also unsafe if the plane stops suddenly. You’re better off staying seated until it’s your turn so that disembarking is easier for everyone—and faster.
Disregarding Personal Hygiene
Strong perfumes or lacking basic personal hygiene skills affect everyone in the confined space of an airplane—don’t be that person! Flight attendants wish passengers would be more mindful of their smells because they cause discomfort or allergic reactions for some people. A little consideration goes a long way in making the flight pleasant for everyone nearby.
Leaving Trash in Seat Pockets
Shoving garbage into the seat pockets creates extra work for the cleaning crew & may even delay the next flight, which is why flight attendants appreciate it when passengers hold onto their trash. Hand it over during collection rounds—that’s the whole point of attendants going around before the plane touches down. Keeping the cabin tidy is a sign of respect and it’s what the staff deserves.
Engaging in Loud Conversations
Talking loudly or playing music without headphones disturbs other passengers who might be trying to sleep or work, which means that flight attendants often have to step in to ask for quiet. That’s plain awkward for everyone and it’s easy enough to avoid by keeping your noise levels down. Don’t you want the flight to be more comfortable for everyone on board?
Ignoring Flight Attendant Instructions
Not following crew instructions causes delays & safety issues, whether that’s about fastening seatbelts or stowing electronics—flight attendants are there to keep everyone safe so follow their instructions. Listening & complying with their requests is better for your safety and all those on the plane. In fact, some people have been kicked off planes and even banned from flying because they couldn’t follow the attendant’s orders. So do what they tell you!
Using the Lavatory During Turbulence
When the seatbelt sign is on, it’s for everyone’s safety but some passengers ignore it & go to the restroom anyway and that makes flight attendants worry about people getting hurt if the plane suddenly jolts. They wish passengers would stay seated during turbulence & wait until it’s safe to move around—those are the rules. There’s no point in getting hurt simply because you couldn’t wait for your turn to use the restroom.
Monopolizing the Flight Attendant’s Time
Some travelers are insistent on keeping flight attendants stuck in long conversations or they make frequent requests which take up a lot of their time. Of course, the crew is happy to help but they also have other passengers and issues to attend to. You should be mindful of their workload & keep any interactions brief so that they’re able to serve everyone efficiently.
Disclaimer – This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.