The silent chaperones of the air have to keep a tight lid on their tempers, put a huge smile on their faces and maintain calmness on crowded flights, and they never get enough credit for their peace-making roles. Passengers find something wrong with just about everything, and it is an air stewart’s job to maintain their composure and deal with it rationally.
Lest we forget this is what they deal with on a daily basis. You can believe that they’ve gathered some hairy stories – here are a few things they beg of passengers NOT to do.
1. Go barefoot on a flight
Walking around barefoot on a plane is seriously unhygienic. Chances are the water on the toilet floor is not really water. Flight attendants can’t tell you to not walk around without shoes, but if you consider the amount of germs on a plane, you should refrain from doing so.
2. Attempt to get a free upgrade to Business Class
A stewardess from London explained this impeccably: “We get asked for upgrades all the time and my attitude is that you wouldn’t dream of going into a store and saying: “I bought this bottle of water, any chance I could switch if for champagne without paying extra?” Case closed.
3. Don’t change seats without asking first
You see a row of free seats and make a run for it as soon as the doors are closed. What you don’t know, is that seats are blocked off to help balance the weight evenly across the plane for take off. It is courteous to always ask before you relocate from your allocated seat. The flight attendants have the manifesto and they should dictate if groups can sit together, if they have been split up. Alternatively, you can stay where you until after take off, then scout for a seat.
4. Don’t cut your nails or toenails on a plane
It is not okay, on any level, to cut your nails or toenails on a plane. How did you even get a nail clipper on the plane? It is disgusting to watch someone clip their nails, let alone their toenails. Some common decency should be practiced here, there are things you should never do in public, and this is most certainly one of them.
5. Don’t drink excessively
There is no shortage of alcohol on a plane, but the altitude does affect your intake even if you thought this was just a myth. Flight attendants have had to restrain drunk passengers because they become a nuisance to those around them. You should also beware that this is a criminal offence. If you drink too much and become a handful, the pilot could land at the closest airport to dispose of you, to the police, in a foreign country.
6. Don’t help yourself in the galley
There is generally just enough food for the passengers and the crew in the galley. You can’t walk in an help yourself to the food. If you would like extras and if there is enough, the crew will gladly assist you. Also, stay out of the crews’ way, it is their space to work and they don’t particularly like being bothered when they are busy in the galley. They wouldn’t bother you in your work environment and you shouldn’t bother them in theirs.
7. Don’t disrespect the crew
The flight staff are there to make your travel comfortable, this doesn’t give you the right to be rude or disrespectful. An air hostess said that even a greeting or a smile means a lot to them. Another said most people don’t say please or thank you, and even blame them for the bad food. A little respect goes a long way, especially if you want that last piece of pudding.
Pictures: Instagram and Suhyeon Choi/Unsplash
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