The views expressed in this Opinion article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Narcity Media.
Calling all travellers! If you're wondering how to be the very best passenger on your next flight, I've got you covered.
As a former flight attendant, I learned a thing or two about what makes a great passenger. From little things like keeping your seatbelt fastened to timing your bathroom breaks, these habits can make the flight a lot more enjoyable for passengers and crew members alike.
If you've got a trip coming up, here are a few things that will make you a standout passenger.
Don't hangout in the galley
Flights can be long and uncomfortable — it's understandable that passengers want to get up and stretch their legs. Walking around the plane or taking a few minutes to stretch is totally fine, but remaining in the galley or getting in the way of crew members can disrupt the workflow and create safety hazards.
The galley is the space where flight attendants prepare meals, enjoy their breaks and complete other tasks, so it's important to keep this area clear.
Luggage in an overhead bin.Surachet Shotivaranon | Dreamstime
Stow your own luggage
Surprise! Flight attendants are not required to put your luggage in the overhead bin. During my time as a flight attendant, passengers often asked me to handle their bags and even tried to push their luggage into my arms on occasion.
When packing your carry-on, remember that you're the one who will need to lift it into the overhead compartment. If your bag is too heavy for you to lift, that's your sign that you need to repack. Flight attendants can't be expected to risk injury just to stow a passenger's weighty bag.
Of course, if you have an injury or condition that makes it difficult to handle your own bags, accommodations can be made.
Keep your seatbelt fastened
We all know you need to wear your seatbelt during takeoff and landing, but to be a pro passenger, keep it on throughout the flight.
Turbulence can happen at any moment, so staying buckled in ensures you're ready for any sudden bumps.
If the seatbelt sign comes on mid-flight, crew members have to make sure that passengers are buckled in. There’s nothing more awkward than waking up a sleeping passenger just to remind them to fasten their seatbelt. I always appreciated it when passengers were already strapped in, so I didn’t have to disturb their rest.
Wait until after takeoff to ask for food and drinks
Long travel days can leave you hungry and thirsty, but boarding is not the time to be asking for food and drinks. This is one of the busiest parts of the day for flight attendants, and they don't have time to be preparing food and drinks.
During boarding, the flight crew is ensuring that bags are stowed, everyone is in the right place, safety briefings are done and more. It's not a good time to bother them for something to eat.
Once in the air, the flight crew is happy to assist with passenger requests, so it's best to wait until then.
A seatbelt sign on an airplane. Karin Hildebrand Lau | Dreamstime
Don't bother a flight attendant during their break
I always appreciated when passengers were friendly and conversational. However, the last thing I wanted during my break was for someone to strike up a long chat with me.
Flight attending can be exhausting, and sometimes we would only get a short stretch of time to sit in the crew row and close our eyes.
A bored passenger waking you up at 2 a.m. to engage in a long conversation is not how a flight attendant wants to spend their break.
Be mindful of your flight crew's personal space and time. If they seem open to chatting, it's always nice. However, if they appear to be enjoying some personal time or a break, think twice before engaging with them.
Be patient
Delays are every traveller's worst nightmare, and they aren't fun for the crew either. No one wants to be stuck on the tarmac for hours, but complaining to your flight attendant isn't going to solve anything.
There is literally nothing a flight attendant can do about delays, and they are likely just as frustrated as you are.
It's best to be patient and remember that the crew is doing everything they can to keep you comfortable while you wait.
Don't expect flight attendants to babysit
Travelling with children can be stressful, but it isn't your flight attendant's job to babysit. I had a number of passengers ask if I could entertain or parent their children, and it certainly is not in the job description.
If you're travelling with kids, be sure to bring toys and snacks to keep them entertained, and don't expect your flight crew to look after them.
It's also important to make sure they keep to their seat and don't run around the plane, disrupting other passengers and service.
A galley on an airplane. Bruce Whittingham | Dreamstime
Wait until the plane is parked before getting up
I can't say this enough. There is always that one person on every flight who thinks getting up before the plane is parked will somehow get them off faster.
It doesn't! It just makes things more dangerous.
I've seen heavy items fall onto passengers below because someone has opened a compartment too soon, so always wait until the seatbelt sign is off before getting up and grabbing your bags.
Plan your bathroom breaks
Got to go? Go! But if it's not pressing, give the crew time to finish their services. It's super disruptive to the flight crew if you need to get past them while they are trying to hand out meals or drinks.
If you can, wait until after the meal or drink service has finished before using the bathroom.
It's also a good idea to keep your arrival time in mind. Don't wait until the last moment to use the bathroom, as the seatbelt sign may come on for landing.
It's never fun having to turn people away from the bathroom right before landing, but it's important for everyone's safety. To skip the awkwardness, just plan your bathroom break before it's too close to the scheduled arrival time.
Most importantly, enjoy the flight and happy travels!