4 things your flight attendant wishes you knew
Flight attendants all have “that story”, whether it’s about a terrible flight on New Year’s Eve or that time a passenger decided that this was the time that they didn’t need an airsickness bag, despite needing one every time previously.
Here are four things they wish you knew, thanks to The New Zealand Herald.
1. They know you’re not supposed to sit there
Reddit user and air hostess Zlinerlabs shared their story of entitlement on a flight, saying that, "Every so often we get the odd straggler who boards last who finds a vacant seat in first or business thinking that we won't know that they are from coach."
Notweirdthrowaway had this to say; "Not an attendant but was on a flight with really bad turbulence. It went on for about 10 minutes then the old lady next to me reaches up and presses her button. Attendant walks over to see if the woman is okay, the woman begins to yell at the attendant for the rough flight and that she's been flying her whole life and clearly the pilot has no idea what he's doing. The stewardess just walked away."
2. They know you’re trying to swing into an upgrade by booking separate seats if you’re a couple
ConstableBlimeyChips is an attendant and this is their pet peeve; "A type of behavior I've unfortunately seen too much of: Couple will book separate seats, the man in a premium economy seat with extra leg room, the woman in a normal economy seat. The woman will then play the sad sack and ask another passenger to give up their comfy seat so they can sit together. If the other passenger refuses (usually because they paid extra and literally don't fit in a regular seat), some will even complain to the crew. And all this to save a few bucks on the second Premium seat."
Doc_Choc: "I never understand the logic of this and how it works on anyone. I've been the random person in a premium seat a few times, and when asked I decline and tell them they'd probably have more luck if the person in the premium seat traded theirs away. They always act like they hadn't thought of that and then move on to someone they hope is an easier mark. I can't imagine how I'd react if someone tried to get the staff to move me."
3. Please wear shoes while being on your flight
Although some of you like to walk around the cabin barefoot when the flight is in the middle of its journey, these stories might have you reconsidering that option.
"Please do not ever walk into a toilet with bare feet. I promise you, 9 times out of 10, that is not water on the floor," writes Reddit user HausofDarling.
"The toilets are often absolutely disgusting and get deep cleaned only at the end of a route... For us this could be from one side of the world to the other... imagine how lovely they are at the end of a 12 hour flight with 200 people using them."
Seeyou_never adds: "So many incidents occur on the plane that everyday passengers don't see or consider. My last flight an elderly man accidentally shit on the floor, stepped in it, and walked on like it was nothing. Pee and poop happens, all over. I feel like I witness an 'accident' regularly; in their seat or in the lav. People get nose bleeds, or their wounds open. Obviously when we land, it is thoroughly cleaned. But in-flight our resources are limited. DON'T CHANGE YOUR BABY'S DIAPER ON THE TRAY TABLE. This also happens all the time. It's unsanitary and people use the tray table to eat!"
4. You’re not going to like what the code “HUM” stands for
Although you think you’re just travelling with luggage and other human beings, that might not always be the case.
“Usually, the only people who know are the flight deck (pilots) and the manager/senior crew member. Dead bodies, organs, blood are obvious ones, but we also carry everything right up to Formula One car parts, exotic animals, marble tables, oversized televisions … everything.”
“HUM” is the code for human remains and the cargo most aircrew dread, said user Rosiulia who worked in the “booking department” of a long-haul airline.