Kate Hackett
Flights themselves have become crappier and crappier, absolutely yes, but the staff who mans those flights are usually just people too — and it’s important not to bust their butts when they’re trying to do their job.
AskReddit recently fielded the question: “Flight attendants and/or pilots of Reddit, what are some things passengers do that get on your nerves?”
Here are some of the top answers.
1. Showing up late
My wife works at ticket desk for Large Airline. The stories I have….which honestly anyone who’s worked any type of customer service knows what’s up.
My personal favorite. College athlete showed up late to flight, told couldn’t board, yelling, screaming and cursing all employees. Bringing her race up as reason they aren’t letting her on….you know the works. The competition she missed the flight to was Olympic tryouts. How late was she you ask? She showed up two hours after the flight left
2. Poking or grabbing
Poking or grabbing at me to get my attention!! And it’s usually on my ass as it’s eye level with most people haha. But for real DON’T poke people! Especially if I am speaking to another passenger. I can see you waving at me I’m not going to interrupt my assisting someone else because you want me to take your trash, just give me a second and I’ll come to you next. I promise can hear you if you say “excuse me!” Or “Miss!” Or even wave a little in my direction. There’s just no need to touch people or grab at them.
Once I was so irritated at someone’s incessant poking, I turned, looked them in the eye and poke poke poked them right back and said, “what do you need.”
3. Being a bad weather grump
Pilot here.
My worst experiences with customers is when the weather is bad and we have to either wait or make a no go decision. My personal favorite is the guy who screamed at me while I was in the terminal getting coffee because his flight wasn’t leaving on time. The whole north east was shut down for thunderstorms and low ceilings, but his iPhone said it was ok for us to go so he had to tell me how bad I am at my job.
4. Blaming them for cancellations
Check-in Agent here. When the plane is delayed or there’s a cancellation and passengers blame us! Honestly there’s nothing more we want than getting you on the plane to your holiday or back home but if there’s something physically wrong with the plane we will not risk everyone’s lives. Shouting, screaming and cursing at us won’t change the fact that the plane is still broken!!!!!
5. Not watching your kids
Parents that don’t watch their kids during the flight. The aircraft isn’t childproof and there’s a surprising amount of things they can injure themselves on.
6. Being crabby
If you are nice I am happy to walk the extra mile for you. Having a free seat next to you, a drink i don’t have in my cart atm, extra snacks etc. But being an a** for things i can’t change won’t help anyone. Yes i do see you are flying with an infant and i would love to give you a whole seatrow but the flight is fully booked. You have a certain allergy and can’t eat any of the foods offered and have not ordered a special meal before flight? We have only the foods on board which were loaded and i can’t create or order any mid-flight.
7. Taking shoes off
Walking throughout the aircraft barefoot. Especially into the toilets… Those floors are not as clean as you think they are!
8. Making thoughtless jokes
Don’t ask if we were out late last night drinking. You may say it as a joke and think it’s funny but we have to take those comments seriously. There is a chance that comment will force the pilots to go take a breathalyzer and your flight may be delayed or canceled. If you honestly smell booze speak up. If not it’s not funny and keep your mouth shut.
9. Constantly getting up
When passengers get up as soon as the aircraft stops … y’all could be sitting effortlessly until we make the bridge and disarm the door but nah
10. Letting kids run wild
Parents which let their kids do whatever they want. I almost had to cancel a takeoff once because a toddler was crawling in the isle just because mom said he won’t sit still shortly before takeoff. Disregarding that on takeoff roll he could have gotten severly injured. And please bring everything you need for your kids. Diapers, food, milk. We have some items to help you out when you run out but not to supply everything for infants for the entire flight. And tray tables and seats are no changing tables. Gross. Please use the ones in the restrooms.
