Kate Hackett
11. Leaving trash
leaving a ridiculous amount of garbage behind. Last week I had a grown ass couple spit huge globs of gum onto the floor and then step on it to try to rub it in. Like seriously? Why? And getting up to use the bathroom when we’re already descending.
12. Ignoring directions
They always ignore instructions! Just do what I’ve politely asked of you, it’s almost certainly for your own safety!
13. *Seriously* ignoring directions
I’d say one of the most irritating and annoying thing is when people ignore or fight our instructions concerning safety regulations. I do not enjoy telling you that you can’t have your bag in an exit row, that you need to put your important laptop away for takeoff and landing and that you should stay seated when the seatbeltsign is on. And no it is not negotiable. No reason to get insulting or treat us like shit.
14. Trying to get free booze
Stop expecting free alcohol because you handed me a three dollar bag of candy you bought in the airport. I’m a grown a** man. You didn’t make my day by giving me a Hershey’s kiss. Slip me a twenty instead. I’ll give you an open bar the rest of the flight.
15. Pilfering food
You are a guest on board. A very valued guest. But please behave as such. You have passenger bins and your seat area. Don’t open other cabinets or lockers. Don’t help yourself to anything which isn’t obviously on display for you. And if in doubt ask first. We had passengers eating the homemade lunch of a colleague in tupperware. Someone took a bite from a piece of cheese which my colleague already had a bite from and placed it back,etc
16. Being gross
Poor hygiene/inappropriately dressed/exposed feet/etc. Aside from being disgusting, you should always “dress to egress” as we are taught in pilot training. Good luck making your way through a burning airplane, down a slide, and wading through leaking fuel and hydraulic fluid in your crocs, basketball shorts and Hawaiian t-shirt. Stick to close-toed shoes to protect your feet, and non-synthetic clothing that at least covers your legs completely. Synthetic material melts when heated; non-synthetic will just burn. Your skin hates both, but will prefer the latter.
17. Boning in the bathroom
As a former FA-
Don’t try to join the mile high club. Just, stop.
Don’t have sex in the bathrooms y’all. No, you aren’t being very quiet and yes we will know and depending on the airline policy we’ll also have to politely ask you to knock it off and keep it in your pants.
Not to mention the obvious – airplane lavs are ridiculously tiny, to the point where once on one long haul we had to make an emergency landing because a large couple couldn’t get out of the lav they had shoved themselves into once they were done.
I’ll add that this is THE grossest place to possibly want to do the deed, as lavs NEVER GET DEEP-CLEANED, EVER (between same-day legs)
Ugh, and please don’t jerk your partner off while you’re both in your seats, with OUR COMPLEMENTARY BLANKET(!!!).
I know what your hand motions mean and I will have to come over and shut it down, especially because in most cases there are families with kids sitting behind or near you.
18. Treating them like second-class citizens
People who talk to us and treat us like scum. And yes, we’ll provide better service to the ones who are nice, or think of them first when a whole row is free and they need to lie down and sleep during an 11hr flight.
19. Complaining about the ride
Complaining about how rough the flight was. I’ve had some cuss out the flight deck about their abilities because the aircraft hit wake turbulence… If you can magically see wake turbulence on a tiny monitor and think you can do a better job then join a flight acadamy, pay several thousand dollars for the training and certification and do it yourself…
20. Acting like it’s a free-for-all
Speaking of which, assuming the galley is a free for all. Sometimes we don’t get provided crew food for work and bring our own. If we’re busy attending to a call bell and can’t finish out snack or whatever… Its not for you to just grab and eat… At least ask first!
