Flight Attendant Advice

The good news is that there remain plenty of cheap travel optionssuch as cheapairplane tickets, discount hotel rooms, cheap vacation packages, and discounttravel deals. Byunderstanding flight attendants hot buttons better, you are more likely toenhance your flying experience.

The following is what Budget Travel learned after speaking toa number of flight attendants:

• Nothingseems to bug flight attendants more than passengers who press the callbutton. Flight attendants pass your seatan average of every 10 to 15 minutes. Wait until one is passing by to ask a question or make a request.

• Manypassengers earn far higher salaries than flight attendants. Since flight attendants are paid for time inthe air, delays often mean that they work 12 hours for seven hours pay. Median salaries for flight attendants arearound $37,000, with starting salaries about $16,000.

• Airlinesand the Association of Flight Attendants discourage tipping. Initial efforts to tip are usuallyrefused. However, a second offer orplacing a few bills in an attendants hand will usually be greatly appreciated. However, if you believe that you havereceived extraordinary service a letter or email to the airline praising thework of a specific flight attendant or crew is greatly appreciated and can helpboost an employees career.

• Do notexpect your flight attendant to dispose of dirty diapers by handing them off asan attendant walks by your seat. Insteadplace used diapers and other trash in plastic bags that can be then handed overto the crew when they are making trash collection rounds.

• There isno trick to getting an oversize bag into an overhead bin. Instead of sneaking an oversize bag onto aplane and then turning to a flight attendant and asking what should be donewith your bag, if you do not want to pay to check your bag consider signing upfor an airline credit card that allows passengers to check bags for free.

• Bymaking eye contact, smiling, and speaking to a flight attendant the way youwould a friend or a neighbor, you are far likelier to receive superior serviceand have a sympathetic listener.

• Keepyour feet off the walls if you are in a bulkhead seat. Otherwise it can be extremely dangerous toyou during turbulent takeoffs and landings.

• Keep yourcarry-on bag under the seat in front of you vs. in your lap, on an empty seatbeside you, under anyone elses seat. Your feet need to stay on the floor unencumbered by any bags.

• You canhand out high quality snacks to flight attendants. High quality chocolate is especiallyappreciated. Such a gesture is not onlya nice surprise to staff at check in and boarding, but often results in aflight crew going the extra mile should you need help in the event of weatherrelated travel delays or cancellations.

• Let yourflight crew know if you are flying on a honeymoon, anniversary, or otherspecial occasion.