Once you have initially planned your travel after a carefulreview of your cheaptravel options, including cheap airplane tickets, cheapdeals, discount hotel rooms, cheap auto rentals, discounttravel deals, and cheap vacation packages, youshould give a little thought as to how you can make your flight attendant yourfriend on your next flight.
After all, you never know what a little additional friendlyattention from a flight attendant will come in handy. Flight attendants have the discretion toreward passengers with a free cocktail or even a seat upgrade when available.
The following are ways to make your flight attendant viewyou in a positive light, according to Deb Hopewell who asked flight attendants,current and former to name things passengers can do to make their jobs a littleeasier:
Benice a kind word goes further than most passengers will ever know. Start when you enter a plane by smiling andsaying hello to the cabin crew. Unfortunately, it is rare when passengers even look at attendants.
Beready pull out those items you will want during the flight before boardingthe plane. Alternatively, pack a small,separate seat sack in your carry-on for those items you will want to accesswhile in the air. This way you will not blockthe aisle while taking things out of your carry-on which will help everyone getto their seats quicker, which will make your flight crew happy.
Checkthat do not carry-on a bag you are not physically capable of lifting into anoverhead compartment. Flight attendantsare not allowed to help passengers place bags in overhead compartments becauseof safety and disability concerns.
Listenup - when cabin crew members are moving down aisles with food or drinks,passengers should take at least one of their earbuds out so that attendants canbe heard. Attendants get quickly tiredof repeating the beverage options over and over to passengers who do not removetheir earphones. If you do not wantservice, you should signal that to your flight attendant.
Beresponsible for your kids when traveling with kids bring everything (toys,puzzles, videos, and food that they like) you need to keep them happy andoccupied. Flight attendants are notbabysitters and should not be asked to hold babies while passengers go to thebathroom.
Letcrew members help if you are a fearful flier, or are feeling sick, saysomething. The crew wants to help andcan help. However, they can do a betterjob when a passenger shares whatever the problem is. By law attendants are not allowed to give outany medications, even aspirin. They canhelp you get more comfortable and when necessary, help prevent your most recentmeal from ending up in your lap or your neighbors.
Dontinvade others space if you need to go to the galley to stretch on a longflight, ask first and keep your visit brief.
Policeyourselves flight attendants cannot tell a passenger to put his or her seatforward. Similarly, they cannot forcepassengers to change seats because you want to sit next to your significantother or family member. If the childsitting behind you keeps kicking your seat, inform the parent in anon-confrontational manner. Again, yourflight attendant cannot get involved in that.
Payattention and follow the rules the crew is held personally accountable ifthey do not follow FAA guidelines. Ifyou do not buckle your seatbelt, or your seat is reclining during takeoff orlanding, that could mean someones job, as well as negatively impacting onpassenger safety. Often there are ghostriders onboard, unknown to the crew, whose job is to monitor whether flightattendants are enforcing the rules.
Beready to go flight attendants are only paid for the time they work when thedoors are locked. That is why theyappreciate passengers who board quickly and why they like them to de-plane asquickly as possible. Passengers shouldhave their shoes on, their things gathered, and be ready to get up when it istheir turn to exit the plane.
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