Lisa O
We all aim to be polite passengers, but let’s face it—haven’t we all had our moments? Maybe you used the bathroom during a bumpy flight or showed off your stinky feet by taking off your sneakers. Nobody’s perfect. Flight attendants are the amazing people who handle our in-flight quirks with a smile. Some passenger behaviors, though, can really test their patience. Here are 15 things you should never say to a flight attendant.
“Could you help me with my bag and put it in the overhead bin?”
Flight attendants often say, “If you can’t carry it yourself, don’t bring it.” They’re there to help with luggage, not to do the heavy lifting for you. One flight attendant shared that he’s been asked to store everything from dishes and rocks to baked goods. Since most flight attendants aren’t superhero-strong, it’s best to handle your own bags if you’re able.
“Make sure to take care of Mom/Dad/Junior!”
Before you load up your kids or older family members for a cross-country flight, make sure you’re really prepared. Many families forget to pack snacks or food for their kids, which can be a big problem. Flight attendants aren’t there to help with personal needs in the airplane bathroom, though they often get asked. If someone has major mental or physical disabilities, they should always have a family member or caregiver with them to help out.
“Could you smile more?”
“I can’t tell you how many people have told me to smile more during the safety demo,” says flight attendant Nicole. “It’s really rude because they don’t know what kind of day I’m having, and this is something important that they should be paying attention to.” While flight attendants try to be friendly and helpful, their main job is to keep you safe, so telling them to look happier is dismissive of their serious responsibilities.
“Turn down what? I’m sorry, I can’t hear you.”
Many airlines don’t offer headphones, and experts say it’s up to passengers to come prepared. Not only can the noise from iPads, iPhones, and laptops annoy other passengers, but flight crews also need to hear any unusual sounds or movements in the aircraft. The sound effects from movies, TV shows, and games can sometimes sound like real issues with the plane, so it’s important to keep things quiet.
“Can I use the restroom before we take off?”
You usually have some control over your bladder. Using the bathroom before takeoff isn’t allowed because of regulations and can cause delays. It’s not a good time to get up since the plane can’t take off until everyone is seated. Plus, you had plenty of time in the terminal—why didn’t you use the bathroom before boarding? That should be enough to get you through until the seatbelt sign is turned off in flight.
“FAA rules don’t really matter, do they?”
Thinking about arguing with the flight crew over FAA rules? Think again. The FAA sets the rules for things like seatbelts, carry-on items, and exit row guidelines, and passengers often ignore or try to change them. But here’s the kicker: if an FAA inspector is onboard or at the jet bridge doing an audit, it’s the flight crew that gets fined if the rules aren’t followed.
“I can squeeze it in.”
Flight attendants are really good at spotting when your bag is too big for the overhead bin. Trying to shove it in just to avoid having it gate-checked will only frustrate the crew. “Claiming ‘it fits’ when it clearly doesn’t is a direct challenge to us,” says flight attendant Witkop. “We know what fits and what doesn’t, but people still argue.” Plus, your pushing and adjusting could slow things down and cause delays.
“The seatbelt sign is just a suggestion, right?”
The seatbelt sign is there for our safety, but we’ve all seen that one person who just has to get up and ask the flight attendant if they can use the bathroom right when the captain is telling the crew to sit down. Ignoring the seatbelt sign can lead to some big injuries—like broken bones. Not only does this put you in danger, but it also risks everyone else on the flight.
“I was allowed to do this on my last flight.”
Even if you’ve managed to get away with bending the rules on past flights, don’t expect that whining will work again. It’s like trying to play one parent against the other. “It’s like passengers think we’re clueless,” says flight attendant Witkop. Even if you think FAA rules are a bit silly, it’s the flight attendant’s job to enforce them and keep everyone safe.
“Want to join the mile-high club?”
If you don’t get why this is a bad idea, we might not be able to help you. Using pickup lines like this objectifies flight attendants, and it’s unprofessional. Plus, getting physical in the airplane bathroom is both dangerous and against the rules. If you get caught, you’ll face a write-up and might be escorted off the plane by security (or worse) when you land.
“Can you look after my baby?”
Flight attendants are trained to deal with all sorts of weird and sometimes dangerous stuff on a plane, like needles in emergencies. But that doesn’t mean you should ask them to handle your kid’s dirty diaper. They do walk through the cabin every 15 or 20 minutes with a trash bag, but that’s for general trash, not your personal waste.
“Is that your real hair color?”
Why is this even your concern? Flight attendants are trained to be friendly and approachable, but that doesn’t mean you should ask personal questions. It’s not okay to dig into their private lives. Many flight attendants find it really uncomfortable when passengers ask such inappropriate questions. It’s like asking them how much they weigh—just not cool.
“I have a bomb.”
Joking about things like “I have a gun” or “I have a bomb” is never okay, even if you think it’s funny. Flight attendants have to take any mention of these threats super seriously because safety comes first. Your careless comments could get you kicked off the flight and cause delays or cancellations for everyone. It’s best to keep those kinds of jokes to yourself and avoid making trouble.
“Can I get off the plane before everyone else to catch my next flight?”
Even if flight attendants know there’s a connecting flight taking off soon after they land, all they can do is make an announcement asking everyone to stay in their seats until the passengers deplane. They can’t promise that everyone will actually listen. Some people might get up anyway, which could still make catching a connecting flight a bit tricky. So, while it’s worth asking, be ready that it might not always go as smoothly as hoped.