The life jackets under the seats are not yours to steal

I never thought this would be a problem, but some people think a life jacket makes a nice souvenir.

Not only is it theft, but you are also endangering the passenger in the seat next to you.

Do not leave the toilet unflushed

If you are not sure how to use the toilet on the plane, don’t hesitate to ask your flight attendants.

It’s not every day you fly a plane and there are so many buttons, but don’t just go away and hope no one notices.

The plane is a very small space. We usually have one toilet in the front and two in the back, so everyone can see when you haven’t flushed.

It may not be a good idea to take medications that make you sleep during the flight

When I started flying in 2019, I saw a passenger who looked unconscious. I tried to wake him up by shaking him, but he didn’t respond, so I panicked and called my colleagues for help.

I was about to ask for a medical professional on board or provide first aid, but it turned out that one passenger was a deep sleeper and it looked like he had been taking sleeping medication.

You probably don’t want to scare your crew by taking sleeping medication during the flight.

Carrying too much luggage on a plane makes life harder for everyone

Some passengers are covered in sweat because they are carrying too many personal belongings, backpacks and hand luggage.

It is so much easier to check in your luggage and board the plane relaxed and stress-free.

It’s also not always possible to find a place for everyone’s bag, so your extra items may still need to be checked in. If you’re worried about paying extra, ask a flight attendant at the gate. They’re usually willing to check it in for free if the flight is full.

Never drink personal alcohol on board

We catch people drinking mini bottles of alcohol all the time.

Even if you think there is no flight attendant present, you’d be surprised how often other passengers let us know.

It is illegal and if you get caught you may be banned from flying with the airline, so it is not worth the risk.

Crew members cannot assist you in placing your hand luggage in the overhead bins

Sometimes passengers ask flight attendants for help in lifting their hand luggage into the overhead bins. But that is not part of the cabin crew’s responsibility.

If the bag is too heavy, it is better to check it.

Do not go to the toilet while the flight attendants are giving a safety demonstration

It is okay to use the restroom before takeoff. However, if you see flight attendants giving a safety demonstration, you must remain seated and wait until the seat belt sign goes out.

When passengers stand up during the safety demonstration, we have to stop, wait, and start again once everyone is back in their seats.

If it is an emergency, call a flight attendant and we will help you.

It is not a good idea to use the backrests without wiping them down first

You would think that people would only put drinks on the tray tables in the back of their seats, but the person in front of you could have been sleeping on it or using it to change a diaper.

My airline hands out little alcohol wipes during boarding for a reason. Give the tray a quick wipe when you sit down.

Never go to the toilet without shoes

The bathroom is probably the dirtiest place on a plane. And all the liquid you see on the floor is not just water.

And if you only wear socks, they’ll be soaked. Who wants that for an entire flight?

Don’t stay silent if you don’t feel well

I’ve had passengers who felt dizzy or had a panic attack but were too embarrassed to tell anyone.

You don’t have to deal with pain or discomfort silently until landing. Always tell your flight attendant. We may have the training or equipment that can help.

This story was originally published in February 2022 and last updated on August 23, 2024.