A flight from New York to Australia may take almost an entire day, but that doesn't mean passengers should act unruly or demanding to flight attendants or the people around them. While a long flight like that seems uncomfortable and painful, there are still several plane etiquette rules passengers should follow.
According to flight attendants, there are a number of things passengers should do to make their flight more tolerable and hassle-free. Everyone on a plane wants a smooth trip and thanks to the many hard-working flight attendants, passengers usually have a good experience.
Saying hello to the cabin crew is always a must-do and honestly, it doesn't hurt to listen to the safety demonstration, no matter how many times you travel. Check out these 15 other things all passengers should do according to flight attendants.
15 Say Hello
It's always a good idea to say "hello" to the cabin crew as you enter the plane. Flight attendants want to feel safe and comfortable as well, and it doesn't hurt to make them feel more at ease by greeting them. As passengers leave their flight, a simple "thank you" works, too.
14 Listen To The Safety Demonstration
No matter how many times passengers have flown, it's always important to listen and watch the safety demonstration given before take-off. The worst thing a passenger can do is talk on their phone or ignore this important demonstration in front of a flight attendant. If an emergency does occur, you'll only look foolish.
13 Keep Their Shoes On
Sitting on a plane for hours is excruciating, but taking your shoes and socks off as if you were sitting in your private living room on a plane is always a bad idea. No flight attendant or passenger wants to see your bare feet near them. If passengers are feeling uncomfortable, it's always okay to walk about the cabin for a little when it is safe to do so.
12 Put Smaller Bags Under The Seat In Front Of You
There are baggage rules to any airplane and passengers should always practice good etiquette regarding them. If you have a heavy jacket or bag that's smaller than a carry-on, please store it under the seat in front of you. Flight attendants need the overhead bin space for passengers with larger bags and you might end up getting your suit jacket crushed in between them if you leave it there.
11 Don't Use The Plane Like Their Personal Space
According to Fashion Beans, passengers should never "encroach" on the galley area because that's a flight attendants' only personal space where they can take breaks and get ready for any other tasks. One flight attendant describes the galley as her "office," so let's keep the area clear at all times.
10 Wait To Use The Bathroom When It Is Safe To Do So
There will always be a short amount of time to get up and use the restroom during flights, so there shouldn't be a reason to get up out of your seat when the seat belt light is on. The seat belt light is on for passengers' safety and it really isn't that hard to follow this simple rule.
9 Obey All Rules
Obeying rules while on a plane shouldn't be that difficult, especially since most of them are common sense. Rules on a plane were made to be followed and if a passenger acts out or causes a scene, that just makes it stressful for everyone else on board, and flight attendants have to take the time out to fix this.
8 Don't Waste Time Ordering
Flight attendants must cater to everyone on board, so they don't have time for a passenger who isn't sure of what they want. If you are planning on ordering a hot coffee, instead of having an attendant ask two or three questions about how you like your beverage, simply tell them when you order.
7 Stay On Top Of Personal Hygiene
Everyone already knows that the areas on a plane that harbor the most germs are the tray table, the windows, and the restrooms. Always stay on top of your personal hygiene by carrying disinfecting wipes in your bag and using hand sanitizer after you use the bathroom.
6 Don't Consume Too Many Beverages
While it's perfectly okay to order alcoholic beverages on a plane, flight attendants keep an eye on these passengers because there have been way too many awful in-flight incidents that arose with an intoxicated passenger. Passengers who want to drink on board should also always consume just as much water.
5 Don't Treat Flight Attendants Like Servants
Don't act like the safety demonstration doesn't apply to you because you have been on plenty of flights or not greet the cabin crew with a simple "hello." The flight attendants are on board to make passengers feel safe and at ease and are not there to act on your every need.
4 Give The Armrest To The Middle Seat
It's not fun when you realize you ended up in the middle seat of a plane, so it's a rule that the people sitting on your left and right give you the armrest. This rule is just simple airline etiquette and the unlucky person sitting in the middle should actually get both armrests since the window seat gets to lean on the window and the person on the aisle gets extra legroom.
3 Place Your Luggage In The Overhead Bin That's Closest To You
Passengers will ideally place their bags in the overhead bin that's right above their seat, but it can be a little more difficult if you're one of the last people to board a plane. There will always be a flight attendant who will help if a passenger encounters this problem, but to avoid chaos, just place your bag nearest to you.
2 Don't Recline During Meal Time
How uncomfortable does this guy probably feel right now? It's just simple airplane etiquette that you don't recline your seat when it's mealtime on a plane. Sitting in a plane for hours is already painful enough, so please respect your fellow passengers all around you.
1 Leave The Plane In An Orderly Fashion
This is definitely the worst one of all when it comes to plane etiquette. Everyone is excited to get off a plane when it touches down, but please leave in an orderly fashion. The only time it's acceptable to rush is when you have a plane to catch, but even then, you should still ask the people in front of you politely if it is okay to do so.