5 Do’s & Don’ts When Traveling By Air
Hey Slayersss!
I know it has been a min, but I’ve been in the house and chillaxing after this busy year that I’ve had. I do need you all to know that I haven’t forgotten about you guys and so, I’m back! This time I have some help from one of my BFFs Chanelle! Chanelle is a Flight Attendant (FA) for Delta Air Lines and has been for what will be four years in March. When she first showed interest in applying I just knew that she would be a perfect fit for the job as she is motivated, intelligent, bubbly, outgoing and not to mention BEAUTIFUL amongst other things. Of course, the airline believed so as well, and she was off!
Many of us fly often and whether it be for business or play, we all have our special routines. Since I started writing my blog and researching I have come across my own do’s and don’ts while flying and I thought it would be fun and informative for you guys, to ask someone who spends a ton of time on airplanes. I asked Chanelle for her list and she came up with the below.
DO
Pack essentials: blanket, ear phones, chargers, etc.
*sometimes planes aren’t catered blankets and flights can be cold.
*most planes have TVs nowadays, so it’s smart to be prepared and save money instead of buying earphones.'
*while staying connected, you want to stay charged up too. Don’t forget your charger for the onboard outlets.
Use the bathroom before boarding
*while it may be convenient to use the bathroom once you’ve gotten on the plane, most bathrooms are super tiny. Save yourself the trouble and use the bathroom outside the gatehouse. It’s bigger!
Take out everything you will need from your suitcase before placing your bag in the overhead bin.
*it may seem like the weirdest thing to point out, but you would be surprised how many people hold up boarding while trying to pull out items from their luggage last minute. Save yourself some time and stress and help make sure the flight leaves on time.
Carry wipes to clean your seat/area.
*cleanliness is next to Godliness! Only God knows what the previous passenger was doing or how they were feeling in that seat. Naomi Campbell did it best!! *cues Boosie’s Wipe Me Down song,
Remember FAs are humans too
*acknowledge them when they speak to you as you board and deplane. Be attentive when they are serving you during service. Have patience with them when delays and cancellations happen because 9 times out of 10, they are also being delayed and rerouted and sometimes they don’t get information about what’s going on until after the fact. As a FA, I can’t even begin to describe the disrespect and blatant disregard I’ve encountered numerous times. I think passengers forget that we are there for their safety as well as ours. That’s our primary and only objective when we come to work, especially during the holidays when we would rather be with our family as we take you to yours.
DON’T
Use the bathroom with no shoes.
*you’d be surprised how many people don’t realize that plane bathrooms are public bathrooms too. You never know what you’ll be stepping in or touching when going back there, no matter how clean it may look. FYI: socks aren’t considered shoes either.
Leave trash in the galley.
*our galleys are considered our kitchens in the sky, imagine seeing nothing but trash on the countertops due to passengers who couldn’t hold on to their trash. Not cute...at all.
Drink the plane water (Coffee/Tea)
*some FAs do. Many don’t. But the horror stories I’ve heard from ramp agents and other airline employees...I would stick to anything that’s in a can or a bottle.
Pack a heavy bag.
*FAs do not get paid to lift your bag. And this is not to sound arrogant, but if we get hurt lifting a passengers’ heavy bag, we don’t get paid. So if you can’t lift your bag into the overhead bin, check it. For your sake and ours too.
Ignore the signs.
*there are PLENTY of signs on the plane that give full blown instructions on how to do things. From opening the bathroom door, to how to place your bag in the overhead bin. Pay attention to them. It makes a world of difference.
Some of the things listed above might be known to you but, I think it is our duty to spread the word to those who don’t know. You would be really surprised at the different behavior shown on airplanes so please try to keep the above in mind while traveling. I just want to thank Chanelle for providing her time and input. If you do have any questions/comments, please leave them below and to keep up with Chanelle and her travels follow her on Instagram @heyyychanelle.
