Everyone loves to go on vacations and trips, no matter where you’re headed. For many of those, flying on a plane is part of the process of getting to your exciting destination. While most of us have flown on a plane in our lives, a lot of moving pieces come along with being a passenger on a flight.
Flight attendants are those special people hired to make sure that our flights go smoothly, but we sometimes don’t always make the process easy for them. There are a lot of unspoken rules that come along with flying that not many people know about.
Here are the things you should never do on an airplane, according to a flight attendant.
Recently, one flight attendant shared the inside scoop
Ale, a flight attendant for over 10 years, shares her experiences and career life on TikTok. She shared a couple of videos about what not to do on an airplane when you are a passenger flying. The rules help keep you safe and help others have a more enjoyable flight — even those working it.
While some are a bit more common sense, others are interesting details.
First, don’t fall asleep right away
Ale shares that you shouldn’t fall asleep before takeoff. At the same time, some people enjoy sleeping on long flights. However, “taxiing,” or the beginning/end of a flight when the plane is taking off or landing, is an important part of the flight for everyone. In the takeoff stage, flight attendants share important safety information with all passengers.
If you fall asleep, you could miss it
If you choose to fall asleep before knowing certain information, it can prevent you from knowing where to exit during an emergency or what to do in specific situations. Remember, all flights and planes are different, so just because you heard it on one plane, doesn’t make it all the same for another.
Next, don’t drink your own alcohol
Some flights provide alcohol, such as wine and liquor, for you, while shorter flights do not. However, it’s never okay to drink your own liquor or alcohol on a flight. In fact, Ale shares that it’s a federal law that states you should not do this — not an airline-regulated law.
Therefore, doing so is breaking federal law.
Flight attendants are supposed to monitor all passengers
Drinking your own alcohol means that they cannot truly monitor how much you consume. Though flights can be long, there are reasonable cut-off amounts for all passengers. This is at the discretion of those working the flight.
It can prevent many different health emergencies as well as interpersonal issues.
Another rule: Don’t walk around barefoot
Many passengers enjoy taking their shoes off during a flight so they can relax and unwind. It’s totally okay to do so in your seat, but if you are planning to get up and move around, it’s best to keep your shoes on — or put them back on.
Certainly, do not go to the bathroom without any shoes on your feet.
The floor isn’t always clean
Ale shared that you also don’t know what you will be stepping on. Bare feet can always pose a health concern. She also stated that walking around an airport without shoes on is a big “no,” as you can pose health issues and just overall safety issues with stepping on unknown materials.
Next, don’t stand upright when you land
Everyone knows the type: as soon as the plane hits the ground, they want to get up and get their belongings to rush off of the plane. However, Ale shared that it definitely is not safe to do so. When the plane is still in motion and moving towards the gate, standing up can cause you to fall or injure yourself.
You definitely don’t want to grab your bags at this point, either, as they can fall and hit someone else.
It won’t make you get off any faster
Even though some people think getting up will get them to their destination faster, this is untrue. Ale shared that most of the time, things take longer because they have to stop and tell people to remain in their seats.
Plus, everyone on the flight gets frustrated, and it can definitely cause some drama on board.
Another rule she shared is about trash
Some passengers feel that flight attendants should take all their garbage whenever they walk around. This is totally false. There are designated times and passes when flight attendants walk around with trash bins and bags to collect garbage. At this time, you can dispose of whatever you have.
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Don’t just throw garbage at them as they’re walking by.
It’s rude and unsanitary
Ale shared that holding onto trash until the proper time is key because flight attendants don’t want to touch and hold your garbage, especially when they are unsure what it is or what’s in it. Instead, you can dispose of your garbage in a bag or bin, preventing them from having to touch it.
Plus, if it’s food, you are never sure what allergies a flight attendant may have, so it also prevents health issues.
If you get sick on a flight, be prepared
Many planes have sick bags in the back of the seat pocket in case a passenger gets sick and needs to throw up. If you need to use it, do not get up to throw it out yourself. You need to let a flight attendant know so they can handle it properly.
They must follow a protocol for using the sick bag to ensure everyone’s safety on the flight.
It’s actually considered a biohazard
Throwing up and using the sick bag creates a biohazard, which means that it poses a threat to the other passengers on board. Although you may throw up from motion sickness or even anxiety from flying, you cannot be 100% sure of this.
If you are throwing up from getting sick with a virus or some other illness, it can spread amongst the flight — which is all contained and circulating the same airflow. Therefore, disposing of it properly is important for germs.
Lastly, if you are flying with a baby, be mindful
Ale shares that many people fly with babies and while all are welcome, parents and guardians should never change the baby in their seats on the flight. Some parents try to use the tray tables as a changing table, but this can cause them to break.
It’s also unsanitary for those using the tray table for food or other snacks.
There are changing tables in flight restrooms for babies
Even though it can be difficult to maneuver everything mid-flight, it’s important to use the designated areas to change your baby’s diaper. This way, no one else will be distributed during the flight, and you will be hygienically safe and effective.
Were any of these rules surprising to you?
