5 Things Every Pilot and Flight Attendant Want You to Know Before Traveling

Few travelers out there have as much experience in the skies as pilots and flight attendants.

A recent study by Expedia highlighted some of the most infuriating passenger behaviors, and that got us thinking about what types of things pilots and flight attendants wish all travelers would abide by.

Truly they all just want you to be nice and courteous during your trip, but let’s check out some more specifics that pilots and flight attendants want you to know before flying.

Timing is Everything

Your departure time and the time you actually get airborne are two different times. It is normally your departure time (the time the plane is supposed to be pulling away from the gate) that is printed and listed throughout the airport. Passengers should arrive before/by their boarding time, which is normally 20 minutes before the departure time. 

“You’d be surprised how some passengers fail to grasp the concept of time,” one pilot, who wished to remain anonymous, told me. 

Don’t be that person who delays the whole plane because you failed to show up in a reasonable time.

Cell Phones Make an Impact

Our society is so far engulfed in our cell phones that it is hard for people to abide by the constant requests from flight attendants to turn them off or switch them to airplane mode. It is especially important to follow this rule during the most crucial times of flying on a plane - the takeoff and landing.

Radio signals create feedback in the headsets of the pilots, making it more difficult when they are trying to communicate with the air traffic control tower. This is particularly true in older planes. Not a smart move considering the pilot more or less holds your life in his or her hands. So please turn off the cell phone when the pilot and flight attendant ask you to.

READ MORE How To Make Flying as Pleasant as Possible   

Follow the Seat Belt Sign

Another simple rule that is often broken, and a major pet peeve for flight attendants, is moving around the cabin while the seatbelt sign is on. In dire bathroom situations, it is better to press the flight attendant call button and ask. If you feel you can hold it, stay put. 

Too often people forget they’re traveling 500 miles an hour, 37,000 thousand feet above ground and things can get dicey fairly quick. Pilots are usually privy to upcoming weather information that might prove to be bumpy. Oftentimes this turbulence seems to be only a minor nuisance, but occasionally planes hit large air pockets that could cause you to bump your head or fall over if you are not seated. You wouldn’t unbuckle your seat driving 50 miles per hour on the highway while it’s raining, so why do it on a plane? Don’t risk it and stay seated. 

Problems with Connecting Flights

Missing your connecting flight is awful, but don’t curse out the pilot if the trip takes longer than expected or the flight attendant who tells you they can't help until the plane lands. Pilots don’t control the weather or if things get jammed on the runway, and your flight attendant can’t really do much if you’re going to miss your connecting flight.

So ease up on both of them and let the system handle it. Airline systems are programmed to automatically roll passengers onto the next available departing flight if you miss your connecting one. Of course, it is important to check in with the gate agent for the next departing plane to make sure you are listed. If missing a connecting flight stresses you out too much, then make sure to plan ample time between connections. 

Don’t Bring Animals (Unless You Truly Need Them)

These days, it doesn’t take much to get a certificate to state any animal is your service/emotional support animal. This has led to ducks, pigs, turkeys and even a mini horse flying on airplanes. And it’s happening so much now that pilots are learning about this in their early training.

“We can tell when someone is really lying about their animal, and it’s just sad,” the same pilot told me.

Think of the crying or screaming baby whose ears are popping because of the air pressure. Now imagine this happening with an animal who is not properly trained and an owner who is not used to handling an upset animal. 

Not only can be it be a safety issue and a disturbance to the flight crew, you’re passing yourself off as a person with a disability, which a slap in the face to people with actual disabilities. 

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