Passengers do so many things that flight attendants wish they wouldn’t—and most of the time, they don’t even realize it!
From small habits to big mistakes, these behaviors can make flying a lot more challenging for everyone on board. So, we’ve put together a list of all the things flight attendants wish passengers would stop doing.
Take a look—hopefully, you’re not guilty of any of these! 😇
1. Asking Flight Attendants to Lift Your Luggage
We know those overhead bins can be high up, and some bags are heavy. However, lifting luggage isn’t part of a flight attendant’s job. We’re here to ensure everyone’s safety, and it’s actually against policy for us to lift bags. If we get injured while lifting a carry-on, it’s not covered by workers’ compensation.
If your bag is too heavy for you to lift, you can always gate-check it or ask a fellow passenger for help—but please, don’t expect the crew to do it for you.
2. Leaving the Lavatory Messy After Use
It’s a small bathroom, but that doesn’t mean it should look like a disaster zone after one person uses it. From unflushed toilets to mysterious messes and tissues left behind, we’ve seen it all—and trust us, it’s not pretty.
Hundreds of passengers share that tiny space, so a little courtesy can make a big difference. Clean up after yourself and leave it usable for the next person (and spare us the unpleasant surprises)!
3. Blaming Crew for Delays
Trust us when we say there’s no one on this plane who wants to reach the destination more than we do. Delays are frustrating for everyone, but the crew has absolutely no control over weather, mechanical issues, or air traffic.
We’re just as stuck as you are—except we’re doing it while serving snacks and answering questions about connections. Instead of venting at us, try to stay calm and patient. We’re all in this together, and a little kindness can make a long delay feel a bit shorter!
4. Invading the Galley
The galley is our workspace and one of the only places on the plane where we can take a quick break between services. While we’re always happy to help when needed, sometimes passengers unintentionally make things a little tricky for us by hanging out in the galley. Here are a few examples:
➡️ The Hoverer
We don’t often get time to eat, so when we do, it’s usually a quick snack in the galley while sitting on the jumpseat. That’s when the “hoverer” shows up. They stand silently just inches away, watching us eat or relax, without saying a word.
It’s a bit awkward for everyone involved! If you see us taking a break, feel free to let us have that moment—it helps us recharge for the rest of the flight.
➡️ The In-Flight Yogi
Stretching on long flights is great, but the galley isn’t the ideal place to do it. Sometimes passengers use our workspace as their personal gym, taking up all the space and even putting their feet on surfaces we use to prepare food.
For everyone’s comfort and hygiene, it’s best to find another spot to stretch—maybe by your seat or near the lavatory.
➡️ The Interviewer
We love chatting with passengers, but timing is everything. The “interviewer” often approaches us mid-bite to ask questions like, “Does the airline pay for your hotel?” or “What’s the grossest thing you’ve seen on a flight?”
While we don’t mind answering questions, it’s much easier for us to chat when we’re not eating. If you have questions, catch us during service or after our break—we’ll be happy to share!
5. Giving us trash at inappropriate times
We’re happy to take your trash—when it’s the right time! Flight attendants regularly come through the cabin with trash bags, wearing gloves, specifically to collect anything you want to toss. But NOT every moment is the right time to hand us your garbage.
Here are some examples of inappropriate time to give flight attendants trash:
- While we are eating
- When we are not wearing gloves
- When we do not have a trash bag
- While we are attending to a medical emergency
- During the final cabin check
- During an emergency evacuation (I wouldn’t be surprised by this in the least).
Bonus: It is never a good time to hand flight attendants soiled diapers, bags of vomit, or other disposable items that have come into contact with your bodily fluids…
6. Keeping your headphones on when we’re talking to you
I hated it when passengers would leave their noise-cancelling headphones on while I was trying to ask them what they wanted to drink.
Sometimes they wouldn’t even notice I was talking to them until I had given up and moved onto the row behind them, only to have them ring the call bell and angrily insist I had “skipped” them. Or they’d repeatedly shout “what?” because they obviously couldn’t hear me over whatever was playing in their ears. Big eye roll.
7. Making a scene about stowing your designer bag
The number of times a woman dressed in some kind of matching tracksuit has whined, “but it’s a Louis Vuitton” in response to me asking her to stow her bag is triggering.
I’m sorry, but if you can’t handle putting your fancy purse into the overhead bin, or under the seat in front of you, do bring it on a plane! It’s really that simple.
8. Throwing a tantrum because “your” overhead bin is full
You are not always going to be able to stow your bag directly over your own seat. That is a fact of flying. But for some reason, grown adults feel the need to throw tantrums about this regularly.
Your bag will still be on the plane, even if it is a row or two away. And no, I am not going to move other people’s bags to make sure yours can fit into the bin above you, so don’t bother asking.
9. Threatening to get us fired because we ran out of your favorite meal choice
I once had a woman threaten to get me fired because she couldn’t have the same meal as her neighbor, who had pre-ordered a special vegan meal in advance.
Look, as a vegetarian myself, I know it’s really annoying if the pasta is gone by the time the crew gets to your row, or if a smarter vegetarian happens to pre-order the Asian vegetarian option. (Pro-tip: these are always delicious). But yelling at us and threatening to get us fired for not being “accommodating”, is not going to change the situation.
Also, it’s an entirely avoidable problem because she could also have just pre-ordered the meal she wanted.
10. Standing in the Aisle During Meal or Drink Service
We get it—long flights can be uncomfortable, and sometimes you just need to grab something from your bag or take a quick stretch. But when we’re pushing the drink cart and trying to serve the entire cabin, even one person standing in the aisle can slow things down for everyone.
It’s not just you—there’s often a domino effect where one person sits, and another stands right after. Before we know it, service is delayed, and passengers are wondering why it’s taking so long to get their drink or meal.
If you can, try to time your movements before or after meal service. It helps us keep things running smoothly, and we’ll be back out of the aisle in no time!
11. Trying to Join the Mile-High Club
Oh yes, this one happens more than you’d think. Despite what movies might have you believe, airplane lavatories are not romantic. They’re cramped, smelly, and anything but private. Trust me, the entire cabin (and crew) knows exactly what’s going on when two people disappear into the same lavatory.
Instead of sneaking around, why not enjoy your flight like everyone else? You’ll save yourself the embarrassment and avoid being “that couple” everyone remembers for the wrong reasons.
12. Overindulging in Alcohol
Sure, having a drink to unwind during a flight is fine—we’re not here to judge. But when one drink turns into five, things can get messy fast. Altitude makes alcohol hit harder, which often leads to aggressive behavior and even medical emergencies.
We’ve seen it all: passengers yelling, refusing to sit down, or making scenes that could easily have been avoided. Know your limits, stay hydrated, and save the party for when you land.
13. Open Overhead Bins While Taxiing
You might think, “What’s the harm in grabbing my bag while we taxi to the gate?” Well, plenty. Bags can shift during flight, and opening the bin while the plane is moving can send things flying—right onto someone’s head.
Plus, it’s against regulations, and the crew is there to ensure everyone’s safety during this phase of the flight. Wait until the plane has come to a complete stop before you reach for your belongings. It’s safer for everyone.
14. Sleeping with Your Feet in the Aisle During Night Flights
We get it—you’re trying to find a comfortable sleeping position on a cramped plane. But sticking your feet out into the aisle is a recipe for disaster. Crew members and other passengers walking by can trip over you in the dark, and it’s not a great experience for either party.
Keep your legs tucked in where they belong. If you really need to stretch, try asking for an aisle seat next time or use one of those nifty travel footrests instead.
15. Ignoring Your Kids’ Behavior
Flying with kids is no small feat, and we totally sympathize. But letting them run up and down the aisles, kick seats, or scream at the top of their lungs isn’t fair to anyone.
We know it’s tough to keep little ones entertained, but there are ways to make it easier. Pack their favorite snacks, games, or movies to keep them occupied. And if they’re too young to understand the rules, try to keep them close and calm to avoid disturbing other passengers. A little effort goes a long way in making the flight smoother for everyone.
Final Thoughts
There are plenty of other things that flight attendants which passengers wouldn’t do, but I hope this list sheds a little light on our pet peeves. And if you happen to be guilty of these, don’t despair! There is still time to change and become the perfect passenger.
