20 Things Flight Attendants Don't Like You Doing

They’re trained to be polite and take charge in an emergency. But flight attendants are also front line staff and they have to deal with frustrated flyers and bad passengers while trying to do their job.

Behind the friendly demeanour, there are things that passengers do that get them fuming. Business Insider recently asked dozens of flight attendants to list what bugs them the most. Here are the top 20:

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1. Blaming Flight Attendants for Everything

Flight attendants aren't responsible for bad weather, mechanical problems or running out of the chicken sandwich. So don't blame them. Roll with the punches, and everyone will have a more enjoyable flight.

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2. Doing Yoga

It's fine to get up and stretch but doing a full yoga program in the galley isn't appreciated.

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3. Asking for a Pen

Who travels without a pen? Seriously? You're going to need one, so bring one.

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4. Hogging the Overhead Bins

Business Insider says many flight attendants wish people would learn to put their small bags under the seat and save the bins for carry-on bags. The message has not gotten through.

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5. Putting Your Feet on Walls and Tables

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5. Putting Your Feet on Walls and Tables

Feet belong on the ground. As one flight attendant told Business Insider, "I don't come into your office and put my feet on your walls or your desk!"

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6. Bringing a Heavy Carry-on Bag

So, you've pulled a fast one and stuck 25 kilos of stuff in your carry-on. But now you can't get it up to the bin and you want a flight attendant to do the heavy lifting. That's just a little rude.

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7. Leaving Your Headphones on

Not removing your headphones when you're talking to a flight attendant is also rude. Actually, it's rude no matter who you're speaking to.

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8. Making a Mess

You're only on the plane for a few hours, so don't leave the area around your seat looking like a toddler's bedroom.

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9. Bad Timing

When the food or beverage service is under way, that's the worst time to try and pawn off your garbage. Wait until the cabin crew comes through to collect it.

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10. Not Reading the Menu

If you're wondering what's on the menu, read the menu. Don't waste the flight attendant's time by having them list off all the food and beverage choices.

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11. Getting Upset Over the Food

These days you're lucky that there's any food on your flight. So don't get in a snit if your meal choice isn't available.

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12. Acting Entitled

If you paid for a cheap seat, then that's what you'll get. Trying to slide into business unnoticed is gauche and it won't go unnoticed.

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13. More Foot Faux Pas

It's bad enough that people put their feet on the walls and seat-backs. Worse are the halfwits that go barefoot. As one flight attendant told Business Insider, "Please, please, please — stop walking into the restroom barefoot, or even with socks on. Would you ever walk into a public restroom barefoot? No. Thank you, sir, for mopping up the pee on the floor with your socks."

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14. Drinking too Much

Don't get hammered and make a scene. At best you'll end up on YouTube and mocked for months. Worse, you'll discover that you're sitting beside an air marshal who doesn't have a sense of humour.

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15. Using the Call Button

Just because you have a call button doesn't mean that the cabin crew is at your beck and call. It's to be used for something important, not to ask for a pen.

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16. Touching

Do not touch the flight attendants. "I have been poked, prodded, and tugged on too many times to remember," explained one flight attendant to Business Insider. Try saying 'excuse me'.

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17. Snapping Your Fingers to Call the Flight Attendant

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17. Snapping Your Fingers to Call the Flight Attendant

No.

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18. Using the Toilet When You Shouldn’t

You know that little light that goes on to instruct you to stay seated? That means the bathroom too. Either go before the plane starts its final approach or hold it until you reach the terminal.

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19. Ignoring the Safety Presentation

Sure, you've heard it a million times. And so have they. But it's important and if things go wrong, you be glad you listened about what to do and checked where your nearest exit is.

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20. Not Saying Hello

One flight attendant told Business Insider that she wished passengers would acknowledge the crew when they board. How hard is it to say 'hello'?

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