Up in the Air: Flight Attendants Share Secrets Only They Know

If there’s one thing we all have in common, regardless of age, race, or gender, it’s that we all strive towards the same, singular thing: a beautiful, relaxing vacation. Preferably, we want to go somewhere that’s the farthest away from home as possible. The problem is that in order to get to our dreamy destinations we usually need to take a plane.

No one actually enjoys flying, not even flight attendants and pilots. But, they, at least, know all of the tips, stories, and secrets that the plane holds. Get ready to read some tips and stories from those who work behind the scenes of commercial airplanes. Proceed with caution, some of these will truly shock you!

Traveling with children is no picnic and that’s an understatement. Parents could use any help they could get and even the smallest of tips can change their lives. This FA  recommends packing the car seat with you.

Sounds counterintuitive, right? Who has room in their suitcase for such a thing? But, children don’t like change and using the car seat on the plane or when you get to a new country might help reduce temper tantrums and result in a nicer trip and happier parents.

When we know we have a long flight ahead of us, all we want is to get into some comfy soft sweatpants.

But, the truth is, you could actually gain a lot more by wearing a fancy dress or a suit. If you dress for success you’re more likely to be given freebies! So next time you are flying, consider wearing something regal yet uncomfortable. Is it going to be worth it? That’s up to you.

Anyone who’s ever had a customer service job knows that customers can get a little ridiculous with their expectations and demands. This flight attendant wants you to know that if something that you packed is too heavy for you to carry, it is the same for her! If you know basic physics, that’s pretty obvious!

So be kind to your flight attendant who probably has to carry multiple bags a day. They will appreciate the gesture.

It has already been established that apparently, airplanes are not as clear as we would want them to be.

This even extends to your private table as apparently, they don’t ever clean it! Don’t ever put any food on it or you might catch something you wouldn’t wanna catch. Wonder what would it take for them to finally sanitize it.

Those who fly several times a week, or even a day, know just how important smart packing is. While we all want to have a lot of outfit options, it’s actually smarter to pack only what you really need.

According to the cabin crew, it’s actually shoes that take up the most space in our luggage. Also, rolling your clothes instead of folding them may prove to be the best way not to go overweight with your luggage!

Usually, when someone claims to have a dirty secret, all we want is to hear all of the details, like ALL of them. But, in this case, we think we might have been better off not knowing anything about our pillows and blankets.

They don’t wash them? Like ever? Guess next time you’re about to board a flight, make sure to bring your own sheets!

We all know this story more intimately than we’d like to admit — we swore that this time we’d pack lightly, it’s just a three-day trip, right? Well, it didn’t work, and here we are again, trying to pass a huge suitcase as a little carry-on bag. In these moments we usually hope no one can see us.

Sadly, it is the cabin crew’s job to notice what’s going on with us, hopefully, they won’t tell anyone about this shameful secret.

Flying can leave your skin and lips extremely dry. This isn’t going to make for a great start to your vacation or business trip.

A simple, obvious, trick would be to bring some lip balm with you, but a nice twist is that you can always get lip balm at the airport of the country you’re leaving and have a cool little last-minute souvenir. Now about that high altitude dryness, do you think birds get dry beaks and feathers?

Would you consider yourself a lucky person? You might, but let’s face it, we can’t all be lucky. Most of us aren’t, and that’s true on the ground as well as up in the air. Let us break the news to you, the planes you board aren’t usually as new and shiny as you’d like to imagine.

Most of the time, at least one part is broken. But don’t worry, apparently, most of these airplanes are still good to help you get to your destination.

Have you ever gotten super annoyed with a flight attendant that just wouldn’t stop harassing you about your seatbelt? Sure, seat belts are important, you think, but they are also annoying!

This is a free country, and this airline host isn’t the boss of you! While that’s all technically true, the hosts might get in trouble and get fined because of you! Come on, put it on, for your own safety and for the safety of the host’s money.

Have you ever wondered why flight attendants go through the trouble of pouring your drink into a plastic cup instead of just giving you your can of soda? You might’ve thought that you were being tricked somehow, but it’s actually just common courtesy and a tribute to the good old days.

If you really want to pour your drink yourself, you can just ask the flight attendant! Who knew?

We hate to be the ones who have to break it to you, but when people who have passed away have to be transported from one country to the other, they are usually carried away in the same way that we do — on an airplane.

Next time you fly abroad, take a minute to think about how there’s a slight chance the aircraft you are on is inhabited not only by the living but also by the dead.

Nobody actually likes airplane food. We all know that, right? This is because it’s just bad! Most of the time it’s just canned food that has been sitting somewhere on the plane for God knows how long.

But, a cool trick is that if you ask for a kosher meal, it’s going to have to be prepared on the same day and you’ll get to eat some fresh food. What a luxury!

This Alerion Aviation flight attendant is here to make sure you guys are well-fed with the following tip: We all know that airport food is pretty much the worst. Not only is it at least double the price of anything outside the airport, but it’s also not what we would call gourmet, and that’s an understatement.

So, instead of wasting money on chips, try to pack some healthier options in advance, it’s that simple!

Who doesn’t appreciate a good party? We sure know that we do! But, alas, we usually have to show up for work the next day, and can’t really live up to our full party potential.

Well, according to this guy who dated a flight attendant, this isn’t the case for air-servers! If you’ve heard of a delayed flight, there is a chance it’s because someone was just partying way too hard!

First-class fliers, we have all heard about them, but we’ve never seen one in the flesh. We mean, we might have but since we’re stuck in economy, we’d never know. This tip is only for them though, so those of you who aren’t first-classers can move along.

It turns out that if you want to make sure you’ll get to pick your meal before everyone else you just gotta sit in the first two rows. We have to admit this tip didn’t really blow our minds, you know?

Hollywood movies have set unrealistic expectations about our lives. One of them is to get it going in public, unexpected places. Some people have decided that life can imitate art and decided to try to do it on the plane.

If you think you could get away with it too, without anyone noticing, think again! Workers know exactly what you’re doing and apparently can also open the door at any moment.

Plane rides can be long and tedious, and while some try everything they can in order to get some sleep, there are always those who try to power through the flight.

If you belong to the second group you have probably found yourself drinking some disgusting airplane coffee. Ever wondered why airplane coffee tastes so bad? Well, now you know!

We know that you guys are here for the drama! Well, there it is, the FAs might not always know each other, but when they do, there’s a great chance they can’t stand each other.

You will never know this if you are a mere passenger on a plane, but flight attendants live for the drama, and the gossip, and it makes sense! These guys sometimes work over 12-hour shifts and barely get any sleep, wouldn’t you be cranky?

Have you ever dreamt of having a bed of your own at work? Of taking a little nap mid-day, just to build up the energy to get back to work? Cabin crews are already living that dream.

As a passenger, you won’t get the same luxury, unless you pay extra for the first class. But just know that somewhere, hidden away, there is a room full of beds, just for the crew!

Most of us would get fired if we did not show up for work, but oddly enough this isn’t the case for flight attendants. This person, who used to date a flight attendant,  shares that because they had a very strong union you could pretty much not show up for work and not suffer any consequences.

This is a bummer for those who fly as passengers but honestly kinda cool for those flight attendants who like to party and are not great with either consistent hours or responsibility.

During a flight, you’re so high up in the air, there is a great chance you’re closer to God than you’ll ever be! This could be the reason why so many miracles happen on planes!

But really, could you imagine going through all that trouble just to get to board the plane first? These people should at least have both the decency and the shame to keep the act going for the entire duration of the flight!

Flight hostesses are known for having to weather some difficult storms, and we’re not talking about literal storms, as these don’t usually interfere with flying as much as you’d expect.

We are talking about the storm that builds inside of you when someone pokes you. No your kid or your partner, but a total stranger! Try not to poke your FAs, and if you have to, could you please make sure you poke them in an appropriate place?

For many careers, you have to get some type of formal education or training before you can start working. Being a flight attendant is one of them. It can get tricky to get the job, as well as getting through the training.

But the funny thing is, that most of the time they don’t even use anything they’ve learned during the training! But, that’s a good thing, it means there aren’t too many emergencies.

Most of us know that we would get fired if we were ever to sleep on the job. For flight attendants and cabin crew, this is a regular occurrence as they sometimes have to work 12-hour shifts or even more.

This means they have a secret room with beds that you’ll never see! Where is it? We will never know, well, because the cabin crew doesn’t want to tell us. We’re officially not invited.

We would never ever support treating flight attendants in a rude manner. We do have to wonder, though, what does “removing someone” from the plane mean? If it hasn’t taken off yet, sure.

Though the person did pay for their ticket! But when everyone is up in the air, we really do hope they have safe ways of removing people. Maybe they get a parachute?

We all like to imagine that behind the scenes the cabin crew has intricate intimate relationships with each other. Maybe these two flight attendants are dating, one of them might even be the pilot’s ex!

But, alas, the truth is that most of the time, they barely know each other, which is why they use these terms of endearment.

We all know that some things should never be brought onto an airplane, but some people just can’t survive without their hairspray or vape. We do sympathize, we know you gotta make sure your hair stays on fleek during a 13-hour flight, that’s a basic human need!

But, just like vapes, hairspray should not be used on the plane. You’d think this is pretty self-explanatory, but with today’s passengers, apparently, nothing is.

We all have our dirty little secrets, things we wouldn’t want anyone to know, cause they’d destroy our reputation. Well, airlines also have a couple, but their secrets are bigger and well.. smellier.

Apparently, the seats by the bathroom are the worst ones to occupy, as when things get explosive in the toilet, the mechanics put all different types of icky and smelly parts and equipment on them.

You’d think having the ability to try different foods and drinks from all over the world is part of the perks of being a frequent flyer, i.e a flight attendant. Alas, it seems that the grass is not always greener on the other side, not to mention the air and the water on the plane…

Well, apparently being so high up in the air, as well as drinking water from all over the world results in notably flakey skin. Our jobs sure give us stress, but at least our skin is still intact!

There’s nothing we hate more than having our flight delayed, after already spending what we consider to be way too much time at the airport. The only thing one can do when this happens is to complain to the flight attendants.

But, get this, they actually don’t get paid during that time, so you are basically disturbing them and they won’t even see a pretty penny, or an ugly penny, from it.

Some people think the only way to get their way is to raise their voices and bother the servers. Well, our sources say that’s the wrong way to go.

This flight attendant lays it down: If you’ll behave like a jerk, you’ll be treated like one. Try to be nice for a change, it might prove to be a better choice.

As law-abiding citizens, it’s hard for us to imagine anyone being so unhinged on the plane, or anywhere for that matter, that they would need it to be restrained. But flight attendants have seen it all and lived to tell the tale.

This person is confessing that they have flex restraints on the plane, so make sure you behave!  It’s hard for us to imagine what one could do to find themselves restrained on a plane, but maybe it’s better that way.

We all know at least one person who is petrified of flying. Hell, we might even be that person ourselves. We assume that someone who chose to be on planes all day, as a job, would never understand our suffering, but at least they are used to dealing with people who have that problem, and they got some tips.

That’s great and all, but have they considered that many are also afraid of the ocean and sailing? Can’t we envision we are doing something safer, like staying in bed?

We know what you’re really here for. You want to find little sneaky tricks to save a couple of dollars, and hey, we can’t blame you! Saving money is the best hobby a person can take up.

Well, get this, if you chose to check your bags at the gate, you might be able to avoid paying for them! It’s worth a try, don’t you think?

Flight attendants might look like they are having the time of their lives flying to different countries and getting paid to travel. But the truth is, they have a hard job and they usually work long hours without many breaks.

This is why this person wants to ask you to give your cabin crew a break when it comes to cleaning your trash. It’s a small sacrifice to make in order to make their job easier!

Those of us who fly for business and not pleasure know how awkward it can be when you’ve just gotten off a plane, you look like a mess, your clothes are wrinkly, but you’ve got to get to a meeting and look presentable. Don’t have a flat iron?

Get one, they’re super useful not just for your hair, but also for your clothes! Honestly, this one is pretty neat, and we might use it when we need to look our best after a long flight.

If there’s one problem in life we have not yet found a solution to, it must be the jet lag problem. How can one even function when day literally becomes night all of a sudden? Well, if you thought you had it bad, think about this, flight attendants probably have jet lag all the time!

But this also means they must have developed tricks as to how to handle it or even prevent it! A homeopathic supplement? A bit underwhelming, but we’ll take it!

Usually, when boarding an aircraft the entire cabin crew stands next to the airplane doors and introduces themselves. If you’re lucky they might give you a nice treat to make your flight sweeter.

But don’t be fooled by their smiley faces and friendly attitudes, they may be greeting you but they only have one goal in mind: to assess that kind of passenger you’re going to be. Try to make a good first impression!

When we imagine what it’s like to be an FA, we usually think about fantastic restaurants and shops all around the world.

Well, here’s a well-known secret: we are not wrong in thinking that’s what the cabin crew actually cares about. They even make sure to search for the best restaurants in advance, and we might be able to pick up a couple of tricks from them!

The crew lies to you, it’s just a part of their job description. Right next to “serve food” and “explain the safety guidelines” there’s the “never tell them what’s actually going on.”

This FA’s confession brings forth a dilemma: would you want to know a truth that will freak you out and you can do nothing about? Or do you prefer to be lied to and let the experts handle it? That’s what we thought.

Just moments before our relaxing vacation is about to start, we really don’t want to be thinking about anything bad or scary. We want to shut down and have someone else think for us.

Well, sadly, you always gotta keep your eyes open, even on a plane. If someone tries to serve you tap water — just say no! Fun fact: the ice is cool to drink, as it doesn’t come from the plane’s storage tanks.

Never underestimate the power of unprompted kindness! It’s important to be nice because it makes everyone feel better. If that isn’t enough to convince you that kindness is the way to go, see the following story!

A mere “good morning” greeting got this passenger enough alcoholic beverages to last the entire flight and maybe even his entire vacation.

While most of us don’t usually think we should be taking our shoes off in public, when it comes to long flights, the rules might change. We want to try and be comfortable, and what’s a better way of doing that than going barefoot?

Well, according to the cabin crew you really shouldn’t. The floor is filthy. If that wasn’t clear enough, you also really shouldn’t be eating anything off of the carpet.

You should always look at the glass half full, even if it’s filled with fizzy Diet Coke. Listen, if the worst part about your job is pouring Diet Coke, it sounds like you’re doing great in life!

But we have to admit that this one is unclear to us for many reasons. Firstly, what makes Diet Coke so different? If anyone knows the answer, please let us know! Secondly, can’t the passenger pour Diet Coke for themselves?

Many little kids dream of being pilots when they grow up. Honestly, they have good reasons — it’s a very respectable job to have, and we’ve also heard it pays well. The funny thing is that apparently, you don’t really have to do much for all of that money and respect.

After you’ve already become a pilot, you can be chill. How chill? You can sleep on the job and no one will know.

Well, well, well, we knew the airplane’s crew can’t be trusted! There’s a reason why we think only raising our voice will get us what we want because apparently, they don’t listen to us at all!

At least not when it comes to the temperatures. In the case you complain the air is too cool for your taste, the FAs will do nothing but lie to you, in cold blood, no doubt.

If you want to stay on the cabin crew’s good side, there are a couple of things to remember. Let’s break it down for you; the first rule of the cabin crew is don’t ask too many questions.

Specifically, don’t ask “Where are we?” This might be exciting for you, as it’s your first flight and you are dying to know if you’re above Spain, France, or Germany but honestly, it doesn’t really make a difference, does it?

This advice is mysterious, to say the least. First of all, why does the flight attendant feel like she has to remain anonymous? Is she doing OK? Is this the biggest secret airlines have been hiding from us all along? And why these seats specifically?

What are we going to gain from sitting in them? Guess if you have first-class tickets you’ll have to try and see.