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From hygiene to luggage and everything in between, experienced flight attendants have revealed what passengers should never do while travelling.
Chris Price and Isold Wilberg Antonsdóttir named going barefoot, changing diapers on babies in their seats, leaving trash behind and being disorganized with luggage as the biggest mistakes passengers make.
And they ask nervous travelers to think carefully about which seats they choose, especially if they want extra legroom.
Prepare to be amazed, and maybe a little grossed out, by the world of airborne germs and passenger annoyances.
Two flight attendants reveal everything a passenger should never do while flying (pictured: Ísold Wilberg Antonsdóttir, flight attendant at PLAY, an Icelandic low-cost airline)
Sean Price, a part-time flight attendant who has worked for a major airline in Canada for nearly 20 years and the manager of the Flight Services academic program at Seneca Polytechnic in Toronto, has spoken out about the dos and don’ts of airplane etiquette.
Don’t walk barefoot
Price, a part-time flight attendant who has worked for a major Canadian airline for nearly 20 years, said her biggest mistake was having passengers take off their shoes and socks once in their seats.
Travelers often walk down the hallway and into bathrooms barefoot.
He said CTV NewsGenerally speaking, any substance you come into contact with inside the bathroom is probably undesirable, and we tend to see those same feet reappear in the stall, sometimes on armrests, sometimes on table trays.
“That’s why we don’t recommend going barefoot in the bathroom specifically because there’s a lot of chance of cross-contamination there.”
He added that flight attendants do not thoroughly clean planes until they reach their destination.
“You can imagine flights from Vancouver to Sydney can take 16 hours,” Price said. “There’s a lot of potential for substances to build up in that bathroom and then on your foot.”
Don’t change babies in your seat
Price also recommends that parents change babies’ diapers in the bathroom rather than on their potty seat, and that they use the bags provided to dispose of soiled diapers.
“We have a lot of baby changing tables on the plane,” she said. Central Television“We can help you in any way we can, but we’d prefer you go to the bathroom, where there’s a changing table that’s safer for the baby and cleaner for anyone else using that seat.”
Do not use devices without headphones
The flight attendant added that passengers should always use headphones or earphones when using personal devices, whether to watch a show or receive text message notifications.
“You can imagine that on an overnight flight when you’re… trying to get some sleep,” he said.
“If you have 30 people watching a TV show at full volume in the booth, it can be quite chaotic (and) disruptive.”
Price also recommends changing babies’ diapers in the bathroom rather than on their potty seat, and using the bags provided to dispose of the soiled diaper.
Don’t leave trash behind
Price also urged passengers to hand their trash to an attendant rather than storing it somewhere around their seat.
Flight attendants often come by after passengers have disembarked to pick up trash and make sure the next flight isn’t delayed, but many times the lines are filled with “fairly large” amounts of trash that can delay travel.
He said: ‘TThe cleaner the aircraft is, the faster we can clean it on the ground, the faster we can get it to the next destination.
Don’t get on board unprepared
Price said it’s important to be prepared. Some flights may not offer food, so she recommends bringing an empty water bottle to fill up once you’ve cleared security at the indoor water stations.
She added: “If you bring snacks on board, it’s best to be prepared to at least have some spare in your bag.”
And cabin temperatures vary, so Price recommends dressing in layers, especially in case of emergency.
“If we were to land in Toronto and have an emergency and have to evacuate the plane, you would evacuate the plane wearing flip flops, shorts and a tank top and it’s -25 degrees in Toronto,” he said.
Don’t buy luggage at the last minute
Antonsdóttir, a flight attendant for Icelandic low-cost airline PLAY, insisted that there was an advantage to having checked luggage.
“Carry-on luggage can save time, but checked luggage can be more convenient for longer trips,” he said. Central Television.
While there are baggage fees, Price said airlines may occasionally allow free check-in at the gate or during boarding if overhead bin space is at a premium. This is especially true for smaller planes with limited room for carry-on bags.
“Carrying hand luggage seems to be the most economical solution. That said, you have to remember that every plane is a different size and it’s not a one-size-fits-all situation,” he said.
Passengers on long-haul flights may find that their carry-on luggage fits in the overhead bin on the main flight, but have difficulty on smaller connecting planes.
“When this happens, there’s usually a bit of tension in the cabin,” Price said. “If it doesn’t fit in the container, rely on your flight attendant.”
She also advised being cautious and taking small hand luggage. She added that it is better to pay for luggage before the flight, as it is more expensive to reserve a checked bag at the airport than to buy it beforehand.
Price also said passengers should always wear headphones or earbuds when using personal devices, whether it’s watching a show or receiving text message notifications.
Don’t sit on these seats
If you want more legroom, Price recommends choosing your seat carefully.
“Remember that many times an emergency exit seat does not recline because we cannot have a seat that tilts toward an emergency exit because it could prevent someone from evacuating,” he said.
She also noted that seats near bathrooms and galleys can be noisy and that it’s best to research seating options online for specific flight details.
Do not remove the seat belt
Even though the seat belt sign may be off, Price recommends keeping it on throughout the flight, as unexpected turbulence can cause you to bounce around.
In any case, he said, seat belts should be loosened, but “limit the time you walk around the cabin when you are not wearing a seat belt because it is not safe.”
Don’t be afraid to ask for help
Price and Antonsdóttir stress that passengers should not hesitate to ask for help.
“A flight attendant would never ignore a passenger who needs help,” Antonsdóttir said.
In the event a passenger is afraid of flying or worried about departure, Price said flight attendants can offer a variety of ways to ease nerves.