A 10-year-old flight attendant has revealed the best tricks to know before getting on a plane, including whether to skip the line when boarding and which drinks to avoid at all costs.
rich hendersontravel expert and co-creator of the blog two boys on a planehas shared his top tips that can shake off any pre-flight jitters you may be having and even get you an update.
The Philadelphia-based airline’s butler decided to keep his employer’s name private, however, he can still ensure his tips and tricks give you the best flight experience of your life.
From what to do before boarding to how to handle disembarkation, Rich has detailed everything you need to know before your next vacation.
Rich Henderson, a 10-year-old flight attendant from Philadelphia, has revealed the best tricks to know before getting on a plane.
Speaking to Business Insider, Rich revealed why cabin crew can’t stand door jammers, whom he calls “door lice” (file image)
Get ready, get ready, fly! Follow pre-flight etiquette and never crowd the gate or you will become “gate lice”.
If you’ve been waiting to board your flight and have seen other nearby people crowded at the gate even though there’s still a long time until boarding, then you’ve witnessed what Rich calls ‘gate lice’.
speaking to Business InsiderRich revealed why cabin crew can’t stand ‘door lice’.
And even shared what you should be doing instead.
“Just stay as far away from the boarding area as possible until your party is at least close to being called,” he explained.
He added that if those “higher level” people aren’t boarding yet, then there’s no reason for him to try to get closer to the gate.
And while no one likes ‘door lice,’ Rich detailed the types of people cabin crew hate even more.
He said those who skip the line and try to board with a different group than the one they’re assigned to are often hated or ignored by cabin crew.
However, Rich said he doesn’t recommend trying to figure out which side you fall on.
“There are some gate agents that if you’re nice and just smile and act like everything’s normal they won’t care or notice that you’re not in that assigned zone, but there are others that if you are they’ll catch you and embarrass you,” he told her. he told Business Insider.
‘It’s notoriously gross!’ Avoid coffee and tea during the flight, but do buy the snack boxes.
Rich advised her to avoid drinking hot drinks like tea or coffee because they are made with plane tap water, which is ‘disgusting’ (file image)
If you survived the hassle of boarding and finally settled into your seat, but saw a better spot out of the corner of your eye and hoped to get better, Rich said you could request to change, but there’s a catch.
The experienced flight attendant said the crew might allow her to move, however moving people between different cabins can get them fired or into serious trouble.
He explained that this is because the airlines can see it as theft.
He told Business Insider: “We can probably move you to an exit row or even a better row if space is available.” The best advice for that is to be as nice and accommodating as you can to both crew and passengers and that can really go a long way.”
After settling into his seat, Rich said he can make small talk with nearby passengers, but he shouldn’t chat the entire flight.
And while her favorite part of the flight may be watching the snack cart roll down the island, the flight attendant said to relax with caution.
He advised her to avoid drinking hot beverages like tea or coffee because they are made with plane tap water, which is “disgusting.”
Rich said that tap water is “notoriously gross” and that “you don’t want to know where it’s coming from.”
And while some drinks may be off-limits, the flight attendant revealed that you can safely eat the food.
Rich explained that the snack boxes tend to be fresh because the caterer delivers them that same day.
However, some planes do not have refrigerators, so it is recommended to order the food at the beginning of the trip and not at the end.
Just wait! The flight attendant recommends waiting until everyone has exited to collect their bags.
After a long flight, the first thing you want to do is be the first to get off, however Rich recommends you wait (file image)
After a long flight, the first thing you want to do is be the first off, however Rich recommends you wait.
He explained that you must wait and then ‘swim against the current’.
‘My best recommendation is that you try to swim against the current as politely as you can. Usually, when the crowd starts to thin out, you can go through the lines and come back,” he added.
The flight attendant explained that since the pandemic, he has seen an increase in the number of people tipping cabin crew.
He noted that while many flight attendants see it as a token of appreciation, others question whether you want anything in return.
Rich emphasized that you can’t bribe your way to a better cabin.
‘That’s something I can say about all flight attendants across the board. If we sense that you expect something from us for free, we probably won’t give it to you. But if you’re nice and don’t ask for anything, we give you everything,’ she revealed.
And while everyone loves candy as a token of appreciation, Rich revealed that flight attendants really just want a “thank you” at the end of the night.
‘Even as much as saying thank you for keeping us safe, or thank you for all you do. Those little comments help us a lot because we have people during boarding and disembarking who don’t even acknowledge our existence.
