A flight attendant revealed 12 rules for summer flyers, detailing the worst things a passenger can do in the sky.
Kristie Koerbel advised on proper flight etiquette before summer trips in a New York Times article, “Never a Reason to Take Your Socks Off”: A Flight Attendant’s 12 Rules of Etiquette.
As a flight attendant, Koerbel showed her greatest annoyance, even when passengers couldn’t flush the toilet. She also revealed who has the right to the center armrests and whether the seats need to be swapped out.
As a flight attendant, Kristie Koerbel showed her biggest annoyance, even when passengers couldn’t flush the toilet. She also revealed who has the right to the center armrests and whether the seats need to be swapped out
Which bags are allowed in the overhead bins above the luggage compartment?
Koerbel urged passengers to remember that their largest carry-on bag should be stowed in an overhead bin, while their smallest bag should be stowed under their seat.
Since bins are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis, Koerbel demanded that travelers respect the unspoken rule and not remove other passengers’ luggage to try to accommodate their own.
“Moving bags around to maximize space is fine, but saves the flight attendant from complex puzzle-solving,” Koerbel wrote in the New York Times.
How can I properly recline my seat?
While Koerbel reassured passengers that anyone can recline their seat, she warned them to be careful with those sitting behind them.
“Before you sit back, take a look behind you and see what the situation is like and ask politely if that person minds,” she wrote.
Koerbel shared that leaning back too quickly can result in spilling drinks and damaging electronics. These common incidents often led to physical altercations, according to the flight attendant.
What happens if I forget my headphones?
Flying without headphones can be awful, but Koerbel insisted passengers should refrain from FaceTime chatting, watching a movie or listening to music without earbuds.
And yes, that includes children.
What is the best way to deal with children on a flight?
Koerbel wrote that children should also be looked after comprehensively. She implored parents to be careful about what they give their children and urged them to pick up behind them.
She added that dealing with a disruptive child can be difficult and recommended always talking to a parent rather than a toddler or even a teenager.
“A good way to address this is to ask the parent calmly and with a smile if they notice their child kicking your seat.” Then say it’s a nuisance; Is there a way to get the child to stop doing this?’ She wrote in a New York Times article.
Addressing disruptive children, Koerbel advised passengers to always converse with a parent rather than a toddler or even a teenager
Can I take off my shoes?
Comfort is key to a hassle-free flight, which means passengers may wish to kick off their shoes, sit back, and relax.
Koerbel assured travelers that they could remove their shoes on flights, but urged them not to go so far as to remove their socks.
While she insisted passengers should keep their feet directly in front of them and on the ground, she warned travelers not to put their shoes back on when going to the toilet.
Who is entitled to an armrest and how do I stop a chatty neighbor?
Travelers don’t always get a choice about who they sit next to on a plane, which can lead to awkward experiences if proper flight etiquette isn’t followed.
Armrests typically act as a divider between individual passengers, but have sparked debate over who has the right to them.
When it comes to the center armrest, the traveler sitting in the middle seat automatically gets a bonus to both if they’re squeezed between two people during a potentially longer flight, Koerbel wrote.
When it comes to stopping a neighbor from talking, putting on headphones is usually enough.
Koerbel has settled the armrest debate, claiming that middle seat passengers have a right to center armrests as they would need to be squeezed in the middle
What is the best way to deal with seating problems?
When it comes to seat requests, Koerbel recommended travelers speak to gate agents before boarding.
Agents have access to aircraft seating arrangements and can accommodate families.
She added that there is no need to agree to a seat change on board.
Do I have to flush the toilet?
One of Koerbel’s biggest annoyances when traveling by air is washing up other people’s trash.
“If you can’t find the button, please look for it: I guarantee it’s there.” On every plane,” she wrote.