It is only natural that certain etiquette need to be followed while travelling in a plane. However, some passengers tend to forget the existence of other people in a flight and do as they please. Flight attendants have to suffer a lot because of such people because they have to handle the commotion and chaos that happen because of certain basic rules not being followed.
Former British Airways stewardess Jane Hawkes talked about the same to The Wedding Travel Company and mentioned that removing one’s shoes inside the flight is something that should never be done. She said, “Taking off your shoes and socks on an aircraft is a complete no-no. I’ve seen passengers walk barefoot around the cabin: yuck.”
It makes complete sense not only because of hygiene issues but also because some people have smelly feet and removing the shoe would spread the foul odor, which would only cause discomfort to other passengers.
She also mentioned that propping up one’s legs on the seat is another thing that should be totally avoided, reports express.co.uk. Talking about this habit, Jane said that it’s “unhygienic, unnecessary and impolite and shows a complete disregard for fellow passengers.”
Besides these very obvious behaviors, Jane also pointed out that a lot of passengers tend to stand up the minute the flight lands, which is something that should not be done. She said, “There’s really no rush to stand up ready to disembark before the aircraft has come to a complete stop at the gate on arrival.”
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She further added, “It’s dangerous and unnecessary, always remain in your seat. If you have bags in the hold, they can take some time to appear on the conveyor belt, so it doesn’t make sense to try to be the first off the aircraft.”
While she highlighted the kind of behavior that should be avoided on flights, Jane also shed light on things like travel essentials while flying. She said that she would recommend always carrying sanitizer and she herself never flies without it. She mentioned, “When traveling on a plane, where possible avoid touching any area unless you’ve sanitized them.”
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She then said, “I recommend always carrying sanitizer and wipes in your hand luggage, as aircrafts are only ever deep-cleaned if they are taken in for maintenance. Cleaning between trips is only ever a superficial wipe over and tidy up of litter. The worst offending areas are tray tables, arm rests, seats, and headrests, so always give them a wipe down before using.”
Therefore, from Jane’s words it is clear that passengers should always ensure they are not troubling other people with their activities and are also maintaining hygiene. Since a flight carries all kinds of people and it’s on the flight attendants to take care of them, it is important that the passengers follow these basic etiquette to ensure a smooth and enjoyable flight.
