Plane etiquette can be a contentious topic but one flight attendant has shared five of the “basic” passenger habits she always “absolutely loves” to see people doing on board
A flight attendant has shared her five “favourite” habits plane passengers can do while flying (stock image)(Image: Getty Images)
A flight attendant has shared her top five “basic” habits she “absolutely loves” to see passengers doing while flying. Plane etiquette can be a hot topic, with many passengers holding strong opinions on what’s appropriate and polite behaviour – be it whether it’s acceptable to recline your seat or not, whether you’re obligated to swap seats if asked to by a stranger with a small child, and much more.
Playing loud audio, kicking the seat of the passenger in front of you, or ignoring the instructions of the flight crew are all seen by reasonable people as unacceptable ways to act while on board. Still, some passengers are guilty of engaging in unpleasant and unwanted behaviour.
Keen to shed some light on the positives displayed by people when travelling on a plane, one flight attendant took to TikTok with a simple video showing her working behind the scenes and sorting food and drinks out while on a flight.
In overlay text written over the top of the footage, she penned: “My top five favourite things passengers do on a plane”.
In the caption, she elaborated on this and said: “Top 5 things passengers do that I absolutely love:
- “1. When you take your headphones out as I walk up to your row
“Instant respect. You see me. I see you. We’re already besties.
- 2. When you actually pay attention during announcements
“I promise I’m not just talking to hear my own voice.
- 3. When you give a smile and a genuine ‘thank you’
“You have no idea how far that goes at 30,000 feet
- 4. When you keep your shoes on
“Especially in the lavatory. We all know that floor is not holy water.
- 5. When you treat the plane like it’s not your personal living room
“It’s someone’s workplace. And someone else’s ride home.”
She added: “It’s really that simple. Kindness + awareness + basic hygiene = elite passenger status.”
In the comments section, people were keen to share their thoughts. One person said: “Soooo actually basics and human behaviour”.
To which, another replied: “So sad so many people are selfish, rude and ignorant”.
A third said: “Blows my mind people don’t genuinely thank the crew when getting off a flight or after they bring you something”.
And a fourth commented: “When I’m getting off the plane and looking at people’s mess they leave, it makes me mad so I can only imagine how you feel”.
While the majority of TikTok users agreed with the flight attendant’s views, some did take issue with one point – the contentious issue of taking shoes off on a plane.
One TikTok user said: “I’m down for everything except shoes on at my seat. I’m so sorry I have to take them off”.
Another agreed: “Anymore than a four hour flight and the shoes are coming off and slippers going on”.
And someone else added: “I think shoes off is okay as long as you’re not barefoot and put them back on when you leave your seat. And if you travel a lot, nobody is listening to that nonsense – sorry. Everything else 1000%”.
Others stressed the importance of showing your appreciation to flight attendants.