Flight attendants see and hear it all. They often have to deal with everything, from irate passengers to passengers forgetting something, such as a diaper for a baby or an inhaler for an asthmatic patient. A flight attendant named CiCi lists 7 mistakes she has witnessed made by passengers on a frequent basis
By the way, if you see things in parentheses, I've witnessed this myself and have a story related to it.
1. Packing the bag so full it can't fit into the overhead bin
-A lot of airlines have been cracking down on this. If your carryon bag cannot fit into the box they have prior to check in, you need to evaluate what you have in there and put it in your checked in luggage. Flight attendants have been repeatedly asked by passengers to have assistance lifting them into the overhead bin. If flight attendants injure themselves doing this, they can't get worker's compensation because policies firmly state that flight attendants should not be assisting passengers to lift items into overhead bins. Some airlines, like Frontier Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines, have recently updated their carry on bag policy. It dictates how much your suitcase can weigh and the size of it. If it's over the size of a backpack, you must pay oversize bag fees (Did this two years ago. I had to pay my stepdad's oversize bag fee because he had a suitcase, a small one that claimed to fit under seats. It did, but it didn't fit into the box at the boarding gate for Frontier Airlines, who we were flying through to go to Mexico. I offered to pay it at the boarding gate. I worried the representative would need a physical payment card on hand, but I told her that, while I didn't have my payment card on hand, I memorized the number, security number on the back and expiration date. My sister had to use her phone to connect to the app to do it. We were able to successfully allow me to pay for my stepdad's oversize bag fees both ways. My mom even relaxed and breathed a sigh of relief, "You saved our vacation!" she said! I'm thinking about making sure I memorize my current card info just in case. Or take it with me. My mom wanted me to wait until a family arguing with the boarding clerk had left because of security issues. She didn't want that family overhearing my card information.)
2. Stop bringing more than two bags on the plane
-CiCi has witnessed a lot of passengers bringing multiple bags on the plane. A carry on, such as a duffel bag or backpack is fine. But when you're bringing a duffel back, a backpack, purse and more, then it's getting excessive. She has witnessed people carrying purses, a backpack and a rolling wheel suitcase. That's too much. Airline rules have begun asking passengers to consolidate into two bags. Most airlines only allow one bag in the overhead bin and one under the seat in front of the passenger. Some airlines even charge fees for extra luggage because it adds extra weight on to the plane, and may take away room for other people's luggage. (If I do bring a purse, it's a small cross body one that can easily fold and be put in my carry on. Whenever I go on vacation, my default purse is a small, black cross body bag that says Iron Maiden on it)
3. Essentials not being easily available can cause boarding delays
-CiCi has witnessed people tootling around for their essentials prior to flight. A good tip is to keep all of the things you will need in a carry on that is easily accessible. Use a backpack as a carry on because it's easy to access from under the seat in front of you and you can access all of your needs. CiCi has said that people put the items they need, like books, earbuds, etc., in to their suitcase, which causes delays. People who have to filter through their suitcase to get their essentials holds other passengers up and causes delays. (Pro travel tip: use a backpack and put everything you need in there. Not only are backpacks lightweight and effective, but you can put everything you need in there and stow it under the seat in front of you. Since I end going to all inclusive resorts with my family, packing is down to a science for me. My carry on is a green and blue tie dyed backpack and in it, I put my sunglasses, camera, a couple of books, my passport holder and passport, a swimsuit, cover up, flip flops, a hat and some bandanas. The only thing I don't put there is sunblock; I wait until we get to the resort to get it out of my suitcase prior to it being taken to my room)
4. Many passengers don't pack their liquids correctly
-CiCi has witnessed, many times, how passengers think that it's okay to pack tanning oil or sunblock into your carry on or other bags. The changing pressures in the airplane can cause liquids to leak in carry ons due to gases expanding. Nowadays, you find TSA-approved bottles at the store that are the right size for going through TSA. CiCi recommends squeezing all of the air out of the bottle to prevent expansion. She said bottles with screw on caps are more successful than snap tops. That they create a tight seal. (True story. The first time me and my sister went to Mexico was in 2016. While we were checking in at the Frontier Airlines desk, my stepdad accidentally put his tanning oil into his carry on. The rep behind the desk asked him to put the tanning oil into his suitcase. He fixed it and the rep told him thank you for fixing it. She explained that sometimes leaks can occur and they have to comply with rules, which my stepdad not only understood, but respected because he travelled more than me, my sister and mom combined)
5. Not packing a reusable water bottle
-According to the Aerospace Medical Association, travelers should consume 8oz of water each hour on the plane. You can bring a reusable water bottle on the plane with you. Simply fill it up in the airport terminal. Staying hydrated is a key factor in avoiding leg cramps, dehydration and more.
6. Passengers not packing their own snacks
-Lately, airlines have been charging for snacks. It's better to bring your own. Because of turbulence, flight attendants are not always able to be up and about handing out free bags of peanuts or dried fruit. If flight attendants are not able to get up, passengers don't get food or drinks. That's why you pack snacks. Allegiant Air and Frontier Airlines have rid themselves completely of the complimentary snacks and started charging for them. CiCi suggests bringing your own food. And if you're diabetic, it's especially of the utmost importance to have something on hand, to keep your sugar up
7. Packing heavy items instead of wearing them on the plane
-CiCi says she sees passengers packing heavy items instead of wearing them on the plane. If all you have is a carry on, simply wear the heavy items instead of packing them. So that you'll already have them ready in case you need them. She said that on a recent flight to Italy, she wore her bulky rain boots, a sweater and jacket, despite flying out of hot, humid Florida. She said this was a pro space-saving tip and she could pack more outfits in her suitcase
No comments:
Post a Comment