Daniel is a copywriter who has well and truly been bitten alive by the 'travel bug'. After ticking off several North American National Parks and exploring Europe by train, his sights are now set on South East Asia. Usually with at least one camera locked and loaded, you'll find Daniel wherever there are mountains, lakes or beaches.
Flight attendants are a fountain of knowledge when it comes to taking to the skies. Thanks to stewardess Marika Mikusova we’ve now got the inside scoop on winning over flight attendants!
Last year, she spilled all the beans in her book Diary of a Flight Attendant, dishing out tips on how to receive preferential treatment from the cabin crew. So, buckle up and get ready to fly in style!
Bring Chocolates
Who doesn’t love a delicious box of chocolates? It turns out this simple gift can go a long way in scoring some onboard perks.
“You can bring us chocolate,” Marika told the Mirror. “If you do, make sure we know where you are seated so that we know to whom to bring all the goodies.”
Be Polite
Here’s a piece of timeless advice that’ll never go out of style, and it applies to the skies: always be polite and kind to everyone around you.
“Generally, we will like you when you are polite during service. No arguing over chicken or fish, just human respect to your cabin crew. If a problem occurs, it can be solved without shouting and aggressiveness.”
“I personally like to joke with passengers. If they are on the same wavelength and we have a good laugh, I would bring them the blue from the sky.”
Take a Baby Aboard
Flying with a child is nightmare-inducing for most parents, but it turns out it can come with its own perks!
Seats located behind the bulkhead, providing more legroom, will most likely be given to families by flight attendants.
“We usually give the bulkhead seat to families with babies because these are the only seats where we can install the baby bassinet into the wall,” explained Marika.
Don’t Over Use the Call Bell
As a rule of thumb, only use the call bell when it’s absolutely necessary. If you can, wait until a flight attendant walks down the aisle or get up yourself and walk up to the onboard team.
“Another tip is the call bell – do not abuse it! If you do, we might deliberately ignore you. If you need something, come to the galley and ask for it. It’s the surest way to get served.”
Lift Your Own Heavy Bags
Flight attendants are there to support you on your flight but not act as your servants. If you are flying with a heavy bag and have the ability to do so, lift it into the overhead storage yourself.
“Heavy bags are also a thorn in our side. We are no longer obliged to assist with lifting bags into the hat rack no matter how heavy.”
“Of course, if I see a fragile passenger, I gladly help. But if a young strong man expects me to lift his bag for him, I give him the evil eye.”
Follow Simple Rules
They might seem menial and, at times, pointless, but the instructions given to passengers throughout the flight are put in place for a reason.
“Yes, you have to fasten that seat belt and put your seat into upright position. And yes, the window blinds must be open and armrests down. Do not try to negotiate with us, it won’t work,” Marika said.
Don’t Linger in the Aisle
Marika’s final tip is to avoid taking up room in the aisle during flights, particularly night ones.
“The aisle seat is best if you need to go to the lavatory regularly or simply walk around the cabins often. You can also stretch your legs into the aisle.”
“By the way, we curse those legs. Especially during service when we have to pull carts in the aisle carefully avoiding those limbs obstructions,” Marika continued.
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