The four times you should never speak to cabin crew on a flight

A LOT of people think the flight attendants are on the plane purely to serve drinks. We’re not.

There are moments during a flight when our focus is purely on keeping people safe, rather than well-fed or comfortable.

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Sure, once the plane is cruising, we can definitely sort you out if you need any blankets or snacks.

However, there are certain moments during a journey when you should leave us alone because we’re doing something much more important.

Firstly, when you’re just getting on the plane, this is a terrible time to try and ask us for stuff.

We’re getting the cabin ready, making sure everyone is in their correct seat and crucially, making sure everything’s safe.

If all you want is some crisps or a bottle of water, it can wait – believe me.

This is one of the most important parts of our shift and if you’re distracting us, it could be bad for you as well as us.

We could miss a loose bag or an item that’s fallen out of an overhead bin, just because you wanted a packet of peanuts.

If that same bag then flies through the cabin and catches you square in the face, during a spot of turbulence, that’s your fault.

So please, think about how busy we are at that moment before you pester us for something inane.

If there’s an emergency, by all means, give us a shout or press the buzzer, but if not, you have to be patient because we’re making sure you’re safe.

The same goes for when we’re securing the cabin and preparing to land.

It’s a similar process and we’re equally as busy. Once the pilot has informed you that we’re getting ready to land, you should consider the bar closed and any food services finished.

Again, if it’s vitally important press the call button and we’ll come over to you, but only if it’s an emergency. As a rule, if you see us in our jump seats, we’re off limits.

Luckily most people understand this and the number of people who try and get stuff from us while we’re either taking off or coming into land is pretty small.

However, it does still happen and passengers really need to understand that asking us to do anything during those moments can be very dangerous for us and it’s not fair to expect anything at all.

Another moment when we shouldn’t be asked for anything is while the plane is under 10,000 feet.

This is because the sterile cockpit rules are in place during that time, limiting what we can and can’t do.

We’re not allowed to talk to the pilots during this time, or enter the cockpit at all, unless there’s a clear emergency.

Flight crew members are also not permitted to have conversations, other than ones that are vital for us carrying out our jobs.

Having a chat with you about whether or not I can make you a bloody Mary is far from imperative for the plane completing its journey, so the best thing you should do is wait until the seatbelt sign is off.

That’s a clear sign that we’re at a good altitude and you’re free to get up, go to the toilet and stretch out. We’re also in a good position to get you a drink and a snack.

For shorter flights, this is often the perfect time to catch us as we’re walking past and ask for anything you want. We’ll be more than happy to oblige.

However, on longer flights, that might not be the case, as we would typically commence meal service shortly after takeoff and, again, that’s something that keeps us very busy.

You’ll be offered drinks along with your meal, so if you’re hungry or thirsty there’s no need to worry, we’re literally coming to you with both food and beverages.

However, if you’re someone who knows they simply cannot wait, I’d fully recommend bringing your own snacks, just to keep us happy by leaving us alone.

It may sound like we’re trying to dodge work, but the less we have to deal with in the cabin, the more time we have to focus on the more important aspects of our role.

Meanwhile, flight attendants check the aisles in the plane for a very simple reason.

And there is a button that cabin crew members hate when passengers press.

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