If you have a flight soon, no matter how long it is, it’s important to be aware of the etiquette. There are several habits which can make flight attendants wary of you – and according to a former BA air steward one is “a complete no-no”.
Partnering with The Wedding Travel Company, Jane Hawkes, a former British Airways stewardess and travel expert said that the one major etiquette mistake is taking off your shoes. 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.” Putting your feet up on the seats is another major misstep.
Jane described it as “unhygienic, unnecessary and impolite and shows a complete disregard for fellow passengers”.
Another common etiquette mistake that a lot of people make is standing up as soon as the plane has landed.
Jane 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.
“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.”
When it comes to must-have items, Jane said there is one thing she would never travel without – hand sanitizer.
She said: “When travelling on a plane, where possible avoid touching any area unless you’ve sanitised them.
“I recommend always carrying sanitiser 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.”