The strict rules flight attendants have for sick passengers – and why they often can’t help you
EVERYONE views the role of their flight attendants slightly differently.
Whether it’s as a waiter, a cleaner or a person in charge of their safety, people assume we’re there for pretty much everything they need during their flights.
While I don’t normally mind that, regardless of how inaccurate it may be, there are some moments where a person’s idea of what your main duties are strays beyond acceptable into downright rude.
In this week’s blog for Sun Online Travel, I’ll explain why simple gestures can be almost insulting for us at times and why you shouldn’t give us certain items.
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Firstly, as a safety precaution, you cannot give us your medication.
We used to be able to look after medicine for passengers and there are those out there who still think that’s the done thing, but it’s not.
People regularly ask if they can put their insulin, or other meds, in our fridge, but we’re strictly not permitted to do that now.
We can give you a bag of ice to keep your medicine cool, but other than that, we can’t really help.
The reason being that if we store your antibiotics or your insulin or whatever in the fridge and there’s any cross-contamination that leads to someone else getting sick, that’s our fault.
So we’re just not allowed to do it – it’s a hard and fast rule that we aren’t able to change or be lenient with.
If your medication needs to be kept cool, you need to be aware of how you can do that during the flight.
We also can’t bring you your meds at a certain time, which we’re asked to do more regularly than you’d expect.
That’s simply not our job – we aren’t nurses or carers and it’s up to you, or the people you’re with, to know when you need to take your medication.
We’re mainly there for safety reasons and we need to be aware of what’s going on in the cabin.
We can’t be expected to keep a list of all the people on board who need pills, and at what time. That would just take up way too much of our time.
One thing we aren’t there to get from passengers either is their litter.
During the flight we’ll come round once or twice to collect your rubbish, but before the flight, you absolutely shouldn’t be giving us any.
Airlines with the best plane food
Korean Air
Korean Air won best airline cuisine in last year’s Global Traveler’s awards.
Some of their popular dishes onboard include bibimbap, a Korean rice dish, and ssambap, Korean rice lettuce rolls.
It also made the top 10 for airlines with the best plane food in CN Travelers 2023 Readers’ Choice Awards.
Japan Airlines
Coming in first place in the Reader’s Choice Awards was Japan Airlines.
The airline has partnered with six Michelin-star chefs, each of whom have three stars – so you can expect it to be good.
Passengers can choose bento boxes and miso soups onboard.
Singapore Airlines
Often voted one of the best airlines in the world, it is no surprising Singapore Airlines is said to have some of the best plane food.
Chef Dennis Littley said: “Their gourmet meals rival those of ground-based restaurants.”
Dishes include congee, a rice porridge, as well as Singaporean rice and curry options.
You’re responsible for your own litter and if you’ve had something to eat or drink in the terminal while waiting to board, don’t hold onto the empty packaging and give us it as you’re getting on the plane.
People act like we’re just standing by the door waiting for them to give us their litter, it’s honestly really rude.
Not that there’s anything wrong with being a bin collector or anything, but that’s simply not our job – we’re primarily there to keep you safe, not tidy up after you.
It just makes us feel hugely undervalued and like we’re little more than servants, or people there to clean up after passengers.
If there’s an accident, we’re the first people you’ll be looking to for answers, so just treat us with a little more respect in the future.
There are, I’m happy to say, some items that we’re always happy to receive from passengers – and it could be beneficial for you to hand them over to your cabin crew as well.
Chocolate
Handing out chocolate is a great way to show your appreciation for the people working on board your flight – and it’s perfect for us to share out between us while we’re working too.
You’re likely to get a bit of preferential treatment for this too – maybe some drinks and a bit of extra care from the flight attendants to thank you.
Gift Vouchers
Some people go out of their way to bring us gift vouchers, which is always so sweet.
Places like Starbucks, Costa and Nandos are usually the most popular – places to eat and drink while we’re on our way to or from a shift makes a huge difference for us.
I’ve seen plenty of people get a free upgrade for bringing a few gift vouchers on board – it’s a pretty reliable way to get some preferential treatment.
Meanwhile, this stupid new fad emerging on flights is actually quite dangerous.
And these are the worst kinds of passengers on board planes.