Passengers Can't Stand This Type Of Flight Attendant (And We Can't Blame Them)

If we listened to all the stories about what flight attendants notice or dislike, we might think twice about getting on the actual airplane. But while flight attendants can't stand certain frustrating passenger behavior, passengers too have a few complaints of their own. Unfortunately, flying, and the whole long, drawn-out, stressful process that surrounds it, is enough to bring out the worst in anyone, and that applies to both passengers and flight attendants. But if there's one type of flight attendant that travelers can't stand, it's the one who is rude, dismissive, and downright unprofessional.

You just need to delve into conversations on Reddit to hear about some passengers' unfortunate experiences. "I flew AA 6X last year, every single FA, if not outwardly hostile, were rude, but one!" said Olderbutnotdead619. So what exactly is it that flight attendants are doing that's making some passengers consider making a complaint? Rudeness is the common theme. That could be ignoring passengers when they ask questions, acting irritated over reasonable requests, making passengers feel like an inconvenience, being cold or abrupt during boarding, having an air of superiority, or simply being unhelpful. Reddit user LongjumpingBrush4828 shared their experience: "Today's flight attendant was the rudest I have had in years," they said, explaining that they fly United first class almost every week. "Usually I can chalk temporary rudeness up to a bad day and move on. However, today's purser clearly thought she was superior to everyone else."

When you've already spent the best part of your day dealing with long queues, security lines, perhaps even delays or cancellations, or maybe you're feeling anxious about flying, you expect the cabin crew to greet you politely when you board. This is the first interaction you have with the crew and it's important to get off on the right foot. You're about to spend several hours in the air in a confined space with people responsible for your safety, and you expect to feel reassured by their presence, not feel like you're an inconvenience.

But it's worth remembering that airline staff work in a high-stress environment, and face long shifts and disrupted sleep patterns. They often have to deal with difficult passengers, enforce safety procedures, and know how to handle medical emergencies during flights. While that's no excuse for bad behavior, it helps if you too are polite and friendly — this is one of the things flight attendants notice about you when you board. That said, if you feel that you've been treated badly during a flight, then it's reasonable to bring it to the attention of the airline. Everybody can have an off day, but if a flight attendant is being consistently rude to passengers, that's a different story. "If it's a trend, then they shouldn't have this job. Everyone likes to say the flight attendant is there for [safety], which is true, but it's not their sole job description," says Reddit user StupidSexyFlagella. Like any public-facing job, professionalism matters, and courtesy, of course, goes both ways.