Flight Attendants Can't Stand This Seemingly Polite Passenger Habit When Talking To Them

Movies, television shows, and books that feature flight attendants often portray the job as extremely glamorous. Crew members are shown traversing the globe in stylish uniforms with high heels clicking through airport terminals in cities like London, Tokyo, Rome, New York, and Paris. It's true that travel is a major aspect of a career in aviation, which can be alluring, but many parts of the job are quite thankless. Passengers can often behave rudely and offensively, and there are some interactions that flight attendants hate. Being called pet names by passengers is one of the things that some flight attendants can't stand.

Flight attendants are highly trained to handle all manner of situations that can occur on commercial flights. They know how to handle medical emergencies, fight fires, and evacuate every single passenger from an aircraft in 90 seconds or less. They're taught how to administer life-saving care, and they know survival skills that can keep passengers alive after a plane crash until help arrives. They attend many weeks of full-time training before they're ever allowed to work a flight, and continue to practice their skills at recurrent training events each year. Despite all of these skills, many passengers treat flight attendants as though they're merely on board to pour Coca-Colas, pass out pretzels, and pick up garbage.

Although passengers may mean well by using a nickname when talking to a flight attendant, it can come across as disrespectful and condescending. Some flight attendants don't mind, but others may take offense when passengers use certain terms of endearment.

Flight attendants are required to manage all kinds of uncomfortable situations in the air. As someone who worked as a crew member aboard an airline in the United States for several years, I can say with confidence that many travelers would find some of the behaviors that flight attendants deal with on a daily basis rather shocking. Flight attendants know that air travel can be stressful and exhausting, so they try to be patient when passengers seem a little agitated. Still, there are some things, like pet names, that can really rub crew members the wrong way. 

When we are conversing with people who are near and dear to our hearts, using terms of endearment can feel like second nature, but they aren't appropriate for people that we don't know at all. You probably wouldn't call your boss "darling" or the man changing the oil on your car "sugar," after all. Nicknames are one of many behaviors that seem polite in theory, but they really should be avoided when speaking to flight crew members.

Of course, there are some nuances when it comes to addressing flight crew members with terms of endearment, and each crew member will handle the situation differently. Personally, I wouldn't feel bothered if I delivered a beverage to a jolly white-haired grandmother and she responded with, "Thank you, dear!" Now, if a thirty-something man in a suit decided to address me as "babe," "honey," or "sweetheart" — that wouldn't land well. Personally, I would feel as though that kind of language was overly-intimate, disrespectful, and a bit condescending. Pet names can be infantilizing, which is why it might be acceptable coming from an elderly person but insulting coming from someone who is close to your own age.

Even though there are some passenger behaviors that annoy flight attendants, you shouldn't be afraid to ask for help when you need it. Flight attendants are there for your safety, but part of their job is also ensuring that you are comfortable and that your concerns are addressed in a timely manner. As long as you are polite and respectful, your crew members will be happy to help with whatever you need.

When you need to catch your flight attendant's eye, avoid touching or grabbing them. Flight attendants can't stand this annoying way that passengers try to get their attention. No one likes being poked and prodded, especially at work. Instead, speak up! "Excuse me, flight attendant," is a perfectly appropriate way to address a crew member. Airplanes can be extremely loud, and it's not uncommon for flight attendants to completely miss a request if the person asking is very soft-spoken. If your crew member doesn't appear to hear you the first time, try again using a louder volume. Flight attendants often wear wings that display their first names, and they will usually have a badge that also has their name printed on it. Using their name is another appropriate way to address them.

If you're having trouble getting a flight attendant's attention, you can always push the flight attendant call button that will be located above your seat on most aircraft. Only use the call button if you need to speak to a flight attendant right away. They aren't reserved for emergencies, but overusing them isn't a good idea. If your request can wait a few minutes, you'll likely see a flight attendant pass through the aisle in no time at all.