Flight Attendants Wish Passengers Would Follow This Important Rule During Boarding

Being a flight attendant can sound glamorous — getting to see the world and all — but it's not exactly an easy job. Having a profession where you not only have to cater to, but also deal with hundreds of people and their varying personalities all day long is exhausting, to say the least. And unlike someone at a typical customer service job, flight attendants can't just walk away when they've had enough — especially at 35,000 feet.

That's why it's important for us passengers to try to make their lives easier. One simple way? Keep your tray up while boarding. "It's actually an FAA regulation that all tray tables must be moved to the upright position before movement on the tarmac," JetBlue's corporate communications manager, Morgan Johnston, told Travel + Leisure (via Yahoo Life). 

Around 20% of fatal commercial jet accidents worldwide from 2015 to 2024 happened during takeoff and initial climb, according to Boeing's 2024 Statistical Summary. Because of this, it's paramount to have everything secured during this stage, in its place, and properly stowed — including food and beverage carts and even movie screens. Airline crew members aren't just there to bring you drinks, blankets, and assure you that flying is safer than driving a car, but they're responsible for the safety of everyone on the aircraft. As harmless as a plastic tray may seem in theory, a bit of jostling can still cause injury to you or, worse, someone else.

There's another important reason to keep that tray table stowed: the 90-second rule. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, everyone on board the plane should be able to be evacuated within 90 seconds. If every passenger and crew member can disembark within that initial 90 seconds, that significantly lowers the chances of injuries or fatalities. But what could possibly hinder a timely evacuation? A tray that hasn't been properly stowed.

While it might only take a couple of seconds to put your tray up if you need to evacuate, those few seconds are cutting into the tight 90-second window. Why should someone else's safety be hindered for even a split second because you didn't put your tray up? It shouldn't. The same goes for keeping seats in the upright position and making sure the aisle, including the space between you and the seat in front of you, is clear. When we're talking about 90 seconds, every millisecond matters.

So the next time you board a plane, don't be a problematic passenger that flight attendants notice immediately. Instead, locate your seat quickly and sit. Don't mess with the window shades, don't put your seat back for a quick nap, and keep your tray up. It doesn't matter if you're taking a one-hour flight or a 14-hour flight, if you need that tray down, for whatever reason, you can wait until the plane reaches cruising altitude.