The Seemingly Harmless Airplane Habit That's Quietly Annoying Your Flight Attendants

Whether it's a three-hour flight or a 15-hour flight, air travel is always exhausting. Because of this, it's not uncommon to see people totally conked out on a plane or, in some cases, using their tray table as a makeshift bed. While the latter behavior may seem harmless, it turns out that it's quietly annoying your flight attendants.

While there are plenty of airplane passenger habits that flight attendants can't stand, if you really want to drive flight attendants crazy, sleeping on your tray table will do it. "When people sleep on the tray tables, a lot of the time it bends the metal that's holding the table," said TikToker Cher Dallas, via YourTango. Not only does this lead to the tray bending so much over time that food and beverages end up sliding into a passenger's lap, but depending on how much pressure you're putting on that tray, you can also break it.

Dallas was also quick to call out those who lean into the aisle when they sleep. Sure, economy class may not have much space, but that doesn't mean you're entitled to the aisle when you want to snooze. "They'll have their whole entire feet out in the aisle or [be] leaning their whole body out, and then I feel like I'm injuring them every time I walk by on accident," explained Dallas. Although neither of these habits is good and should be broken, sleeping on the tray table isn't just annoying your flight attendant, but it's pretty disgusting too.

If sleeping on a table tray wasn't bad enough behavior, Cher Dallas has also seen people put their bare feet on those trays too. "There is no world in which you are that uncomfortable that it is necessary to rub your bare feet onto a table that someone is going to be eating on in the next few hours," said Dallas. "My response is always, 'This is not your house, put your feet down,' and I don't care if that's rude."

According to TikToker Janae's Jumpseat, it gets worse. To further prove that some passengers really do think that buying a plane ticket gives them carte blanche to do what they want, some actually use those trays as changing tables for their kids. "People change their kid's diapers on those tray tables on airplanes; that's why, as a flight attendant, I don't ever eat off of those tray tables, I don't put any of my stuff on those tray tables," the TikToker explains. 

She also added that if she needs to use a tray, she'll put down a trash bag first. "Because even wiping it down with Lysol wipes ... the area has to stay wet for 10 minutes for it to actually be fully effective," said Janae. This is echoed in a Today article, which suggests using more than one wipe to keep the surface wet for four to 10 minutes, depending on the brand. It's bad enough that some people treat flight attendants like babysitters during boarding, but changing a diaper where people eat is diabolical.

It goes without saying that sleeping comfortably on a plane — if you're in economy class — isn't easy. But if you have a long-haul flight, sometimes you simply can't avoid it. Because of this, you want to pack the essentials that are going to help you avoid hanging your head and body into the aisle, or eyeing the tray table as if it's a proper place for a siesta. That starts with a neck pillow. "The cheap ones aren't worth the money," Southwest Airlines flight attendant, Katie Storck, told Southern Living in August 2026. "When I am in the cabin flying as a passenger, I put my headphones in, strap on the neck pillow, and am able to fall asleep and wake up without my neck hurting from it falling at an unnatural angle."

In addition to neck support, another tip that makes sleeping on a flight comfier than we knew possible is positioning your body correctly which you can do by reclining your seat. "You will distribute your body weight more evenly," says TikToker Levitex. "There's less peak pressure coming down to your bottom." It's also worth considering a window seat, especially if you're flying solo and don't want to accidentally put your head on a stranger's shoulder.

Unless you're in business or first class, sleeping and flying rarely mix. But as long as you're cognizant of your surroundings, pack sleep-related items accordingly, and steer clear of the tray table and aisle as part of your sleeping arrangement, you'll avoid annoying your flight attendants. You'll also get some much-needed shut-eye in the process.