25 Things Your Flight Attendant Won't Tell You

Second only to pilots, flight attendants are the savviest frequent flyers out there. You may think you know a thing or two about dealing with long flights and how to find cheap tickets, but no one knows the ins and outs of air travel and airline service better than the people who get paid to do it.

From dealing with ridiculous passenger complaints to having to resolve all kinds of issues, your flight attendant has quite a bit of knowledge that they're usually more than willing to share. There may be some information, however, that they're less likely to volunteer, but it's useful all the same. Learn how to better navigate the nerve-wracking and often exhausting experience that is air travel with these 25 things your flight attendant won't tell you.

You may very well have the misfortune of irritating passengers sitting near you, but unless you feel immediately unsafe, it's best to try to resolve things yourself before pulling a flight attendant into it. If someone is kicking your seat or causing too much of a disturbance, try to ask them nicely to stop before asking a flight attendant for help.

If you've had a bit too much to drink, your flight attendant reserves the right to cut you off. In order to enforce drink limitations without a fuss, however, some flight attendants have been known to serve a lighter pour when more is requested. They may also secretly give you decaf instead of regular coffee if you annoy them too much, as a sleeping passenger is less annoying.

There's a lot more to being a flight attendant than simply serving passengers, and the job is a lot less glamorous than its reputation. While veteran employees may eventually see a better wage, the average flight attendant's annual salary is just about $36,000 with some of the flight crew getting paid as little as $20,000. However, most flight attendants are paid hourly and the hours only count once they're in the air, so even those numbers may be generous.

Cabin lights aren't adjusted just to suit the flight crew's mood — they're actually a safety measure. During takeoffs and landings at night, lights are dimmed in order to help passengers' eyes adjust to the dark in case they need to evacuate the plane. Your flight attendant may also request that you lift up your window shade for the same reason; if there's an emergency, you'll be able to see what's going on in order to get yourself to safety. Open window shades also help rescuers see inside the plane in order to better assess the situation.

Flight attendants have the power to upgrade passengers' seats, but they don't do it very often. Be kind and ask politely for an upgrade if you want one, but also be understanding of the possibility that there may not be one for them to give. Upgrades can only be done after the airplane's doors close, and there aren't always enough seats, or even first-class or business-class meals, to accommodate more passengers. Flight attendants may also be reluctant if their airline requires paperwork to explain the move. In all honestly, it also helps if you're tall, well-dressed, pregnant, or know the flight attendant.

Flight attendant appearance is quite strictly regulated by airlines, down to the lengths of their skirts. After a flight attendant is done with their probationary period, however, the dress code gets relaxed a little and hemming in the skirt a bit is allowed. This phenomenon is so ubiquitous that male pilots are known to try and get a bit friendlier when they see a crew member with a longer skirt, as new hires have been known to be more receptive to advances.

Commercial planes often also ship cargo, which sometimes includes human remains, referred to as "HR." As a result, your flight may have bodies in the cargo hold heading towards their final resting place. It's also not unheard of for passengers to pass away mid-flight — flight attendants will sometimes, if they can, try to draw as little attention to this as possible by covering the body in a blanket and putting a hat or sunglasses on it, perhaps even upgrading it to first class.

In addition to a viable passport, you want to always remember to bring a pen when flying abroad. You will most likely have to fill out a customs form upon landing, and scrambling for a pen might hold you up. The flight crew may pass out some forms during the flight, but they may not have enough writing utensils, so it's always a good thing to be old school and remember to bring a pen along with your electronics.

While most passengers understand that they have to turn off their cell phones in order to prevent radio interference, many have wondered about why electronics such as laptops and iPads are ordered shut down and stowed away during takeoff and landing. It's actually an important flight safety measure; electronics are potential projectiles and, at hundreds of miles per hour, they can cause serious damage if not secured properly.

Most airlines only allow one carry-on suitcase and one personal item, such as a purse, backpack, briefcase, or laptop bag, for each passenger. What you may not realize, however, is that there are many items that don't fall into the "personal item" category and therefore are totally exempt. In addition to food or drink, this includes, umbrellas, hats and jackets — which means you should definitely consider a jacket with impressive pocket space.

In the case of an emergency or sudden decompression, should the oxygen masks fall out from the compartment above your seat, it's important to know that they only hold a limited amount. This amount is meant to be enough to allow passengers to breathe as a pilot gets down to a safer altitude, but flight attendants have a portable oxygen tank that they can bring with them throughout the cabin and use to provide more oxygen as needed.

A recent study has confirmed this, but flight attendants have known for it for ages. The coffee and tea on board is made using the same hot water you find in the bathroom sinks, and none of it meets hygiene standards, as the water tanks it comes from is not cleaned anywhere near enough. If you'd like some water on board, ask for bottled rather than tap.