A recent poll by travel search site Skyscanner, asked the question:  “Who do you hate sitting next to most on the plane?”
Over a thousand travelers took the poll, and I don’t think there were any big surprises.  Topping the list, with 19% in agreement, was bad breath and body odor.  No kidding!
Here’s what tops the list:

Bad breath and body odor (19%)
Wailing baby (15%)
Hyperactive child (13%)
Big bodied people (12%)
Sneezers and sniffers (10%)
Rowdy parties (10%)
Arm rest hogs (8%)

For me, the most annoying is the person who invades my personal space.  Whether it’s leaning into my face (with their bad breath), hogging …read more

Q.  I know that Flight Attendants hate it when passengers ring the call button.  But is there a time when it’s okay to use it?  It’s there, after all.
 
A.  Yeah, the ringing call button can really be an annoyance to us, and it’s for a couple of reasons.
Most important of all, however, is that if you have an emergency, use it.  Do not hesitate!
That said, there are differing opinions about what constitutes an emergency.
During certain phases of flight, specifically the take off and landing sequence, emergency should be interpreted very strictly.  This is a time when we are buckled …read more

There’s a lot of humor in our jobs as Flight Attendants, and most of us enjoy a good comedy routine about what it’s like working in the skies.
One entertainer who has captured the humor of our job is Pam Ann, a character created by Australian comedian Caroline Reid.  Pam Ann, a twist on the name of former airline Pan Am, is part drag routine and part campy humor with a bit of glamour thrown in for good measure.  Her routines play on the stereotypes of airlines, Flight Attendants, and some of the quirkiness of various airline cultures. 
Although much of the …read more

Today’s question is from Jon at The DC Traveler.  I had it slated to answer in a few weeks, but since this very situation just happened to me on my last trip, it seemed like a good time to answer it.
 
Q.  What do Flight Attendants do if their uniform gets really dirty on a trip or if, for example, someone spills a glass of tomato juice on you on day one of a multi-day trip?
A.  As I said this just happened to me.  Only it was coffee all over the front of a white shirt.  And if was …read more

Stories!  We’ve all got them.
Anyone who’s traveled a bit has a story about a scary takeoff or landing.  Whether is was a little bit of turbulence, a smack down on the runway, or a truly harrowing experience, is probably open to interpretation. 
In the most recent issue of Travel + Leisure, the magazine ranks the 10 scariest runways in the world. 
In alphabetical order they are:

Barra Airport, Barra, Scotland
Gibraltar Airport, Gibraltar
JFK, New York
Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport, Saba, Netherlands Antilles
Madeira Airport, Funchal, Portugal
Matekane Air Strip, Lesotho
Paro Airport, Bhutan
Princess Juliana International Airport, St. Maarten
Reagan National, Washington, D.C.
Toncontin Airport, Tegucigalpa, Honduras (in …read more

Everyone wants the “BEST” seat on an airplane, but how “BEST” is defined varies from traveler to traveler.
For some, best means First Class or Business Class.  Okay, I’m with you on that one!
But what if you’re in coach?  Is it possible to get a “BEST” seat there?
That’s where the debate begins.
Many travelers believe that an exit row or bulkhead is their “BEST” seat.  Other travelers define “BEST” by a window or an aisle.  Still others define “”BEST” by the front or back of the plane, how close or how far away it is from the lavatory, and how close or …read more

Today’s question (or rather yesterday’s question) about the life of a Flight Attendant comes from fellow b5media blogger, Tris at Maple Leaf 2.0
 
Q:  Do you get airsick?
A:  Remarkably, no.  I say “remarkably” because I do get car sick. 
I don’t recall having this problem as a child, so I’m not sure when it started happening.  While it doesn’t happen all the time, and it hasn’t been a problem on the last few car trips I’ve taken, I’ve been fortunate that the problem has not carried over to the airplane.
There have been a couple of times when I’ve been sick …read more