Flight attendant reveals one of the worst things you can do on a flight

Published 12:00 29 May 2025 BST

Kat O'Connor

Flight attendant reveals one of the worst things you can do on a flight

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A flight attendant has revealed some major travel mistakes

As we get closer to our summer breaks, we're more aware than ever of travel etiquette, but we can't speak for everyone.

You'll always run into someone on your flight who doesn't know how to act on a plane, and they can make the journey feel ten times longer than it needs to.

A trip to Tenerife can suddenly feel as long as a flight to Australia if you're sitting next to someone who is watching a movie without their headphones or putting their feet on the seat next to you.

One flight attendant recently revealed some of the worst things you can do on a flight.

The etiquette mistakes people are making when travelling, according to an expert

Putting feet on seats: “The worst thing any passenger can do is put their feet on the seats. It’s unhygienic, unnecessary, and impolite and shows a complete disregard for fellow passengers.”
Taking off your shoes: “Taking off your shoes and socks on an aircraft is a complete no-no. I’ve seen passengers walk barefoot around the cabin: yuck.”
Loud devices: “Another deeply annoying behaviour is using gadgets or devices without headphones. You’re in a small space and everyone can hear you.”
Talking through safety announcements: “Chatting with fellow passengers during the all-important safety demo is disrespectful to the staff and other passengers who may want to hear. After all, should an incident occur, this information could save your life.”
Standing too soon after landing: “There’s really no rush to stand up ready to disembark before the aircraft has come to a complete stop at the gate on arrival. It’s dangerous and unnecessary, always remain in your seat. If you have bags in the hold, they can take some time to appear on the conveyor belt, so it doesn’t make sense to try to be the first off the aircraft.”
Reclining seats without asking: “Finally, my biggest bugbear and no doubt one which many will agree with: the reclining of seats not just during the meal service but at any time during the flight without at least checking if it's ok with the passenger behind.”