I’m a flight attendant – the worst part of the flight is at the start… and it’s made worse by new airline fees

A FLIGHT attendant has revealed the worst part of a flight is always at the start.

Justine, an Alaska Airlines stewardess, shared the most “frustrating” part of her role and how a new fee only makes things worse.

Getty

While it may not be thought of as part of a flight, boarding is a key – and very time consuming – process, but cabin crew aren’t paid for it.

Justine told Thrillist : “The most frustrating aspect of it is that I’m there representing the airline, I’m in my uniform, I’m doing my job and I could do something wrong and be disciplined, but I’m not getting paid.”

She described the responsibility as “a more emotionally draining aspect” of a trip because staff are required to help put nervous flyers at ease.

The stewardess also dubbed it the “most chaotic and hardest time in our day”.

“We have to figure out if we need to check bags, if people need to consolidate, and to watch for people with multiple bags,” Justine added.

“We’re not supposed to lift bags because if I’m injured during boarding, I’m not covered, but sometimes people need help.”

And, if anything goes wrong, such as a medical incident during boarding, Justine will have to resolve the issue without being paid.

This occurs when an airline pays staff using the TFPs system rather than per hour payments.

That means a flight attendant working a one hour flight will only get paid for the time between aircraft doors closing, and up to 15 minutes after the doors open for deplaning.

And, a new boarding fee has been introduced to compensate for the loss – but it’s only used by two airlines – Delta and Southwest.

To make matters worse, the fee isn’t even a full rate, with Delta only paying 50 per cent and Southwest offering 25 per cent.

Justine also shared some helpful tips to help make life easier for flight crew during boarding.

She suggested planning ahead when it comes to carry-on luggage as attendants don’t want to be struggling with lifting and maneuvering heavy bags into crammed over-head lockers.

The stewardess also warned against stuffing jackets and smaller items into the storage units, as they will be removed when more passengers board.

Worst passengers to have to deal with

Amorous couples are one of many people who I hate having to deal with on flights.

Drunk passengers

People who make the most of the booze on board are really irritating. We have a lot to think about on our flights as it is, without looking after people who have drunk themselves into a stupor.

My advice for passengers is to enjoy the included booze, in moderation.

If there’s an emergency and you’re hammered, you’re going to be no use to anybody, least of all yourself. So it’s best to stay alert.

Vapers

Vaping on board is becoming more popular and it’s ridiculous that people think they can get away with it.

The big plume of fruity smoke is always a bit of a giveaway.

But it can also cause panic in the rest of the cabin as well – imagine seeing a big smokey cloud in a plane? It’s definitely not something you’re expecting, so will definitely leave people feeling a little frightened.

Listening to music without headphones

There’s few things worse than tinny phone music blaring out through the plane cabin, or an episode of Breaking Bad being broadcast from one passenger to the people around them.

The thing I always tell people to remember is that there are other people on board the plane and they aren’t all travelling for the same reason.

So keep your music and TV to yourself and just think long and hard about whether the other people on board want to listen to your awful dance music.

Another piece of advice was to find your allocated seat and stay there – instead of swapping with fellow flyers – or clogging up aisle traffic to use the bathroom.

A final tip was to simply be polite to staff and say ‘hello’ as this can go a long way.

“Most people don’t even respond when we say hi as they board or say thank you when we give out beverages or collect trash,” she said.

It comes as another flight attendant revealed the pre-plane drink you should ditch – or risk a scary trip.

Another cabin crew member told holidaymakers the five holy grail tips for avoiding jet lag.

Meanwhile one exposed the “evil” thing passengers do on planes that could ruin your luggage.

Plus, a private jet staff member confessed the craziest and worst requests from the most demanding clients she’s served on board.

Plane etiquette

IF you're planning on going away any time soon, you'll need to pay attention to the following unwritten plane etiquette rules...

RECLINING SEAT: Podcast host and etiquette expert Nick Leighton explained that you shouldn’t recline your seat if the passenger behind you is working on their laptop.

He said: “Nobody likes their laptop snapped in half.”

Before you recline your seat , it’s best to check to see what the passenger behind you is doing.

If they are on a laptop, ask before you move your seat back.

FEET: A flight attendant told The Sun: “Your boarding card tells you a number and a letter, this will be the reserved seat that you have paid for.

“Your feet, which are attached to your body, should do their best to reside within this space and stay far away from anyone else.

“If you do insist on stretching out, please make sure your feet are covered up.”

CHAT: TV travel expert Samantha Brown explained that conversations from strangers aren’t welcome, suggesting that others shouldn’t expect a chat.

She added: “I’m not a talker. Plane time is me time.”