8 things you should never do on a plane, according to a flight attendant

Travel

8 Things You Should Never Do on a Plane, According to a Flight Attendant

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They say it's about the journey, not the destination—but when air travel is involved, the journey can often be more difficult than enjoyable. Still, that doesn’t mean that basic courtesy should go out the window. In fact, it's all the more reason to be extra considerate. Here are eight things you should never do on a plane.

Aiden, flight attendant

Jenny Dreizen, modern-day etiquette, boundaries, and relationships expert

Touch the Flight Attendants

According to flight attendant Aiden (who didn't reveal his last name for privacy reasons), there is never a time when it's appropriate to touch a flight attendant. “Do not touch your flight attendants, period," he says. "When we are moving about the cabin—whether it is to serve a meal, prepare drinks, or collect garbage—we can still hear you! A simple ‘sir’ or ‘ma’am’ will get our attention.” After all, it’s generally not appropriate to touch someone you’ve just met.

Ask to Use the Lavatory Right After Boarding

Need to use the bathroom right after boarding? Be aware that you may be holding up the plane. It’s the worst time to be anywhere but your seat—plus, you likely had a chance before boarding. “Why didn’t you use it in the terminal?" Aiden asks. "When you're boarding, the flight crew has different tasks to handle, both those you can see and, more importantly, those you cannot. Things like monitoring overhead bin space, identifying passengers we can rely on in an emergency, and communicating with the flight deck and ground personnel.” If you're still not convinced, know that bathrooms in the airport are far better than compact airplane stalls.

Put Your Arms, Legs, or Feet in the Aisle

Aiden acknowledges that airplanes aren’t the most comfortable environments, but you need to keep your limbs to yourself. “Sometimes you need to stretch, but when we're trying to pass through the cabin—whether it's for service or just monitoring—it’s frustrating to have to wake every single person blocking the aisle," he says. "That being said, please just be courteous about your space, and if we ask you to move, please do."

Run to the Front of the Plane Right After Landing

Sure, you might be eager to get off the plane, but so is everyone else. “Upon landing and arrival at the gate, please don’t stand up and bolt to the front of the airplane," Aiden says. "It’s quite rude to other passengers, and frankly, it’s inconsiderate."

Question the Flight Crew

Aiden warns that doubting the flight crew—or refusing to listen—is a bad idea. “If we ask you to do something, we have a reason," he says. "Please don’t question us. Flight attendants go through five to eight weeks of rigorous training before we’re even allowed to step foot on a real aircraft. Many flight attendants, including myself, compare their initial training to taking a full semester’s worth of college classes in under two months.”

You might not know that flight attendants are trained to do much more than serve drinks. They learn how to open multiple types of aircraft doors, perform CPR and AED usage, deliver babies, and even fight fires. “Yes, we know how to pour Diet Coke, but there is so much more to our job than that," Aiden says. "We are aviation’s first responders, so please treat us as such.”

Put Your Feet on Someone Else’s Armrest

Etiquette expert Jenny Dreizen says that putting your feet on someone else’s armrest is a big no-no. “We’ve all seen it: the toes creeping from behind our armrests—it’s like a horror movie with a very boring premise," she says. "I live internationally from my family, so air travel is a big part of my life, and I know as much as anyone how wildly uncomfortable flying is—but you still cannot put your feet on the back of someone else’s armrest, I’m sorry. We must maintain some decorum.”

Go Barefoot

Dreizen insists that taking off your socks is not only unacceptable, it’s also unhygienic. “Plane floors are dirty, and I don’t want you to catch anything," she says. "Also, we don’t want access to your feet. Keep them sheathed. The best idea is to wear your shoes and keep your socks on at all times.”

Recline Without Consideration

It's okay to recline, but it’s important to be mindful of others, according to Dreizen. “As annoying as it can be to have someone recline in front of you, it’s not their fault that the airplane is shoving everyone too close together—they’re just trying to be comfortable," she says. "That said, it’s a good idea to recline slowly if you can." And check behind you to see if the person has drinks or a laptop on their tray—a quick heads up that you're about to recline is courteous.

6 Tips for Preventing Travel Constipation

Taking a vacation can really knock us off our routines, and that includes how often we go to the bathroom. For many people, traveling can really back things up. In fact, it happens so often there’s even a name for it: travel constipation. Although it isn’t a medical term, it is used to describe a complaint among people who can’t poop when they’re away from home for extended periods of time (we’re talking more than just being out for the day). It’s really common. "The person sitting next to you on the airplane, or someone on the flight crew, or another person you’re meeting likely has the same issue,” says David M. Poppers, MD PhD, and professor of medicine in the division of gastroenterology at NYU Langone Health. Constipation is uncomfortable regardless of when it happens, but no one wants it to ruin their vacation. Try these expert tips if you experience travel constipation. David M. Poppers, MD PhD, and professor of medicine in the division of gastroenterology at NYU Langone Health Wendi LeBrett, MD, a Los Angeles-based gastroenterologist What Is Travel Constipation? Anything that disrupts your routine can affect bowel function, Dr. Poppers says. “And travel disrupts routine,” Dr. Poppers says. You’re likely not eating the same things, drinking the same amount of water, or getting the same amount of sleep, all of which affects bowel movement. How do you know if you're constipated, anyway? You'll have no more than three bowel movements a week, according to the National Institute of Health. Further, you may have hard, painful stool and feel like your movements are incomplete, or like you didn't finish. So the phrase "travel constipation" simply refers to not having bowel movements when you're away from home—we're talking for more than just an afternoon. How to Stay Regular While Traveling Be Sure to Poop Before You Leave “Prevention is the best remedy,” says Wendi LeBrett, MD, a Los Angeles-based gastroenterologist. You don't want to head into your trip backed up! She recommends increasing your fiber and liquid intake (more on both ahead) about two to three days before you’re set to leave, as they are two of the most important tools in fighting constipation. Sneak in Your Fiber As we mentioned, getting enough fiber is one of the most important things you can do, because it helps form your stool and makes it easier to pass, Dr. Poppers says. Fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains may not be your ideal vacation foods, but they are all high-fiber foods. Try eating some fruits and vegetables at every meal when you’re traveling, Dr. LeBrett advises. They don’t need to make up the entirety of your diet, but getting a serving every time you eat can help you get to your daily fiber goal, which is set at 14 grams per 1,000 calories of food per the USDA dietary guidelines. As a precaution, include a package of prunes or dried kiwi into your carry-on bag for snacking, both of which can help you poop, Dr. LeBrett says. “Prunes are a classic option, but kiwi is also really effective for helping with constipation,” Dr. LeBrett says. “There are a number of studies showing that eating two kiwis a day is equivalent to some of the more traditional laxatives.” Stop Neglecting Your Fluids You probably don’t realize you’re doing it, but many people drink far less liquid while traveling, Dr. LeBrett says from her experience working with patients. And that’s a problem, because dehydration makes constipation worse. “When people are traveling and out sightseeing, they naturally tend to drink less water because they don't have access to a public restroom as easily,” Dr. LeBrett says. Recommended fluid intake is dependent on a variety of factors including a person’s activity level, size, and where they are located. Generally, women need an average of approximately 2.7 liters of water, which can come from food and beverages too, and men need an average of 3.7 liters of water, according to the The National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine. You may want to drink more if you’re in a warmer climate or if you’re drinking more alcohol than you typically would, Dr. Poppers says. If you're flying, it's important to know that air travel can cause dehydration because plane cabins can have low humidity. Keep this in mind when the flight attendant comes around with the beverage cart! Get Moving This can include traditional exercise, but it doesn’t have to. For example, you can walk instead of taking public transportation when sightseeing. Regardless of the specifics, getting plenty of movement can get things moving, Dr. Poppers says. “Activity increases motility, and with that, the intestinal tract has less time to absorb water,” he explains. Although it may seem counterintuitive, you actually develop dry, hard stools when your colon absorbs too much liquid. “So you get a more lubricated stool after exercising,” Dr. Poppers says. Going out of your way to exercise can feel like a chore, so try Dr. LeBrett’s favorite way of slipping it in. “I'm a big advocate for walking after a meal,” she says. “It helps with the digestion process, so it can prevent constipation, gas, and bloating,” Dr. LeBrett says. Maintain Your Routine As much as it’s possible, you want to keep up the habits that keep you pooping regularly (assuming you do. Otherwise, that's a different story!). “Our guts are creatures of habit,” Dr. LeBrett says. “They’re used to the same diet, the same routine, and the same sleep patterns,” she says. You don’t need to adhere to a strict schedule, but at least be mindful of how drastically you’re veering away from a typical day. For example, if you normally sleep a solid eight hours, never drink alcohol, eat from all colors of the rainbow (meaning you probably get loads of fiber), and start your morning with a workout, then you don’t want to do the exact opposite when you’re away from home. Think about ways you can enjoy your trip and practice moderation, by say, having one less glass of wine with dinner, drinking plenty of water, and taking that post-meal walk. Try Stretching (on the Toilet) If you are hit with traveler’s constipation, Dr. LeBrett recommends trying the piriformis stretch, named after the muscle being stretched, which is located in the gluteal region. This stretch can help relax your pelvic floor muscles, making it easier to have a bowel movement. You can see how to do the stretch on Dr. LeBrett’s TikTok page. Alternatively, Dr. LeBrett says a toilet stool can help relax your pelvic floor muscles as well.

Is It OK to Recline Your Seat on an Airplane? Our Experts Weigh In

Here at REAL SIMPLE, we want to know all of your hot takes. In the "Minor Issues, Major Opinions" column of REAL SIMPLE magazine, we pose a divisive question to our readers, then call on the experts to resolve it once and for all. We asked our readers: "Is it ever OK to recline your seat on an airplane?" Here's what they had to say. Keep up with our Instagram to add your own opinions and potentially be featured in an issue of REAL SIMPLE. What Our Readers Say The results: 62% of Instagram commenters actually say go ahead, lean on back! Check out the arguments on each side of the debate. Nope, No Way! That little bit of space doesn’t help me. Not worth making someone’s flight miserable. — @kellyannelongportnj2 "Airlines need to get rid of that option. No good comes of it." —@catherinecrowley96 "Why is it that people recline like it’s their birthright? Unless your knees are so far up into your chest that they’re cutting off blood flow, the answer is always no." —@akwilliams918 Sure, Why Not? I always lean back, but not so much as to bother the person behind me. They must be able to eat, watch a movie, work on a laptop, and get up comfortably enough to go to the restroom. Live and let others live as well. — @launicafinita “I paid for the seat. I can use the functions attached to it.” —@debijenkins “Everyone should recline! Then we’re all even.” —@peacedog2020 What the Experts Say: A Unanimous Yes! Henry Harteveldt is an airline and travel industry analyst Elaine Swann is an etiquette expert, founder of Swann School of Protocol, and former flight attendant It’s your right to recline your seat! Just “don’t be a jerk about it,” says Henry Harteveldt. “Airplanes are shared spaces,” he adds, explaining that we need to be considerate of our fellow passengers. Elaine Swann agrees. Her advice: “Before you lean your seat back, check if your neighbor behind you has a drink or laptop there.” If they do, to keep the peace, give them a heads-up that you’re about to recline. Then do it slowly, Swann says, so they’re not shocked by a sudden lurch. “And definitely move that seat forward during the meal service.” And maybe only lean back as much as it takes to feel comfy. If you’re looking for the most space possible, upgrading to a seat with extra leg room may be worth it. Or book early to get an exit-row seat, if you’re up for it. You could also follow this insider tip, which we got from a flight attendant at a major airline who asked to go only by Emmanuel: Choose a seat as close to the front of the plane as you can. “On many aircrafts, like some 737s, as you move toward the back of the plane–say, from the wings on—the plane becomes skinnier, so those seats tend to be tighter,” which can translate to less lateral leg room, he says. “It’s a slight difference, but that’s usually where negotiations between customers have to happen.” So to maximize space between you and the seat in front of you, and to hopefully avoid conflict, book early, and book up front!

Want To Paint Your Concrete Floor? Read This First (Here’s What We Did)

When we first started “fixing up the garages” (that’s a real understatement, I know), one of the few things that we knew we could salvage was the concrete floor of the first bay (where our prop shelves live). The second bay (where our sofas now live:)) would need to be poured because it was rotten wood + dirt. For most of the renovation, I was so budget-focused (this was not a budget project, mind you), I tried very hard not to spend more than needed. So I was like “just leave it concrete, maybe seal it, but that’s it”. No fancy epoxy or garage floor company for us. But then, of course, when it’s all done, the pine was on the walls, and it was so pretty, the gross rust-covered floor popped, and I changed my tune. So today I’ll show you what we did and why. Ok, this was the OG prop storage garage and floor. I think the darkness was wet. We don’t know how old the concrete was, maybe 10-20 years, but it was FINE. Like, not incredible, but not worth demo-ing out and repouring. It had some cracks, and it wasn’t super level, but it was FINE. See? For a garage, it was “ok”. Now, of course, when you are redoing a garage, you have so many other options – Epoxies, fancier finishes with flex, or even rubber squares? But all of them cost $5k + and it just wasn’t where we wanted to put any money. This floor (in the other bay) had to be poured with new concrete. Now the reason I bring this up is because we actually treated the two differently – something I typically wouldn’t do, but it truly wasn’t important enough to me to spend the time and money. You’ll see. So for the sofa bay, Ken poured new concrete. GREAT. It looked really pretty. And just needed to be sealed. We used a satin polyurethane that he just rolled on and called it a day. But for the prop garage, which had a lot more stains and rust marks (and cracks), we decided that we needed more coverage. Something to cover the stains and make it look as fresh as possible. But of course, we were in a rush. It was Thursday, and the IKEA task rabbits were coming on Tuesday to install the closets (that once installed couldn’t be moved). I did a dumb thing – I thought I was choosing a transparent stain from Sherwin-Williams and quickly chose a deep blue. But then I realized… I actually chose a concrete paint that was opaque (aka not transparent, not a stain, a full paint color). Now I like the color, don’t get me wrong. But it was way too intense and jarring. I walked in and immediately called my brother (this was only one coat, thank goodness) and said, “I’m so sorry, I was wrong”. We just wanted it to look like a clean garage floor appropriate gray cement color. But you can’t just choose “gray,” there are a lot of bad, cold, clinical-looking grays, and our garage is pretty! So we sampled many, taking into account the wood on the walls and the green of the cabinet fronts. You have to pretend the floor isn’t blue and that the color would connect the wood to the green cabinets. They are all neutrals and all warmer grays (a couple even taupier). And that there was the winner – Illusive Green. FTW! It had a slightly green undertone, which looked great with the cabinets and the wood, and yet was still super neutral, letting the cabinets be the star. And by the way, we used Sherwin-Williams color-match concrete paint. Two coats, and each took about 3-4 hours to dry (no long curing session). I mean, sure, it just looks gray here, but I promise a bad gray could have looked flat, sad, depressing, and this gray does complement the green nicely. It’s full coverage, and should be easy to clean. Super low maintenance and stuck really easily. In that shot, you can see the undertones more, and how they complement the cabinets and wood. It was the cheapest option (besides just leaving it). My brother acid-washed it first just to clean it and get all the gunk up so that it would stick, and then the darker blue paint essentially just became a primer for this paint color. So that’s how we painted our concrete floor with “Porch and Flooring” product. Non-spon, Ken has just become great friends with the crew at the local SW, so he was psyched to use the product they recommended. Thanks, Ken!!

What We (And You All) Bought During The Biggest Sale Weekend Of The Year

Last weekend was the biggest online sales weekend of probably ALL TIME considering so many of us were stuck inside. And we just think it’s genuinely interesting to find out what the heck everyone was buying (and based on this post and this post, so do you:)). So…welcome to today’s post of “what we all bought and what you bought too during Black Friday/Cyber Monday!!” Now let’s dig right in and start with Em… EMILY This last weekend I bought A BUNCH of my kids’ Christmas presents (I feel SO on top of it this year) and this holiday candle making kit was one of them. Honestly, we might break into this early because you all know how much I love Christmas crafts and I might be more excited for this than my own kids. I bought these leggings for me and matching ones for Birdie because it’s cold up here and it’s getting even colder. I can never have enough fleece leggings and for $20 for mine and $10 for Birdie, these are a great buy for the price. I’m so excited for my kids to play this educational STEM game. Any game that’s fun AND educational is a big win in my book (homeschooling is HARD), and this is one I think Charlie will get very excited about. You can configure this game in a bunch of different ways to make a light turn on or a fan move…(watch the video to see what I mean). I call it engineering class :) I bought parkas for me and the kids from Uniqlo (seriously we cannot get enough jackets/beanies/warm anything up here). This pink one is for Birdie (she only wears things with pink, purple, or unicorns on it), this matching blue one is for Charlie, and then I couldn’t help but grab a longer navy version for myself…they’re all very affordable for winter puffer jackets & I love how light and comfy they are. JESS I have been eyeing this chunky boot trend for a minute and these were both cute and far more affordable than most of the others I was looking at. Fingers crossed they are a hit! P.S. I sent them to Veronica for style approval and she said that she loved them so my hopes are really high now:) When I saw this necklace on Em’s gift guide I knew I wanted it. It’s so cute, very hip, AND really affordable. Basically. a no brainer and can’t wait to add it to my 2021 everyday look :) Ok, this was my big splurge but hear me out. I live in an ooooold building with oooold pipes. A couple of weeks ago was just one of those “I don’t even have time to shower” kinda weeks…so I didn’t. Then when I went to turn on the water…it was brown for 2 seconds. Not ideal. SO since I left my more affordable filtered shower head at my old apartment, I decided that it was time to upgrade. I mean why buy nice beauty products if I’m showing in rust water, right? (I also bought mine at Bed Bath & Beyond but it’s currently sold out there) In my gift guide, I linked to the Target version of these but they were sold out everywhere around me AND couldn’t ship. So I was stoked to find these puppies at Anthro that are so similar (although more expensive). I can’t wait to feel the fanciest and the most cozy in my home. MALLORY If I’m being completely real I went to my gift guide and was checking out what was on sale (lol) during Black Friday. I was SO happy to find this workout set that I’ve been watching for QUITE some time was $60 off. I can’t wait to wear it and workout in it every day and feel cute but also a little extra. I’m also excited to mix and match the top and the leggings with some of the workout clothes I already have! I grabbed these hoops and it’s matching ring for someone super secretive in my life (and I think she’s gonna know who it is if she reads it and to be honest I’m nervous), but I’m very excited about it because there’s no better gift than good quality gold jewelry. NOTO lip stain (how many times have I linked this now?? It’s too good) I bought a few of these (in varying colors) for pretty much everyone I know for Christmas. My personal favorite colors are the Ono Ono (which is more orang-ey) and Touch (which is more pink-ey) And since they’re so good I also snuck the one color I’ve been eyeing for myself into my cart…this beautiful deep red HOLLAAA. I got a pair of these baddies for another special person in my life. I’ve come to find that these are the BEST workout and walking shoes, which is critical because all we do for fun these days is go on long walks (trying to hit that 10,000 steps a day ya feel?). SO I got these and am very excited to give them to a very special lady…when she tried mine on she was like “WOAH IT’S LIKE WALKING ON A CLOUD THEY’RE SO COMFY” so I can’t wait for her to have a pair of her own :) CAITLIN I own one of these robes and I love it, so I bought one for my mom (and an extra one for me, too!!). They’re so plush and cozy and luxe and I wanted to share the warmth. These boots are A. LOT. – especially for my hometown – but I think I love them??? I’ve been getting Instagram ads for them for months and figured that I’d finally give them a whirl at 20% off. They’re getting here next Saturday and I’ll keep y’all updated! I’ve had an iPhone 7 Plus for 4 years and it is BUSTED – there are pieces loose inside and it sounds WILD whenever it vibrates – but I finally bit the bullet and ordered an iPhone 12!!! I’ve been lusting after these beautiful leather wireless charging trays from Courant for a while and got one in cream and one in pink for my entryway and nightstand. I’m excited for the phone but REALLY excited for these. RYANN This is another Madewell purchase because WHY NOT. I’ve actually have been eyeing this top for a while as I think it’d be a really cute and versatile staple in my wardrobe. It’s still very much on sale (only $25!) and reviews say it’s comfy enough to be loungewear but cute enough to wear with jeans and boots. SOLD! I bought this custom necklace for my sister in law who is having her first baby in December (!!!). I think we all love a “Mama” necklace and this shop has fantastic reviews and you can’t beat the price! I ordered myself a pair of jeans which will come as a shock to absolutely no one. To be fair, I actually did need new ones because the holidays + a stay at home order equals my jeans miraculously shrinking on me!! So weird. I think we can all agree that Madewell’s sale was BONKERS and I couldn’t pass up these jeans that were only $30 with the 50% off deal. Now they are $60 which is still a steal. This is another gift from me to me because I’ve actually wanted this perfume for YEARS. It’s really a perfect everyday scent that is not to overwhelming and not too sweet. I’ve been staring out my window waiting for it to be delivered every since I purchased it. 5. ALBIE’S GLITTER NUTCRACKERS Albie’s glitter nutcrackers did GREAT!!! These are really cute and so Christmasy and fun. Here’s what she said about them…”Meet my very first holiday purchase for the new house! My daughter’s first thoughts were “they look like you and dad” and that made my heart smile. Hopefully, this’ll be the first of many more decor pieces that reflect us as a family.” 4. EMILY’S ETSY WOODEN MUSIC BOX WE LOVE ETSY. Em bought this wooden music box for her kids and now I wanna buy one for myself (is that weird?) Anyway, I totally get why it sold so well (especially because custom anything feels extra special in 2020). 3. ANTHROPOLOGIE LOUNGE SET Caitlin linked this in her AWESOME Black Friday post and it looks so cute and comfy NO WONDER it sold so well. We’re all pretty much living in lounge sets right now, or as we like to call them “day pajamas.” 2. MALLORY’S J. CREW DRESS In a shocking turn of events, my dress was #2!! I wore this dress to Thanksgiving dinner with my immediate family (who I’ve been quarantining with, don’t worry) and I’m planning to wear it to Christmas Eve dinner (also with my family) and for every holiday every year to come. PLUS I FOUND OUT AFTER I BOUGHT IT THAT IT HAS POCKETS. Oh and now it’s 46% off (which is more than it originally was when I linked it). Enjoy!! 1. EMILY’S PERFUME Understandably, Em’s perfume did the BEST!! Here’s what she had to say about it “I decided that this is the year I’m going to try to smell good. It’s not that I smelled bad before, but I’ve NEVER worn perfume and I don’t have a ‘scent’. After begging my more beauty/smell expert friends they both agreed that Kai smells good on literally everyone and nobody doesn’t not like it. I put it on last night after a bath and snuggled up to watch a movie with the kids and Brian and everyone, EVERYONE, was like ‘mama you smell goooooood’. It’s not overpowering, just a nice floral/gardenia scent that I LOVE. I bought the lotion and the roller ball. Brian is a BIG fan :)” So if you are wanting a fresh and pretty new scent this one is a VERY good and safe bet.