Flying does not mean passengers have to take care of everything by themselves. Rydell, an airline steward with more than six years of experience, says an airline may offer some great services and items, most travelers are unaware of.
Rydell often gives tips and advice to travelers on social media. In one of her videos, she talks about six things passengers can ask from cabin crew when faced with a certain situation.
- Ice Packs for Swelling or Pain
Passengers with swollen feet after walking in an airport for a long time or headaches can ask a cabin crew member if they have any ice packs available. They can use it as a cold compress.
- Band-Aids for Blisters
Traveling between gates can cause blisters on one’s feet. Instead of going to the nearest pharmacy, a passenger can ask the cabin crew for a band-aid for his/her first-aid needs.
- Getting Help with the Connection
If travelers are in a rush to catch their next flight or find it hard to move around, they can ask the cabin crew members for help. Even if passengers are unable to make the arrangements beforehand, the cabin crew might help find someone at the airport who could assist.
- Medicine in Case of Minor Problems
Rydell also urged travelers to seek assistance if they have any health issues during the flight. She quoted an example of a traveler who received Tylenol after suffering from stomach problems.
“We might have something, tips and tricks, medicine or something to help you,” Rydell said in her video.
Although every airline has its own rules about medicine and its distribution on board, it would be better to approach the crew rather than relying on the fact that there will be any medicine on board.
- Sanitary Pads or Tampons
In case they need feminine products, the passengers can approach the crew and ask if there are sanitary pads or tampons on board since some airlines carry them.
Rydell stated that passengers are better off consulting with the crew than searching through drawers in lavatories. According to her, passengers must not take it for granted that the products will be found in lavatories or unlocked compartments.
Understanding What It Means to Have Access to Hot Water and Other Essentials
Passengers should check with the cabin crew if there’s hot water for making tea or instant noodles. The crew can help with various other items, including sick bags, bottles of drinking water or extra drinking water, as well as wet wipes and earplugs.
The main point Rydell wants to address is that passengers shouldn’t hesitate to ask for help because flight attendants have often faced a similar issue and may know how to solve the problem. Nonetheless, availability cannot be guaranteed, so the passengers should be prepared and plan ahead.
What Should You Wear on a Plane?
In addition to the above-mentioned requests, Rydell also gave some tips about how to dress while traveling.
Travelers should limit wearing short shorts or crop tops, which really show large areas of skin, because the skin may come into direct contact with aircraft seats.
Instead, Rydell suggested traveling in comfortable, loose-fitting clothes and bringing another layer with you to adjust for a cabin’s temperature changes.
Helping cabin crew is an essential way to make a flight more comfortable. Advance inquiries, however, will further make them easy to prepare for, as whatever they can source from the cabin is assistance the traveler can benefit from along the way.
