Flight Attendant Top Ten List for Passengers going to Europe!
 

Okay European Fodorites!
I have decided that I need to post this as it is basic advice for anyone going to Europe to have in their carryon bags:
1-Please carry a couple pens with you so that you can fill out your own passport forms,take notes etc. without having to "borrow" from others!
2-Take your own liter bottle of water with you. You will never know when you need to "take a pill" or encounter a drinking fountain that you question. You should be drinking a whole liter while on the flight overseas to hydrate yourself!
3-If you don't like the airline pillows/ blankets or think that you need more than"one" that they provide-bring your own. It is not fair when you steal from another passenger's seat his stash of blanket and pillow!
4-Please bring a sweater or jacket on the flight. They are long,dark(especially going over) and chilly.
5-If you are traveling with children-please make sure that you have enough diapers,toys and snacks to make them happy campers for the duration of the flight and until you get to your hotel. The airlines can only do so much!
6-Bring something to keep you interested(book,knitting,IPOD,etc.) for the flight in case you do not like the movie or audio selections.
7-If you are going to purchase cocktails/wine/beer on the flight-do not have all $20's or $50's as the flight attendants do not have change for everyone's big bills.
8-No matter what the website,travel agent or airline tell you...allow more than an hour to change to an international flight from a domestic. Save yourself the anxiety and stress from wondering if you will "make the flight"!
9-Bring something to snack on for the flight.There is always the chance that you will NOT get what you want to eat and this way you will not be upset and starving!
10-Bring your sense of humor with you when you travel...something is always going to go wrong but if it isn't fatal its no big deal!!!
Thanks for letting me vent !

Excellent advice for anyone traveling overseas. Thanks! And I am curious...which airline is your employer?

I would rather not say....a woman has to have a few secrets,right?

Customs forms??? To which country?
Personally, I wish I thought you were half as "up" on the safety procedures you might have to implement as you are on this trivia.

I was under the impression that knitting needles weren't allowed due to security concerns?

dutyfree, I like your list. Sorry about the safety procedures slam thrown your way - there is always a "cranky" fella on every flight (and forum).

Some good advice, but I have never been too cold on an overseas flight; sometimes it's roasting. Dressing for either temperature would be my suggestion.

I not only wouldn't steal another passengers pillow or blanket, I wouldn't use my own blanket. Who knows who has used it and how long since it has been laundered/cleaned.

Depending on the airline, movie should be movies. Both UAL and BA have individual screens and I can't imagine anyone so particular they couldn't find something to enjoy from the large selection of movies, etc.

Also depending on the airline, alcoholic beverage continue to be complimentary so no small bills needed.

You might also suggest that in addition to diapers, parents bring along a little discipline so that the seats aren't continuously kicked, and the aisles aren't used to run up and down.

Just my take.

How about adding a small trashbag to the list of what to take with?

Excellent advice, I would add an eyeshade, earplugs (Quies work for us) and Ambien. The barf bag works quite well as a small trash bag.

Knitting needles are OK. So are nail clippers and nail files.

http://www.tsa.gov/interweb/assetlib...12_18_2003.pdf

Dutyfree- Thank you for the great advice. Rather than critique the message I would hope that we could all learn how to make the flight attendants life a little easier, and thus our own. Now if only someone from security would post suggestions for people to get through the security line fast travel might not be quite so difficult. Why can't people take off their belts and empty the change out of their pockets while waiting in line instead of holding everyone up when they get to the front? I will never understand that. Take Care Jackie

Great list, thank you dutyfree!

I travel all the time with my knitting. Helps with the flight coming home to pass the time.

You are so correct about your list!! Forget about some other cranky people.

# 10 ... Bring your sense of humor.

As shown on this thread, there are always people who have misplaced that damn sense of humor and instead of looking for it until they find it, they just shower us all with their crankiness.

If dutyfree works for the airlines, cranky people are no strangers to her, sad to say.

Perhaps that idea a Fodorite had of the Valium spritz at the airport will happen someday LOL then we can all chill together :d

Knitting needles are NOT OK!! Just got back from Paris on British Airways . Pulled out my knitting only to be pounced upon and threatened to have my knitting confiscated. In fact I was so ticked that I called for the head person in charge. He said he would ask the pilot and then came back saying no way and if I didn't put it away he was supposed to take it. I asked why not confiscate pens too cause they could be used to stab someone too. He agreed but re iterated that knitting needles were not allowed. I believe and support security like the next person but it may be getting a little out of hand.

Love number one about carrying pens - can I add use the time on the flight to fill in your form, then check and double check it so you are not holding up a full immigration line when the officer tells you to sign it or fill in your flight number!

>...I can't imagine anyone so particular they couldn't find something to enjoy from the large selection of movies, etc.<

Try imagining me.

Excellent list, dutyfree! I have also been ticked at those passengers who walk down the aisle when boarding and snatch pillows from seats so they'll have plenty to bolster themselves while napping.

As for the suggestion by a poster that we bring eyeshades, all overseas carriers I've used give them out--even in coach. They're in the bag that holds the blanket, socks and earphones.

Some, however, no longer provide free drinks on overseas flight. I believe Continental now charges.

Ira, I'm with you--I seldom watch the movies on flights because I'm always the lucky person who gets the unit with either bad sound or bad picture:) However, I LOVE watching the "scanner thingy" that shows the flight path, temperature, miles to go, etc.

RufusTFirefly wrote:
"Knitting needles are OK. So are nail clippers and nail files.
http://www.tsa.gov/interweb/assetlib...2003.pdf"

Yes all, this list says one thing and then it seems the security personnel make up their own list. Each trip, confiscated by security have been my eyebrow tweezers, cuticle nippers and nail file. I do not check any luggage so these things are always in my carry-on. I always check the list in advance, always try to get them thru, only to have them confiscated. Now, denying knitting needles, I can understand, but eyebrow tweezers? We laugh at the potential news headline "Pilot Stabbed to Death with Passenger's Eyebrow Tweezers"!

Hey, what's so funny?

With my thick, bushy (think jungle under-brush) unibrow, you need some real big industrial-sized tweezers.