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5 airline mistakes a flight attendant sees every shift

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5 airline mistakes a flight attendant sees every shift

2026-08-09 13:22 UTCBy AlphaScala Research DeskSource reporting: businessinsider.comEditorial standards

5 airline mistakes a flight attendant sees every shift

A flight attendant who flew over 250 flights last year shares the five common mistakes travelers make, from arriving too late to skipping seat selection.

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I became a flight attendant in 2022, and the job has made me a better traveler. It has also made me a more frequent one. Last year alone, I flew on over 250 flights.

Along the way, I have collected some solid travel tips and watched plenty of mishaps unfold in airports and on planes.

Whether I am working a shift or flying as a passenger, these are the five mistakes I see travelers make most often.

Not giving yourself enough time to get through the airport.

I regularly see passengers miss their flights because they cut the window too tight. The golden rule still holds: arrive at the airport two hours before a domestic departure and three hours before an international one.

People ask me what the latest possible arrival time is. They do not want to sit around. In my view, trying to arrive as late as possible is not worth the risk.

Parking can be hard to find. The check-in counter might be understaffed. TSA lines back up. Your gate can change. I would rather have extra time to relax before boarding. If everything goes smoothly, those extra minutes let me refill a water bottle, hit the restroom, grab coffee, and buy snacks.

Departure time is not door-closure time. Boarding typically ends about 15 minutes before departure. Once the aircraft door is shut, gate agents will not reopen it.

Drinking too much before the flight.

I enjoy a pre-departure drink when I travel for fun. The key is not to overdo it.

The FAA strictly prohibits airlines from letting intoxicated passengers board. An intoxicated passenger will likely struggle to follow crew instructions, especially in an emergency. Alcohol can also make a passenger belligerent, which is harder to manage in the air than on the ground.

If the crew spots a passenger who appears intoxicated during boarding, we are legally required to report it. A specially trained airline employee called a Complaint Resolution Official, or CRO, then boards to assess the passenger. If the CRO confirms intoxication, the FAA requires the passenger to be removed from the flight. This is the most common reason I have had to have passengers kicked off my flights.

Leaving the airport during a delay.

Flights can "un-delay." It is rare, but it happens.

Airlines often delay flights in small increments. Sometimes a solution emerges that reverses the delay. The airline might find a replacement plane. A different crew might become available. The weather could clear sooner than forecast.

If you live far from the airport and see your flight is delayed, you might think you can arrive later. If you live nearby, you might head home. Regardless of the delay length, you should stay close enough to the airport to reach your gate with little notice. If the delay reverses and you are not there, the plane leaves without you.

Not selecting your seat in advance.

If you do not pick a seat ahead of time, you are not guaranteed to sit with your travel companions. This holds even if you booked on the same reservation and even if you are traveling with kids.

If you need to sit next to someone, select your seats in advance. Even solo travelers should choose a seat. If you skip it, you get everyone else's leftovers, usually a middle seat. If you have a tight connection, paying for a seat closer to the front is worth it.

When I fly as a passenger, I always pick my seat. I want the window on short flights for the view and the aisle on long hauls so I can get up without disturbing anyone. Some airlines charge a fee for seat selection. I think it is worth paying.

Assuming the seat is clean.

Cleaning procedures vary across airlines. In general, the turnaround between flights is minimal. Think about how quickly you sometimes see flights board after the previous passengers deplane. Cleaning might consist of picking up visible trash and vacuuming.

I see bare feet and dirty diapers on tray tables almost daily. I never travel without my own disinfecting wipes. The only way to guarantee your seat has been sanitized is to do it yourself.