Things Your Flight Attendant is Wondering, Part Deux

As promised (or forewarned, however you look at it), I am continuing my list of observations from a couple of weeks ago - the one about the really curious and common habits we folks have when we fly on a plane:

Why do some folks/people/passengers....

• When coming to the lavatory on the plane hand the FA their used cup, napkin, etc. before going into the lav, especially (it seems) if that FA is grabbing a quick second to gulp down inner. I think it's humorous that people don't make the connection that there's a trash can in the lav that can hold items other than the paper towels they use to dry their hands post-pottying. Nevertheless, 99.99% of people will hand the flight attendants some trash just before stepping into the lav. Isn't that funny?

• When deplaning will say good-bye to the Flight Attendants - until a pilot steps out of the cockpit. Then the FAs become persona non grata, and it's all "Great flight!" "Smooth flight!" "Thanks for the nice landing!" Ah....glamorous as we FAs might be, those mysterious bodies behind that closed door are so much more so. :)

• Some parents just don't think to teach their children how to interact with other adults - not even basic eye contact and "Hello," much less, "Please," and "Thank you." Until I started this job I had no idea how many kids find it painful, impossible, or not even on the radar to look up at someone addressing them and say, "Sprite, please." I understand it might be a throwback to the don't-talk-to-strangers thing, but I think this is a basic social skill that will serve them well for the rest of their lives. After all, Mommy and Daddy aren't always going to be there to do the thinking and talking for you, and politely addressing someone who's job it is to assist you is such a simple and safe way to begin learning that skill. Besides, it's just polite!

• Some folks, even when they've seen you coming down the aisle with that drink cart for the last 15 aisles, can't be bothered to remove their headphones when you get to them. "Would you care for something to drink?" asks the FA. "Huh?" asks confused passenger. "Something to drink?" FA repeats a little louder. "What?" again asks passenger. "DRINK?!" shouts now frustrated FA. "Oh! Well, I didn't know what you wanted," says disgruntled passenger, finally removing earbuds.

• Why (and I'm totally stereo-typing here, but get over it!) tiny little skinny 20-something women get on the airplane wearing basically nothing but a handkerchief with a couple of strings of spaghetti to hold it on and then complain the whole flight that they're cold! Honey - no matter where you're headed you're probably changing climates at least a little, and the temperate is unpredictable when you're not in control - think layers!!