Flight Attendants Immediately Notice This Awkward Passenger Trait During Boarding

When you're boarding a plane, you may not do more than say a quick hello or nod politely to the flight attendant standing by the door. It might seem like they're simply there to welcome you on the flight and help you find your seat if you need it. However, flight attendants notice quite a bit about you when you enter a plane. They look for a number of characteristics, including able-bodied passengers who could help in case of an emergency, or which fliers have a disability and may need assistance. However, there is another thing they notice, which is the way you smell.

It's awkward, sure. You may have been stuck on a runway on an earlier flight and have sweated a bit, or you could be on the 20th hour of travel from the other side of the world. Still, in such tight quarters, odors can be an issue for multiple reasons. Founder of A Fly Guy Travels and senior flight attendant Jay Robert told HuffPost, "We're checking for the smell of alcohol but also for offensive body odor. ... Both can result in you being denied boarding, as BO is a no-go. Many people don't realize that excessive body odor can significantly affect the comfort and well-being of everyone else on the flight, and airlines have the right to refuse carriage if it becomes an issue." However, the issue is more complicated than simply removing someone from a flight because they forgot deodorant in the morning.

While the comfort of all passengers is important, body odor can be a delicate subject. In one 2024 case, according to Frommer's, a discrimination lawsuit was filed when eight Black men (who didn't know each other and weren't sitting together) were removed from an American Airlines flight for body odor reportedly noticed by a flight attendant. In 2019, NBC News reported that a Jewish family was removed for the same reason and sued the airline, citing religious discrimination. It's a tough situation, and while some incidents, like the ones discussed here, are more complex, the reasoning for being booted off the flight may extend to things like excessive perfume, nail polish, a baby needing a diaper change, or even strongly scented foods. A scent can also come from a medical issue, and in that situation, nothing can be done.

While flight attendants can take certain steps from their end, it's a bit harder for passengers. If someone near you has a scent that you cannot tolerate for the duration of the flight, the best practice is to speak to a flight attendant (quietly) and ask if they can move you to a different seat. They may not be able to, but it's worth a try. You may also want to bring something like a scarf, a mask, or a travel-sized bottle of peppermint oil and (discreetly) dab it on your nose to mask the scents around you. (Just make sure you're familiar with TSA's rules on toiletries before packing the oil.) If you're a frequent flier, you may want to throw a stick of deodorant in your bag that is just for travel, just in case you need it yourself. Finally, before your next flight, take a tip from flight attendants and pack this item that they always have in their carry-ons.