Flight Attendants Actually Hate This Seemingly Innocent Passenger Act During Service

It seems like every other day you hear a new story about a misbehaving passenger on a flight. If you're someone who tries really hard to be a polite and considerate flyer, you probably roll your eyes when you read about yet another passenger who has done something annoying. However, there is a seemingly innocent act that is likely upsetting your flight attendants, and you might not even realize it. It's not asking them to fill your personal water bottle, which can slow down flight preparations, or not paying attention to the safety briefing because you've recently flown. (Listen anyway because planes have different procedures.) The act that you may think nothing of, but that flight attendants actually hate, is a passenger serving themselves or other people from the service cart. 

We all know that beverage and meal service can feel like it takes forever. It's easy to forget that each row has several passengers and not every passenger is prepared with their drink order. You may think you're helping flight attendants out by grabbing what you're looking for or reaching for the soda that your row mate wants. However, you may be causing issues, including contamination, disruption of the airline's service system, or taking something that isn't free. In fact, one person on a thread in Reddit's r/flightattendants compares it to grabbing something off a waiter's tray as they pass by in a restaurant. 

Waiting for the cart, especially if you're really thirsty, can be frustrating. It might seem logical to just grab what you want to save time. You may even think they've passed you by or forgotten you. In fact, one flight attendant named Tania spoke about this to Reader's Digest in 2024, saying, "Sometimes people think that I 'forgot' to get their order and they'll reach into the cart. Or sometimes they see what they want and think it's faster to grab it themselves." However, Tania explains that this not only messes up their system but can also lead other passengers to wonder why someone else got a drink and they didn't. Plus, she says, it's unsanitary. 

It might also get you in trouble. A poster in Reddit's r/flightattendants reports that a man on their long-haul flight got yelled at for taking things from the cart. In the same thread, a flight attendant calls this behavior "rude as hell," while another shares concerns that someone could get injured by hot or sharp things, saying, "Just ask me like a grownup."

If you're someone who just can't wait for your drink as a general rule, bring a refillable water bottle and fill it up at a water fountain or filling station at the airport before you board. You can also purchase drinks to consume on the plane. If you're hungry or have an issue like getting angry when your blood sugar is low, pack things to snack on while you wait. If you buy food before boarding, be mindful of airport foods you may want to avoid. Finally, here are drinks that flight attendants don't want passengers to order (so you might want to get them beforehand and bring them on board yourself).