Flight Attendants Can Help With These 6 Unexpected Requests On A Plane

It seems like everything you get on a plane is an extra charge these days. On domestic flights, you often have to pay for things like earphones, blankets, pillows, and even food, which used to be part of the ticket price. Add in being charged for checking a bag, and you can understand why passengers may not bother to ask if there is something they actually need during a flight. While it's always a good idea to pack any supplies you might require during the flight in your carry-on bag, there are a number of surprising things you can ask a flight attendant for that you may be given for free. They include bandages, earplugs, sick bags, period products, sanitizing wipes, and pain medication. 

This is according to several flight attendants on TikTok and YouTube, as well as personal experience. (I've had to ask for pain medication for a headache before and was offered some by both a flight attendant and someone in my row.) Sure, it's not the full meals of yesteryear, but knowing that flight attendants are there to help with basic requests and can often fulfill them is reassuring when you're stuck in a tube, soaring above the clouds for hours on end. (Note that while you can certainly ask for all of these things, not every plane or airline will have them.)

You may not consider bringing bandages on a flight with you, but accidents do happen. You might cut your hand on the side of your suitcase or scratch that mosquito bite you got while hiking on vacation. You don't have to hit the restroom and hold a tissue over it for the entire flight. According to flight attendant Sille Rydell in a TikTok, which you can watch below, you can just ask for a bandage from a flight attendant. They may have one to give you. 

This is also good to know if you've gotten a bad blister from all that walking during a sightseeing tour, especially if you're about to run all the way across another airport to make your connecting flight. (You can prevent this by coating sensitive areas of your feet with deodorant or petroleum jelly. Take it from this marathon runner.) 

Planes are loud, whether you're talking about the roar of the engines, the intercom, or that screaming kid a couple of rows down. There isn't much you can do to lower the noise level, but you can certainly pack earplugs in your carry-on bag. They're usually tiny enough. However, if you've forgotten them, you can ask a flight attendant if they have any to give you. They can make the flight much more enjoyable. That said, if the noise of the plane and your fellow passengers really tends to bother you, it's a good idea to keep a pair of noise-canceling earplugs or earphones in your carry-on bag for every flight.

Keep in mind that we're talking about asking for earplugs to lessen the noise. We're not talking about earphones, which you need to watch the in-flight entertainment. Some airlines charge for those, though you can ask about that as well. 

Once upon a time, planes had sick bags in all the seat back pockets. While some still do, you won't find them on all flights. If you're not feeling well, you can ask a flight attendant for one. Rydell suggests asking for one when you first start feeling sick rather than waiting, saying that there is "no judgment" from flight attendants about this issue. 

People get nauseated for all sorts of reasons. You may be hungover from a night of partying in Las Vegas, but you might also feel sick from turbulence. Some people feel ill from watching those tiny screens or from trying to read a book in a moving plane. Others get it from migraines, indigestion, or medical conditions. Having one on hand is always a good idea if this tends to happen to you. Just ask. Some flight crews may also have over-the-counter anti-nausea medication available. 

If you've got a uterus, you may have been in a situation where you need period products and don't have them available. You may be thrown off on dates while traveling, or stress might bring it on early. Whatever the reason, not having them can be a nightmare. Some planes may have sanitary products like pads and tampons available. In a different TikTok post, Rydell says that flight attendants often have them, whether they're ones they're carrying themselves or supplies on the plane.

However, she says that what you shouldn't do is try to find some in the airplane lavatory. You may end up breaking something. This is never something to be embarrassed about. Just ask. You may even want to ask fellow passengers if you need them. Those of us who have to deal with this have a code, and that is to help out anyone else who needs help in this area. 

Many flight attendants carry disinfecting wipes in their own bags, and it's a good idea to bring your own on the plane. Whether it's for your armrests, the overhead bins, the seat belt, or the tray table — which is the dirtiest part of a plane that passengers come in contact with — doing a quick wipe-down of your personal space while on your flight can help keep you from getting sick. It can also help you feel better about anything that might not be clean if you're a germaphobe. 

The airline you choose may or may not have sanitizing wipes available for you to use. However, it never hurts to ask. For instance, one recent poster on Reddit's r/unitedairlines not only got some but had the flight attendant give them quite a few. I was given several on my last flight when I asked, and that was only two months ago at the time of this writing. However, it's always best to bring them with you. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) website says these wipes are allowed in both your carry-on and checked baggage.

If you get a headache or body ache on a flight, you don't have to suffer in silence. Those seats are cramped, and the altitude change can cause issues. Planes are required to have first-aid kits on board, and if you're in a pinch, you can always ask a flight attendant for basic pain medication like acetaminophen or ibuprofen, according to another post by Rydell, by Taylor Jordan Travel on YouTube, and by flight attendant Jeenie in a TikTok post, which you can watch below. 

We're talking about common, over-the-counter medications. Flight attendants can't diagnose anything or give you prescriptions, but it's always worth asking if what you need is something basic. In fact, Rydell tells viewers that flight attendants have probably heard it all before and not to worry about asking them for it. Finally, here are five code words flight attendants use in emergency situations.