Flying can sometimes make us feel pretty helpless. After all, we’re flying at 500 miles per hour at 30,000 feet with no control over the situation. So it’s no wonder we resort to asking flight attendants to take care of our every need. However, as former flight attendant Kat Kamalani recently explained, there are some instances where using the call button is a dead mistake.
“If you do those two things on a plane, you shouldn’t be doing it anymore,” Kamalani says. “It drives flight attendants crazy.”
Don’t Make These Mistakes When Using a Call Button
According to Kamalani, it is best to avoid using the flight attendant call button “when we are on the runway or if we are boarding or disembarking the plane.” The reason, he says, is safety. “We could get hurt, and so could you,” he added.
If you use the call button during these critical flight moments, Kamalani says, you’ll likely be ignored.
“We’ll go straight back to our seats,” he said. “If you push (the button) while we’re going up on the plane, or if we’re going down (when) we’re landing, we won’t even make it to the light. We’ll do that afterward. So don’t push this button if you need a barf bag, or a blanket, or water, or headphones, or food, or any of that stuff, because your flight attendant won’t be very happy.”
“When do I use the call button?”
Her suggestions sparked quite a bit of controversy, with many asking, “So when can I use the call button?” However, others defended Kamalani, clarifying that she did not say that the call light should never be used, but that it should be used judiciously.
It’s best to reserve the call button for when you’re flying comfortably at cruising altitude and ask for all non-essential items (the aforementioned blanket, water, headphones, and snacks). And try to ask for them all at once, rather than having to hit the call button over and over again.
Of course, as Kamalani noted, if it’s an emergency, don’t hesitate to push the button. The crew is there primarily for your safety and is trained to help with all types of emergency care. It doesn’t matter what you use the call button for, just remember to say “thank you” afterward.
(Main and subject image credit: Getty Images)
This story first appeared on travelandleisure.com
Related: The 8 Worst Flying Mistakes and How to Avoid Them, According to Flight Attendants
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The information contained in this article is accurate as of the date of publication.
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