Jetiquette | The Sky Steward

Southwest Employees celebrate "Bags Fly Free"

NOTE: See airline checked baggage fees

The situation at Southwest Airlines in which a crying 2-year old boy created such a fuss that he got himself and his mother thrown off has me thinking. It seems that though extremely friendly and customer-centric, Southwest’s employees definitely take swift action when they reach their breaking point. There is nothing worse than a crying 2 year old and I bet the mother was just as horrified [...]

Dear Sky Steward,

I am surprised that I am writing you from my hotel room and not a jail because I am so angry about my flight today. I boarded my flight and stowed my bag in the overhead compartment and then, to be considerate to other customers, placed my personal item under the seat in front of me. In the last few minutes of boarding, another customer shifted my bag around in the overhead compartment to [...]

"Don't worry, I'm on airplane mode"

One of the biggest issues that I hear about from readers of  Dear Sky Steward and from airline crew on is the electronic device policy debate between passengers and flight attendants. On a recent flight from San Francisco to Miami one of the flight attendants was given a lecture by a passenger about just what airplane mode is. The passenger informed the flight attendant that “airplane mode” is an acceptable alternative to turning the device off for [...]

Jetstar Airbus

Coffee, tea, friend request? I know, not very original but it’s all over the news.

A flight attendant is in big trouble after sending a friend request to an underage passenger that had been on his domestic Australian flight.

Australian airline Jetstar forgot to put something in their social media policy about sending Facebook friend requests to 15 year old girls or maybe they should be a bit more specific when they ask their flight [...]

There have been a couple of times in my career when parents have informed me that I will probably never have children. Wasn’t that nice of them to bring that to my attention? However, over time I’ve picked up on some easy to apply methods to make traveling with children easier. I try to remember them just in case a miracle occurs and I end up a father!

When you think about flying with your kids, do your palms get sweaty and eyes [...]

Has that airline blanket you’re snuggling with been sleeping around? Is it time for you to travel with your own travel pillow and blanket?

We’ve all seen many articles examining the scary condition of communal blankets and pillows being provided on airliners. Many airlines have reduced the number of flights which these are provisioned on, but whenever you are lucky enough to find one you have to wonder where it has been or who it’s been sleeping with.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, please direct your attention to the flight attendants as they demonstrate proper travel manners or as we like to call it, Jetiquette, on today’s flight.”

Dear Sky Steward,

Thank you so much for your work to improve the civility displayed by passengers and crew to one another on airline flights throughout the world. I must tell you that you have your work cut out for you. For the most part, people are very polite, patient, and [...]

There is a new luxury shortcut to London now that British Airways has launched their new service using A318 aircraft outfitted with 32 lie-flat beds and the latest inflight communication system OnAir. This system allows passengers to use their mobile phones and laptops to access the internet and send and receive email and text messages.

The A318 will be taking off from an airport with a very short runway. London’s City Airport has a runway length of only 4,984 feet  in [...]

With so many airlines like Virgin America, United, and JetBlue offering enhanced coach products that provide extra legroom, there is still the problem of BBS (Big Ball Syndrome) which causes many gentlemen to keep their legs spread wide apart. This causes major discomfort to the passengers on both sides of the BBS sufferer. It must be mentioned that symptoms of BBS are often simply imagined by men that wish they actually had BBS.

“Close your legs [...]

Dear Sky Steward,

I was wondering why business class flights offer so much alcohol on board when it seems, to me and my husband at least, that the attendants get visibly tense whenever someone agrees to accept a drink.

We save up for one or two big overseas trips in business a year, and we’re foodies that really love and appreciate a good meal and interesting wines. Two drinks from the time I board till the time I [...]

Choosy fliers choose widebodies!

I was the Purser between Miami and San Francisco and I was amazed at the number of passengers that commented how much they love the 767-300 on this route.

All of the customers were great, although I was up to some of my old tricks as the plane climbed out of San Francisco on take-off. There was one particular gentleman staring my way everytime I glanced into the cabin. I was convinced he had [...]

The next time you fly Finnair, you’ll be enjoying the convenience of the brand new terminal extensions at their Helsinki hub. And coming in December 2009, when making connections at Helsinki you’ll have the opporunity to relax and recharge in a fabulous new 250 seat via.lounge and a restful spa area, via.spa.

The spa offers four separate saunas, treatment rooms for express treatments as well as those of a more leisurely nature, various foot treatments and a mineral water pool for health baths. What a [...]

Airlines are brining in billions from add-on fees. The airlines have no choice but to add on fees for checked luggage, snacks, etc.; especially since most customers select an airline based on the lowest fare. It seems like yesterday that many airline passengers complained about being charged for goods and services included in an airline ticket that they did not use. Well, be careful what you wish for. Now, you pay for what you do use

You’ve heard of Pam Ann, but have you heard of Lucci? She’s Pam Ann’s flight attendant friend from below the Equator who is a former Miss Universe Venezuela, Television Talk Show Hostess (watch), and Mistress of many dictators of third world countries. Now, she’s back in the skies on Venezuela’s revived national carrier Viasa! She’ll be flying to all of Pam Ann’s shows throughout the country. Be sure to see Pam Ann’s schedule and purchase tickets [...]