A former airline attendant has unveiled the passenger type that the cabin crew finds most challenging. Kat Kamalani, an American who worked in aviation for six years, recently shared a TikTok video shedding light on the surprising annoyance of crew members.
Contrary to popular belief, it’s not babies that irritate the crew, but rather individuals who grumble about crying infants. Kat, both a social media influencer and a mother of two, elucidated that this specific complaint creates discomfort for both the parents and the staff. In her video, she passionately conveyed the following. “Believe me, as flight attendants, few things irk us more than passengers complaining about a crying baby.”
Crying babies on planes are the worst – for other passengers and the parents
She emphasized against requesting a seat change due to the baby’s cries. As the parent yearns for the baby to settle more than anyone else. Instead, for fellow travelers, Kat suggested carrying noise-canceling headphones or offering assistance to the parents if needed. This concise video garnered over 1.4 million views and drew numerous comments from people who resonated with her viewpoint.
One mother shared her own experience, recalling a flight attendant who advised her to let her baby cry, given that her fellow passengers would soon be out of sight. Another TikTok user hypothesized that babies cry due to ear discomfort caused by changes in air pressure during flights.
A present-day flight attendant also chimed in, expressing frustration when passengers complain about crying babies. Questioning what they expect the flight attendants to do. Travelers who have previously sat next to crying babies recounted offering help, such as engaging with the baby to keep them content. As a fellow passenger napped.
There were mixed opinions
Read: Flight Attendant Won’t Let Plane Leave Until Passengers Clean Up Mess Dropped In The Aisle
Unquestionably, a multitude of TikTok users aligned with the former flight attendant’s perspective. One mother recounted an incident where a flight attendant advised her to let her baby cry, emphasizing that her fellow passengers would soon fade from view. In a similar vein, another user shared that babies cry during flights due to the discomfort caused by changes in air pressure, particularly impacting their ears.
Adding their voices to Kamalani’s stance, another flight attendant expressed frustration over passengers venting about crying babies to her. Additionally, a TikTok user shared how they lent a helping hand to a parent by engaging a fussy baby in play while the parent managed to catch some sleep during a 1.5-hour flight.
However, it’s worth noting that not everyone found Kamalani’s advice practical. One viewer expressed the view that parents might lack the knowledge to distract, soothe, or entertain their children during flights. Another individual recommended that parents should avoid subjecting their young children to extended travels altogether.
Don’t distract the crew while they’re attending to important safety protocols
Kat’s recent viral video follows closely after her previous one, where she highlighted a severe breach of airplane etiquette. She emphasized that passengers should “absolutely never” press the call button while the aircraft is on the tarmac or during takeoff and landing, as this poses a significant danger to crew members attempting to navigate the cabin during these critical phases.
According to Kamalani, this action, often mistakenly taken by many, could lead to dire consequences for both crew and passengers. She explained that hitting the call button during these phases creates a safety hazard, potentially causing injury. Kat cautioned that, if the button is pressed during ascent or descent, attendants would only respond after the situation stabilizes. Her advice was clear: the call button should be utilized with discretion and consideration for safety, keeping in mind the critical stages of flight.
Sources
- “Flight attendant reveals the cabin crew’s most hated flyer – and it’s not a screaming baby.” Mail Online. Carina Stathis. November 22, 2022
- “Flight attendant reveals the cabin crew’s most hated flyer — and it’s not a screaming baby.” Medium. Aabha Gopan. April 1, 2023