There are nervous flyers, but then there are confident flyers and most times those are frequent flyers. That’s not to say that a frequent flyer, for business or whatever, may not be a nervous flyer, but in most cases, frequent flyers know the drill. They’ve done it enough times to “fit in.”
Flight attendants often notice frequent flyers because they move through the airport and cabin with a different rhythm. How to become a frequent flyer? Well, here are 10 signs that give it away:
- You know exactly how boarding works
- You’re already lined up (or strategically waiting nearby) before your group is called, and you don’t need to ask where to stand. You aren’t gate lice, although I’ve seen a few, but they are ready to get going.
- You’re already lined up (or strategically waiting nearby) before your group is called, and you don’t need to ask where to stand. You aren’t gate lice, although I’ve seen a few, but they are ready to get going.
- You have your documents ready without fumbling
- Boarding pass open, ID/passport in hand, phone brightness adjusted, and everything is ready before you reach the scanner. To tell you the truth, my phone never scans the first time, I have to do it a few times until the gate agent grabs it and does it for me.
- Boarding pass open, ID/passport in hand, phone brightness adjusted, and everything is ready before you reach the scanner. To tell you the truth, my phone never scans the first time, I have to do it a few times until the gate agent grabs it and does it for me.
- You greet the crew naturally
- Frequent flyers often make eye contact, say hello, and know that a friendly interaction with the crew goes a long way. I always say hello to the gate agent and the flight attendants and pilot, if I see him or her, while I am boarding.
- Frequent flyers often make eye contact, say hello, and know that a friendly interaction with the crew goes a long way. I always say hello to the gate agent and the flight attendants and pilot, if I see him or her, while I am boarding.
- You know where to put your bags
- You quickly spot the best overhead bin space, place your bag correctly, and avoid blocking the aisle. Also, you don’t grab the front bins if you are sitting further back on the plane. And you use the under seat area when able too, instead of the overhead bins.
- You quickly spot the best overhead bin space, place your bag correctly, and avoid blocking the aisle. Also, you don’t grab the front bins if you are sitting further back on the plane. And you use the under seat area when able too, instead of the overhead bins.
- You don’t ask common “first-time” questions
- You already know where the lavatory is, how the seat controls work, when drinks usually come around, and what the announcements mean. You know not to order a Diet Coke or fizzy drink.
- You already know where the lavatory is, how the seat controls work, when drinks usually come around, and what the announcements mean. You know not to order a Diet Coke or fizzy drink.
- You pack like you’ve done this hundreds of times
- Compact carry-on, liquids already organized, headphones accessible, and no frantic unpacking at security or in the aisle.
- Compact carry-on, liquids already organized, headphones accessible, and no frantic unpacking at security or in the aisle.
- You understand the unwritten cabin rules
- You let people pass, don’t crowd the aisle, use headphones, and know when to press the call button (and when not to).
- You let people pass, don’t crowd the aisle, use headphones, and know when to press the call button (and when not to).
- You recognize aircraft details
- You notice the plane type, seat layout, storage quirks, or whether a flight is operated by a different aircraft than usual.
- You notice the plane type, seat layout, storage quirks, or whether a flight is operated by a different aircraft than usual.
- You have a “routine” once seated
- Bag under the seat, seatbelt on, window shade adjusted, charger plugged in, headphones out — all within seconds.
- Bag under the seat, seatbelt on, window shade adjusted, charger plugged in, headphones out — all within seconds.
- You stay calm when things go wrong, which hopefully never happens. Calm flights are the way. But delays, turbulence, gate changes, and missed connections don’t send you into panic mode. You’ve seen the process before and know how to handle it.
A big giveaway for flight attendants is usually not one specific behavior — it’s the overall efficiency. Frequent flyers tend to look like they’ve done the same sequence hundreds of times because they probably have.
Are you a frequent flyer? Do you have any travel tips?
Until next time. . .
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