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Former Flight Attendant Exposes What Cabin Crew REALLY Think About Senior Passengers

Jessica Hargrove | Ex-Flight Attendant

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I flew for 16 years with a major U.S. airline. I don't work for them anymore — which means I can finally tell you what flight attendants actually notice about senior passengers.

Senior travelers are often our favorites. But there's a small group making mistakes that quietly frustrate every crew member on the plane. Most have no idea they're doing it.

In this video, I'm breaking down:

What flight attendants love about senior passengers
The behaviors that drive us quietly insane
The exact words to say to become crew's favorite passenger
How to get better service without demanding it

This isn't about being difficult. It's about understanding how we actually work — so you're treated the way you deserve to be treated.

If you're flying after 60, these small shifts can completely change your experience in that cabin.

16 Comments

@SmoothRoute 4 months ago

The “when you have a moment” phrase is such a small thing but it completely changes the tone of an interaction. You can tell this advice comes from real experience.

@richardcrist7504 5 months ago

Why does AI take so long to get to the point?

@SmoothRoute 4 months ago

The “million miles” passengers are always the funniest to watch in airports 😂 . The truly experienced travelers are usually the calmest people on the plane.

@SmoothRoute 4 months ago

saying thank you while getting off the plane costs nothing, but you can tell it matters a lot to crew members after a long flight. And I think most people do but the thing is mostly now a days people are so occupied with their phones ....even if they say it feels as if they don't mean.

@bunnymom9842 5 months ago

I was a business traveler for many years, and I can tell you what you need to do. Be ready to get on that plane, get to your seat, and get out of the way. You can put your things away while you’re in your seat area most of the time, and for the overhead bag, you can quickly pop that in there and get out of the way. Vacation travelers are the worst. They don’t know where they want to sit or where to put their bags. It’s maddening.

@Larry660 4 months ago

If I need something (and there is not a flight attendant at hand), I generally walk back (or up)to the galley and ask (assuming it is not a critical flight phase). If it's a cup of water, I can get it myself (I'm not worried about questionable water reservoirs, have a hella immune system). I'm 65 years old. When my son and his friend moved in with me, he described me as a "self-watering plant". I can take care of myself, and probably, if need be, other people.

@joefalkner2368 5 months ago

Well done.

@peggybischoff2672 5 months ago

Thank you for the kind advice. I always want to be a good passenger and this helps me know what to do. I don’t know how flight attendants can handle this job.

@TheLadymolly 5 months ago

Before I fly anywhere I buy packages of chocolate, put them in a gift bag and hand them tom the flight attendant at boarding. I do this to make their flight a little bit sweeter.

@Larry660 4 months ago

11:50: Your status is "passenger". Maybe you have been flying as a passenger for over forty years. Maybe (unlikely) you know more that a "green" flight attendant. If you have the opportunity to offer advice (not ten seconds before impact), feel free to offer it. At the end of the day, however, the crew member is the one with authority (and commensurate responsibility) and has the final say. They are the ones that people are looking to for guidance. Maybe (unlikely) your solution is better. A workable solution, executed properly, is better than a perfect solution executed chaotically. Don't contribute to chaos.

@ursulasanabria8813 5 months ago

Hi Jess, I really love your videos, thank you so much for sharing all the information!! I really appreciate that.

I do have a question, so the information you shared is about what the passenger needs to do or don't do it make things easier for everyone, what do you say we as passengers respond when the flight attendant is rude or having a bad day, forget what your asked kindly like water, what the passenger can do in situations like this when is the other way around?? Thank you again!!