I was a flight attendant for five years. Here's the VERY popular travel item I would never bring on board
Marcus Daniels, 35, left the aviation industry in 2019 after five years of working on countless domestic and international flights.
Although his cabin crew days are behind him, Mr Daniels still enjoys travelling and has mastered his approach to long-haul flights.
His number one piece of advice: 'Be very mindful of what you're bringing onboard'.
'There's nothing worse than being the last passenger onboard, opening up all the lockers and realising there's no space to put your bag,' he said.
'Overpacking just adds more stress to you, staff and other passengers.
'It's too much drama and chaos. When I travel I have my small roller bag and a little side bag I can put under the seat in front of me. That's it. No pillow, no big jacket.'
Mr Daniels said travellers should think twice before packing a neck pillow.
'For me, it's really uncomfortable. It takes a lot of space, and it's the same for people who bring pillows onboard,' he said.
'I understand they want to be comfortable but if you're in economy you're really squashed like this.'
However, there's one surprising category Mr Daniels refuses to skimp on.
'Being cabin crew really taught me to take care of myself - including my skin,' he said.
'I make sure I really hydrate my skin with an Avene thermal mist, moisturiser and some sunscreen because there's a lot of radiation when you're in the air.
'Then throughout the flight I'll spritz my face with the mist to keep it hydrated.'
Since swapping his travel career for an IT job during Covid, Mr Daniels has noticed hygiene and personal space have become increasingly important to passengers.
'People appreciate self-awareness and when you think about the collective consciousness of everyone onboard. When I fly, I'm always wondering if what I'm doing might inconvenience or offend anyone,' he said.
'For example, I had an Arabic man ask to be moved because the woman next to him had her legs crossed and bare feet pointed at him - which is rude in his culture.
'You just need to be aware of everyone and considerate.'
Mr Daniels also shared his top tips for avoiding the dreaded pre-holiday cold.
'A lot of people find they get sick after flights. Ultimately, we're in an enclosed space with germs circulating and some of the air gets recycled,' he said.
'I buy those alcohol sanitising wipes at the airport and before I sit down I'll sanitise my seat, the seatbelt, table, everything.'
Mr Daniels added it's important to remember flight attendants are doing their best.
'Everyone tends to think of being cabin crew as this dream job. Some people try for so long to become flight attendants and it's not until they're on a plane that they realise it's not glamorous,' he said.
'It can be really tough work and often isn't the job people expected. Yes, you get to see some beautiful destinations but you become jaded after a while.
'Then there will be these times, I called them magic moments, when you get to make a passenger's day or someone will give you a box of chocolates.
'It reminds us we are appreciated and helps fix all the negative stuff.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
9 hours ago
- The Sun
Huge boost for closed UK airport set to reopen as early as next spring under £30million plans
A long‑shuttered UK airport has been handed a massive boost - with ministers unlocking £30million to get planes taking off again as early as next spring. Doncaster Sheffield Airport, which closed in 2022 after its owners said it wasn't viable, is now firmly on the comeback trail following the Transport Secretary's visit to Leeds. 1 The City of Doncaster Council has a relaunch blueprint, with government cash on the table for critical works, and key approvals are being lined up so passengers can be back in the terminal by spring 2026. During a visit to Leeds, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander told The Yorkshire Post that the two mayors have effectively demonstrated how crucial the airport is to the region's economy. She praised the strong business case for reinstating DSA, highlighting the "really strong case for how central this airport is to the region's economy' and emphasising her commitment to ensuring the project's success. What's happened A £30m support package has been lined up to help fund the airport's return to service. The council is advancing a long‑term deal to secure the site and appoint an experienced operator to run day‑to‑day operations. Technical work to restore the airfield, security, and passenger facilities is being scoped to enable swift implementation once contracts are signed. DSA was a lifeline for South Yorkshire and the north Midlands, with sun routes to Spain, Portugal, and Cyprus, plus growing cargo potential. 'The case to reopen Doncaster Sheffield Airport is really strong,' the Transport Secretary said in an interview, adding that she 'stands ready' to make sure the project is a success. That political tailwind, combined with the funding, is exactly what the restart needed. The project is forecast to support around 5,000 jobs when fully up and running, and deliver billions in economic benefits by 2050. Reopening eases pressure on nearby hubs like Manchester, East Midlands, and Leeds Bradford, cutting long road trips for families across Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, and Lincolnshire. When could flights return? The target on the table is spring 2026. That's the earliest realistic window for passenger services to restart once the operator is in place and all sign‑offs are secured. There's a lot to do — but the runway is there, the site layout is proven, and the political will (plus cash) is now behind it. What the £30m will pay for Safety and compliance kit: Upgrading firefighting cover, security screening, and perimeter systems so the airport meets current rules. Airfield and airspace: Refreshing runway lighting, signage, and navigational aids; re‑establishing air traffic control and airspace procedures. Terminal readiness: Bringing passenger areas back into use, reinstating baggage systems, and installing modern CT scanners at security. Recruitment and training: Hiring and training specialist staff, including firefighters, ATC, security, and ops teams. Start‑up costs: Getting the airport company set up to trade and covering early operating expenses before revenue ramps up. Why DSA closed The airport, formerly RAF Finningley and later Robin Hood Airport, shut in late 2022 after owner Peel Group said it couldn't secure a sustainable future. Airlines had pulled back after the pandemic, and the business struggled to carry the costs of a long runway and large site with reduced traffic. The closure sparked a huge public campaign, with the council and regional leaders pledging to fight for a reopening under new stewardship. What's changed now The City of Doncaster Council has been working on a long-term agreement with the airport's owner to ensure its future and to bring in an experienced operator. With a £30 million commitment, the project now has the financial backing needed to transition from discussions to concrete actions. This funding will cover the necessary works and approvals that airlines and regulators require. The target date for relaunching the airport is set for spring 2026, which provides a clear focus for everyone involved. The council will announce which operator will manage daily airport services. The Civil Aviation Authority must also approve the aerodrome license, security program, and air traffic control arrangements. Airlines will need to allocate aircraft and establish schedules, with initial discussions expected to involve leisure and low-cost carriers. It's also imperative to recruit and train airport firefighters, security personnel, ground handlers, and air traffic controllers. Prior to welcoming passengers, the airport will also need to conduct calibration flights and live trials. What this means for travellers Shorter journeys: Families across South Yorkshire, North Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire could swap 90‑minute drives to Manchester for a quick hop to Doncaster. Easier parking: A mid‑size regional airport typically offers cheaper, closer parking and a simpler terminal experience. More choice: If airlines return in numbers, competition could sharpen fares on popular summer routes. But a note of realism: flight timetables won't appear overnight. Airlines publish schedules several seasons in advance, so the first public bookings will drop once launch partners are locked in and the CAA has given the green light. Jobs boost on the horizon Airport reopenings bring a ripple effect of employment - not just security and check‑in, but engineers, ground handling, catering, cleaning, retail, taxi firms, hotels, and logistics. With a full operation, the site and wider supply chain could support thousands of roles. Recruitments will phase in as launch day nears; local skills bodies are expected to link up training so candidates are ready to step in. What about the old 'Robin Hood' name? Branding will be confirmed closer to reopening. The airport traded as Doncaster Sheffield before closure, after moving away from 'Robin Hood.' Expect a name that puts the location front and centre for airlines and passengers - consistency matters when you're back on global booking systems. Airports are more than departure lounges. They're magnets for investment - logistics hubs, tech firms, aerospace, and advanced manufacturing. With the right operator and a sensible route map, DSA can become a genuine growth engine for South Yorkshire, pulling jobs and visitors into the area and giving local businesses faster access to customers across Europe.
Reuters
16 hours ago
- Reuters
Air Canada cabin staff go on strike, grounding hundreds of flights
MONTREAL, Aug 16 (Reuters) - Air Canada's ( opens new tab unionized flight attendants walked off the job early on Saturday morning after contract talks with the country's largest carrier stalled, in a move that could disrupt travel plans for more than 100,000 passengers. The union representing more than 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants confirmed the action in a social media post at around 0100 ET in the first strike by cabin crew since 1985. Attendants are currently paid when the plane is moving and the union was seeking to also be compensated for time on the ground between flights and helping passengers board. Montreal-based Air Canada, which is expected to respond quickly by locking out the workers, has said it anticipated canceling 500 flights by the end of Friday during the busy summer travel season. It expected around 100,000 people to be affected on Friday alone. Flight attendants are likely on Saturday to picket at major Canadian airports, where passengers were already trying to secure new bookings earlier in the week, as the carrier gradually wound down operations. Passenger Freddy Ramos, 24, said on Friday at Canada's largest airport in Toronto that his earlier flight was cancelled due to the labor dispute and he had been rebooked by Air Canada to a different destination. "Probably 10 minutes prior to boarding, our gate got changed and then it was cancelled and then it was delayed and then it was cancelled again," he said. Air Canada and its low-cost affiliate Air Canada Rouge normally carry about 130,000 customers a day. Air Canada is also the foreign carrier with the largest number of flights to the U.S. While the dispute has generated support from passengers on social media for the flight attendants, Canadian businesses reeling from a trade dispute with the United States urged the federal government to impose binding arbitration on both sides, which would end the strike. Air Canada has asked the minority Liberal government of Prime Minister Mark Carney to order both sides into binding arbitration although the Canadian Union of Public Employees, which represents the attendants, said it opposed the move. The Canada Labour Code gives Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu the right to ask the country's Industrial Relations Board to impose binding arbitration in the interests of protecting the economy. Hajdu has repeatedly urged the two sides, which are not bargaining, to return to the table. The union has said Air Canada offered to begin compensating flight attendants for some work that is now unpaid but only at 50% of their hourly rate. The carrier had offered a 38% increase in total compensation for flight attendants over four years, with a 25% raise in the first year, which the union said was insufficient. In a note to clients on Friday, analysts at financial services firm TD Cowen urged the carrier to "extend an olive branch to end the impasse," adding that investors are worried that any cost savings on labor are outweighed by lost earnings in the airline's most important quarter. "We think it would be best for AC to achieve labor peace," the note said. "Not budging on negotiations risks being a Pyrrhic victory."
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Daily Mail
Pilot reveals what the chime sounds REALLY mean on planes - and when you should get worried
There's often a range of noises on flights, from the seatbelt sign ding to the squeaky wheels of the food trolley. During the journey, there's also a double chime sound that usually goes unnoticed, seemingly with no reaction from anyone. But now, former commercial pilot Daniel Bubb has revealed what the different chimes mean, and when passengers should be concerned. The dings are used to help the pilots and cabin crew communicate various things throughout the flight. A double chime sound is the pilot signalling to the cabin crew that the plane has gone through 10,000 feet of altitude. Before 10,000, they are in a 'sterile cockpit', during which the pilots are entirely focused on their task without menial distractions. 'It is what we call a "critical phase of flight" because there is so much happening that it requires both pilots' full attention,' Daniel told Reader's Digest. After passing 10,000 feet and the double chime rings, cabin crew can move around more freely. 'Flight attendants can get up - unless there is sufficient turbulence to the point where the pilot has requested that they remain seated for their safety - and passengers can safely use their electronic devices,' Daniel explained. The former pilot, who served as a first officer at Air Vegas Airlines, also revealed what the single chime means. It often sounds when someone presses a button for assistance, or when the seat belt sign turns on or off. Daniel added: 'The single chime is [also] used by flight attendants to talk to each other over the phone without using the public address microphone.' It may also be used alongside an important announcement. Daniel recounted a flight when a passenger needed medical help and the crew asked if anyone on board was a doctor. 'The flight attendants used the chime and public address microphone to ask if there were any doctors onboard,' he added. Three chime sounds can be more serious, but are rare. Daniel revealed the sound signifies an 'emergency situation,' meaning the plane could be about to experience 'severe turbulence' or even needs to divert to a different airport. Luckily, he's never been required to use the signal during his time in the air. He explained that though he has flown through 'moderate to severe turbulence' before, he hasn't had to chime three times.
