Right about now, many people are looking at ticket prices as they plan to fly home for the holidays.
Even though over 90% of Americans have flown commercially, that doesn’t mean that they all know how to behave on an airplane. We’ve all seen enough videos of people freaking out on airplanes or in airports to know that common sense on a flight is, apparently, not that common!
As TikTok user and flight attendant Tomiko Dwan (@tomikodwan) knows, even the most experienced flyers can make mistakes. That’s why she’s sharing a list of things she would never do after her experience as a flight attendant. Chances are high that you’re already doing them!
What Would This Flight Attendant ‘Never Do’ As A Passenger?
In her video, which currently has over 29,000 views, Dwan lists the six things she would “never do as a passenger.”
First, she says she would not argue with a flight attendant.
“You’re not gonna win that argument,” she states.
Second, she says she would not wear any clothing that exposes her skin “to the seat, to the armrest, to the window, to the tray table.”
Third, she says she would never take her shoes off. Fourth, Dwan states she would never walk barefoot to the lavatory.
To close, Dwan says that she would never “ignore the safety demo on an airplane that I’ve never flown on.”
However, before that last point, she makes another statement that seemed to confuse viewers.
“I would never drink the coffee,” she declares.
Why Does This Flight Attendant Say You Shouldn’t Drink The Coffee During A Flight?
In a follow-up video, Dwan appears to imply that she wouldn’t drink the coffee because the pots aren’t properly cleaned.
“The next time you go on a plane, where do you think the coffee pots are getting cleaned at? Where are they washing the coffee pots out at?” she asks. “That’s all I want you to observe.”
Instead of drinking coffee on the plane, Dwan says she brings her own. But are in-flight coffee pots really that gross?
What You Should Know About In-Flight Coffee
It’s common wisdom amongst flight attendants that one should not drink the coffee on a flight.
As noted by Southern Living, numerous flight attendants have reported issues with the quality of in-flight coffee. Some claim that crews rarely clean their tanks. Others say crews clean their tanks with disinfectants that can seep into the water.
Some of these fears may be justified. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found that roughly one in eight airplanes failed water safety standards.
That said, many flight attendants and other air travel professionals also say that their tanks are clean or that they have consumed countless cups of coffee from their airplanes without issue.
What About The Other Advice?
Pieces of advice about removing clothing or wearing clothes with exposed skin can simply be chalked up to hygiene.
Many areas of the plane aren’t cleaned as often, or as thoroughly, as one might like. Wearing clothes that cover your skin, keeping your shoes, and wearing your shoes in the bathroom are all ways that one can minimize their exposure to bacteria.
Additionally, some airlines prevent passengers from going barefoot—meaning that if you try to remove your socks and shoes, you may be asked to put them back on at risk of being kicked off the plane.
@tomikodwan Things I would never do as a passenger. #flightattendantaddition
Commenters Chime In
In the comments section, users shared their thoughts on Dwan’s advice—both its content and the fact it was necessary to share in the first place.
“All of these make perfect sense, but let me just say that having drinkable coffee isn’t too much to expect, and that’s really a shame,” wrote a user.
“Sadly too many flight attendants are on complete power trips and don’t care because they know they’ll get away with it,” said another.
“Yes to all of that. And I bring Lysol wipes for every part of my seat and tray even in business class,” stated a third.
We’ve reached out to Dwan via email and TikTok DM.