Flight Attendants: Please Don't Touch Us!

Flight attendants, like Michelle Montez with two decades of experience, report that unwanted physical contact from passengers is an almost daily occurrence. This includes being tapped, poked, or even pinched, which many industry professionals consider a violation. The "Jumpseat Chronicles Podcast" hosts shared that this is a widespread complaint across airlines.

To address this, some flight attendants use visual aids such as patches or aprons to politely ask passengers not to touch them. The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA suggests that close quarters and disrupted routines on planes might contribute to passengers engaging in such behavior. They advocate for passengers to use their voices or gestures to get attention instead of physical contact.

Incidents of touching extend to more serious issues, with a 2018 survey revealing 18% of flight attendants experienced sexual harassment from passengers. While measures have been taken, including legal changes and increased fines, cases of unruly passengers, including assaults, remain elevated compared to 2019 levels. Flight attendants are trained to de-escalate situations, sometimes using humor or direct communication to set expectations.