Unwritten Rules Every Flight Attendant Should Know

0:35SPEAKER_00:We talk about how bad passengers are sometimes, and we're just as guilty of doing these insane things. Popped up and she said, And you do that too. Whoever brought in flight 963, here's your topper, you bitch.

0:55SPEAKER_02:Telling stories of our time in the sky. On board, we're leaving the cake. It's time for two guys on a plane.

1:05SPEAKER_00:There is nothing worse than getting on a new aircraft only to find the galley has been left an absolute disaster by your previous crew. We spend a lot of time on this show talking about passenger etiquette and all the things they do wrong. So today we want to talk a little bit about flight attendant etiquette. If you've never worked on an airplane, the galley probably just looks like a tiny little kitchen to you and maybe doesn't mean much. But for flight attendants, it's our kitchen, office, break room, storage closet, and sometimes our only little corner of sanity on the aircraft.

1:35SPEAKER_00:It is my whole world. It's our whole world. And there are definitely some unwritten rules about how you behave back there. Whether or not everybody follows these rules, well, now that's one thing. But we're always we always promise to speak the truth on this show. So here we are, truth telling once again. But before we get into it, Andrew, how's flying been going lately for you?

1:56SPEAKER_01:Uh flying has been good. Um, I have been I chose to fly low this month, so my sanity is a hundred percent intact at the moment, which is, I mean, obviously good for everyone. Um, but what's funny is that we were talking about this on but like before boarding one day because apparently I had missed a conversation between two coworkers that were flying together where one of them had mentioned to the other one that their pet peeve was wet galley counters.

2:25SPEAKER_01:And so I like they flew together the day before where they learned this big pet peeve about each other, and they were telling me about it, and I was like, Oh yeah, that's a big pet peeve. Like, I hate putting my elbows down or like getting coffee on like the shirt that rubs the galley because you forgot to wipe it down. And now you have a line of coffee right here. So then somehow I got brought into this conversation. I didn't, I just offered my opinion.

2:48SPEAKER_01:I didn't get brought into it, I just offered my opinion. I inserted myself, yeah. But I was like, oh, you know what gets on my nerves? I was like, is when people don't like close and close the door and latch it properly and put the latches down. And the one coworker said up. She po we were in a break time doing this, so she was like laying across the seats. She popped up and she said, And you do that too. The truth comes out. Well, not me. She was talking to the other co-worker that we were there that was having the conversation with us.

3:21SPEAKER_01:And I mean, it was just really funny because I mean, she didn't mean to, she didn't know if she did it. You know, sometimes people just do it, but I wasn't even talking about her because I didn't know she did it. I was talking about another coworker that really bothers me that they don't like put the latches back down when they walk away from galley carts. But it was funny, she popped up out of nowhere and was like, Can you do that too?

3:41SPEAKER_00:I think that just further proves my point, though, is so many people are annoyed by all these little tiny behaviors, and no one talks about it. No one really not that big of a deal, or worse, somebody bitches on Facebook and is like, Whoever brought in flight 963, here's your topper, you bitch.

3:59SPEAKER_01:And it's like, what like petty, like just it's so funny, but it's it's what what I realized that day is it's really funny to me what people actually like get irritated over, and then other people are just oblivious to it completely. Well, and like no one means harm to anyone, but it's like such a the wet counter is such a big deal to me.

4:23SPEAKER_00:Yeah, that's that kills me about this topic in particular, though, because you've got those things where it's like everybody has the one thing, one thing, and you'll get on a plane and it's like, oh, I'm really annoyed that someone's hoarding ice mallets over here. Why are there 16 of them? Like, I don't need them.

4:41SPEAKER_01:Why do we hoard?

4:42SPEAKER_00:And then some people get annoyed because you know, we never have ice scoops, so they save them all and put them over here, but then someone else is pissed off by that. Like, everybody has all these little galley behaviors, and some of them contradict each other and piss each other off, and some of them are actually useful.

4:59SPEAKER_01:I okay, I just really need to know who decided that we needed to hoard hand soap though, because I have never pump of hand soap of hand soap. Um, I've worked for two airlines, never even run out of people. That's my point. But you open up the supply atlas and there are 76 bottles of hand soap up there. I have never been in a situation where I've ever even needed to replace the hand soap mid-flight. Why do we have 76 loose bottles of soap up in the supply atlas?

5:34SPEAKER_00:I think the bigger question, I think the bigger question is why haven't we had to replace them? Because y'all are nasty and y'all are not washing your hands.

5:44SPEAKER_01:Good lord, you nasty. And if you are gonna put that many, put them in a sick sack so they leak into the bag and not all over the supply atlas. Okay, how's your flying bed? It's great compared to yours. No, I had to be. No, I had good flying. That wasn't even that was just a weird conversation I had on a plane that happened to be about what we were talking about today.

6:07SPEAKER_00:It's honestly been okay. I've had a few delays recently. Uh, the other day I had this super delayed flight, one of those ones where eventually everybody gets rebooked, and so you only end up with like 20.

6:18SPEAKER_01:You were in Houston.

6:18SPEAKER_00:Yeah, well, I'm it's always Houston. Whenever something goes wrong, Houston was involved. Houston, you are the problem. Um, so we had 20 passengers on board.

6:28SPEAKER_01:Unless you're part of the wolf pack, and you would never be our problem. Keep going. I don't know what you're saying. There's a AFA council that calls themselves the Wolf Packed in Houston that I really love.

6:39SPEAKER_00:We are not the I do, uh yeah, I do love some Houston gals. They're good people, but as an operation, you're not great. Um, anyways, back to my story. I had this one passenger in the exit row and I go to brief him, and he's looking real nervous. And I'm like, this might just move this one guy out of the exit row because you look like a nervous, anxious mess for what reason. And um, I brief him and he's yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm willing and able. And he goes, Can I ask you something?

7:09SPEAKER_00:And I was like, Yeah, and he goes, What's going on? And I was like, Holy shit, like what is happening? Are you okay? Like he looked like he was on the verge of a mental breakdown and I said, uh, nothing that I'm aware of. Like, what are you talking about, sir? Tuesday, sir. And so he's like, There's no one on this plane. And I was like, Yeah, like most people are really happy when that happens because you have a whole freaking road of yourself and you can now take a three-hour nap.

7:36SPEAKER_00:And he's like, Is there something they're not telling us?

7:40SPEAKER_01:Yeah, there's a maid on the wing.

7:44SPEAKER_00:Colonial woman. Colonial woman on the wing on the plane. Are you okay? No, you know I don't watch movies like that. So, anyways, back to my story. Talking to this guy, and he's like really stressed out, and I was like, No, there's nothing wrong. Why? And he's like, Well, there's no one on the plane, and he's like, Is there something that they're not telling us? And I was like, not that I'm aware of, like, can you give me more of a hint of like what you're referring to?

8:10SPEAKER_00:And he's like, Well, I didn't know if like people knew about something that I didn't know. And I'm starting to get the picture here, and he's paranoid that everyone like went to the same psychic fortune teller, and she was like, Don't get on that flight, doesn't have a phalange, speaking of other airplane references, and he's like, I'm just really worried that like maybe there's something I don't know. And I was like, I promise you, like, your crew and your pilots and everybody wouldn't be on board if we thought something unsafe was happening.

8:40SPEAKER_00:It's strictly like a delay situation, and they just rebooked everybody. And he's like, and there were no other people we could take. And I was like, Do you sir? Do you want this plane to be full? Like, I don't understand what you're mad about. And he's like, No, I just think it's weird. And I was like, nothing weird happening. Please enjoy the flight. Leave us alone.

8:58SPEAKER_01:Like you didn't want to be rebooked, but you're going to be now because I can't keep doing this with you.

9:04SPEAKER_00:It just goes to show that you know, whether it's a full flight or an empty flight, somebody's gotta be a problem. Someone, someone's gotta be a problem, someone, and that always cracks me up. But, anyways, I want to get into the episode for today, the unwritten rules of galley of the galley. Of the galley. Flight attendant etiquette. But before we do that, I want to take a brief moment because we haven't done this yet. And I really, really, really want to say thank you to the senior mamas of our galley gang.

9:33SPEAKER_00:So, for those of you that are not familiar, we have a Patreon community with behind the scenes content, bonus footage. We're gonna do some bloopers soon because we've been blooping. Um, and there's not that, not us, and there's exclusive merch um, you know, for our galley gang members and our senior mamas. You can also be a new hire where that's just a dollar a month and it's general support for our show because the show does cost money and we couldn't do it without you.

9:59SPEAKER_00:But we wanted to give a shout-out to our top tier on Patreon, which is our senior mamas, and truly you folks keep us flying. And we couldn't do this show without you, and we're so grateful for the support. So, a shout out to Carrie H, uh, Kate C, Michelle A, Pup A, Michaela, Diane D, Jim M, Brandon F, Judy M, Anna P, Lexi, and the Crab. The Crab. Love that name. Obviously, they don't always share their real personal details with us, and we totally understand that.

10:33SPEAKER_00:But we wanted to give you guys a special shout out because your support truly keeps this show flying. Um, and a fun thing that we're doing for the senior mamas is we're sending postcards from random destinations. And again, we haven't done that yet either, but they're coming soon from a very random destination, and I'm excited to share that all with you, so keep an eye on your mailboxes. Um, but if you want, go join Patreon at patreon.com slash two guys on a plane for more behind-the-scenes content, exclusive merch, and thank you for supporting our show.

11:02SPEAKER_00:Yeah, but now let's get into it, Andrew. What are the unwritten rules of the galley?

11:07SPEAKER_01:Oh, there's so many, but I'm gonna start with wipe your galley counters down because I already told you that that was one of my pet peeves.

11:14SPEAKER_00:And that's why I made the list. Because why are the galleys always so sticky and dirty? Does no one just wipe it? Why wouldn't you wipe it down when you're done? Or like you spilled half a cup of water on it, wipe it off so my elbow doesn't run. Well, that's the thing, it's like you leave work at the end of the day and you're like, what's this stain from? What's this bruise from? Why do I have coffee here? I didn't even drink a coffee. Like the the mysteries of the galley might have to be a whole nother episode.

11:43SPEAKER_01:If I'm working like a galley position where I'm the one in charge of like setting up or tearing down, I always start with wiping the galley down. Um, and then I pull everything out and I set the things up and I need to get it. And then when we're done with it, we like wipe the galley down again so that like the you know, ice water, water that you know, there's just liquid that gets on your galley counter is not there. So when people don't have like mid-stomach lines of soda on their uniforms, those white, white uniforms that they want us to wear, right?

12:16SPEAKER_00:Because for some reason I keep thinking white's a good idea. Dirtiest place in the world is an airplane, but sure, let's all wear white. That is fair. Um, no, I'm fully with you. The next one we have is restock the topper. Um, this for me just feels like common sense. And for those of you who don't know, mom, if you're listening, the topper we usually refer to is the cart topper, and that's what we usually set up and put on top of the beverage cart.

12:44SPEAKER_00:So that we'll have things like juice and water and coffee and cream and sugar cups, all the all the random things, napkins that we need for the service. And for the most part, this is debatable, there's like a general structure to it of how it's set up. So I think at the bare minimum, when you're done with your service, whether you're using it again or someone else is using it again, just restock it. It only takes a few minutes to put a couple extra things back in place, and then the next crew that's coming out of the plane has a topper to use, and that's one less thing they have to do to set up the galley.

13:19SPEAKER_00:It's super easy to do, even if there's turbulence and you don't have time before landing. What are you doing during deplaning? Staring at your phone, calling a van, you know, whatever the case may be. Just shove a few extra creams and sugars in there and call it a day. Take out the dirty, you know, dirty things. Like it's it's super simple.

13:37SPEAKER_01:I just always restock it because I um we can debate it all you want, but I am of the mindset that the toppers should just be slid out and slid on. Like you shouldn't have to do any work to it when it's time to do service. I don't rearrange them, I don't do anything. I whatever you left it is how I'm using it. Unless it's an absolute just mangled mess. And it normally is because no one restocks it. No one restocks. I'm like a pull out and put on. I don't I don't do anything to it.

14:07SPEAKER_01:So if you restocked it, that means I just have to slide it out and go. Yeah.

14:11SPEAKER_00:Versus like I shouldn't have to do a ton of extra work here. Correct. Um, except maybe throw some extra cups on. Like that's kind of it. That should be it.

14:20SPEAKER_01:The problem that most people don't restock it is because most people just tear it apart and rearrange it every flight. And I'm like, why why are you doing why are you doing all that extra work? Don't try to reinvent the wheel. Like, what are you doing? So many people try to reinvent the wheel when it comes to the topper, and I do not understand. The only exception cups, sugar, tea, and water. What else do you do up there?

14:44SPEAKER_00:The only exception I have to this rule is if you run out of stuff. Sometimes you don't get enough whatever from catering, and you work in a flight to San Juan and all the cream and sugar is gone. Like things like that, okay, fine. Maybe you didn't restock it that day because you didn't have anything to physically restock it with. But that's kind of my only grace that I'll I'll allow.

15:06SPEAKER_01:You know what Andrew will debate over the galley? Maybe it's on this list and we'll get to it again.

15:11SPEAKER_00:It probably is.

15:12SPEAKER_01:Let's wait. Okay. What's next? Uh respect to the downline supplies. Um this is a tough one. Um, because you you have to be cognizant of the fact that um the cart is catered for a round trip or the airplane is catered for a round trip. It doesn't always go to a catering base. Right. You have to be cognizant of the fact that supplies are put on there for both flights.

15:40SPEAKER_00:And some airlines it might even be like once a day that you're getting fired.

15:46SPEAKER_01:Yeah.

15:46SPEAKER_00:Like you just never know. Yeah. So to use everything is just rude and disrespectful.

15:52SPEAKER_01:Yes. But also at some point, I mean, particularly if you're on one of those airlines that caters once a day, at some point you have to say we're out of stuff.

16:02SPEAKER_00:Exactly. Well, and it's the same at the ones that, you know, where you have downline situations or whatever. Because so many of our crew members have a hard time saying no, and I'm like, yes. We don't go cater the supplies, just you say no. You don't you don't ruin someone else's day by doing this.

16:18SPEAKER_01:Each flight has a certain amount of I mean, most airlines, each flight has a certain amount of things. There are a certain amount of meals for this flight, there's a certain amount of like buy-on-board product for this one flight, and it's kind of it's kind of assumed that once you're out, you're out. You don't you don't dip into the right the next cart for food. Um I though, I am the shark, I'm such an easy flighter tonight. I don't know why people don't love flying with me.

16:46SPEAKER_01:I feel like if it's not on my side of the cart, we don't have it on the airplane. I don't really hunt for it, I don't ask the other person for it. I'm like, hmm, I went through the Dr. Pepper today. We're out, so sorry.

16:56SPEAKER_00:Yeah, no, that's a good point. I just I have to stop for a second and say that it's really funny hearing you say that you're the easiest flight attendant to work with. Because I was on one of your flights recently. And the captain literally made an announcement that one of the flight attendants on board is not that great. His name is Andrew.

17:17SPEAKER_01:And all of a sudden, No, let me tell you, this is an inside joke between most of the pilots that I fly with on a regular basis because they get on the PA and they're like, we have five fantastic flight attendants. And I'm like, uh, can you just give one of us room for error? Like, you have four good flight attendants and one mediocre one. Like, someone's probably having a bad day. Don't set expectations that we're all gonna be great at this all day long.

17:39SPEAKER_00:This is giving like four out of five dentists recommends. Correct. A hundred percent You're the fifth dentist.

17:45SPEAKER_01:I'm the fifth dentist. I don't wanna, I mean, I I am good at my job, but I don't want you telling everyone I'm great at it just in case I happen to be off that day.

17:53SPEAKER_00:Yeah, I was cracking up because if a pilot did that to me, I would have been, I would have lost it. Because I'd be like, first of all, you don't even know my name without looking at the crew list. You do not know my name. Don't pretend that you do.

18:04SPEAKER_01:Um, and second of all, mind your business. No, he knows my name, and I've yelled at him a few times about saying they're five fantasy flight attendants on this airplane.

18:13SPEAKER_00:That's it, that is such a pet peeve of mine, though, because I'm like, first of all, you don't know me, and second of all, don't make promises you can't keep. Because they love to be like, and they'll take great care of you. And if you need anything, don't hesitate, hesitate, like, hesitate a little bit. Because these pilots are not the ones dealing with that. Like, that's what kills me is they're putting the work on us to do that. So it's like now when someone asks me something, I'm sliding out under the flight deck door, and I'm like, 35C wants a diet coke.

18:40SPEAKER_00:Come on back and get it for them.

18:42SPEAKER_01:Oh, I call them and I hand them the phone. And the pilots make an announcement, they're like, if there's anything we can do to make your flight more enjoyable, please let us know. Let you know you you want to be in the note. Cool, cool. Come with me. Let's see.

18:52SPEAKER_00:You're your bathroom breaks take what 10 minutes, maybe. You could probably get a beverage service done in that time. So why don't we just swap seats for a few minutes? You hop on the cart and take care of things. I'll keep an eye on the flight deck.

19:05SPEAKER_01:I make a list of complaints and I'm like, you need to go see 3C, 4D, 5A, and 16B. Right. They all have problems you can solve.

19:15SPEAKER_00:I love that. Uh next we have throw your trash away. Um, yeah, I don't know how many times I've like opened up a random galley counter or compartment, like the ones that catering doesn't go in and out of usually. And it's like there's like a sandwich wrapper or there's an old coffee cup, and it's like there I get why you use the compartment for that. Like there was turbulence, you wanted to put it away for landing or whatever the case may be, but like clean up after yourself.

19:42SPEAKER_00:That kills me. Like it feels so juvenile, but the amount of times I've just like found wrappers, like one time I stoopedly opened the jump seat and sat down without looking, and there was like a melted like protein bar stuck to the jump seat, and I was like, We talk about how bad passengers are sometimes, and we're just as guilty of doing these insane things.

20:05SPEAKER_01:And I'm a hundred percent certain every airline has it, but I like to call it the junk drawer. It's the cabinet that like trashes and gloves and like everything that just it's in the junk drawer. Every airline has a junk drawer, but like it doesn't have to look like junk, just keep it organized. Like seafolds go here, gloves go here, trash bags go here, Kleenexes go here. Like it should all be accessible within the junk drawer, but you just throw all the stuff in there, and then I have to pull it all out and reorganize it, and it really irritates me.

20:40SPEAKER_01:What is a seafold? Oh, the paper towels, and they call them seafolds because they fit into each other like C's, so they pull each other out.

20:48SPEAKER_02:Huh.

20:50SPEAKER_01:Mom, if you're listening, or any other flight attendant listening like me who had no idea that that's what that was called. Yeah, they fold into each other like C's, and then you pull one and it pulls the cells.

21:00SPEAKER_00:No, I get the concept, but do you not just call them paper towels? No, we call them seafolds. Fascinating.

21:07SPEAKER_01:I probably just outed my airline, but I'm gonna start non-riving on airlines and being like, what you call these?

21:15SPEAKER_00:I'm usually really good at this. I thought we all called them yes. Um, no, but that's funny. But I I'm with you on that. Like the hoarding of supplies isn't insane sometimes, but also catering screws up sometimes and things are missing. So I understand the hoarding to some degree, although I do think most of the times it's excessive because I'm with you, like you said earlier. We don't have it, we don't have it. Like it is what it is. They didn't put it on the plane today, so at least organized it.

22:35SPEAKER_01:Yes.

22:35SPEAKER_00:Like I've opened there, like on the back of some uh the Airbus compartments, there's like a side little thing, like door, and there's just like like ice mallets. And I get saving maybe one, but I've opened it and there's been like six, and I'm like, what but if that compartment is filled with ice mallets, where am I gonna put my lunch bag? Right, like all these things, just what was this tip? Throw your trash away. Yeah, there you go. Throw your trash away.

23:05SPEAKER_01:Uh the next tip we have is get out of the way.

23:09SPEAKER_00:Um, yeah. Flight attendants love to stand around a chit chat and whatever. Like the galley's a great place for that, but sometimes you are in the way.

23:17SPEAKER_01:Yes, and also I love pe the I love that the tiniest flight attendants on the airplane take up the most space because they have no idea, like that they have positions. Oh my god, where they're just a way to no one can. Oh, it drives me more than a lot of things. Why is that so true?

23:33SPEAKER_00:It's always the tiniest one. The littlest flight attendant takes up the most space in the galley, always. Meanwhile, I'm giant. I'm like hugging the door, trying to be out of the way because I see the galley person is trying to do something. But yeah, no, it kills me. Like, I just don't we talk about like situational awareness all the time in this industry. And then you got a flight attendant in a galley with no idea. Like, you don't feel me moving towards you.

23:58SPEAKER_01:Or the person who's standing right in front of the bathroom, and then people are trying to get around them, and instead of like moving out of the way, they like turn their shoulder. You did not make room for that 300-pound man to get to the bathroom. Move. No, it's so funny to me.

24:12SPEAKER_00:I and sometimes it makes sense, but there are other times where like it's boarding, and there's that one flight attendant wants to hide in the galley. I'm in the back setting up the cart. I'm doing something and I need the space. I'm turning the cart around, I'm pulling this cart out to get the other things in the back side. I need all of the space that's here. So you standing there, I need you to just have some sort of sense of like, huh, I wonder if I'm in the way.

24:37SPEAKER_00:Or perhaps I can say, is there something I can help you with?

24:42SPEAKER_01:If I'm working in the back of the airplane, I'm definitely not working a galley position, and I'm a hundred percent in the way. So you just need to move me in the future. And this is why it continues to be a blessing that we don't fly together. I work like six rows, and once those rows are full, I'm like, Ma, there's no space for me. I obviously have to go stand in the galley now.

25:06SPEAKER_00:Oh, get out. No, I will say if I am working galley, I am usually cognizant of that that the other flight attendants are eventually gonna find their way back here. I'm gonna get all the like big space stuff out of the way first so that there's space for you. But it's again that like just awareness. Get out of the way and make make yourself useful when you can be.

25:28SPEAKER_01:Yes. Um, the next piece of advice I don't really adhere to, but it's pitch in when uh pitch in uh even when it's not your job.

25:36SPEAKER_00:You don't, because you were varied by the book, and if the rules say this one thing is this one person's job, then it's that person's job. Yeah. Uh I pitch in. I really do. I was joking. No, I know you are. But and I understand that to a degree because there's some where if things weren't pre- some folks where if things weren't pre-written the way they are, they would abuse that and they wouldn't do anything. Wouldn't do anything. So there in some cases it's really helpful to have that because you're like, well, actually, it's position you that does this task.

26:05SPEAKER_00:So go do it.

26:06SPEAKER_01:I actually struggle with this because I worked on a single flight attendant aircraft where I did everything, and I literally have to remind myself that it's someone else's job because I'm like, get out of my way, I can do it. Right. And I just want to do the job and let just be done with it. And I have to like really mentally like step back and remember that it is in fact someone else's job to do these things. So I'm 50-50 on this one. Sometimes I'm I'm yeah, pitching in and doing everything because it logically makes sense for me to help you here, and then other times I'm like, no, that's your job.

26:37SPEAKER_01:Right, you do your job today.

26:39SPEAKER_00:Well, that's the funny thing about being a flight attendant, too, is with this particular like situation, I think we're all kind of the same in that if I sense that you're lazy and you're trying not to do something, this is your job, go do it. Correct. But if you're new or if you seem overworked, or you're the one getting hit with most of the problems on board or whatever, like it's a partnership, it's a team thing. We should be helping each other.

27:09SPEAKER_00:And of course, I'm gonna help you break down the card or set things up or do this or do that. But like if I feel like you're abusing that I want to be helpful, I'm done. I'm out.

27:17SPEAKER_01:Because you know what I find other flight at me as a flight attendant and most other flight attendants also hate to do is have to ask you for help. Like, I'm being hit, there's all kinds of things, I'm trying to handle them. I want you to recognize that that's going on, and I want you to be like, chip in and help lighten my load, but I don't have to call to the back of the airplane and be like, can someone come up here and work other than me? Right.

27:41SPEAKER_01:Thanks.

27:41SPEAKER_00:Yeah, I mean, I remember one time literally just like in this exact scenario and just throwing a trash bag at this flight attendant being like, your turn. Like, I'm tired of it. Like, I mean, we should all be working. So pitch in when you can.

27:58SPEAKER_01:I had one day where everyone was in the back of the galley and I finally stopped boarding, and I was like, anyone can come up, but someone else has to be up here with me. We'll resume boarding when you all can wrap paper scissors that out for me.

28:10SPEAKER_00:Uh, next up is answer that call bell. And this is kind of a more general or a specific term, but for a more general thing, because there's nothing worse than working a busy flight. And like I just said, there's that one flight attendant who's sitting around and they're not doing anything. I mean, there's trash to be picked up, there's call bells, there's people coming to the galley asking for stuff, the bathroom's out of hand soap. You just never know.

28:35SPEAKER_00:There's a thousand things going on, and then you got that one flight attendant who's like, Wow, y'all seem busy. And she's just sitting there drinking her coffee and she's like, Wow, girl, get up, do something. Like it this job should be really easy. It should be.

28:52SPEAKER_01:I'm not an avoider when it comes to call bells, but I don't really love going to get them, so I kind of wait to see if somebody else will do it first.

29:01SPEAKER_00:I'm sorry. I'm gonna stop you right there and call back to an earlier episode of this show that has been highly debated. Yeah, yeah. You should use it. I don't like going and doing it. Uh-uh. No, you do not get to have both of these opinions. For those of you who might have missed this, let's do a quick. Bringing the audience in. Let's have a quick recap. There was an episode where we talked about the call bell. And would you prefer that passengers come to the galley and ask for a drink or whatever?

29:33SPEAKER_00:Or would you prefer that they use the call bell? I prefer that they use the call. Andrew said call bell. That they that's factual information.

29:41SPEAKER_01:I but you're not willing to go get said call bell. Damn, I'm just not the first to jump out of my seat. I'm gonna wait to see if somebody else will do it first because some people love to answer call bells. Some people really enjoy it. And I'm gonna wait to see if you do it first.

30:00SPEAKER_00:Man, my therapist is gonna be in for it this week when I tell him what's going on here. We got things to talk about, sir.

30:09SPEAKER_02:I love them.

30:12SPEAKER_00:Uh next up, put things back where you found them. Some of these, I'm not gonna lie, I feel a little preschool-ish, but also I kind of agree.

30:24SPEAKER_01:Um, this one I I want I want to agree with. Okay. I do. Because I do, but not put things back where you found them because flight attendants move things around the airplane. Okay. Put the thing back where you know it belongs. Because everything on our airplane and everything in our galley has a home. And because you liked the water up here in this atlas doesn't mean that that's where it belongs. So, like, do that for your day or your flight, but then put the shit back so that I walk on to the plane that I'm supposed to walk on to that my manual says I'm supposed to have.

30:59SPEAKER_01:Right. Well, and then because I hate hunting for things because everything has a home, and I should be able to open this door and pull out this drawer and find exactly what I need. Right.

31:09SPEAKER_00:And I think a lack of consistency is such a massive issue in our industry. Exactly.

31:15SPEAKER_01:And that's the thing, it's like catering brings it all in, packed the exact same way, and then you unpacked it and moved. I think that alone is debatable.

31:23SPEAKER_00:Catering sometimes beyond one, and they just do whatever they want. Fair. Yeah, no, but I'm I'm with you. Put it back where it belongs. For me, I read this as like put things back where you found them because what what's funny is I keep talking like I work galley a lot. I really don't because this shit drives me crazy. But I hate when you're working galley, you're super organized, you're on top of things, you're cleaning up, you're doing whatever, service is wrapped, you're putting everything away.

31:49SPEAKER_00:Some fight attendant comes up, unlatches the cart, opens the cart door, pulls something out, gets something, leaves whatever it is on the counter, leaves the cart unlatched, leaves the like lock unlatched, and then just leaves. Like I just spent 20 minutes cleaning up this galley and buttoning everything up. If you come back and grab something, like put it away, put it back. Like I just it's it's just crazy to me. I'm like, just throw your shit away.

32:20SPEAKER_01:Yeah. Agreed. It's the most infuriating thing. I've lost my junk over this. One issue. Yeah.

32:34SPEAKER_00:Tell me more. Tell us the time.

32:37SPEAKER_01:No, I mean you're looking for something and it's not there. Then you have to open the whole galley. You have to pull out the back atlases, the back atlases to find the one thing that you were looking for, and you're like nothing is supposed to be in this atlas. Why did I have to tear this whole galley apart to find a cold cut?

32:55SPEAKER_00:Yeah. And what pisses me off even more, this is like an addendum, is when the galley person doesn't know. Like you come back and you think, oh, the Diet Coke is in this drawer in this cart, and you open it and you're like, oh, that's orange juice. Weird. Okay. And then you're like, hey, where's the Diet Coke? And they're like, hmm, that's a good question.

33:18SPEAKER_01:Okay, but why are you asking where the Diet Coke is in the first place? Because it wasn't where it was supposed to be. Okay, that's fair. But I love those fight agentists who walk back and they're like, where's the Doctor?

33:29SPEAKER_00:We'll get to your point in a minute. Let me finish my point. You finish. Like, I'm annoyed because it's that the things, like you said, are not where they're supposed to be. And so now I have to ask, but then you don't know if you're gonna be the weird galley person who puts things back in all the crazy places. At least tell me where you know where you put it. Like, and and that's the only reason sometimes I'll ask and be like, where did the water run off to these days?

33:55SPEAKER_00:You know? I have looked where the water belongs before I asked that question. Same. And then they'll be like, What are you looking for? And I'm like, the water, which is usually in this cart right here down at the bottom. I'm like, oh yeah, I moved that. Can you tell me where? Where? Oh, I don't remember. But why didn't you move? To your point, I I do get annoyed of the flight attendants that show up and they're napkins have been in the same compartment for the whole time.

34:19SPEAKER_00:I need a plastic cup. Where do we keep those, Janet?

34:24SPEAKER_01:Where's the sprite? I don't know why I'm mad at Janet. The sprite has always been in. Yeah. What's next? Um be a good jump seater. Um, this one is difficult to do that. Jump seat could be a whole nother episode, honestly. And we should probably do one at some point. But if you are on the extra jump seat, be a good jump seater. Um, and I think that first part of being a good jump seater is talking to the crew that you're working with about how they want you to handle yourself during service or when they're busy and prepping.

35:01SPEAKER_01:Um, it's a very tight space, and sometimes you need to walk out and sit in the mid-cabin jump seat for a few minutes um so that five flight attendants can get in that one little big galley.

35:13SPEAKER_00:And then maybe while they're out in the aisle, you can go hide in the galley so sit in front of passengers. And then maybe at the end you go back to that seat, like whatever the case may be. But I think you're spot on and like communicate that with the crew and be aware of your position. Yeah. And say what's best for you guys? Yeah. Do you want me to help? Do you want me to run things back here? Do you want me to go sit out there and leave you alone?

35:34SPEAKER_00:Do you want me to hide in a lab?

35:36SPEAKER_01:Like, and I think a lot of people when they're on a jump seat that they're a passenger, and you are you are riding as a passenger, but you also have to be cognizant of the fact that you are an employee. And if you choose to jump seat in your uniform, then you have to ask questions and help and you know play a role. We are riding for free, and you are riding on that jump seat for free, and there is just a level of professionalism and work that you still have to do while you're on that jump seat.

36:07SPEAKER_00:Yeah. I remember I had this jump seater one time, I don't remember where we were going, but we were on a 7-3, and there's nowhere to hide none on that plane. No, the jump seater can't go anywhere, but you can kind of tuck yourself into a corner and try to settle the way as best as possible. But she like puts on noise-canceling headphones, pulls out her iPad, and just kind of puts her feet up. And I'm like, move.

36:36SPEAKER_01:You're not working crew, so you have, but you also have to remember that there are working crew there.

36:42SPEAKER_00:I'm like, I don't mind if you want to like chill and relax and whatever, but if I need you to move out of the way, move out of the way. And yeah, I need you to be aware of that before I'm annoyed at you. Yeah. You know, like I need you to understand you shouldn't have jumped up and been like, let me stand over by the labs for a second while you get the cart, or whatever the case is.

36:59SPEAKER_01:And I think that's where the weird part of jump seating comes in. And the how you be a good jump seater is to communicate with the working crew because you're not, but people are gonna see you in a uniform or see you on a jump seat and they're gonna make assumptions. And so, how do we navigate that together so that you're not stepping on the working crew's toes? Yeah, it's all communication.

37:18SPEAKER_00:No, I think I think that's spot on, especially given how many little differences there are about jump seating airline to airline, aircraft to aircraft. The bottom line is how are you approaching it with the crew? Yeah, I love that. Um, and the last on our list is leave the galley better than you found it. If you're in first class and there's no downline catering, maybe swap out dirty glasses for a fresh one so the inbound crew doesn't have to deal with that.

37:45SPEAKER_00:Empty the trash, etc. If you're working in the back, restock a few things so the crew has an easier time setting up service for the next flight, but don't go crazy because everybody does things differently. Um, yeah, I think just in general, like try to leave the galley the way you found it. That's really the best bet. Leave them a cart that's like untouched, you didn't mess with their downline, or you know, pull supplies forward, if you know, reconsolidate some of the drawers you might have messed up or used just to make things easier for them.

38:16SPEAKER_00:Like it's all about the little things. I think they that goes such a long way. Like for me, when I'm walking on a plane, especially if you've had a long day, you've had aircraft stops, whatever. If I there's half the things already done for me, like it just makes my life so much easier. Yeah.

38:31SPEAKER_01:I'm a weird one with this because I feel like so many people try to restock the galley and leave it like it was. But I also don't need a drawer that's filled with tonic water. So like don't fill the drawer just because you think the drawer needs to be full. Like fill it up where it makes sense. Right. But like if you if you went into another drawer to use things, you don't have to like No, that's true. Yeah. Build me a drawer of Right.

39:02SPEAKER_00:I'm not trying to create unnecessary work for you. But you know, if you use one Coke out of a drawer and you can replace it, replace it. And then there's a full drawer, and then maybe they want that. I don't know. Like little things.

39:15SPEAKER_01:Heard, but you don't have to build me a drawer of tonic water just because you you used a drawer of soda. Who wants a drawer of tonic water? Uh uh based on my work experience, a lot of flight attendants do.

39:27SPEAKER_00:Weird. I know. They drinking gin on the job too. I don't know, might make them friendlier. Um basically, wait- did we miss anything? Uh, I don't think so. You guys will have to let us know. Text us, there's a fan mail link in the show notes or leave a comment depending on what platform you're on. Hopefully, YouTube, because it's fun over there. Um, and you can see our faces. Um, but yeah, let us know if we missed anything. Any like galley pet peeves or galley etiquette things you think we missed, let us know in the comments.

39:57SPEAKER_00:Yeah.

39:58SPEAKER_01:Uh, because I'm sure there's a whole nother episode we could do here. But basically, galley etiquette comes down to three things clean up after yourself, uh, don't get in the way, and remember that you're sharing a workspace the size of a closet with several other people. And if there's leftover foods uh of some kind, snacks, etc., always let the new hire pick first. Um, they don't have any money.

40:21SPEAKER_00:I like that because it's true. Other snacks? New hire, did you eat? Right. When's the last time you wait? When's the last time you had a real meal? Suddenly I'm an Italian grandma, and I'm like, let me make you let me make you a plate. You are. I could see that. I know. I you know, I it's a hard time being there. Um, but yeah, we appreciate that galley etiquette so much and let us know what we miss in the comments. And make sure to join us on Patreon to be part of our official galley gang, where you'll get behind the scenes content, exclusive merch, and all sorts of other fun stuff available.

40:56SPEAKER_00:Plus, you support our show, and we're super appreciative of that. So go to patreon.com slash two guys on a plane to join the galley gang. Before we go, should we do some galley gossip?

41:08SPEAKER_01:Always. I love a bit of gossip. Same.

41:10SPEAKER_00:It's my favorite part of being in the galley. I know. You're nosy and you just want to know all the things. So, for those of you that don't know, galley gossip is one of our favorite segments. It's where we share stories from the audience, whether it's a humorous moment or a heartfelt story. We love to hear from you guys about what's happening out there on airplanes and in airports and all the crazy things that are happening in between. We love to hear your stories.

41:40SPEAKER_00:So I'm going to read our first or our story for today to Andrew. And he is not. I don't know who I said first like we're gonna do a bunch. Um today. Rich reads them blind to me. I haven't heard Andrew hasn't heard it. And we'll see, we'll see how it goes. Um, so this flight is from Phoenix to Miami. Anytime Miami's involved, my heart sinks a little. Um, so she says.

42:08SPEAKER_01:I just had to stop my eye from twitching.

42:10SPEAKER_00:She says, one time I, not a flight attendant, was upgraded. Hooray! Hey! I got the bulkhead. The man behind me must have been on his way to winning the world's tallest man contest, though. I don't know if he had extra joints or how he did it, but he somehow managed to get his feet up past his the little bar under my seat in first class, and he was actively kicking at my ankles. I wasn't doing that for four hours, so I turned around and asked if he wanted to switch seats.

42:36SPEAKER_00:The rage that came. The flight attendant was attending to meals. The giant behind me started on about how he paid for his seat, and he was going to stay in his seat, and he was actually allowed to kick me because he had, in fact, paid for his seat. Allowed to kick is kind of crazy. This is wild already. I told him that that was fine, but asked him to keep his feet at least on one side so I didn't have to keep getting kicked. Fair ask. Um, he gave my ankles a few more good jabs.

43:05SPEAKER_00:How? I don't even know. And then he called the flight attendant over. He told the flight attendant I was kicking him and asked if the flight attendant can put his feet under my seat if he can put his feet under my seat confidently and correctly in a way that only businessmen in first class can be. The flight attendant, my hero, asked me what was going on and I offered to move to the back. Flight attendant looked down, saw his feet sticking out underneath mine, looked at me, whispered, oh no, honey.

43:33SPEAKER_00:She turned around and gave him a talking to like I was in a movie. I'll never be able to remember it word for word. It was stern, but it was professional, and it was hilarious. Sir, no, you cannot put your feet there. That is the space in front of her seat. That is where her feet go. Where do you expect her to put her feet? And where do your feet go? The human skyscraper hybrid behind me settled down. This girl knows how to read people. The human skyscraper hybrid is a library for this one.

44:02SPEAKER_00:The human skyscraper hybrid behind me settled down like a kid called out by their school teacher and only half-heartedly kicked me occasionally throughout the rest of the flight. Only time I've ever been accused of kicking someone's seat from in front of them. I love your podcast. It's a delight to listen to.

44:19SPEAKER_01:Oh my god. I would have accidentally slammed my foot down on his face. Oh.

44:24SPEAKER_00:Yeah. I mean, I would have I would have gotten up to go to the bathroom ten times just to come back and go, Oh, oh no! Whoops! Didn't know your feet were there. Why are your feet there? I'll never know.

44:36SPEAKER_01:Like there. That's weird. The disrespect, and it's always Why don't you get around the like life fest under there to get your feet out?

44:46SPEAKER_00:This is it's always a grown-ass man acting like a child. It's mind-blowing to me, truly.

44:54SPEAKER_01:Always. Well, that was fun. Thank you for that journey. I'm sorry that you had to deal with that.

45:01SPEAKER_00:Uh, keep sending us your galley gossip stories. We love to hear them. Go to twoguys on a plane.com slash podcast, share your stories with us. You can remain anonymous or not if you would like your name. Shout it out on the air. Either way, we really appreciate reading your stories and can't wait to read more.

45:18SPEAKER_01:I think that's it for today. Join us next time for more humor, hearts, and stories from our beverage carts.