As we are not allowed to carry liquids on planes we suggest you, at least bring an empty bottle. You can then be more vigilant about staying hydrated during the trip. Crew serve water/juice etc in those tiny cups and even two at a time is not enough. Drinking more for the 48 hours before your trip is also a smart idea. We have heard that some travelers have carried on frozen water as a non liquid; truly do not. Each time travelers play around with the rules, we put the airline in jeopardy of fines. And the crew in jeopardy of job losses. There are some other vague not really ‘rules’:like using the bathroom in your cabin (a practice not a rule), turning off electronics when asked ( a rule and rarely a practice-look around you!). But generally unless you truly feel harassed by staff, follow the rules. And if you do feel harassed to the point of needing to say something, here is what to do:
The Women’s Travel Group suggests: Look at the name of the staff member, record your flight info, time it happened. Add a grain of salt to your issue as staff is hard working, trained for your safety in a way you do not know, and have irregular life interrupting hours. As many of us are traveling solo, we might feel harassed with more sensitivity.
Here is what Consumer Reports suggests:
As the results of our survey on airline travel make clear, airline passengers are increasingly unhappy with the service they’re getting. If you feel you’ve been mistreated by an air carrier, here’s what to do.
File a complaint with an airline
The U.S. Department of Transportation provides detailed contact information for the largest domestic carriers.
If you file a complaint, be sure to include dates, times, airports, flight numbers, employee names, etc., and your contact information. Stick to the facts and try to keep it as brief as possible.
Suggest what you think would be fair compensation, bearing in mind that airlines are less likely to offer cash and much more likely to offer compensation toward a future flight.
File a complaint with the government
If the airline is unresponsive to your complaint, your next step is to contact the relevant federal agency.
Airline-service issues (other than safety or security)
These are handled by the DOT’s Aviation Consumer Protection Division. You can call (202-366-2220, line is open 24 hours a day) or write (Aviation Consumer Protection Division, C-75, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Ave. S.E., Washington, D.C. 20590), or file electronically.
More travel tips on The Women’s Travel Group site and Facebook.
