The 9 best questions you should ask flight attendants to ensure a smoother, more enjoyable flight

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Flying can be a stressful, frustrating, and even scary experience for some.
We asked flight attendants to share the questions you should ask them to ensure the smoothest, most enjoyable flight possible.
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Getting on a plane is a source of anxiety for millions of people.

The fear of flying is reportedly the second-most common phobia among Americans, and nearly one in three expresses some level of nervousness about boarding a flight.

But even if flying doesn't scare you, it may raise your blood pressure for another reason: It's stressful.

Thankfully, we have flight attendants to keep us safe, answer our questions, and make our flights as enjoyable as possible.

We asked real flight attendants for their best tips to make your airline experience more pleasant. They said you should ask them the following helpful questions when you board your aircraft to ensure a smoother, more enjoyable flight.

These are the questions you should be asking flight attendants as soon as you board.

Can you help me store this?

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With overhead bins in high demand, it's not uncommon for airlines to run out of main cabin storage space. If this happens, ask a flight attendant to help you stow special items like your suit jacket or photography gear.

"On most airlines the closets are in the forward cabin, so it helps to ask right when you're boarding if you want to use them," Taylor Strickland, a flight attendant with Alerion Aviation, told Business Insider. "If it's not the middle of winter when every passenger has a heavy coat, they should be able to help you out."

Strickland said closet space is typically reserved for first-class passengers, so asking politely goes a long way.

Will we have turbulence?

Shutterstock/Ruben M. Ramos

Though there's something called clear air turbulence that can pop up unexpectedly, the flight crew generally has an idea of how bumpy the ride will be ahead of time.

If you're someone who tends to get motion sickness, that's something you'll want to tell your flight attendant.

"We can give you a motion sickness bag, ginger ale, and make sure to keep an eye on you," Strickland said. "The last thing we want is for someone to get physically ill."

Can I have a cup of hot water?

Leonhard Foeger/Reuters

Use it to fill a hot water bottle, which can alleviate back pain or warm you up in a freezing cabin. Strickland said another trick is to dab a napkin in hot water and place it over your ear, which helps relieve sinus pressure.

See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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