Want to make your next flight more comfortable, stress-free and less germs? Then read on.
Brenda Orelus, from Miami, has been a flight attendant for nine years and on her TikTok channel @flightbae.b she reveals some insider secrets.
Some of the topics she covers in her videos include the dirtiest places on the plane, why you should never use toilet paper in the air, and why compression stockings are one of her must-have items.
Take a flight down to pick up some of Brenda’s best flight tips.
Brenda Orelus, from Miami, has been a flight attendant for nine years and reveals some insider secrets on her TikTok channel
No need to hurry! Allow yourself LOTS of time between connecting flights
To reduce stress on connecting flights, Brenda recommends allowing two hours for domestic travel and three hours for international travel.
Brenda says it’s because “the only constant in aviation is change, so it’s very likely that one of your flights will indeed [be delayed].’
The travel professional continues: ‘That kissing time will ultimately be your salvation in order to catch your connecting flight.
“I’ve seen it time and time again, you don’t want to give yourself a 30 minute or 45 minute time frame because that gives you zero time to account for any delays, changes in planes or even changes in the airport. I’ve seen the craziest things.’
Bathroom Talk: NEVER use toilet paper on airplanes
Brenda recommends using tissue paper instead of toilet paper in airplane restrooms.
She reveals this is because when turbulence hits “little guys who point and shoot, they point and shoot everywhere so it usually ends up on the toilet paper.”
So in an effort to avoid soggy, stained toilet paper, Brenda says it’s best to reach for the tissue paper that’s “usually upstairs or over there,” because it’s much cleaner.
Brenda recommends using tissue paper instead of toilet paper in airplane toilets
No kidding! These things can get you FORBIDDEN from flying
There are several things that can get you banned from flying and put on a no-fly list, says Brenda.
First, she warns that hitting an airline employee is a federal felony, so “don’t do it.”
The flight attendant explains that you get a ‘VIP skip line to the top of the no-fly list if you have a flight attendant, a gate agent, [or] a pilot.’
And if you throw a punch, “forget it, you’re out of here.”
Then Brenda says that “threatening any kind of terrorist activity” is an absolute no-no.
She tells the viewers, “Come on, I don’t care if it’s a joke, it’s not funny, we’re on a plane.” We don’t know if you’re serious or not.
“If you continue to have a bomb, carry a bomb, or anything like that, you’ll be put on the no-fly list.”
Finally, Brenda says that transporting illegal things will also get you banned from the skies.
While she says many people assume this only applies to “guns, drugs, things like that,” certain animals and plants can also cause problems, so it’s best to check the rules and regulations before you go.
Back to basics: the dirtiest part of the plane IS NOT the toilet
Brenda says the dirtiest parts of the plane are the seatback pockets
While airplane toilets have a bad reputation for pee stains on the floors, Brenda says the dirtiest parts of the plane are actually the seatback pockets.
These, she says, are “dirtier than the toilets, they’re dirtier than the seat cushions, and they’re dirtier than the trays.”
According to the globetrotter, who has visited more than 90 countries during her career, the seatback pockets “are never cleaned unless someone vomits or something ooey… comes out.”
She concludes: ‘All the cleaners do is go in and take out the rubbish so all those germs have built up and there’s no real regular maintenance or cleaning of those surfaces, while toilets are regularly swept and sanitized.’
Lotions and potions: five essential items for your hand luggage
In one of her TikToks, Brenda reveals five things she always carries in her flight attendant bag.
One of the first items she pulls out is a tube of moisturizing lotion, and she says it’s essential because “to fly is to dry.”
Next, she always carries perfume because she says she doesn’t know how long she’ll last between showers.
Many skin care experts warn that flying increases your UV exposure because of the altitude. For this reason, Brenda says she has sunscreen on her “at all times.”
She tells viewers, “If you think the sun is bad in nature, imagine you’re at 10,000 feet.”
Another of the best Floridian beauty products is a moisturizing mist as this helps to keep her skin looking fresh and last but not least, she packs a styling gel for her hair.
Circulation booster: Compression socks are a must-have
In addition to a concise selection of beauty products, Brenda swears by compression stockings.
She explains that socks “enhance circulation,” which is “critical” to her job as a flight attendant.
Before using the socks, she said she experienced “extreme swelling.”
But since wearing them, she’s seen a “significant decrease.”
For fashion-conscious travelers, Brenda notes that there are “no show compression socks” that come up to the ankle rather than over the knee.