Most passengers board expecting a flight attendant’s answer to be no. Crew members who’ve spent years in the aisle describe something very different: a long list of small requests that get a quick yes, and some cost the airline nothing at all.
Some of the yeses are tiny, like a full can of soda instead of a half-filled cup. Others involve a signed certificate, a peek at the cockpit, or even a free drink, and the last one on the list is handled with more care than all the rest.
#23 – A Second Pass at the Snacks
That single pretzel pack isn’t your final offer.
Snack baskets usually make only one trip down the aisle, so it feels like the pretzels vanished. Crews typically keep extra stock in the galley for people who missed the first round or want seconds.
Picture the passenger three rows back who was asleep when the cart rolled past. That’s exactly who the spare stash is for.
It makes this one of the lowest-stakes asks on the plane. The snacks you think have run out are often still sitting a few feet away.
The next request is one almost every passenger needs sooner or later, and few think to make it.
#22 – Extra Napkins or a Hot Towel After a Spill
Spills at cruising altitude are so routine that crews plan for them.
Turbulence, tight elbow room, and tiny tray tables make spills a fact of life at 35,000 feet. Crews keep extra napkins, wipes, and sometimes hot towels stocked for exactly this reason.
Asking for a small stack “just in case” after a spill is one of the fastest yeses in the cabin. Some international carriers even hand out hot towels before meals without being asked.
Still, that’s a small favor next to what the galley keeps in its drawers.
#21 – A Pen and Some Paper
Forgot a pen for your arrival card? The crew probably has one.
Most galleys carry a modest stash of practical extras that rarely get mentioned unless someone asks. Depending on the airline, pens and writing paper are often among them.
Stock differs from carrier to carrier, so treat it as a polite question rather than a right. The galley carries more than drinks and snacks.
One of those extras is more useful than it sounds, and it’s next.
#20 – A Plastic Bag
It’s the humblest request on the list, and crews rarely blink at it.
Plastic bags are among the practical extras that galleys may carry, depending on the airline. They work for wet swimwear, a queasy child, or a messy snack.
If you feel unwell, tell the crew early. Asking before you need the bag beats asking after.
Next up is a drink request that most people quietly put up with.
#19 – A Fresh Drink When Yours Is Warm or Watery
You don’t have to drink a disappointing drink.
If your drink comes out warm or watery, a polite follow-up almost never gets refused. It’s a tiny fix that makes a real difference on a five-hour flight.
Crews see it as a low-stakes, high-approval request. Many of them barely register it as an ask at all.
And if you want that replacement drink cold, there’s a smarter way to ask.
#18 – Ice (and Everything Else), All in One Ask
The trick isn’t what you ask for. It’s how many things you ask for at once.
One flight attendant describes a passenger who asked for ice, then Bloody Mary mix, then vodka, then a lemon. Her plea was simple: ask for everything you want all at once.
Crews are happy to fill a long order. What wears them down is the repeated trips up and down a crowded aisle.
Speaking of details worth saying up front, the next one makes crews noticeably warmer.
#17 – Your Coffee Exactly the Way You Take It
Being specific can actually earn you goodwill.
One flight attendant says passengers get “bonus points” for making special requests up front. Her example is telling the crew you want “two creams and two sugars” in your coffee.
Clear and complete beats vague and corrected later. A precise order is a kindness, not a nuisance.
The next request is one crews hear constantly, and they have a preference for how it’s asked.
#16 – Water to Take a Pill
This may be the most common request in the cabin, and it comes with a simple rule.
A flight attendant writing for The Points Guy says to just ask for water, because providing these things when you ask is part of the job. You don’t need to explain what the pill is for.
Most crews won’t pry. You can skip the medical history entirely.
Next is a small upgrade that most economy passengers never realize they can make.
#15 – The Whole Can, Not the Half-Filled Cup
That plastic cup isn’t the only way your soda comes.
Most economy passengers accept a half-filled cup and never question it. Almost nobody realizes the galley keeps a stash of cans behind the cart.
According to one roundup of crew accounts, pouring is simply faster during a rushed beverage service. Ask for the whole can and most crews hand it over without hesitation.
Quick Compare
- Half-filled cup: Faster for the crew to pour, and the default most people accept.
- Whole can: Kept in the galley stash, and usually yours for the asking.
- Best timing: Ask politely, and bundle it with any other drink requests.
And there’s one drink on board where the “sealed” question matters even more.
#14 – A Sealed Drink Instead of Tank-Water Coffee
Some crews will quietly point you toward the sealed stuff.
One crew roundup says bottled water, canned soda, and juice all come from sealed containers, not tanks. The same list says coffee and tea are the only cabin drinks made using tank water.
Take that as one source’s view, not a universal rule. The swap costs you nothing, and some crews will suggest it themselves.
Now for a request where timing matters more than wording.
#13 – Help With Your Overhead Bag
Asking for a hand is fine. Forcing the bin shut is what bothers them.
One flight attendant says the thing that actually irritates crew is a carry-on left sticking out six inches in a full bin while its owner settles into a window seat. Asking for help, or asking where there’s a bin with more room, is always welcome.
Crews would rather solve the problem now than delay boarding. The request isn’t the irritant. Ignoring the problem is.
From here, opinions on board start to split.
#12 – A Blanket
Comfort requests are fine. Expecting a blanket on every airline is where it gets messy.
The Points Guy places a blanket, an extra drink, or a second snack in the “reasonable but not urgent” category. The catch is that you should be respectful and understand if the crew can’t fulfill your request.
Whether a blanket exists depends on the airline and the flight. Crews can only hand out what’s actually on board.
Not every request is about comfort, though, and the next one is a bit more personal.
#11 – Something for a Headache
Some galleys quietly stock basic remedies.
Depending on the carrier, galleys may carry over-the-counter pain relievers for minor discomforts like headaches. Policies differ, so treat this as worth asking about, not something to count on.
Anything beyond a minor ache is a different story. If you feel seriously unwell, tell the crew straight away.
Worth Knowing
- Some carriers stock over-the-counter pain relievers for minor aches.
- Policies differ by airline, so ask rather than assume.
- If you take a medication regularly, pack your own.
- Serious symptoms are a job for the crew, so speak up right away.
Speaking of feeling unwell, the next request is one crews say they fully understand.
#10 – Getting to the Bathroom When You’re Sick
The seatbelt sign matters, but crews know emergencies exist.
One flight attendant says crews understand you may need the bathroom if you’re in the midst of an emergency, such as feeling sick. Otherwise, flight attendants love passengers who “respect the seatbelt sign.”
The key is telling a crew member rather than just heading up the aisle. A real emergency gets a real response.
The next request is one of the most common in the whole cabin, and it divides opinion.
#9 – A Seat Change
Everyone wants a better seat, and crews hear about it constantly.
One roundup calls seat-change requests one of the most common asks in the entire cabin. Crews regularly field passengers hoping to switch, whether for a window, more legroom, or a chance to sit together.
Many passengers treat a move as their right, but some crews see it differently. Asking politely before boarding closes is usually a better bet than shuffling mid-flight.
The next few requests are the ones travelers celebrating something often never think to make.
#8 – Telling the Crew About a Special Occasion
Birthdays and milestones are worth mentioning.
One former flight attendant on an aviation forum said that if she knew of a special occasion, she would have the cockpit and cabin crew sign the flight plan and pass it along. That was an individual’s account, not an airline policy.
Treat it as a pleasant possibility, not a guarantee. The ask costs nothing, and crews can only respond to what they know.
And for young passengers, there’s a souvenir that has been around for decades.
#7 – Wings for the Kids
That little metal pin can make a child’s whole flight.
American Airlines once brought back kids’ wings after flight attendants said they missed the interactions. One of them said families ask at least once a week, and she hated having to say no.
Another forum traveler said his daughter got wings, temporary tattoos, extra desserts, or cockpit visits on many flights. Availability varies by airline, but asking costs nothing.
Some airlines have gone further than a pin for first-time flyers.
#6 – A First-Flight Certificate
Some carriers mark a child’s first trip on paper.
A forum post about American Airlines describes certificates that include the date, flight number, and cities, signed by the pilot and flight attendants. The same thread says you just have to alert the agent or flight attendant.
That information comes from a 2010 discussion, so confirm it with your airline. Not every carrier does it, and programs change.
Fast Facts
- What’s on it: The date, flight number, and cities.
- Who signs it: The pilot and flight attendants.
- How to get one: Alert the agent or a flight attendant.
- The catch: The source is a 2010 forum thread, so check current policy.
The next request is the one kids remember most, and it’s the one most likely to come with a catch.
#5 – A Quick Look at the Cockpit
The flight deck has stayed open to curious visitors on some flights.
One forum thread advises that you can still visit the pilots before departure, and you should tell the flight attendant as soon as you step on board. A pilot on another forum said they’ll give cockpit tours to enthusiasts young and old.
These accounts are anecdotal, and security rules vary by airline and country. Whether it happens depends on the crew, the route, and the day.
Now we reach the most debated request on the list.
#4 – A Free Drink After an Airline-Caused Delay
Some passengers swear it happens. Others call it entitlement.
Crew accounts say the trigger is almost always a mechanical delay or an airline-caused tarmac hold, never bad weather. One flight attendant with 20 years in the job said she’ll comp a drink without hesitation if the delay was the airline’s fault and you’ve stayed polite.
Many travelers see a comped drink as the airline’s duty, but plenty of crews treat it as a thank-you for good manners. According to that account, you actually have to ask, and the phrasing matters.
That brings up something that shapes every request on this list, and it costs nothing to give.
#3 – A Request That Starts With “Please”
The first thing crews grant is often your tone, not your order.
Flight attendants say there’s a noticeable difference between passengers who politely ask and those who bark out a one-word order. Crews notice the gap between “may I please have a ginger ale?” and just “ginger ale.”
Another flight attendant says crews are often stuck on board for 12-14 hours and appreciate knowing they’re valued. Basic courtesy can change how every request lands.
Two requests remain, and these are the ones crews never want you to hesitate over.
#2 – Raising a Health or Safety Concern
This is the one request where asking is always appropriate.
Frequent flyer and physician Dr. Jon Burroughs says that when there’s a health or safety issue, it’s appropriate to call the flight attendant every single time. Convenience and comfort requests are different.
For those, he suggests asking yourself whether it’s really important. Safety and health always come first.
And the final request is the one crews handle with the most care.
#1 – A Seatbelt Extender, No Questions Asked
This is the request crews grant instantly and discreetly.
It’s one of the most consistently approved requests in aviation, and crews handle it with zero fuss. There are no fees or costs associated with using a seatbelt extender.
Airlines stock extenders, and there’s no need to prebook or reserve one. If you’re seen using your own extender, crews will ask you to swap it for the airline’s.
You can ask discreetly: as you board, while the crew checks the overhead bins, or with the call button after you sit down. A simple “Hi, can I please have a seatbelt extender?” is enough.
The Bottom Line
The pattern across these accounts is clear. Crews grant small, specific requests when they’re polite, clear, and don’t add to an already busy job.
The biggest surprises are the everyday ones: a full can instead of a cup, a second pass of snacks, and a seatbelt extender that’s free and discreet. Availability varies by airline, so treat each item as a polite question, not a guarantee.
Which of these would you never have dared to ask for before?
#24 – The Bonus Tip Nobody Shares: The Galley Walk-Up
Most passengers press the call button for everything. A short, well-timed walk to the galley often works better for non-urgent asks.
Save the call button for health and safety concerns. For everything else, follow these steps:
- Wait for the lull. Go after the meal or drink service has wrapped up and the crew has settled back into the galley. Skip it while the cart is in the aisle or the seatbelt sign is on.
- Bundle your whole wish list. Ask for a bottle of water, extra napkins, a snack, and anything else in one go, so the crew makes a single trip instead of several.
- Open with a please. Try “Hi, when you have a moment, could I please have…?” It signals that you respect their time.
- Stock up before descent. Ask for your water before the crew starts preparing the cabin for landing, because service winds down by then.
Stand near the galley rather than blocking it, keep it short, and say thanks. Crews tend to remember the passenger who made their job easier.