A flight attendant who goes by A Fly Guy has built quite a community with more than 1.5 million followers on Facebook in a group called A Fly Guy’s Cabin Crew Lounge. It is made up mostly of flight attendants but also includes plenty of pilots, airline and airport workers as well as frequent travelers like me.
Today he asked his community, “What have you caught passengers stealing from the plane? #passengershaming #aviation” The answers are plentiful and surprising. There are already more than 450 comments but I have picked out some of the top ones.
- Life Jackets
“Saw someone with a life jacket in their back pocket on the way out the door!” – Brooke B. - Full Meal Trays & Silverware
“I had a woman hand me an empty tray; she stole the dishes and the silverware.” – Carla A. - Flight Attendant Uniform Items
“My uniform sweater. Had to ask a passenger to take it off and give it back. She ‘found’ it in the crew closet.” – Linda R. - Exit Row Placards & Safety Equipment
“Someone swiped the placard off the overwing exit door… yeah that plane was grounded.” – Amy Y. - Coffee Mugs & Premium Cabin Glassware
“Just before Northwest’s merging into Delta, I was in F Class and seriously asked if I could buy a coffee mug as a souvenir. The FA was so shocked. He said, ‘BUY? You paid enough for that seat. Let me gift it to you.'” – Mark W. - Salt & Pepper Shakers
“I’ve ‘relocated’ Virgin Atlantic salt and pepper shakers… people take them all the time!” – Kirsten R. - Toiletries & Lavatory Items
“My Mom bless her heart in heaven, would go in the bathroom and take everything just shove it all in her purse. Wipes, soap, toilet paper, napkins, you name it.” – Susanne F. - Airline Pajamas, Blankets & Pillows
“I’ve got a set of BA cutlery that I acquired for my grandson to use when learning to use a proper knife and fork. I may also have liberated the fabulous KLM stirrers once or twice, the ones by Marcel Wanders!” – Lindsay W. - Seat Belts, Cushions & Panels
“Silverware, chinaware, entire seat cushions.” – James T. - Defibrillators
“DEFIBRILLATOR (not kidding!) When I still fly for EK, in the 90ies, it was still shiny-new thing.” – Eunike S. - Infant Seat Belts & Extensions
“Infant seat belts and jackets, seat belt extensions, toilet paper, blankets, and crew bags.” – Odette B. - Amenity Bags & Mini-Bar Items
“I’ve seen countless passengers deplaning but stop to collect leftover amenities and amenity bags in first. Yuk. That’s all besides the usual taking of anything left out in sight. The snacks, booze, extra meals, and of course all the serveware!” – Sherri M. - Megaphones & Cabin Equipment
“The megaphone! It was just laying there so thought he could use it on his boat.” – Kathy S. - Bibles & Odd Memorabilia
“A Bible out of a FA’s bag!” – Kim G. - Inflatable Dolls
“My inflatable doll.” – Alberto O.
I have been on thousands of flights and flown millions of miles and I have seen some passengers pack headphones and blankets into their carryon bags. It is embarrassing and I feel sorry for them since they are either desperate or a kleptomaniac. I remember flying Virgin Australia in business class once between Los Angeles and Sydney when the flight attendants told passengers to take the salt and pepper shakers designed like the Sydney Opera House. They even gave us the boxes they came in. Here’s that trip report.
How about you? Have you ever seen your seatmate steal something from a plane?
I’ve never stolen anything but was pleasantly surprised when Qatar Airlines said I could keep my biz class pajamas last April. I wish I’d had room to keep my husband’s, too. I had the great fortune to fly on the Concorde when I was 17 (thank you, boyfriend’s wealthy father) and I remember asking if I could keep the menu or something. The flight attendant said “Heck yeah, take the flatware and whatever else, too. We consider every flight a souvenir trip.” I still have the menu, flatware, and my socks. Anyone out there want them?
I’d like to add one I’m guilty of myself. Didn’t take anything important, so please don’t judge me too harshly. This comment may actually may be a tip for others. Almost ten years ago American debuted their then new Flagship first class service. I’m not rich and never fly first, but when American offered 60K miles one way for JFK-LHR in May 2016 on B777-300ERs, I took advantage of it. A new perk on that flight was the late night open snack bar between first & business class. Flight landed in Heathrow just after 6AM and I made sure I took a handful of snacks with me to tide me over before I got to my hotel and had lunch.
My husband almost stole a steward’s flight bag that was in the overhead because he thought it was mine. As he passed the steward on the way out, she said, “That’s MY bag!” ha ha ha!