From shrinking seats to ever-dwindling in-flight amenities, the airline industry really earns its tightfisted reputation. But if you know what to ask for, you'll find that in-flight offerings are not quite as stingy as they seem. We asked author and former flight attendant Beth Blair for her tips on the free extras and services only available to those who know to ask.

So next time you're hit with a headache onboard or have a thirst that's going to take more than a glorified Dixie cup of soda to quench, know you can ask for—and most likely receive—a little onboard assistance.

Sanitizing Wipes
The stream of passengers passing through planes each day turns tray tables, armrests, and entertainment-system buttons into germ factories. If you'd like to clean your area before settling in, ask a flight attendant for a few sanitizing wipes; they often have them on hand, though it's not something most passengers know they can ask for.

The Whole Can
When you factor in the pile of ice that flight attendants load into those little plastic airline cups, you'll find you're not getting much liquid on each pass of the beverage cart. If you've got a thirst that's going to take more than a few tablespoons of soda to quench, consider politely asking your flight attendant for the whole can. Blair says that most of the time, they're happy to oblige. And if they can't—for instance, because the plane is low on cans or isn't getting restocked in the next city—flight attendants will still usually offer to simply come by again to refill your cup.

Wing Pins for Kids
Most airlines have cut free food and snacks for adults and kids, but many still offer little fliers wing pins to commemorate their flight. According to Blair, "The pilots usually don't have them though; it's the flight attendants who have them stashed somewhere in the cabin." Can you ask for a pin even if you don't have kids in tow? We don't know, but if you've tried, leave a comment below letting us know how it went!

Basic Medicines and Bandages
Whether it's for a headache from takeoff or lingering airport heartburn, many flights are stocked with basic medications such as painkillers and antacids. Blair says that, most of the time, flight attendants also have bandages on hand for minor cuts and that "if you're hurt, flight attendants are experts at making ice packs for injuries (either out of plastic bags or sick sacks)." Knowing this makes us wish flight attendants got merit badges.

Editor's Note: Some airlines may not allow their flight attendants to dispense over-the-counter medications. But if you need one, it never hurts to ask.

Water-Bottle Refills
As long as onboard supplies allow it, flight attendants are usually willing to refill your empty bottle of water for you. Blair says, "Most flight attendants are very generous with beverages." Since passengers who carry their own water bottles will have had to empty them before going through security at the airport, this added service can come in extra handy for the hydration-conscious.

Short-Term Babysitting
Parents flying alone with infants and small children have bladders too, and, happily, flight attendants are often more than willing to watch a baby or child for a few minutes while a parent runs to the bathroom or stretches his or her legs. "Watching babies was one of my favorite things to do in-flight," says Blair. "For safety reasons, most airlines ask flight attendants to sit in the aisle passenger seat so they're not standing and holding a baby."

Help Finding a Doctor
Almost all airlines train cabin crew to ask for medical assistance onboard, so if you've got a personal medical emergency, a flight attendant will be your best bet for quickly finding a doctor in-flight. On most airlines, that means the flight attendant will make an announcement over the loudspeaker, but Lufthansa has a program which gives doctors frequent-flier miles for identifying themselves to the airline in advance.

Seconds
Did the bag of tiny pretzels leave you peckish? If you're flying an airline with free snacks or meals, you can ask for seconds. If, after all passengers are served, there's extra, flight attendants are likely to grant your request. Blair says flight departure times can help you predict the likelihood of there being extra food: "On some flights it seems nearly all of the passengers pass on meals or snacks (such as late at night). Those flights are the best bet for getting seconds."

Help Switching Seats
Have a seat assignment that's got you sitting far from a travel companion? Flight attendants are often willing to help negotiate seat switches so you can sit together. They can help as long as there's time, says Blair, so if you're going to ask for help, do it soon after boarding. They may ask you to wait until everyone has taken their seats (or until you're at cruising altitude), but it's better to have your polite request on their radar for whenever they have a second.


Cockpit Tours
It may seem incredible given the concern about cockpit security, but if you ask, many pilots are more than willing to give mini cockpit tours before or after the flight. The best time for a visit is usually after a flight has landed, since that's when pilots tend not to be as rushed. Blair says, "Pilots love to get visitors, especially wide-eyed children. It makes their day to have the chance to show off their 'office.'"

Yeah! I will try and get my kids a cockpit tour next time we fly! And myself too wish its possible while in flight I have really desired to see the view straight on like the pilots do and not sides nice info op.

Yes to the medicines!
I was on one of those long haul flights and i had a terrible case of Jedi-Jedi (the one that hooks your sacrum vertebrae and makes you, shout at intervals)
I don't even know, which medication to request for and I was ashamed to tell the hostess what was happening to me.

Naso i bone just and just asked for aspirin, she said there is no aspirin, but they have paracetamol.

That was the day i discovered that paracetamol dey cure jedijedi

i hear u

You don't just copy stuff and post them here.

Try any of these on a Nigerian Carrier first. Like boarding a Dana plane and asking to view the cockpit before takeoff.

The only thing i need is a life jacket or whatever it's called. I don't wanna die.

the made no mention of snacks served.. I was once served doghnurt by aero contractors , i almost felt like exchangin it for akara cox dats my favourites in de mrngs

Afam4eva: The only thing i need is a life jacket or whatever it's called. I don't wanna die.

lol

Please what about PARACHUTE, Nna menh odikwa very very important esp if you always patronize Diana airways

Afam4eva: The only thing i need is a life jacket or whatever it's called. I don't wanna die.

Abi o! That's all I think of on local flights.

Afam4eva: The only thing i need is a life jacket or whatever it's called. I don't wanna die.

Pls you dont need this for OKADA, we are talking about planes here....Mr computer geek

manee2: the made no mention of snacks served.. I was once served doghnurt by aero contractors , i almost felt like exchangin it for akara cox dats my favourites in de mrngs

Now that must be years ago or an outright lie. Aero does not serve nothing anymore, except of course you flew first class. If you need anything on board, you pay for it. But like I said, when I was compelled to fly business class, they served us with some mini chop chop

kayci_d77:

Pls you dont need this for OKADA, we are talking about planes here....Mr computer geek

What's an OKADA?

yuzedo: Op bro, did they hav FREE PUNNY CAPSULE on error plain?? Bro, cos even in Banana Ice land were am stay. Dey hav spesial taxxy dat giv punnys to passanger + free mowet shampain . Bro, we enjoy in Banana eyes land mennnn, allah!!!!!

Mr Yuzedo, do you mean flood has not yet wipe you away from your plantain Banana island

In an emergency of cabin depressurization,you get a free oxygen mask too.very important !

If u copy someone's write-up, courtesy demands that u atleast give credit to the writer or author, or even the website it was gotten from. I saw this on yahoo's home page this morniing. Someone seeing this would think the poster wrote all these.

I have done cockpit tours on two occasions. Once with Ryan air from Sweden to Orly airport Paris and once With Air Berlin from Schonefeld airport Berlin to Palma de Marjjoca Spanish Big Island.
Trust me its a wonderful office to visit with one thousand blinking lights...

Another thing is beer or wine. Have never been turned down a request for beer by any attendant except on Afriqqya airways from Tripoli to Lagos.. I never expected it from that Jihad airline anyway. They dont even sell liquor at the airport in Tripoli.

Afam4eva:
What's an OKADA?

Computer geek , i guess u know Google...help urself

All these things? Which airline in Nigeria? I used Aero once and all they could refresh us with was Exotic juice with this 50 NGN kid's cake using tiny disposable cups and you are here mentioning all these costly things.

Well all this things the op mentions Are strange to me,if I enter plane fear no go gree me ask for all this things Until the plane land safely.d only thing I wanna ask is the emergency exit

Story Story!!

Is it our naija local planepplanes that don't even have tissue paper?? Or the one the toilet flushes poorly ?


Ice block from where nah?

*******On my way to DANA airline

Abeg make dem start †̥̥o share helmet Õoº°˚!

very very interesting.

Lexusgs:

So you can also do some Al-queda stylee ?

Abeg o! Al queda ke? With my pikins?

Imanuelle: Story Story!!

Is it our naija local planepplanes that don't even have tissue paper?? Or the one the toilet flushes poorly ?


Ice block from where nah?

I wonder too! But this post is surely not applicable to our local flights where all those attendants they bone and form like say pesin force them come work that day.