Why do some passengers think it’s acceptable to touch flight attendants to get their attention?
I watched a passenger today poke a flight attendant to get their attention even though the FA was standing literally right next to them. They could have just said “excuse me.” Instead, they reached out and touched them and I genuinely don’t understand this.
Would you be okay if someone came to your work and poked you every day? Would you poke your doctor? Your dentist? A server? A cashier or even a bartender to get their attention? Some random person standing next to you in public? Most people understand that you don’t put your hands on strangers just because you want their attention, so why does that basic boundary suddenly disappear on an airplane?
And then the same passenger actually got offended when that flight attendant firmly said, “Please don’t touch me.” I heard them explain they get poked and touched all day long and it is really strange that people feel comfortable touching them.
I am curious as to why you would then be offended? You touched someone without permission and were corrected! Make it make sense.
You also have absolutely no idea what another person has experienced. They could be a sexual assault survivor, have PTSD, have sensory issues, or simply not want strangers putting their hands on their body. They don’t owe anyone their personal history to justify that boundary.
If a flight attendant is close enough to hear you, say “excuse me.” If they aren’t, press the call light. There is almost never a reason to poke, grab, tap, pull on, or otherwise touch them to get their attention.
I’m genuinely curious if you think this is acceptable, because from the outside it seems incredibly rude and I would have reacted the same way if I were the flight attendant too.