An airline crew member has highlighted the 'biggest mistake ever' people can make on an aircraft: walking to the toilet without shoes. On the new Martin Lewis BBC podcast, the personal finance expert appealed to aircraft pilots and flight crew to share common errors holidaymakers are making this year.
Barefoot Toilet Trips Pose Health Risks
Sarah, who works for an airline, said: “Biggest mistake ever - people going to the toilet in the aircraft with no shoes on.” Co-host Adrian Chiles responded: “Let’s not dwell on that - but we hear you.” Martin admitted: “I’m one of those people. Sometimes you’ve taken your shoes off - you’re tired, you’re sleepy and you’re not thinking.” Adrian made the valid point: “Well on a private jet it’s different.”
Experts say you should always wear footwear in an aircraft toilet to shield yourself from hazardous biohazards and possible injuries. The liquid on the floor is often bodily fluids such as urine, vomit, or blood, which contain harmful bacteria, viruses, and fungi that can penetrate your skin through minor cuts.
Passport Expiry Can Ruin Holidays
A TUI employee stationed at Manchester revealed that passengers are arriving at the airport making a 'scary mistake' that could result in your entire holiday being completely ruined. Steve, who works for TUI at Manchester Airport, told the podcast: “Scary how many people are turning up to the airport with a due to expire passport.”
Martin explained this could prove disastrous: “So let’s be really plain about the passport check. There are two checks. On the day that you enter the country, there needs to be at least 6 months left before the expiry date, or three months if you’re going to the EU. Even so, if you’re going to the EU you need to check will your passport be under 10 years old. Because it used to work that you could get your passport, if you have 8 months left on your passport you could get that eight months added to your new one, so your new one would last 10 years and 8 months. It means that you could be more than three months away from renewal of your passport, but your passport be over 10 years old, and that can stop you having entry. And I genuinely have people get in touch with me who have been denied boarding on the plane, which is bad, but worse, they’ve got on the plane, and they’ve been denied entry when they land and sent back.”
Other Travel Tips from Crew
Co-host Adrian Chiles added: “Insurance says Simon - Being air crew takes you abroad don’t get too drunk before you board the plane. You can be refused boarding. Don’t vape, don’t misbehave the aircraft could end up being diverted, have you disembark, ruin your holiday. Basically you could get your pants sued off as well. It’s only a few hours - enjoy the flight and come up and say hi to us at the front end once we land.”
Martin stressed: “Insurance is important because let’s just remember my golden rule - you get insurance as soon as you book, or if you’ve already booked and you haven’t got it, you get it as soon as you hear me say this because half the point of travel insurance is to cover you if something happens before you go that stops you going.”
Cabin crew member Gemma warned: “Travelling without simple painkillers. Not all airlines can give you paracetamol or others without a doctor present. It’s much easier if you have your own with you. Some passengers really think the aircraft first aid kit is a personal pharmacy.”
Air crew member Sam offered a timely reminder: “So many people would get on a late night flight from a winter sun destination wearing little more than a bikini and then wonder why they were freezing on the plane and then on landing back in the UK. And no, we do not have any blankets we can give you.”
