An Argentine flight attendant and social media creator has published a list of unspoken rules she says most airline passengers should follow, urging travelers to curb cabin humor, reconsider footwear and pay closer attention to basic hygiene and safety practices.
Barbara “Barbie Bac” Bacilieri, 29, who shares in‑flight stories with 2.7 million followers on YouTube, told entertainment outlet What’s The Jam that crew members are often the target of ill‑timed jokes and risky behaviors. Her recommendations range from avoiding stand‑up style quips to practical advice about food, footwear and boarding etiquette.
Bacilieri recounted several examples of passengers’ inappropriate remarks, including one who, referencing the movie Society of the Snow, told her, “If anything happens, I give you my consent to eat me.” She said such comments add needless stress to crew members already tasked with passenger safety. “When the ‘Society of the Snow’ movie came out, a passenger told me, ‘If anything happens, I give you my consent to eat me.’ I was like ‘What?!’” she told the outlet.
Beyond discouraging humor, Bacilieri advised against drinking plane tap water and warned passengers not to leave perishable items such as yogurt sitting on ice bags for extended periods. She also cautioned about cabin cleanliness, telling passengers to be wary of liquid on lavatory floors and to recognize that airplane carpets are not pristine. Bacilieri noted that, while blankets are laundered before each flight, they are handled by many people and may carry unknown contaminants.
On footwear, she recommended leaving stilettos in the luggage. Bacilieri said she never wears heels to work because, in the event of an evacuation, passengers would need to remove them to avoid damaging evacuation slides and because airports often require substantial walking. She also questioned the logic of lining up early at the gate, saying passengers who queue before the aircraft arrives end up standing and waiting for long periods and that she prefers to board later once the cabin is ready.
Bacilieri’s remarks follow related social‑media commentary by other cabin crew. Earlier this spring, Dallas‑based flight attendant Cher posted a viral TikTok urging fliers to avoid rompers, sandals and skimpy tops, calling the one‑piece outfit a “double no‑no.” Cher said certain clothing choices can leave passengers vulnerable to cold cabin temperatures and unsanitary conditions such as restroom dampness and soiled carpeting.
Airline crew members and safety officials routinely stress that passenger behavior affects in‑flight safety and comfort. Guidance from regulators and carriers typically includes keeping aisles clear, following crew instructions, wearing appropriate footwear during boarding and deplaning, and observing food‑safety precautions. The recent social‑media exchanges underscore a continuing trend of cabin crews using public platforms to offer practical advice and to push back against behaviors they say complicate their jobs.
Bacilieri, who has become a recognizable figure in online aviation content, said her recommendations come from experience rather than prescriptive rules. At 29, she told the outlet she has seen a wide range of passenger behavior at 30,000 feet and encouraged travelers to use common sense: minimize jokes that could be misread, pack sensibly and trust instincts about cleanliness and safety when flying.
The advice is part of a broader conversation about passenger etiquette and preparedness as air travel rebounds and social media amplifies frontline perspectives. Airlines continue to publish official safety information and travel tips; Bacilieri’s comments add firsthand anecdotal guidance aimed at reducing avoidable discomfort and risk during flights.