Two Guys on a Plane

Flight attendants, pilots, and gate agents all do it: they get on an airplane to get to the airport where they get on another airplane for work. We have both commuted at different points in their careers (Andrew for ten years, Rich for a rough six months of Megabus-and-regional-flight chaos), and this week we break down what it's actually like, from why people do it to what it costs them.

We talk about crash pad life (including the hot bed vs. cold bed divide), why commuting is basically a second full-time job, and our hard-earned "commuter commandments," like befriending your gate agents, packing shelf-stable food, and never walking away from the gate just because the door closed. Plus a round of Would You Rather, a rant about the passenger who slept through his own deplaning, and a favor to ask of everyone listening on Apple Podcasts.

Chapters:
[0:00] Welcome to Episode #54!
[1:16] Rich, the delays, and the sleepy passenger
[3:01] It’s those passengers in the back
[4:59] Drew & a mental health break
[6:56] A  5-star rating would be nice!
[8:36] The struggle is real for closer commutes
[10:35] Base hoppers
[12:33] Each base has its own personality
[14:15] The crazy part about commuting
[15:45] What kind of commuter are you?
[16:45] Flight attendant tip: Take the first flight of the day
[18:04] Commuting is a second full-time job
[20:05] Crash pads
[25:35] Our worst commuting experiences
[27:33] Commuter commandments
[27:45] StaffTraveler: The #1 Nonrev App for commuters
[29:54] Befriend gate agents
[31:49] Snacks are essential
[32:35] Know the weather
[33:47] Never celebrate until takeoff
[35:54] Let’s play: Would You Rather?
[41:43] Is commuting worth it?
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There's nothing worse than boarding a new aircraft and finding the galley left in shambles by the previous crew. We spend plenty of time on this show discussing passenger etiquette, so this week we are turning the mirror on flight attendants and breaking down the unwritten rules of the galley, aka the office, the kitchen, the break room, the storage closet, etc., that also happens to sometimes be the only sane corner of the airplane.

From wet counters and unlatched carts to hoarded ice mallets, a mysterious abundance of hand soap, and a heated debate over who actually answers the call bell, we’ll talk and laugh about what every crew member should be doing (and what flight attendants are all quietly guilty of).

Episode Highlights:
[0:00] Welcome to Episode #53!
[1:17] Drew & the crew’s pet peeves
[3:06] Those galley behaviors
[5:18] Rich & the nervous passenger
[8:47] We love our Senior Mamas!
[10:30] Wipe the counters down
[11:54] Restock your toppers
[14:42] Downline supplies
[16:26] The easiest flight attendant to work with
[18:42] Dispose of trash properly
[21:36] Get out of the way
[24:01] Pitch in
[26:42] Do you like answering call bells?
[28:44] Just put it back
[33:04] Be a good jumpseater
[36:05] It should look better
[38:33] Galley etiquette summed up!
[40:12] Galley Gossip
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Join us for an unforgettable Christmas Markets adventure through Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania in December 2026! Experience festive markets, charming medieval cities, holiday treats, and the magic of three countries in one incredible trip...
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Join the Galley Gang on Patreon
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Have a funny, wild, or heartwarming travel story from a flight that you’re dying to share with us? Submit your story at the link below and we could feature your story on an upcoming episode of the show!
Submit Your 'Galley Gossip' Story
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This episode was brought to you by StaffTraveler, the #1 non-rev app! If you travel on standby and are looking to make your journey easy and stress-free, check out StaffTraveler for free in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
Download StaffTraveler

"Flight attendants used to be so much nicer." We have heard it all before—in this episode, we’ll actually sit with the question instead of dismissing it. The honest answer: sometimes, maybe, but being nice doesn't mean saying yes to everything, and a lot of what passengers read as rudeness is really just policy enforcement, boundary-setting, or a flight attendant who's already been ignored by 100 people that day.

We get into real moments from the last few weeks—a maintenance-related reseating that turned into a shouting match, the exhausting experience of working with a coworker who makes offensive generalizations and doubles down when called out, and the psychology of why grown adults get so defensive about a seatbelt. They land somewhere honest: everyone, crew and passengers alike, could probably stand to give a little more grace. Plus, a Galley Gossip story that will make you rethink public grooming forever!

Episode Highlights:
[0:00] Welcome to Episode #52!
[1:32] Drew’s encounter with a family of six
[5:25] Rich calls these people out
[7:12] Seeing the beauty of other cultures
[8:46] Should flight attendants be nicer?
[10:30] The value of empathy and patience
[11:56] You get the energy you give
[13:58] When passengers ignore us
[15:08] Saying “No” doesn’t make us the bad guys
[16:18] There are policies to follow!
[17:53] Do adults hate being told what to do?
[20:45] Our intent is not to fight with people!
[25:33] Bad days & picking fights[
[26:24] Our encounter with that flight attendant
[28:36] The bottomline
[29:35] Did they mean to be rude?
[32:34] Galley Gossip 

Text us or leave us a voicemail!
Join us for an unforgettable Christmas Markets adventure through Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania in December 2026! Experience festive markets, charming medieval cities, holiday treats, and the magic of three countries in one incredible trip...
View the Itinerary + Book Your Spot
✈
Join our official community for exclusive merch, early access, behind-the-scenes footage, and more! As independent podcasters, we rely on audience support to keep our show going. We couldn't do it without you!
Join the Galley Gang on Patreon
✈
Have a funny, wild, or heartwarming travel story from a flight that you’re dying to share with us? Submit your story at the link below and we could feature your story on an upcoming episode of the show!
Submit Your 'Galley Gossip' Story
✈
This episode was brought to you by StaffTraveler, the #1 non-rev app! If you travel on standby and are looking to make your journey easy and stress-free, check out StaffTraveler for free in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
Download StaffTraveler

Our DMs have been flooded with the same question: "What should I bring my flight attendants?" So this week, we settle it once and for all — with a big disclaimer up front that gifts are never required, just kindness. But since the trend isn't going anywhere, let’s break down practical gift-giving etiquette, the best (and worst) things passengers have actually brought them, and why unsealed "Nana's cookies" are hard no-no matter how good they smell.
We talked about our last Peru group trip (Machu Picchu, non-negotiably difficult but worth every minute) and tease upcoming trips to Iceland, the Baltics, and Albania, before getting into a Galley Gossip story involving a suspiciously buzzing carry-on bag and a job interview gone hilariously sideways.

Episode Highlights:
[0:00] Welcome to Episode #51!
[1:20] Drew and 2 weeks of flying
[2:35] Get ready for Rich
[4:21] This is why StaffTraveler is the #1 non-rev app
[7:43] Peru was AMAZING!
[11:09] Practical tips for gift-giving flight attendants
[13:43] We love our gate agents and pilots
[14:36] Greet us then give the gift
[15:30] Don’t expect anything in return
[16:43] Get creative, local treats, have variety
[19:34] Flight attendants love coffee!
[23:07] Gifts we don’t recommend
[27:45] Weird gifts (like tequila chocolate)
[30:16] Drew is over the chocolate
[32:52] Galley Gossip

Text us or leave us a voicemail!
Join us for an unforgettable Christmas Markets adventure through Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania in December 2026! Experience festive markets, charming medieval cities, holiday treats, and the magic of three countries in one incredible trip...
View the Itinerary + Book Your Spot
✈
Join our official community for exclusive merch, early access, behind-the-scenes footage, and more! As independent podcasters, we rely on audience support to keep our show going. We couldn't do it without you!
Join the Galley Gang on Patreon
✈
Have a funny, wild, or heartwarming travel story from a flight that you’re dying to share with us? Submit your story at the link below and we could feature your story on an upcoming episode of the show!
Submit Your 'Galley Gossip' Story
✈
This episode was brought to you by StaffTraveler, the #1 non-rev app! If you travel on standby and are looking to make your journey easy and stress-free, check out StaffTraveler for free in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
Download StaffTraveler

We agree, turbulence, for first-time-flyers or even regular flyers, can get a little scary. 
And yes, your feelings are totally valid. In fact, we appreciate passengers who share their worries or fears with us.

While we flight attendants can't promise that you’ll suddenly love flying, there are a few “flight attendant-approved” tips that you can try to make flying a little easier. In this episode, let’s talk about facts from IATA, our advice for anxious flyers, and how StaffTraveler helps us travel anywhere around the world!

Know someone who is afraid of flying? Send them this episode to calm their nerves!

Original Music by Griefcat

Episode Highlights:
[0:00] Welcome to Episode #50!
[1:14] Facts from IATA
[2:27] Summer has been summering
[4:16] Rich threw a cookie at a passenger!?
[6:57] If you’re a nervous flyer, talk to us
[10:49] Turbulence can be uncomfortable
[14:23] Watch us
[17:05] Normal noises
[18:20] Have faith in your flight crew
[20:00] Choose wisely
[21:46] Distract yourself during takeoff
[22:42] Don’t doomscroll
[23:46] It’s okay to be a nervous flyer!
[25:30] Redundancy keeps us safe
[27:14] Drew’s perfect landing…on a jumpseat
[29:08] Flight attendants are always ready
[32:04] We travel the world with StaffTraveler
[35:57] Galley Gossip
Text us or leave us a voicemail!
Join us for an unforgettable Christmas Markets adventure through Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania in December 2026! Experience festive markets, charming medieval cities, holiday treats, and the magic of three countries in one incredible trip...
View the Itinerary + Book Your Spot
✈
Join our official community for exclusive merch, early access, behind-the-scenes footage, and more! As independent podcasters, we rely on audience support to keep our show going. We couldn't do it without you!
Join the Galley Gang on Patreon
✈
Have a funny, wild, or heartwarming travel story from a flight that you’re dying to share with us? Submit your story at the link below and we could feature your story on an upcoming episode of the show!
Submit Your 'Galley Gossip' Story
✈
This episode was brought to you by StaffTraveler, the #1 non-rev app! If you travel on standby and are looking to make your journey easy and stress-free, check out StaffTraveler for free in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
Download StaffTraveler