7. “Can you make it warmer/colder just for me?”
The climate control system on an aircraft is a marvel of engineering, but it is not designed for personalized comfort. The cabin temperature is typically set and controlled by the pilots for large zones of the aircraft, not for individual rows or seats. It’s a delicate balance to keep hundreds of people comfortable in a sealed tube flying through an atmosphere that can be -60°F (-51°C) outside.
Asking a flight attendant to change the temperature for your specific seat is an impossible request. They simply do not have a thermostat at their disposal that can target one area. While they can relay a message to the cockpit that a zone feels particularly hot or cold, major adjustments are unlikely unless a majority of passengers are uncomfortable.
This is where personal preparedness, a key tenet of smart travel, comes into play. The number one travel tip for in-flight comfort is to dress in layers. Airplanes are notorious for temperature swings. A t-shirt, a long-sleeved shirt or sweater, and even a light jacket or pashmina give you the flexibility to adapt. If you tend to run cold, always pack a pair of warm socks in your carry-on. For older travelers, maintaining a comfortable body temperature is important for circulation and overall well-being, so layering is not just a comfort tip but a health-smart one.
Instead of making an impossible request, ask for something they *can* provide. A polite, “Excuse me, I’m feeling a bit chilly. Do you happen to have any extra blankets?” is a perfectly reasonable and solvable request.
