The 9 best questions you should ask flight attendants to ensure a smoother, more enjoyable flight

Though there's something called clear air turbulence that can pop up unexpectedly, the flight crew generally has an idea of how bumpy the ride will be ahead of time.

If you're someone who tends to get motion sickness, that's something you'll want to tell your flight attendant.

"We can give you a motion sickness bag, ginger ale, and make sure to keep an eye on you," Strickland said. "The last thing we want is for someone to get physically ill."

Use it to fill a hot water bottle, which can alleviate back pain or warm you up in a freezing cabin. Strickland said another trick is to dab a napkin in hot water and place it over your ear, which helps relieve sinus pressure.

The gate agent is always your best bet for securing a confirmed seat change, but if you didn't make it to the counter before your flight, the flight attendant can help you arrange a switch.

"If there are open seats, passengers can ask for a seat change to allow them more room to comfortably spread out," said Stephen Robinson, a flight attendant with CommutAir.

If you're an anxious flier, Robinson recommends asking for an aisle seat.

"An aisle seat gives you free range to get up if you are feeling nervous," Robinson told Business Insider. Then you don't have the anxiety of having to climb over someone or maneuver to get up."

Snagging a seat near the front of the aircraft or near the wing can also make nervous fliers feel more stable, Robinson said.

Robinson recommends them for passengers who experience ear and sinus discomfort when flying.

"They help keep the pressure from building too quickly," he said.

Contrary to popular belief, the crew can't call ahead and hold your next flight for you. But there are things they can do to help you avoid missing it. Flight attendants have the scoop on the location of your connecting gate and the fastest way to get there.

"Newark is my home base, so I know that if we arrive in Terminal A, they'll be departing from Terminal C," Robinson said. "I can give them the best route to get to one terminal from the other without having to go in and out of the security area again."

Let the cabin crew know if you have special circumstances, like needing to make it to a major event. Paul Bowles, a flight attendant with a US legacy airline, flies to and from Paris several times a month. His crew helped a couple with a tight connection avoid missing their own wedding.

"We moved them to the very front of the aircraft and coordinated with the team on the ground to make sure they were first off and escorted through the airport," he said.

When looking at your boarding pass for your next flight, don't confuse the boarding time with the actual takeoff time. Bowles told us you have a window of about 15 to 20 minutes after the listed boarding time to get to your next gate and still make it on the plane.

Bowles said many passengers don't realize their route includes complimentary alcoholic beverages or other freebies. Delta, for example, offers on-the-house beer, wine, and spirits (and headphones, too) to all seat classes on long-haul international flights.

A flight attendant's primary concern is your safety in the air, but they're also a wealth of knowledge about hotspots on the ground. Bowles loves tipping off passengers to the perfect spot for a romantic dinner or suggesting where to take an important client for lunch.

"Tell your flight attendant one or two of your interests and they can easily suggest the best things to do in 24 hours," he said. "If I don't fly the route often, chances are I can grab another flight attendant who does."

As the main point of contact between the passenger and the airline, flight attendants bear the brunt of dealing with issues from bad weather to lost bags. If your trip goes awry, tap into their expertise to help get your travel plans back on track.

"No matter whose fault the problem was, the flight attendant is the one you see," Strickland said. "We'll try our best to help you deal with the situation."

On some airlines, flight attendants have the power to compensate you for your troubles via frequent flier miles. The same goes for in-flight issues, like if your TV monitor is broken or your seat doesn't recline.

Your flight attendant may also be able to ease the pain of travel interruptions with free perks.

"I can sometimes offer a free drink or free earbuds if there was a delay," Bowles said.