Flight Attendant Real Talk
Being a flight attendant seems like one of the coolest jobs in the world. They always look sharp and professional decked out in their uniforms. They’ve always got a big bright smile, plus they get to travel all around the world! They make our onboard experience better and reassure us whenever things get a little shakey. But you don’t know the real story of what really goes on behind the scenes of every flight. We’ve got the real version of events from flight attendants of all ages, seniorities, and airlines. They’re giving it to us straight and sharing all their secrets.
Check out what they have to say, and keep some of their tips in mind for your next flight!
Up In The Air Secret Code
How do the flight attendants communicate with one another without us getting a hint of what is being said? A secret code! The aircrew sends each other updates that go right over our heads. It’s best that certain messages aren’t overheard by passengers, they don’t want everyone to start panicking for no reason!
Up In The Air Secret Code
If you’re on board and you hear a bell or a chime it’s not for the hell of it, it’s part of the code. The aircrew reveals the “dings” you hear at the beginning of the flight is actually a signal for the crew that the precarious stage of the flight is over, after takeoff and after landing.
When Lightning Strikes
If you’ve flown multiple times then you might’ve seen a thunderstorm happening while you’re gazing out your window. Flight attendants have divulged that there’s a possibility of the plane being hit by lightning, but it isn’t the threat you think it might be! The chance of something like that happening is incredibly rare, but the plane is well prepared to handle it.
When Lightning Strikes
The exterior of a plane is usually made out of aluminum, if you paid attention in chemistry class you’d know it’s a great conductor of electricity! The lightning will travel through the outer layer of the plane without affecting it at all. You might feel slight turbulence but that would be the worst of it!
Up In The Air Romance
The combination of the secret code, different lifestyle, and being away from family and loved ones can create the perfect atmosphere for romance! Though it’s never a great idea to get involved with a coworker there are times when flight attendants can’t help it. Every once in a while, a member of the flight crew might fall head over heels for another attendant.
Up In The Air Romance
It’s been said that casual flings and hookups are quite common! The romantic vibe can get in the way of a professional demeanour, so the crew is advised to keep any feelings strictly between themselves. So don’t expect any proposals from one attendant to another while you’re on a flight!
Brace Position
If you’ve been on a plane before you probably remember the main rules of the safety instructional video. The flight attendants as well as the video demonstration will show you how to perform the “brace position”. This is where you hold your head towards your knees and protect the back of your head.
Brace Position
There are certain conspiracies that claim this position will do little to protect you in the case of an emergency, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth. The main objective of the brace position is to keep your vital organs and head protected. However, the vast majority of flights reach their destinations without any hiccups, so there’s no need to worry about getting into this position anytime soon!
Turn Off The Lights
Have you ever wondered why all the lights on the plane are turned off right before takeoff and landing? The answer has to do with the fact these maneuvers are significantly more complicated than simply staying in the air. The dark cabin makes it easier for the pilot to see the path-lighting. But another reason has to do with dealing with any unexpected situations.
Turn Off The Lights
Flight attendants can also turn off the lights so passengers’ eyes can adjust to the light in case of an emergency. Apparently, this is supposed to help us take action and get around more easily in case of an emergency. Yikes! Maybe they shouldn’t have told us that? For us nervous flyers there are some secrets that are better left unsaid!
Happy Feet
Flight attendants are completely grossed out by a passenger who walks around the cabin barefoot. Why is that? That is, aside from the obvious reason that no one wants to see a stranger’s stink feet! Well, flight attendants know that the plane is not the most hygienic and sanitary environment to walk barefoot in.
Happy Feet
Yes, the plane gets cleaned and the aircrew does its best with the limited cleaning supplies, but can you imagine how many germs are lying around? It’s enough to turn a sane person into a complete germaphobe at least until landing, so please be sure to keep your shoes on at all times. If you really want to get comfort we would suggest a pair of thick socks!
First Class – Think Again
You might think that shelling out the extra cash for a first-class seat gets you extra space, better food, and excellent customer service. And you’d be right, but there’s a downside that not many people are aware of. Studies show that in the event of a crash, those who are sitting towards the front of the plane are least likely to survive.
First Class – Think Again
The safest seats are actually those next to the emergency exit and aisle seats. Sitting in coach doesn’t seem so bad all of a sudden! We guess there are always downsides to the life of luxury. But wherever you find yourself seated, you should always fasten your seat belt to be on the safe side.
Can Kill You (Softly) With Their Thumb
The crew onboard is trained to restrain any passenger that poses a risk to themselves or others. So you’d better make sure you’re on your best behavior once you board! When flight attendants need to use force they can restrain and even arrest someone who’s misbehaving. If problems start before takeoff the troublemaker will be swiftly removed from the flight.
Can Kill You (Softly) With Their Thumb
If it happens mid-flight, the crew can use zip ties or seat belt extensions to keep them seated. The law-breaking passenger will be placed in an area where he can’t disturb anyone else on the flight. And once the plane lands they’ll really be in hot water! The moment the plane lands they can expect a trip to the nearest police station.
Extra Baggage
You might think your extra baggage can cause problems during the flight. But the truth is that the additional bags you paid extra for will hardly affect the plane! Meaning, we are charged extra for the weight that can actually even help level the weight of the plane to the right center of gravity for takeoff.
Extra Baggage
It may be an annoying rule, but don’t try to get around them as your bags might get lost or relocated “accidentally”. You should know that in order to maintain this weight balance, the airline industry has employed a longtime practice of loading (in some cases, even up to 600 pounds of) sandbags into the cargo hold to even out the weight.
Play Nice
From the moment you step onto the plane to the moment you land, be nice to the flight crew! It’s definitely not a good idea to get mouthy, rude, or even worse, downright offensive. Believe it or not, flight attendants actually have a special superpower that allows them to decide where you sit.
Play Nice
If you don’t play nice they just might “accidentally” reassign you to a seat right next to a screaming infant! So please be nice, it will be better for you and for the crew. Who knows, if you’re polite enough you might even find yourself getting your seat upgraded at no charge (though you should still behave well regardless of any perks!).
Air Marshals
There is an urban legend that every flight has an air marshal on board But how true is this “fact” exactly? Well, it turns out it’s more than a little far-fetched. After all, how many air marshals are actually out there? The real number is not known to the public. Therefore you’ll never be able to know if one has made it onto your flight.
Air Marshals
You won’t even be able to tell whether or not one is sitting right next to you! They don’t wear a badge or a uniform, instead, they’re dressed in civilian clothing. Make no mistake – they’re armed on board because they are supposed to protect us in the case of an attack. Their job is to keep us all safe!
The Hunger Games
Flight attendants recommend you stay away from the airline’s food if you are trying to eat healthily. Meals are usually served on longer flights (if you can call them that). While the food isn’t all that bad it’s loaded with calories, sugar, and sodium. Not exactly the kind of grub you’d pick up at a Whole Foods.
The Hunger Games
Not to mention your taste buds work differently while you’re up in the air, anything you eat just might taste a bit off. If you really can’t stand the idea of filling up on airline fare you might want to consider bringing your own meal. Just be careful not to get anything too smelly. We’d advise against the pickled herring!
Pilot Nap Time
Most of us do our best to stay pumped and awake while we’re working hard at the office or sitting through a long meeting. We can usually survive with a few cups of coffee, but it’s a whole different story when it comes to the person flying the plane. Pilots, much like flight attendants, need time to take breaks and rest.
Pilot Nap Time
As you can probably imagine, taking time to get some shuteye is crucial to their performance, There’s always the autopilot function, but during long flights, especially when landing or taking off, you want your pilots at the top of their game. That includes a little down time so they can recharge and bring us home safely.
The Mile High Club
This idea of up-in-the-air action has been running through people’s heads for as long as planes have been invented. There are always rumors going around about certain individuals getting busy in the bathroom stall. But is there any truth to this myth? Let us answer that question with a question.
The Mile high Club
Have you seen the inside of an airplane lavatory and does it look like a comfortable place to get laid? Flight attendants want us to know that they’ve got their eye on the bathrooms, so if you walk in with another person it will get their attention. If they do catch some monkey business going on it won’t be pretty. There are serious repercussions, including charges of indecent exposure.
Breathe In, Breathe Out
If you’ve taken the time to watch the entire in-flight safety video you might remember the part that shows the oxygen masks that drop from the ceiling. But did you know they have a time limit? Oxygen masks are intended to help passengers when the cabin pressure falls in the case of an emergency, but how long can you use them?
Breathe In, Breathe Out
According to the flight crew, the oxygen masks are good for up to fifteen minutes. This is intended to be the maximum amount of time it would take for an experienced pilot to safely land the plane. By the time the masks stop working, you won’t need them anymore. And don’t worry, the majority of flights don’t even reach this point!
How You Doing?
This one might come as a surprise to many of you. Did you know most airlines have no rule against flight attendants getting together with passengers? There might be an unspoken vow that most crew members try to adhere by, but nothing can stop a moment of romantic tension between a stewardess and a boarding passenger.
How You Doing?
Many flight attendants, unfortunately, deal with unwanted attention and advances, so it’s always best to assume they’re just doing their job rather than hitting on you. However, you might find yourself lucky enough to get a phone number slipped to you while you’re being served a glass of Coca-Cola. Let’s hope the hotel room you booked has room for two!
All Aboard
We know, we know, you hate how long it takes to board the plane at the terminal. When you’re anxiously awaiting your flight it can feel like forever before you actually get to set foot on the plane. While it may feel frustrating you’re going to want to follow the rules to a T, don’t even think about boarding before you’re instructed.
All Aboard
The flight crew is going to have their eyes on you before you’ve boarded, and they’ll definitely be on the lookout for any rule-breaking behavior. If they find someone being overly rude to the crew then they may be stopped and questioned. You might be eager to get the flight started but this is the time to be patient and keep your cool.
It’s Oh So Quiet
You might be a generally soft-spoken person, but if you’re onboard a flight you might need to break that habit fast! If you need something from the flight crew then you’re going to have to speak up, the plane’s engine can get quite noisy. Don’t make that poor attendant lean in too close.
It’s Oh So Quiet
If you’re particularly sensitive to loud sounds you might consider getting some noise-canceling headphones. Fussy sleepers will find these extremely helpful when it comes to getting some sleep during their trip. Just be sure you don’t have these on during takeoff and landing, there might be important instructions that you actually need to listen to!
Hands Behind Your Back
You may have never noticed this little quirk, but if you pay attention you’ll notice that the flight crew greets you with their hands behind their back. But why is that? It’s not just the way they prefer to stand, there’s actually a very sound reason to it. Flight attendants keep their hands folded behind them in order to conduct a headcount of all the passengers boarding
Hands Behind Your Back
Yes, they count with their fingers! They prefer to keep this method unseen as visible counting might be considered rude or unprofessional to the people boarding the flight. This has been a lesser known secret for a long time. That is until now!
Upgrade Much?
You’ve probably heard stories from friends or family that involve getting a surprise upgrade onboard. If you’re extra polite to the flight crew they might want to offer you a reward, but don’t expect to be moved to first class just because you said “please” or “thank you”! You might get an extra pack of peanuts but a seat upgrade is much rarer.
Upgrade Much?
However, there are cases in which a person’s seat will get upgraded free of charge. These occasions usually happen with pregnant women, tall people, or frequent flyers. Just so long as there’s extra room in first class! Otherwise, you’re going to have to get comfortable in the seat you were assigned when you bought your ticket.
Is There A Doctor On Board?
With so many people boarding planes every day you’d expect a medical emergency to come up every now and again. Flight attendants are well trained to assess and manage all kinds of health-related situations. In a crucial moment, they’ll know exactly what action to take, that includes asking if there’s a doctor onboard the flight.
Is There A Doctor On Board?
The pilot can also land the plane in the case of a serious medical situation. It will comfort you to know that the flight attendants and the pilot are ready to handle any kind of scenario that could happen on board. From panic attacks to someone giving birth, they’re truly trained for anything that could happen.
Open a Window
Flight attendants all over the world have heard numerous jokes from passengers about opening a window. Some think it’s funny others actually experience flight anxiety so the request for fresh air is real and honest. But the danger of opening the emergency door unnecessarily is very real.
Open A Window
Each and every time this request is made the crew has to patiently explain that they can’t open the emergency door. This would deploy the emergency slides and would involve them having to cancel flights to repair them. So if you think a window joke will entertain the staff, it most definitely won’t. And if you are stressed about the flight just take a deep breath, it will be over soon!
The Job’s Not For Everybody
The job of a flight attendant might seem easy and glamourous, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. It’s actually a lot of hard work, long hours, not to mention the constant battle against jet lag. If that doesn’t sound difficult enough then imagine needing to wake up for a shift at 4 o’clock in the morning!
Not For Everybody
That’s not even getting into the fact you have to work weekends and holidays, plus all the time you spend away from family and friends. While this job is a dream for a lot of people it’s certainly not for everyone. After everything we’ve listed do you think you’d be cut out for flight attendant life?
Power Nap
When you’re on board you’ll probably notice the flight attendants running back and forth across the plane. You can plainly see how hard they’re working. They obviously deserve a break too and they have the perfect place to get some rest and relaxation. On large planes such as Boeing 777 or 787, there are hidden sleeping cabins where the staff can close their eyes and sleep.
Power Nap
If you think a particular flight attendant has been missing in action that’s probably where they are. These planes are practically their homes most of the time, so it makes sense that they’d have their own private quarters where they can stretch out and unwind.
Movie Time!
Entertainment on commercial flights has gotten a major upgrade over the years. Most planes will have a screen built into the back of every chair, and the selection is enough to last hundreds of hours! There’s always a variety of TV shows and films to select, from new releases to the classics. However, you might be compelled to bring your own device with your own digital library.
Movie time!
If you decide to watch off your phone, tablet, or laptop, be sure you’ve got headphones to use! Flight attendants can’t stand people who think it’s okay to watch a movie on speaker, it’s totally inconsiderate and disturbs everyone on board. A word to the wise; don’t forget your headset before your flight!
Red And Green Lights
When you’re taking off you might feel compelled to look out your window, that is, if you’ve got a window seat. Before the plane has reached its peak you might notice red and green flashing lights on the terminal. Flight attendants tell us that there’s an important purpose for these lights, they’re far from random.
Red And Green Lights
These are meant to signal to the pilot and crew the direction the plane is flying. With so many planes coming in and out of the airport it’s important that they follow air traffic control’s instructions. Different patterns can also signal messages to the pilot, such as informing them that another aircraft is headed in their direction and that they need to make some room!
Skip Your Diet Coke
While the flight crew offers all types of beverages onboard, there’s one you might want to skip out on for the sake of their sanity! Asking for a fizzy drink complicates things for the staff, at 30,000 feet in the air it can take ages for those bubbles to settle! Plus they have to make sure the cup doesn’t overflow and make a mess.
Skip Your Diet Coke
If you want to cut them some slack it would help to ask for water or juice instead. According to flight attendants, it takes about three times as long to pour a soft drink from the can as it does for other beverages. But don’t fret, they’ll still serve you even if they’re bubbling with frustration.
The Perks Of The Job
You’ve read about all the challenges flight attendants face on the job. Now you’re probably wondering what the heck the perks are! Surely there’s got to be something about this career people find enticing. Well for starters they’re able to fly around the world totally free of charge! If that doesn’t sound sweet enough then you might want to consider the fact that they get free wifi and phone service throughout every flight.
The Perks Of The Job
These few perks are worth half the hassle of this job and take our word for it, it’s hard work and not as easy as it seems. But if you’re the jet setting type then you might find it to be the ideal job!
Airplane Mode
We all know the routine of switching our cellphones to airplane mode before takeoff. We’re sure anyone reading this has wondered whether or not it actually makes a difference. The answer is definitely yes! The flight crew isn’t lying when they give you these instructions – cellular signals can interfere with air traffic control frequencies.
Airplane Mode
You can imagine that this is far from ideal when the plane is trying to take off or land. Keep this in mind during your next flight and be sure to take this rule seriously. And remember, you’ll always be able to switch your phone back once the plane’s taken off. You’ll have plenty of time to play Candy Crush during the flight!
Coffee? Tea?
The aircrew suggests you stick to water when you’re flying, so don’t drink tea or coffee. Your caffeine addiction will have to wait until landing because the hot water tanks don’t get cleaned as much as you would like to think. So their tip for you: drink bottled water or canned beverages until you’re safe on the ground after landing.
Coffee? Tea?
If you are in desperate need of your caffeine shot, it may be more sensible to have it at the airport terminal right before the flight. Just be aware that caffeine can intensify any uneasiness you might feel about flying. Another reason to stick to water over a cup of Joe!
Please Don’t Stop The Music – Bring Your Headphones
Most people like to keep themselves occupied with music or movies while on board. Most commercial airlines offer inflight entertainment; all the films and TV shows a person could possibly want on one little screen. All you need is a pair of headphones to plug into the jack. But what happens if you forget your precious earbuds?
Please Don’t Stop The Music – Bring Your Headphones
Well, you could always get a pair from the flight crew, though you might have to cough up some cash for it. Even if they offer complimentary headsets they might not be the cleanest, and the quality will most definitely be poor. A pro tip from the experts; don’t leave your headphones at home! Bringing them on board will improve your flight dramatically.
Drinks Anyone?
What happens when a passenger gets too drunk and starts causing a scene midflight? The flight attendants will immediately cut them off and stop the liquor flow for the rest of the trip. The crew is actually obligated to do so, ensuring no intoxicated passenger will endanger themselves or others on the plane.
Drinks Anyone?
You might want to reconsider that inflight drink altogether after hearing this fact. The effects of alcohol are intensified while you’re in the air. If you think you’re a bad drunk on the ground you’ll be even worse on a plane! So next time maybe pass on the offer for a second drink and think it over for everyone’s sake.
Loud And Clear But Not Too Loud
While it’s advised to speak up during the flight you don’t want to raise your voice too much. Shouting or yelling is definitely not advised as it could get you in trouble with the flight crew, speaking at a slightly higher volume is more recommended. There are enough noises on the plane as it is!
Loud And Clear But Not Too Loud
Don’t forget to be mindful of all the other passengers, there are people trying to sleep or keep their babies from waking up and crying. Your eardrums are getting enough of a workout on the plane as it is. By the way, if you feel a ringing in your ear all you need to do is swallow and they’ll pop! Pretty cool trick, huh?
Welcome Aboard
Think the flight crew is checking you out while you’re boarding? You’d be correct! But it’s not for the reasons you think, don’t assume you’re about to score a date with a flight attendant once you land! When they first greet you and do a once-over they’re trying to assess the behavior and character of each passenger to determine who might need special attention.
Welcome Aboard
Certain passengers might appear to have anxiety and others might look like they’re prone to rowdy and unruly behavior. Flight attendants need to be one step ahead of the game, and being able to assess what kind of people they’ll be traveling with is absolutely crucial to having everything under control.
Chitchat In The Aisle
Sometimes, especially on long flights, you’ll feel the need to stretch out your legs and walk along the aisles. That’s totally understandable, and the flight attendants completely understand, but it’s always important to be aware of your surroundings. Look around to make sure you’re not bothering anyone who is trying to nap or getting in the way of someone trying to pass through.
Chitchat In The Aisle
According to the staff, the worst scenario is when passengers block the aisle when they stand. Especially if they’re talking over someone’s head or preventing the crew from getting around. It’s okay to say hi to someone you know and pass the time together, just make sure you’re being considerate!