From the outside looking in, it might appear that flight attendants have an easy ride and while there are, of course, a lot of benefits to the job, such as free travel and the opportunity to see every corner of the world, it can also be a very challenging job. Flight attendants must undergo difficult training and, at times, they have to deal with some seriously horrible passengers.
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Behind that charming smile and charisma, your flight attendant is hiding plenty of secrets. Read on to discover what really goes on behind the scenes while you are kicking back with a gin and tonic and an in-flight movie.
Hands Behind Their Backs
Have you ever noticed that flight attendants always seem to greet passengers with their hands clasped behind their backs? It turns out that there is a legitimate reason for this. They are not just doing it to look smart.
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Hiding their hands behind their backs actually makes it easier when it comes to doing a head count on the plane. What you don’t know, is that behind their backs, they are actually keeping count on their fingers. They don’t want to draw too much attention to themselves as they are doing this.
Secret Compartment
When it comes to long-haul flights, you probably have a snooze several times throughout the journey, but what about the flight crew? Being on your feet and constantly attending to people’s needs must get exhausting after a while.
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Flight attendants are able to take breaks throughout the journey too. Big planes like Boeing 777 or 787 jets actually have secret sleeping cabins built in for the staff to use. These sleeping quarters are built above or below the galley and they aren’t visible to passengers. If you’re wondering where a flight attendant has gone, they’re probably snoozing in the cabin.
Keep Your Shoes On!
Being uncomfortable on a plane is something that most people can relate to. You end up spending the entire journey going through a range of different positions and being unable to decide whether you are too hot or too cold. Passengers often take off their shoes and walk around the cabin barefoot.
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While this is comfortable for them, it’s quite disgusting for the rest of the passengers. As a result, the floor of the plane is often very dirty. While any accidents on the plane do get cleaned up, cleaning supplies are limited so it’s often not as sanitary as you’d hope.
On Board Relationships
You might be wondering whether flight attendants ever get involved with each other. Relationships between crew members are quite common seeing as they spend so much time with each other in an enclosed space.
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While flight attendants do quite often get involved with each other, their main priority is, of course, to remain professional at all times. As with any other job, you wouldn’t want customers to get wind of your relationship.
Perks Of The Job
Flight attendants are fortunate enough to have access to free Wi-Fi and usage of their cellphones. This is a perk that all flyers wish they had. They are often using their phones for the duration of the flight, without the flyers’ knowledge.
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While the salary isn’t particularly high for flight attendants, they do have the opportunity to travel the globe and get paid while doing it. We can think of worse things! Imagine how many pins you’d be able to stick in your travel map!
Power To Restrain
You better make sure you behave yourself next time you fly! If you misbehave on a flight, then attendants have the authority to arrest you (or at least, restrain you). You might have seen people removed from a flight before take off or after landing, but what happens when someone is making a scene mid-flight?
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A flight attendant is well within their rights to restrain any passenger who is causing problems. They can use the seatbelt extensions as restraints and they also normally have zip ties available. After the misbehaving passenger has been restrained, they are usually placed in an area where they can’t be disruptive, until they are escorted off the plane at the next stop.
Secret Code
The flight crew have a code that they use in order to communicate with each other without the passengers knowing. They don’t want to cause any unnecessary panic for the passengers so it is important that they don’t catch on.
The sounds that you hear throughout the flight are there for a reason. The “dings” that you hear at the beginning and end of a flight are there to signal to the crew that the most dangerous stages of the flight are over.
On-flight Flirting
You’ll be surprised to know that many airlines don’t have policies on flight attendants getting flirty with passengers. So, if you find yourself attracted to your flight attendant, don’t be afraid to give it a shot. However, flight attendants get this all the time so it is more than likely that you’ll get rejected.
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Flight attendants spend a lot of time fighting off unwanted attention while they are trying to do their job. There is nothing stopping them finding a potential partner if someone tickles their fancy on the flight.
Making Mental Notes
It is always reassuring to see the friendly faces of the flight attendants as you board the plane. While they are trying to deliver good customer service and make you feel comfortable, they do have an ulterior motive.
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As the passengers enter the plane, the flight attendants make important assessments. They look each one up and down, keeping their eyes peeled for anyone who they think might cause problems. They are also taking note of anyone who is travelling alone, any passengers who might require extra assistance, and who might prove to be useful in an emergency.
Mind Your Manners
While you should treat others with respect as a general rule, it pays to be extra friendly to your flight attendant. Many flight attendants say they love customers who are smiley and polite. You’d be surprised at how many people don’t thank the flight attendants at the end of the flight.
If you are nice enough to your flight attendant, you might even end up getting an upgrade on your seats. It is also helpful to have a legitimate reason for being upgraded, such as being tall, pregnant, or if you are a frequent flyer.
Little Pay
Flight attendants have to be ready to work from the moment they get on the plane. They have to ensure that they have done all of the necessary safety checks before the flight and be ready to greet and assist passengers upon arrival. However, they aren’t actually paid for all of the work that they do before the plane takes off.
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Flight attendants only get paid for the hours when the engine has started and the plane is in motion. They only get their full rate from that moment onwards. Hours spent away from home but not in the air are compensated with a rate as low as $1.50 an hour.
It’s Illegal To Be Drunk
You need to be careful when you decide to have a drink or two before or during the flight. It is actually illegal to be drunk on a plane, so the flight attendants have to keep an eye on how much each passenger has drunk.
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You can actually end up with a two year sentence if you break this law. One fun thing about flying is that you tend to feel the alcohol more than you would on land, due to the changing cabin pressure. It is important to be aware of this though, in case you accidentally take it that bit too far.
Avoid Diet Coke
If you don’t want to irritate your flight attendant when they are serving drinks, then you should avoid ordering Diet Coke. Flight attendants aren’t too happy about it when a passenger requests Diet Coke, and for a good reason.
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Diet Coke is quite a bit fizzier than other carbonated drinks. At over 30,000 feet in the air, the bubbles take a really long time to settle. Flight attendants have to be very careful that it doesn’t overflow when they pour it, so it ends up taking about three times longer to pour than other drinks.
Lights During The Flight
If you’ve ever flown on a plane before, you will have noticed that as the plane prepares for takeoff and landing, the lights in the cabin are turned off. This is something which never gets explained, but people don’t tend to question it since it is so brief.
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There is, in fact, a good reason for this. Takeoff and landing are the most problematic stages of a flight. The lights are turned off so that people’s eyes can adjust to the light, in the event of an emergency. Patrick Smith, an airline pilot, explained this to the Telegraph: “Dimming the lights allows your eyes to pre-adjust to darkness so that you’re not suddenly blinded if something happens and the power goes out, and you’re dashing for the doors in darkness or smoke.”
Try To Avoid The Coffee
Many attendants wouldn’t advise drinking the coffee or tea served during the flight. While the water tends to be filtered and probably isn’t the same water that flows through the lavatories, it still might be sensible to pass on hot beverages that are made in flight.
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The tanks that the potable water is kept in don’t actually get cleaned as often as you might think. Sometimes, the valve for the lavatory water is located precariously close to the valve for the clean water. It could be a safe bet to just stick to the bottled and canned drinks.
Questionable Food
Another thing it might be sensible to steer clear of, is the in-flight food. While the meals may look as though they are balanced, the nutritional content of those meals is actually pretty shocking in reality.
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In-flight meals are loaded up with salt, sugar, fat, and simple carbs that make you feel full but actually have little to no nutritional value. We would recommend bringing your own food on board next time you are on a long-haul flight!
Not As Glamorous As You Think
While flight attendants may live an exciting life, with the opportunity to visit different places around the globe, the job isn’t all fun and games. On the ground it may seem as if they have a glamorous job, but once they are in the air, they just become waitresses and waiters.
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It is a demanding job and means that you are constantly tired from jet-lag. Sometimes you even have to work on back to back flights. You’ll often get 4AM wakeup calls and have to work on holidays. It means you have to go without seeing your family for long periods of time.
Consider Where You Sit
While sitting in first class might seem like an exciting prospect, in reality, it isn’t all that worth it. Studies have shown that in the event of a plane crash, the people sitting towards the front of the plane are more likely to die.
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The safest seats are those that are only a few rows from the emergency exit and the aisle seats. Studies have also shown that passengers in the rear of the plane have the highest survival rates in comparison to those in first class. Wherever you sit, always make sure that your seatbelt is fastened.
Visual Requirements
While the requirements to look a certain way and be a certain age are now long gone, there are still certain visual standards that flight attendants must adhere to so that they look neat and tidy throughout their shift.
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They have to have a natural hair colour and if it is long, it must be pulled back. One of the most important things that airlines consider nowadays is height. You can’t be so tall that your head constantly bumps the over-head bins, but you can’t be too short either.
Competitive Job
It is actually more difficult than you might think to get a job as a flight attendant. The competition can be quite fierce. You’ll be shocked to know that back in 2010, Harvard had a higher acceptance rate than Delta airlines did for their job openings.
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In 2010, Delta announced 1,000 openings and received over 100,000 applicants. Only four percent of those applications resulted in an interview. Considering how low the starting rate is for flight attendants (around $18,000 a year), the job is actually very demanding. It pays to be bilingual if you are interested in becoming a flight attendant, and excellent customer service skills are an essential prerequisite.
Oxygen Masks
The oxygen masks will fall from above your seat when the cabin pressure falls below a certain point, but it is unlikely that this will happen. Nonetheless, it is important to know how long this would allow you to breathe.
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The masks provide you with around 12 to 15 minutes of oxygen. This doesn’t seem like much time, but in the scheme of things, it is. In the event that you find yourself in a situation which requires use of these masks, you must try to relax and breathe.
Extra Baggage
Each passenger is entitled to at least one item of luggage per flight. Any additional baggage tends to be expensive. While planes are designed to accomodate one bag per passenger, extra bags don’t really effect anything.
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It is important that planes have the right centre of gravity for takeoff. Most airlines use sandbags to even out the weight if necessary. Given that extra baggage doesn’t make a difference to the flight, it does make you wonder why airlines charge so much.
Switch Off Mobile Data
Make sure that when the flight attendants make the announcement to switch off your mobile data, you do as they say. While it wouldn’t be the end of the world if you did leave it on, they have a very good reason for asking you to do it.
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If you leave your mobile data on, then the cellular signals can end up interfering with air traffic control frequencies. This isn’t ideal when the plane is trying to take off or land. Take off can sometimes be a long process regardless, so make sure you help to shorten the process.
Be Nice To The Staff
It pays to be nice to flight staff, since they have the power to determine where you sit. If you are rude or inappropriate to a member of staff then they might sit you amongst a bunch of crying babies, or in a particularly noisy area.
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Even if they give you the impression that everything is fine and continue to smile at you after you have been rude, you never know what might await you. The more polite and friendly you are, the more likely it is that if a seat in a nicer area becomes available, you might be upgraded.
Tipping
You might not be aware, but flight attendants can actually accept tips. In fact, they very much appreciate them. This is a perfect way to butter the staff up so that you end up with first-class treatment for the duration of your flight.
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Whether you are tipping with an ulterior motive or you genuinely want to do it to show your appreciation, you are guaranteed to make the flight attendant’s day. They deserve some encouragement for the hard work that they do.
Holidays
Going home for the holidays is always exciting, especially if it’s Christmas time. If you are going home for the holidays and you’re travelling by plane, it might be worth reconsidering wrapping your presents in advance.
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Airport security might have to unwrap and inspect your items. It might make more sense to keep everything in a gift bag. We are aware that this isn’t “on-flight” related, but it is an important tip all the same.
Dirty Pillows
The only time that those pillows and blankets you request are actually clean is during the first flight of the day. For all those who have a phobia of germs, this is bad news. They probably know this already, but this is to those who are unaware.
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It might be a good idea to bring something to use as a pillow next time, perhaps just an extra jacket for you to rest on. You can also buy yourself a horseshoe shaped pillow from the airport before the flight. Better to be safe than sorry!
Mile-high Club
While joining the “mile-high club” is an exciting prospect for a lot of people, it has been highly glamourised. Considering the fact that plane bathrooms are tiny, have awful lighting and are normally quite smelly, a mid-flight romp probably isn’t going to be that much fun.
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Flight attendants also tend to watch the bathrooms in case of any suspicious behaviour, so going inside the bathroom with another person, without anyone noticing can be a very difficult task. If you do end up getting caught, you could face some serious repercussions.
Empty Water Bottle
One way of saving money at the airport is by packing an empty water bottle. If your water bottle is full when you go through security, you will have to throw away its contents. To avoid having to then replace that, the best thing to do is to bring an empty bottle.
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Airports have water fountains so it is easy enough to fill your empty water bottle up. Think of the money you will save if you don’t have to pay for an overpriced water bottle on the plane. You could spend that money on a small snack instead!
Rudeness Will Get You Nowhere
As previously mentioned, if you are rude to the flight attendants, you will most likely end up worse off for it. There is no chance you’ll be getting any kind of upgrade, that’s for sure. You already knew that part, but you probably didn’t know the next part.
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If you are a frequent flyer and you have caused trouble on several occasions, this will be taken into account. You will have a black mark beside your name for the foreseeable future, which is never good.
Dirty Trays
On the same theme as the dirty pillows and blankets, the trays on aeroplanes also tend to be dirty. You should try to avoid even touching your tray, but definitely make sure your food doesn’t make contact with the tray.
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These trays are likely only cleaned about once a day. Considering how many germs will have built up on the tray during the day, this is really quite unhygienic. Apologies if you’re sitting there thinking about just how many plane trays you’ve eaten off in your lifetime!
Pilots Need Their Sleep Too
Wouldn’t it be amazing to be able to take a nap whilst on the job? If you are okay with being away from your family for long periods of time and like the idea of taking naps while you’re working, maybe you should consider being a pilot.
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The plane essentially flies itself, especially during long-haul flights. Pilots are mostly needed for the take off and landing and just checking that everything is running smoothly during the course of the flight. It’s a lot more relaxed than you might think!
Bomb Threats
This is something that could come as quite a shock to you and that most people don’t know. If there is a bomb threat during a flight and you are above the ocean at the time, then passengers will not be notified. You could be enjoying an in-flight film or taking a nap completely unaware that a bomb threat has just taken place.
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One of the most important jobs that a flight attendant has, is to help maintain peace on the plane and reassure everyone that things are running smoothly. If one person becomes panicked then this will likely result in other passengers feeling panicked.
Bring Your Own Headphones
Next time you travel, make sure that you bring your own headphones. Airline-issued headphones are sometimes free and sometimes not. It is unlikely that you will ever actually reuse them. They are far too flimsy and aren’t particularly good quality.
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Depending on the length of your flight, it is more than likely that you will engage in some in-flight entertainment. This will be so much more enjoyable if you have some good headphones at your disposal. Flights can be quite noisy at the best of times, so noise cancelling headphones would be ideal.
Air Marshals
If you thought there was an air marshal on every flight, you thought wrong. While the exact number of air marshals isn’t public knowledge, CNN reported that the number of air marshals was being cut by around 3,500 back in 2014.
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You could well have sat next to an air marshal before on a flight without knowing about it. Air marshals wear normal clothing so that their presence goes unnoticed. They are there to prevent terrorist attacks, so it is important that they don’t draw attention to themselves.
Brace Position
When flight attendants go through the safety procedures before a flight, one thing that they detail is the “brace position.” This is when passengers put their head to their knees and lightly cup the back of their head, in the event of a crash. Many people are sceptical about the efficacy of this.
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However, this position is actually useful in that it compacts the body and protects vital organs from injury. This topic has been very hotly debate for years and Myth Busters even dedicated an entire episode to it.
Medical Emergencies
Medical emergencies could happen at any time during the course of a flight. Fortunately, flight attendants and the rest of the crew have been trained to deal with a variety of situations that might arise mid-flight. Flight attendants are trained to act as first responders in the event that there is a medical emergency mid-flight. They are taught how to perform CPR and the Heimlich manoeuvre. Planes are also equipped with defibrillators and first aid kits.
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If a more serious situation arises which they are not equipped to deal with, the flight attendants will likely ask if there is a doctor on board, which, more often than not, there is. If the situation is really bad, a pilot may be forced to ground the plane. This tends to take 15 minutes or so, unless it is an overseas flight.
Safety
If you are someone who worries about the safety of planes, you will be pleased to know that the crew go through a number of safety checks before the flight. Some passengers are still afraid that something might go wrong during the flight.
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Planes are designed so that they are very reliable and strong. Most are even able to withstand a lightning strike without any serious damage being caused. Even so, you must ensure that you wear your seatbelt for the duration of the flight.
The Captain Has The Final Say
The captain is the ultimate authority once the plane takes off, according to flight attendants. It is actually them who make all of the decisions when it comes to troublesome passengers. They are also the ones who have to decide what to do during an emergency.
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Arresting passengers is about the only thing the captain of a plane can’t do. If there is a passenger causing issues then they can alert the authorities, who will be waiting to arrest the person as soon as the plane lands.
Sharing Food
Most airlines have guidelines in place that states that flight attendants can’t share food on planes. This rule is there in order to avoid food poisoning. While they are allowed to eat pre-made meals, most make the decision to bring their own food on a flight.
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On international flights, crew meals are always provided, but on domestic flights, this sometimes isn’t the case. It is generally safer for flight attendants to bring their own food. If you are going to be working for hours on end, it is important to have nice food to look forward to.
Leftover Food
As we have previously mentioned, plane food can be very questionable, so you might be pleased to hear that the food tends to get thrown away when the plane lands. This isn’t always the case, it is down to the captain to decide.
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While it isn’t generally good practice to waste food, this is the reality of the airline industry. Giving the leftover food to a shelter isn’t really an option. While this is a nice idea, the food often isn’t good enough quality to be able to give to a shelter.
Food Isn’t Fresh
Flight attendants will tell you that the food you receive during the flight has been freshly prepared. This is hard to believe when the food is put in front of you. In truth, most of those meals are made 12 to 72 hours in advance.
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Does this sound freshly made to you? We aren’t totally convince ourselves. These in-flight meals are packed in such a way that they can be refrigerated for up to five days and still be labeled as completely safe to eat.
Human Remains
If you have ever managed to get close enough to a plane’s baggage compartment, you might have noticed something. It’s not just your baggage that is being stowed away on planes. There is something a little more dark that is often stored on-board…
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Flight attendants have revealed that there are often human remains on-board as well. This may sound a little morbid, but it is necessary. If someone passes away while travelling, then they will need to be repatriated. One of the most efficient ways to do this is through a commercial flight.
What If The Engine Dies?
Have you ever wondered what would happen if the engine died mid-flight? This is something that is never revealed to us. It is very unlikely that this will happen, so it isn’t worth mentioning it to the passengers since this will cause panic.
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The truth is, planes can actually still glide if the engine suddenly stops functioning. Pilots are also trained to deal with this scenario. While it may seem a scary prospect, it is not something you really need to worry about.
Travelling With Pets
Some airlines allow passengers to travel with pets. This can be necessary for people who have a pet for therapy purposes or if they are moving to another country. You might be wondering whether flying is actually good for pets…
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One flight attendant warns that while airlines try and make the flight as comfortable as they can for the animals on-board, there are certain issues that can’t be avoided. Noise is one of these issues. If your pet is extra sensitive to noise then perhaps flying isn’t the best option for them.
Cutting Ticket Costs
If you are someone who flies a lot, you might be asking yourself whether flying with an economy airline is less safe than other airlines. The ticket is always cheaper and you do wonder how this is possible. What corners have these airlines cut so that they can sell their tickets for less?
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When it comes to passengers’ safety, airlines absolutely cannot cut corners. The safety of the passenger is the most important thing. Things like legroom, seat selection, and baggage fees are ways that airlines can cut costs.
Best Time To Fly
The best time to fly is early in the day. It is cheaper, faster and strategically wiser than travelling at any other time of day. It also means that you maximise the amount of time that you spend at your destination. While this means getting up earlier, it is definitely worth it, and you can always take a nap during the flight!
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Weather is also an important factor. The earlier you are able to wake up and get on a flight, the more likely you are to avoid thunderstorms. The air tends to be less “bumpy” earlier on in the day, so there is less turbulence. If you are someone that can’t stand turbulence, then we would definitely suggest booking an earlier flight!