To some, working in an airline may seem like a really fun job. You get to work and travel to different parts of the world at the same time.
But that doesn’t mean their job isn’t any less stressful than other jobs. It’s not easy to maintain good posture, stand for several hours, smile and greet every passenger, and keep your composure throughout the entire flight. Being a flight attendant is a tough job, but did you know that some flight attendants have tricks up their sleeves to make their job a little easier?
Ever notice how flight attendants tend to keep their hands behind their backs when they greet you while you’re boarding the plane? Well, it turns out, it’s not only for posture, but flight attendants do this to make it easier for them to do the headcount.
But how? Flight attendants would count the number of passengers with their hands behind their backs. After all, it wouldn’t look professional if they did it in front.
Some flights take longer than others, and it can be too exhausting to keep standing up during the majority of the flight. That’s why big planes like Boeing 777 or 787 jets give flight attendants the option to rest. But where?
Well, they have their own secret built-in cabin. It’s usually located above or below the galley. Next time you notice that your favorite flight attendant disappeared, it might be because they’re trying to rest during break time.
Do you ever just get the urge to take off your socks during a long flight? Flight attendants would actually discourage you from doing this. Although the plane may seem clean at first glance, it isn’t as sanitized as you think it is.
Every day, hundreds of passengers would ride the plane and despite the fact that it gets cleaned before every flight, the residue of fluids and other substances may still be there. So next time you feel the urge to take off your socks and go barefoot, think twice.
In case a passenger starts misbehaving during the flight, flight attendants are trained to deal with this situation. Unruly passengers are usually confronted by the flight attendants.
They are tasked to calm the passenger down and when the need arises, they are permitted to restrain aggressive passengers. They also have zip ties and seatbelt extensions to help them in restraining the passenger. Most of the time, the unruly passenger will be escorted out of the plane at the first stop.
We’ve seen this scenario in adult-rated movies, a couple sneaking into the plane’s bathroom 3,000 feet above the ground. But is it even possible? Well, in case you’re curious, the mile-high club is nothing but a raunchy fantasy.
Airplane staff stands consistently on guard, and the chances of an adventurous couple sneaking into the bathroom together are close to zero. Besides, getting it on 3,000 feet above the ground may seem romantic at first glance, but being in a cramped space with poor ventilation isn’t that endearing at all. So it’s better to keep your hands to yourselves during the flight and enjoy the view.
Although being a flight attendant may seem exhausting, it does have good perks. Aside from the fact that they can pretty much travel the world while working, most airlines would let their staff use their phones throughout the duration of the flight.
Not only that, but they have unlimited access to the wifi too!
During the flight, the airplane staff would consistently communicate with each other. But it’s not verbal all the time. Sometimes, they would need to share confidential information with each other but how do they do this without letting the passengers know? They follow a secret code.
Whenever you hear the bells and chimes during the flight, it usually serves as a signal for the staff. The ding during the beginning and the end of the flight serves as an indicator for the crew that the plane safely made it through the most dangerous part of the flight.
Most airline companies don’t restrict their flight attendants from making acquaintances. In case you find one of the flight attendants during your flight cute and develop a crush, you can actually make friends with them as most airline companies don’t have policies against it. But be careful, most flight attendants may have encountered this scenario several times already.
But if you want to test your luck, you’re free to be chummy with them, just be courteous about it!
Before you board the plane, you’ll notice how the flight attendants would try to greet each and every passenger with a smile on their face. But unbeknownst to the passenger, they’re actually trying to silently evaluate you. They make quick assessments of which passengers could be potentially problematic, which passenger is intoxicated, and which passenger might need extra assistance.
They create mental notes in order to help them maintain a good quality flight experience for everyone.
Contrary to popular belief, being a flight attendant doesn’t pay that well. Before the flight starts, they’re tasked to do safety checks and greet passengers.
But did you know that flight attendants only get paid for the hours after the engine starts? Any hours they spent before that, they might not even be getting any compensation, or if there is, it would be really low. It seems being a flight attendant isn’t as glamorous as it sounds.
Although you can get alcohol in the plane, did you know that getting drunk during the flight can actually get you in trouble? It’s illegal for flight attendants to enable passengers to get intoxicated. Not only will you get in trouble, but the flight attendant assisting you as well.
Getting intoxicated during a flight is highly discouraged due to the changing cabin pressure which can cause alcohol to have a stronger effect in your body.
Aside from the fact that it’s cozier with fewer lights on, there’s actually a good reason why airline companies do this. As mentioned earlier, the most problematic part of a flight is the landing and the take-off.
The pilot would usually turn off the lights during these times to help everyone’s eyes adjust in the event of an emergency.
Although allowed, it’s highly discouraged for passengers to order coffee and tea during a flight. But why? It’s because the tanks that keep the potable water don’t get cleaned often.
Some airplanes may even have the valve for the lavatory water and the valve for the clean water next to each other. So before ordering your favorite coffee during the flight, try to consider this fact first.
At first glance, they may seem appetizing and even healthy-looking but make no mistake, the food they serve is also packed with salt, sugar, fat, and simple carbs.
They can make you feel full and satisfy your appetite but they have little to no nutritional value. If that makes you uncomfortable, you can pack your own food and bring it with you next time.
If you’ve been contemplating whether you should upgrade to first class, you might want to consider this fact.
First-class seats are usually positioned in front of the plane. In the event of a plane crash, people who are sitting in front of the plane are most likely to die.
Interestingly enough, people who are seated by the rear side of the plane have higher chances of survival. But regardless of where you are seated, always make sure to follow the plane’s safety protocols!
Oxygen masks are usually deployed during emergencies when the cabin pressure drops to a certain point. But did you know, there’s actually a time limit to how long you can use the oxygen mask?
You can usually use the masks for only around 12 to 15 minutes.
But don’t fret, that’s enough time for passengers to relax and breathe while the pilot works on getting the plane to a safe altitude.
Flight attendants are tasked to consistently look good, of course, this is because they are what the passenger sees for most of the flight and they also carry the airline’s name.
Ever wonder why you never see a flight attendant with crazy hair colors? It’s cause airlines require flight attendants to retain their natural hair color.
They’re also required to pull their hair back to keep a sleek, clean look. Airline companies are also keen when it comes to height, you can’t be too short or you won’t be able to reach some items comfortably, you can’t be too tall either or else you’ll keep bumping your head into the overhead bins.
Although it’s been an unspoken rule that passengers must limit their baggage to one bag per person, it won’t really cause that much trouble for the plane if you bring more but you’ll have to pay some hefty fees if you plan to go beyond the limit. It won’t really affect the flight that much.
But of course, this doesn’t mean you can just sneak more bags in.
Planes need to have the right center of gravity or balance in order to take off without any problems.
Constantly dealing with rude passengers can be really stressful for flight attendants. That’s why they really appreciate it when passengers are kind to them.
In fact, if they find you too kind, you can even score an upgrade! If there are more seats available, you might be lucky enough to get an upgrade.
But don’t be kind to flight attendants just cause you might score an upgrade, it’s better to be kind to them because their job is exhausting and it’s the right thing to do.