The life of a flight attendant isn’t as glamorous as most films would have us believe. The jet-setting that comes with it is thrilling at first, but after a while, the job's demanding nature becomes consuming. Working in the airline industry still serves as a worthwhile learning experience for airline crew members. They also become privy to several trade secrets the industry keeps hidden from passengers.
Some of these hidden facts about flying are pretty hilarious, while others leave us raising our eyebrows and questioning our decision to take our next flight. Let alone the standards of cleanliness or lack thereof that we’ve heard about the cabin before, an assortment of things will give you a new perspective of the time spent in a plane. Here are a few revelations about flying made by flight attendants that passengers might not have known about before.
Why Is Airplane Mode Important?
It is a federal requirement to switch off your phone and other similar devices during takeoff and landing while traveling in flights within the US, and just about everywhere else in the world. Several theories exist behind it, with the most popular one suggesting that these devices can essentially bring down a plane.
That rarely happens, and phones alone cannot cause a crash. However, mobile networks can spark an interference that ends up being an inconvenience to pilots. In worse cases, it could mean a missed clearance, which in turn could spell doom!
A Placebo For A Bumpy Ride
Surprisingly, passengers experience the bumpiest rides when planes fly in warmer temperatures. Science takes its course, and hot temperatures have an impact on air density within the cabin. The result of flying in such conditions is a plane with several queasy passengers who might vomit.
No one wants to sit through such an event, and the flight crew, in particular, have to also deal with the clean-up. Aviation staff members have found clever ways to avoid such inconveniences by pretending to adjust the temperature to a comfortable level. The trick has a placebo effect, and passengers are none-the-wiser and usually enjoy a vomit-free flight.
Don't Ignore The Seatbelt Sign!
Talking about bumpy rides, turbulence isn’t something to take lightly. Some passengers may ignore the seat belt signs, but things can get pretty serious, causing passengers to spring out of their seats. While turbulence won’t generally cause a plane crash, it can lead to injuries.
Turbulence typically just drops the plane a few feet down, but anyone who has experienced a bad case knows that it isn’t any consolation. When the pilot tells the flight crew to take a seat when flying over moderate turbulence, it typically drops the plane down by 10 to 20 feet in altitude.
Conditioning Your Eyes
If you are observant enough, you might have realized that lights inside a plane are dimmed during takeoff and landing. It may seem like a cause for concern for safety reasons, but it is a strategic move to enhance visibility.
Dimming the lights allows passengers’ eyes to adjust to the darkness, required when flying and landing at night. It also prepares passengers for the case that an emergency causes the lights to shut off. In the case of landing, it allows you a clearer view of the ramp when disembarking from the plane.
Captain Of The Plane
Sometimes it seems like flight attendants call the shots in the air, but the pilot is in every sense the captain of the plane. The pilot is in full command of the vessel for the entire duration that it’s in the air.
Pilots can issue fines, arrest unruly passengers, and they also take the last will and testament of passengers who meet their death amid flying. The only thing they still can’t do, which many folks probably wish they did, is to officiate marriages. Not to forget that they also pilot the plane from point A to B.
The Ups And Downs Of Being Aviation Staff
Several of us grew up dreaming about working in the aviation industry because it seems appealing. Being a pilot or flight attendant means visiting different parts of the world and meeting different people. It all comes at the cost of the pay for flight attendants in particular.
Flight attendants only earn when the plane is air-bound, and they don’t get paid for everything in between. That means that during boarding, delays, and when the flight lands at the intended destination, they are basically on their own dime. Some take more shifts to try and make ends meet, and it usually leads to burnout.
Delayed Anger
Frequent flyers know that flight delays are annoying, and they can end up being costly. Most passengers take their frustrations out on the flight attendants who have absolutely no control over such situations. Flight staff members don’t particularly like delays either.
Remember that they are not on the clock when flights get delayed, meaning that they don’t get paid even if they are at the airport. These delays also eat into the time for potential earnings during their next flight. They still have to put on their game face and serve irritated passengers during and after these delays.
Recycling Never Ends
When cruising thousands of feet up in the air, it makes sense to exercise caution with everything. That extends to the use of air within planes, and flight crew members always do their best to be as economical as possible with everything.
It turns out that the air circulating within the plane is the same air that the engines use. It goes through a recycling process to make it suitable for breathing, and as weird as it sounds, it works. Just don’t give it too much thought the next time you are in a plane.
Flying With Strangers
Much like passengers who file into any given flight and are stuck with strangers for the trip duration, flight attendants don’t exactly know each other. You would think that the flight crew knows each other on a personal basis but often, they rarely cross paths.
They are typically super friendly with each other, and anyone would be forgiven for thinking that they’ve worked side by side for years. Most of the time, they are not even on a first-name basis, and they use terms of endearment like “hey darling,” “hun,” or “hey dude” to keep the conversation going.
Personal Space Is Luxury
Despite the mode of transport, we have all encountered passengers who just don’t know the meaning of personal space. They are the type who will touch the flight attendant even if it’s just trying to get their attention.
Almost everyone doesn’t like being touched by strangers, for that matter, and it’s important to respect everyone’s personal space when flying. Touching someone without their permission can also easily land you in legal trouble, and the last thing you want is to have the men in blue waiting to escort you out of the airport once the plane lands.
A Little Lightning Never Hurt A Plane
It’s never a great experience flying in terrible weather for both passengers and the flight crew. It’s even difficult to rank the worst weather to fly in, but a storm easily tops the list. The sparks of lightning, which are magnified when up in the clouds, are enough to trigger anxiety.
As it turns out, lightning strikes planes all the time and rarely does it spiral into an aviation issue. As tough as it is to do, you can rest assured when flying under such conditions that nothing bad will happen because, at the very least, the aviation staff has your back.
Ditch The Diet On Flights
Even when soaring in the skies for a couple of hours, you don’t want to cheat on your diet. That’s why health-conscious folk will choose the healthier in-flight meals provided and settle for Diet Coke instead of the other sugar-laden options. However, flight attendants have a reason to frown over this option.
Diet Coke apparently fizzes longer when soaring through the skies, and it takes flight attendants some painstaking effort to pour the beverage. Some flight staff even recounted having nightmares involving endless supplies of Diet Coke that they have to serve on a plane.
Be Kind To Flight Attendants
Basic human empathy is lost on some people, and service industry workers are often at the receiving end of disrespect from such people. Everyone goes through rough days, and at times we unintentionally unload on service workers. We should always remember that a little kindness goes a long way.
Flight crew members extend good service to you based on your demeanor, and if they find you troublesome, they will do their best to keep their distance. If you are an overall pleasant passenger, it may also buy you some free in-flight perks.
Catching A Snooze
Flight time varies depending on the destination, and for the long-distance ones, everyone is bound to catch a snooze at some point. However, it always seems like flight attendants spend the whole time on their feet, and you wonder if they catch a breather at all.
Crew Rest Compartments (CRCs) provide flight staff with space to catch some much-needed rest away from the public's view. Everyone gets exhausted during a long flight, and it’s a comforting thought to know that flight attendants have the provision to get some rest when they need it.
Rathe Just Leave It On The Floor
You would think that no one needs a reminder about maintaining basic hygiene, particularly when sharing space with others; but think again. You are likely to see a couple of people walking barefoot around the plane, and that should send tingles running up your spine.
The standard of cleanliness in commercial flights has been a subject of debate for many years. These planes usually don’t get a thorough clean-up in between flights or every day for that matter. That should make you think twice before eating anything that has fallen on the floor.
Plane Breakdowns
The fact that planes can even soar in the clouds is one thing, but these aviation marvels are not indestructible. They are prone to break down, need replacement, and grounding altogether. You would imagine that a lot of maintenance goes into keeping planes air-bound, but that’s not necessarily the case.
The scariest thought is that some planes have broken parts, but they still take to the skies and ferry passengers to various destinations. It must not be that serious because these planes still operate as expected, but we all know that such oversights eventually prove costly.
What Goes In The Cargo?
This is a scene we’ve seen in a couple of movies, and it turns out that it is a reality we would rather pretend didn’t exist. People ferry all types of things on planes, and the bodies of deceased loved ones are among the list.
The cargo compartment is located far away from passengers, but the thought of a wooden box ferrying a deceased person is still unsettling and spooky. It’s an even sadder thought that some people die far away from home, and their families have to ferry their bodies back to pay their last respect.
Grapevine In The Skies
Again, you’ll often see flight attendants engaged in some chatter and get the sense that they are long-time friends. They might use the opportunity to get acquainted with one another, share stories about the cities they’ve visited, or it may just be some good old-fashioned gossip.
Like any other work environment, not all flight staff get along, and despite all the smiles, they may have a thing or two to talk about when it comes to their colleagues. On the plus side, it is a form of entertainment that keeps them busy when they get a breather. Also, what better way to make new friends than through a gossip session!
Bumpy Descent
Frequent flyers can also recall at least one landing incident when they thought they were about to meet their maker. Usually, it happens when landing in bad weather or if the descent is bumpy overall. It should come as a relief knowing that the bumpy landing is intentional.
A hard landing can prevent a phenomenon called aquaplaning, which leads to a build-up of water in front of the plane’s tires. It may cause the plane to lose control, and to avoid such a situation, the pilot has to go for a less-than-soft landing.
A Dark Cloud
Besides not getting too many opportunities to fly with friends, flight attendants lead a somewhat lonely life. Even though the nature of their work means that they interact with diverse people throughout their time at work, that’s largely where it ends.
Aviation staff members spend most of their time at airports, in planes, or inside hotel rooms. They may make friends with colleagues, but often the time spent in hotel rooms involves catching up on sleep. It’s a depressing atmosphere to work in, but that is the reality of working in the airline industry.
Pilots Don’t Share
Ever wondered if pilots eat the same meal as everyone else on the flight, or at least, the fancy first-class meal? Well, this is dependent on the airline itself but what runs across cockpits is the fact that pilots and co-pilots don’t chow down on the same meal.
The thought process behind it: If a meal should result in a pilot getting sick, it's better to only have one getting sick rather than both. It doesn’t mean that they can’t eat at the same time, only that they won’t be enjoying the same dish. Either way, should anything happen to the pilots, thanks to technology, the plane can keep soaring through the clouds on autopilot.
Plane Down
Mentioning plane hijacks always brings back memories of the 9/11 attacks, but that’s another part of history that we shouldn’t forget. Aviation staff members get training on how to respond to the unlikely situation of a hijacking.
One unsettling fact is that the US government can blow up a craft that has been hijacked. This is a last resort and only when choosing this option is in the interest of upholding national security. As scary a thought as it is, airports across the globe beefed up security since 9/11, and the last major hijack took place in 2016.
Thank You Means A Lot
Going back to being kind to airline staff members, it also means a great deal to them when you let them know that their services are appreciated. Simply making eye contact, saying "hello" and "thank you" is a great way to let them know that they are not invisible, and can be enough to turn their day around.
While not mandatory, if you are considering giving a gift to a flight attendant, there are a few things to keep in mind. Make sure that it’s sealed and tamper-proof as they are not permitted to accept homemade treats. Gift cards are also a good option.
No Hogging The Toilet
Public restrooms are usually not that appealing, and even the ones in airplanes leave a lot to be desired. The restrooms in planes are often congested and cramped, but the light at the end of the rainbow is the ability to get some privacy when you are in there. However, don’t think that you can lock yourself in the plane lavatory.
The doors are unlockable from outside just in case someone decided to commandeer the cramped up space for whatever reason. Flight attendants know what to do to open the door in such instances, so just be careful about how much time you spend hogging the facilities on flights.
Sometimes It’s A Flight Attendants Fault
Planes run on a strict schedule, and they rarely wait for all passengers to turn up for the flight. The opposite is true when it comes to the aviation crew, specifically the flight attendants. In The U.S., the law requires one flight attendant to be on board for every 50 passengers.
If one staff member is late or doesn’t show up, the airline can’t go ahead and proceed with the trip because it exposes them to legal troubles. Aviation crew members are also known for their fun-loving nature, and this might cause a couple of them to run late every now and then.
The Plane Comes First!
While the thought that aviation staff members don’t really care about you sounds preposterous, it’s the harsh truth. Yes, commercial flights are in it for the business, and they’ll lure you with attractive packages and services. At the end of the day, the primary goal of the pilot is to safeguard the plane.
When unforeseen emergencies strike, the pilot’s first order of business is getting the plane to safety. That might mean that passengers end up being collateral damage in the process. On the flip side, saving the plane translates to saving the passengers, and it’s a win-win at the end of it all.
The Power To Flex Some Muscle
Not only can you find yourself on the wrong side of the law amid a flight, but you can also get arrested by the pilot, as explained before. On top of that, flight attendants can step in and restrain an unruly passenger using flex-restraints.
It happens that some passengers are overcome with the spirit after over-indulging in the in-flight selection of alcoholic beverages. The air within a plane gets intensely dehydrating for anyone who is not replenishing their body with water. The lower oxygen levels in your blood when flying may also make you seem more intoxicated than usual, even if you haven’t had that much to drink.
Airline Hitchhikers
Anyone who has watched Snakes on a Plane can’t help but have paranoid thoughts when flying. The likelihood of the events of that film coming to life are slim, but creepy crawlies do hitchhike on flights. To begin with, studies conducted by Auburn University suggest that E. coli thrives on different parts of the plane for days.
A North Carolina couple even sued an airline because of a roach problem on a flight they took. Small arachnids can also make their way into the plane, and you just never know what creepy crawlies are lurking at any given time.
Flight Attendants Reserve The Right Of Admission
You might have heard that flight attendants can kick you off a flight. Well, it won’t happen mid-air, fortunately, but they can prevent you from boarding a plane. Depending on the situation, an emergency landing might be necessary to get you off the plane.
Be careful with your words, and leave your cursing ways on the ground. Picking a verbal or any fight for that matter with aviation crewmembers won’t end well for you. You can be sure that there’s a flight attendant waiting to exercise their right to get you off their flight for unruly behavior.
Following Protocols
From a couple of viral videos we’ve seen, it’s not surprising to learn that sometimes it’s flight attendants who get in trouble. To start with, they are legally required to inform passengers about safety procedures and protocols. They have to follow strict guidelines, or else they open themselves up to lawsuits.
It might delay certain in-flight scheduled services like the distribution of drinks, but they have to abide by the book. You should be more understanding the next time you try to get a cabin crew member’s attention, and it seems like they are ignoring you, it’s probably because they are in the middle of following some procedures.
What Is In The Water
As explained, the conditions within a plane get you dehydrated faster, and you’ll need to replenish the lost liquid. However, you want to strictly stick with bottled water and perhaps skip the coffee or other beverages that come in a cup.
The water situation within commercial flights is not ideal, and coupled with the poor hygiene standards; you don’t want to risk getting sick during the flight. The water is drained from the port located right next to the lavatories, which is enough to turn anyone’s stomach. The tray tables aren’t always cleaned thoroughly, and you want to be wary of how you use them.
Hair Raising Alarm
A lot of things are frowned upon in flights, and smoking is a complete no-no. You might think that you can get away with puffing on a cigarette in the bathroom, but flight attendants are always onto you. Smoking in flights got banned decades ago in the U.S.
Another item you want to avoid using while in the bathroom is your can of hairspray. You might want to freshen up and give your hair some life before landing, but using that can of spray might also trigger the smoke alarms, sparking panic within the cabin.
Technical Truths
When they announce that flights have been delayed or canceled due to technical issues, the airline is usually telling the truth. There are airplane breakdowns that are borderline life-threatening to the point of pushing the aviation team to cancel flights.
If they went into detailed explanations, it would only cause passengers to panic, and that’s why they sum it up as technical issues. Some of these issues include malfunctioning components and wear and tear. Routine inspections are carried out to pick up on these issues early enough and prevent them from escalating.
Making Things Work
At any given time, airlines transport a diverse range of folks, and as much as they try to accommodate everyone’s needs, it isn’t always possible—for instance, this case where the flight didn’t have any gluten-free meals on offer.
However, the flight attendant went out of their way to rustle up something for the passengers to make sure that they didn’t miss out on a meal. These days passengers can have their dietary needs taken into account if they specify it when booking. Kindness still goes a long way because cabin crew members will be willing to go out of their way to assist if you are nice in the first place.
Armed & Ready
Every passenger would like to get a sneak peek inside the cockpit and the great news is that you can go inside. Obviously, this is with permission from the cabin crew members and if it isn’t too busy. That’s typically before the flight or if there is a delay for one reason or another.
If you get the rare opportunity to visit the cockpit, you might be taken aback by the presence of an ax in there. Pilots are required to have one at hand in the event that an electrical fire breaks out, and they need to cut away parts of the plane.
The Jack Of All Trades
The job description of a flight attendant includes ensuring passenger comfort, and most important, safety. They go through training to ensure that they can respond to all manner of unforeseen issues that may occur during the flight. Essentially, they are jacks of all trades.
They are equipped with the necessary knowledge to evacuate planes, provide emergency medical assistance, and fight fires. They also perform routine cabin checks for any irregularities and that includes lavatory checks as well as making sure that smoke detectors haven’t been destroyed or disabled. They are also in charge of restocking supplies.
New To The Job
Flight attendants who have just gotten the job must go through a strict probation period, much like many professions, for that matter. Only that their probation period lasts for six months and they are subjected to a rigorous set of regulations and rules that they must abide by to survive in the industry.
It breaks the bubble of the image the rest of us have about cabin crew members. We often picture them traveling to different cities and having fun. The reality is less glamorous with the hours spent either working or brushing up on the standards required to keep working in the airline industry.
Texting In Secret
Going back to the no-cellphone use restriction on flights, it doesn’t necessarily extend to the cabin crew members. The flight attendants will instruct passengers to switch off their electronic devices or set them on airplane mode only to turn around and flout this rule.
That’s what we gather from the post from this Redditor whose sister will get on her phone away from the view of the passengers. Again, one person texting won’t bring down a plane, but if an entire flight has people using their phones, that’s a different story.
Wearing The Wary
Flight attendants spend a significant amount of time on their feet, even during the long flights when they can catch a snooze. The irregular sleep hours also isn’t easy to get used to, and eventually, it takes a toll on their bodies.
You might spot a cabin crew member walking around with red eyes, and that is part of the job. It may seem concerning but you should cut them some slack because they don’t essentially keep regular schedules like the rest of us. It’s even more admirable that flight attendants still provide top-notch service despite the fatigue.
Forget About Donating Blood
The stress levels that come with the job aren’t the only thing that flight attendants have to worry about. The paycheck is always a cause for concern that pushes many to put in long hours. Their work environment subjects them to changes that also prevent them from donating blood.
The high altitudes combined with the air pressure that they are subjected to regularly have the effect of causing blood cells to exhibit changes. It can affect the recipient adversely and that’s why aviation staff members don’t typically make good blood donors.
Off The Clock
Passengers often expect to have their needs met by just about any flight attendant in sight. The majority of people are understanding and know that it’s important to be courteous. However, this is lost on some people who won’t give flight attendants a break.
Cabin crew members also commute on the same flights they work in, and you may see them sitting beside you or a couple of rows from you. It’s best to give them their space, just like you should give other passengers their space because they simply want to get to their destinations without the fuss.
Leave The Pockets Alone
Bumpy rides are not entirely escapable and as previously explained, turbulence is part of the flying experience. Again, turbulence usually isn’t risky but you should be cautious about your surroundings within the plane when experiencing such conditions. There are seat pockets available to passengers to temporarily store their belongings.
Except that it might not be the best idea to store your precious items there. You might want to restrict the use of these pockets to keeping magazines but that depends on how you digest this information. The pockets are amongst the most unhygienic components of a plane because they are rarely thoroughly cleaned.
Turning A Blind Eye
Flight attendants rely on the time spent in the air to make ends meet. As explained, delays and canceled flights don’t get paid. These cancelations are inevitable especially if it’s due to unavoidable events like bad weather.
Typically, flight attendants will hold off from canceling flights for every unforeseen event that crops up. That’s essentially because they know that their pay is pegged on actually getting in the air. Sometimes some threatening situations might go unreported if the employees who encounter the issue view it as a threat to their earnings.
Airlines Wait For No Passenger
While flight attendants can cause a flight delay, the same can’t be said about passengers who arrive at the airport late. Unexpected events can prevent you from getting to the airport on time to catch your flight, but even if you call and inform the aviation staff, they can’t really hold the plane for you.
Delays happen every other day for the various reasons mentioned, like bad weather, technical issues, or a flight attendant failing to show up on time. These delays affect the airline’s schedule as well as the crew’s schedule. The airline also has a reputation to uphold, and they will do their best to avoid delays.
Air Arrest
As explained, passengers who flout rules during a flight do not escape the arm of the law. The captain has the authority to take matters into their hands and arrest a passenger who is being disorderly or disobedient to the crew.
The rules that passengers are expected to follow are in place for their safety. If any passenger chooses to disregard them and therefore place themself or fellow passengers at risk, the aviation crew members have no choice but to place them under arrest. It also prevents the airline from facing legal troubles if one passenger’s actions cause harm to others.