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Flight Attendants Spill 30 Secrets About The Airline Industry That Most Passengers Don’t Know
Hello everyone, and welcome aboard Bored Panda flight number 623. Please quickly find your seats, and stow your bags in the overhead compartments. Our flight today will include drink service and snacks, as well as entertainment provided by flight attendants on Reddit. Please fashion your seatbelts securely and ensure your tray tables are in the upright position. Once we’ve finished boarding, we’ll be embarking on our quick 45 minute trip. Sit back, relax and enjoy your flight.
Okay, I have no idea what it’s like to be a flight attendant, so I’m very curious about the mysterious world of the airline industry. Luckily, Reddit user Ayyitsjameslmao reached out to flight attendants asking, “What do the passengers not know?” So today, we can learn some juicy secrets from insiders. We’ve gathered some of the most interesting and eye-opening responses from flight attendants to share with you all, as well as an interview with B, host of The Flight Attendant Podcast, so the next time you take a trip you'll know exactly how to get the best service. Enjoy this list of industry intel, and be sure to upvote your favorite responses. Then if you’re looking to learn even more from flight attendants, check out Bored Panda’s last piece on the same topic right here.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
I'm a flightattendant.
I'm in this job for about nine years now and worked for two mayor german airlines. Over the years I recognized that many passengers don't know why they have to do the things we are telling them.
Why do I have to open the windowshades for takeoff and landing?
-because during the flight we (the FA) are inside the cabin almost the whole time and we are aware of what is happening outside. But during takeoff and landing we have to sit on our jumpseats and are not able to see whats going on outside. So, if for example an enginefire occurs, we are related to the passengers telling us.
Why do I have to fold away my traytable and have to bring my seat in an upright position?
- because in case of an emergencylanding you or the passenger sitting behind you would not be able to take your/his bracingposition correctly
Why are the FA's dimming the cabinlight for takeoff and landing when it's dark outside?
- in case of an evacuation you have to leave the plane quite quick. If the light in the cabin would be bright, and you leave the plane during night, you would be blinded by the darkness. So we're dimming the light inside that your eyes are able to get accustomed to the darkness.
These are questions I hear almost every week. I hope I was able to lighten up some things for you guys.
Autumn Artemis 3 years ago
Oh that actually makes a lot of sense- I never questioned it I guess, but I know now!
Kusotare 3 years ago
Just so you know, if I look out the window and see the engine is on fire, I am not going to push the call button to alert you. I'll be alerting you the old-fashioned way: FIRE! FIRE! THE ENGINE IS ON FIRE! I DON'T THINK IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE ON FIRE LIKE THAT! Followed by even more panic.
David Brown 3 years ago
Not one time in my whole life have I ever taken a flight anywhere. I've flown with friends getting their pilots license but that was always a single engine small plane. Can't say I'm a huge fan of small planes but maybe flying on a larger plane would change my mind.
Gary Sansom 3 years ago
Hey, here's a wacky idea! Airlines might laminate this and put it in the pocket with the magazine! I know right! Out there!
Babynursemissy 1 year ago
Things you’ve probably never even thought about but definitely need to know.
Stephanie Rush 2 years ago
Last time I was on a plane there was not enough room to get into Brace Position, the chair in front is almost touching your knees, that doesn't give you enough space to get into the proper position (The 'proper' position seems to change depending on how many more seats the airline needs to squeeze in). The best you can do is rest your face on the back of the chair in front, & if your not tall your chin will be on the tray. Safety goes out of the window when it comes to earning a few more ££'s.
James Doe 3 years ago
How do I do this without sounding like a humblebragging twat? Lets just go for it: I'm completely dumbfolded that there are people that are stunned by this or didn't "know" this. I genuinely can't understand how you can live without questioning and understanding the things around you. For me this is an absolute natural reflex. Someone explains a rule and I try to understand why it exists. These are not difficult to figure out (are they not?), so I guess people just don't bother to ask themselves? Would be thankful for real answers explaining this..
We all know what it’s like to travel via plane, but it seems like very few of us know what it’s like to be working on that plane. What happens behind the curtain that separates our seats from where the flight attendants sit? What does the cockpit look like? Is first class really that nice? (Okay, some of you may know the answer to that one if you are doing well financially, so if you'd like to donate to my future travel fund so I can experience the magic of first class as well, I would be happy to send you my contact information...)
Flight attendants seem so mysterious because most of us don’t travel very often, so it’s easy to forget that the profession exists until we take a trip. I have personally never met one, but it turns out there are quite a few out there. In the United States alone, there were about 117k active flight attendants working in 2019, and that number has been rising over the years, as there were only 95k in 2014.
RELATED:
#2
I used to work with elderly people and one of my clients was a former pilot that finally quit when he realized in the middle of a flight his dementia had progressed and he couldn't remember where he was supposed to be flying to. Meaning he had been flying for a commercial airline with dementia for quite some time before that.
Nathaniel 3 years ago
The co pilot was going to take over but it turned out he had the fish for dinner.
HarriMissesScotland 3 years ago
Nathaniel, you and I need to talk. About having a drink together if we are ever on the same continent. It would be fun.
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Kate Micheals 3 years ago
Commercial airline pilots are also forced to retire long before 99% of the population would ever develop any type of dementia.. besides maybe alcoholic dementia.
We reached out to B, a real-life flight attendant and host of The Flight Attendant Podcast, to hear what she thinks are the best and worst parts of being a flight attendant. "The best thing about being a Flight Attendant; For me, and for many, I think, is the fact that we can create our own schedules (work as little or as much as you want!), take as many vacations as we want, and travel essentially for free," B told Bored Panda.
"The worst thing about being a Flight Attendant, is that it's a pretty thankless position. While we love creating our own schedules, traveling, and vacationing, we also have this job, because we care about safety," B explained. "But many people do not realize that, and they treat us like their servants, and while that was the case when this profession started, incidents, such as the Hindenburg Disaster of 1937, which was evacuated by one of the Stews (first one to initiate evacuation), the 9/11 attacks on the Twin Towers, and many more, have changed our profession. We no longer just serve as 'waiters, nannies, etc...', but we are the first responders in the air, and the last line of defense in a hijacking attempt."
#3
I'm a flight attendant....
So many incidents occur on the plane that every day passengers don't see or consider. My last flight an elderly man accidentally s**t on the floor, stepped in it, and walked on like it was nothing. DO NOT WALK AROUND BAREFOOT. Pee and poop happens, all over. I feel like I witness an "accident" regularly; in their seat or in the lav. People get nose bleeds, or their wounds open. Obviously when we land, it is thoroughly cleaned. But inflight our resources are limited.
DON'T CHANGE YOUR BABY'S DIAPER ON THE TRAY TABLE. This also happens all the time. It's unsanitary and people use the tray table to eat, put their personal things on, etc.
Lastly, it is NOT the responsibility of a flight attendant to lift >your< bag. There are multiple injuries caused from flight attendants lifting heavy bags to be friendly, and then they're out of the job for months to a year (on average). If you pack it, you lift it. If it's too heavy for you, it's too heavy for us.
Happy flying, ya'll!
HarriMissesScotland 3 years ago
I need one with a flap on the butt. Bladders do not age well. :D
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HarriMissesScotland 3 years ago
Flight attendants do not get enough credit, so Thank You ! It is no longer the days of "Coffee, Tea, or Me."
John L 3 years ago (edited)
Was on a red eye to the ROK. A woman, wearing black socks, was trying to sleep and hung her feet out into the aisle. She seemed to not understanding why people kept walking into her feet in the dark aisle. She was getting upset, that it kept happening....some people are clueless...
Zenozenobee 3 years ago (edited)
After landing in Paris (from NY), we went through 1st class and the smell was disgusting AF. A woman had taken a pill, fell asleep and... Didn't wake up to take a s**t. She had a diarrhea all over her sit and the whole 1st class had to fly with that gaging smell until landing. I guess they regret the price of their tickets.
King Joffrey 3 years ago
Don't walk around barefoot is a good piece of advice full stop. Even when you're not on a plane.
TheElderNom 3 years ago
Never visit the toilet at the train without shoes either, and wash your hands before leaving. A lot of men insist on standing and then there's a sudden switch and their entire body gets jerked.
David Brown 3 years ago
This one may have killed it for me wanting to fly commercial or otherwise.
We also asked B if any particular passengers stand out to her as the best or worst she's every encountered. "I remember having a couple in my exit row once, and I made an announcement as we were boarding 'ABC is on your right, DEF on your left, rows start at 1 and go up from there'. The couple asked me, 'Really? You have to make that announcement?' I said, 'Yes, you will not believe the amount of times passengers are in the back looking for row 5 later on'. One of them asked, 'How many people are on this plane?' I said, 'About 250ish'. The husband replied, 'I don't think in an office building someone would go to the bathroom every 2-3 min'. He was commenting on the line for the lavatories. I replied, 'Yep, when people are on the plane, the lavatories are never empty.' This couple understood our everyday struggles! The received free goodies during the flight!"
#4
If you p**s off the cabin crew they will fart on you. The pressure on aircraft makes you naturally gassy and it's easy to puff one off in the face of an annoying git while bending down to speak to someone on the opposite side of the aisle.
J. F. 3 years ago
Act like an a-hole and they will speak to you in your native language - sounds fair
UnpopularPanda 3 years ago
"did you hear that ahole talk behind my back?"
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Monday 3 years ago
Somewhere out there someone with a fetish is delighted by this piece of information.
robin aldrich 3 years ago (edited)
Ahahaha!!! "I fart in your general direction!" (to quote Monty Python)
Lothar Ohr 3 years ago
Cropdusting -when you really wanted to be a farmer and has to shovel this kind of bs
rodger coghlan 3 years ago
The flight crew calls it 'crop spraying' when they walk down the aisle to f*rt
We then asked B what she would like all passengers to understand. "As I mentioned, we are there for your safety, we are not asking you to bow down to us, and we understand we are pretty much the face of the company. Just treat us as you would like to be treated, and most of us are there because we enjoy the job, with its many ups and downs, but when you arrive on our aircraft upset because of something that a Gate Agent, or Ticket Agent or even a TSA Agent, please do not take it out on us. We have no control on everyone else's mood or professionalism."
Lastly, she added that, "We do not make the rules of the sky, we are simply following our companies policies, and FAA Regulations, so please do not get upset at us when we remind you to follow these policies and regulations. They are there for a reason!"
If you're interested in learning more about the flight attendant world, be sure to check out B's podcast right here.
#5
My late mom was a Delta "stewardess" for 33 years. She used to tell awesome PG stories, and I'm sure she had a hundred more that were unfit for my innocent ears. Like any kid, I never really paid attention, but most of the ones I remember were about famous and / or drunk people. Or famous drunk people.
One common story was about the Delta miracles. Passengers in wheelchairs would board the plane before everyone else, but they had to wait for everyone else to disembark before they could get rolled out. It is apparently common for people to be "healed" during mid flight and no longer need assistance when they reach their destination.
Yeah, you heard 3 years ago
I never understood why anyone would want to get on the aeroplane FIRST. Being cramped in a little seat is the worst part of flying; why extend the duration? I try to get on almost last.
Cyd Charisse 3 years ago
Less stress, if you can just quickly take your seat and let everyone else fight for overhead bin space.
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Alexandra Davis 3 years ago
I've seen this myself. I'm a full time wheelchair user (sadly not an angel) and saw loads of people getting on the plane with me (they say they're disabled to get good seats without paying extra like I always get the first row which has more space) then when we get there at the other end suddenly they can walk off with the rest of the passengers and don't need to wait (what can sometimes be 30+ minutes) for support. Always made me angry. Wish airlines did more to stop it, I'd gladly get a doctors letter stating I need help if it meant people didn't act disabled for perks
Cyd Charisse 3 years ago
Sometimes, it is very difficult to move, and maybe painful, but they have a connection and it is POSSIBLE for them to move, just not easy. Try not to assume someone is just taking advantage of the situation. You might just not quite grasp their own personal issues.
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Frankie 3 years ago
I'm sure some people do abuse the system but please keep in mind that some of us use a wheelchair because we are in pain but technically can walk if we must, or because we can't walk for very long, or because it will have negative consequences on our body later on if we walk too much (such as if you have ME/CFS), or because we're prone to dizzy spells and falling... And many other possible things.
A Jones 3 years ago
That's true. Some people can't stand for too long and can walk short distances, wheel chairs are important. There's a whole rainbow of ailments can can lead to such a disposition. So I don't want to immediately assume things about a person who can get up from a wheelchair and be able to walk.
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Hiram's Friend 3 years ago
My wife and I can't walk long distances (over about 100 feet--her heart and my lungs), so we take a wheelchair to the gate and walk to our seats. We generally wait for most everyone else to get off and then hope there is a wheelchair for the trip to the front door.
Leekier 2 years ago
I think people don’t understand about disabilities in general; there’s an assumption that wheelchair users needs them 24/7. I’ve also had clients who are registered blind being accused of faking it because they have some variety of very limited vision . Then there was the lady with Parkinsonism who experienced great difficulty in starting to walk but once she started had some difficulty changing direction or stopping. A lot of her “friends” used to make snide remarks to the effect that she could walk when she wanted too!
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Brook Schmidt 3 years ago
Some dynamic disabilities don't always need their wheelchair, especially after they've been sitting for hours.
Corey Threadwalker 2 years ago
There are plenty of people with invisible disabilities who are not full time wheelchair users. For some, it might be standing for long periods of time (waiting to board) that is the issue.
Connie Quintana 3 years ago
Some people use the wheel chairs because they cannot walk the long distances all over the airports due to a disability. Sorry if it bothers you that some of us are disabled physically.
Brenda 3 years ago
I'm handicapped, but its not a "visible " handicap. For me, if I get jostled or accidentally hit or pushed in those crowds during boarding, I can fall down getting injured or hurt someone else w/ my cane. Also I'm extremely claustrophobic, so the crowds can make me sick or hyperventilate if its too bad. Easier to board early than deal with all this
The flight attendant profession is greatly dominated by women, as about 75% of the workforce is female. It’s a popular job among people of all ages though, with the average age of women in the industry falling at 46 and the average age of male flight attendants being 43. Unsurprisingly, however, men still manage to make more money in the profession, as women tend to earn only 95¢ for every dollar their male peers make. In 2019, the average annual salary of an American flight attendant was about $50k, making their earnings around five thousand dollars less than the national average. So if the pay is not extremely enticing, what is the appeal of being a flight attendant?
#6
Ex crew here, few interesting tidbits I remember.
- Rubbish bags are referred to as gash bags.
- If you're on a short or mid haul flight then most airlines just have an hour or so turnaround, for 'cleaning' and security checks, and the same crew will then man the flight home.
- The 'cleaning' on these turnarounds isn't too thorough, a quick mop and Hoover is about it usually. Sometimes we went through with bug spray on certain routes.
- It was fairly common for people to leave phones, tablets, wallets etc in seat pockets which we would then find during security checks on turnaround. We can't take them back to the base airport due to security so they get handed over to a dispatcher with paperwork. We've just got to hope the dispatcher doesn't pocket them.
- Don't leave dirty nappies, used needles or anything else with bodily fluids in your seat pocket. You'd probably be surprised to find out how often this happens. Not only is it gross but it's also a health hazard.
- That's not water on the floor in the bathroom, put your bloody shoes back on.
- We know if you're having nookie in the bathroom, we can also open the doors, easily, from the outside.
- You get pissed quicker on board due to the air pressure (or something) and we don't tolerate drunken b******t. It's not a bar, you don't just get thrown out by the bouncer. You get off loaded and possibly even black listed. If you're clearly steaming before we've even taken off then chances are you're not going to be going anywhere.
- Safety and security is the first priority onboard. Your comfort and happiness is just an added bonus.
- You haven't seen bad turbulence unless the overhead lockers have opened and you have bags falling down on top of you.
- In the event of a decompression you only have a few seconds before your brain starts being starved of oxygen. Get your oxygen mask on pronto.
- Do not inflate life jackets inside if the plane ditches in water. If the cabin starts to fill with water you'll be unable to swim down to the exit.
- There's special straps in the cockpit and the chair moves back from the controller in case you need to tie the pilot up and move him away.
- We have fire axes and extremely heavy emergency equipment on board and are to stop you entering the cockpit by 'any means necessary'
- If you pay for 'extra legroom' then be aware that some of these seats are by uncrewed emergency exits. If you have a disability or require an extension seat belt then we will have to move you for safety purposes.
- I crewed 737s and 757 aircrafts, short to midhaul, economy only. We took our breaks (when we could) in the tiny little galleys at the front and back of the aircraft. If you see those curtains pulled then please don't bother us unless it's actually an emergency. (Another beer IS NOT an emergency)
None of these are probably that interesting.
Edit: A few extras I thought I would add.
- I still remember the order of priorities in survival situations by: Pilots Like Wet Fannys. (Protection, Location, Water, Food)
- Colleagues of mine used to sell their stinky old used cabin shoes to foot fetishists on eBay. You can also sell your used, unwashed, tights.
- To any fellow crew out there, if you find yourself in an emergency situation where fire is present, whip off your nylon tights so your legs don't go up in flames.
- To any passengers out there, don't make the crew hate you. The farting thing mentioned in another comment is true.
GenericPanda09 3 years ago
In the brit military gash means something is s**t or bust up.....e.g. rubbish, so a gash bag for trash totally makes sense.
Hannah Edwards 3 years ago
So…..are a lot of pilots into that kind of thing? Asking for a friend
1 year ago
The uncrewed exits have always been a bone of contention for me. Attendants ask the folks in the row if they are able/willing to perform the duties and then just move on. I'm like, can WE have some input? Or can there be some kind of test? Like having those folks each pull on a handle that measures pressure exerted so there is some actual proof there is a snowball's chance they actually *can* open the door?
One of the biggest reasons many flight attendants will cite for pursuing this profession is that they wanted to travel. Depending on what airline they work for, flight attendants could visit multiple continents within a week, something many people never get to do in their entire lives. They might even have the opportunity to stay in luxurious hotels while waiting for their next flight. Although the salaries are not outstanding, getting to see the world while working and having great benefits for traveling in their time off can be a fair trade-off. In a Cosmopolitan article where Arielle Pardes and Mara Santilli inverviewed current flight attendants about things they wish they knew before starting their careers, the women agreed that “the perks make up for [their] paychecks”. “Flight attendants can ride in coach for free or fly with a companion for about 90 percent off plus tax and fees on international flights,” Pardes and Santilli wrote.
#7
I'm not a flight attendant but I work the ramp. To elaborate on the body parts we send full bodies on planes alot. Some in caskets some not. Twice in the 7 years I've been doing this has "fluid" leaked out of the boxes the bodies are in and got all over the luggage.
RebeccaMarie 3 years ago (edited)
Gonna be a party pooper here…. Any body that is going on a repatriation to a different place no matter how long the flight is would need to be in a CadSeal coffin. That’s like a thin metal liner holding everything in the coffin and a body bag. So while this would make for some funky story of fluids leaking it simply isn’t true…. From a funeral director who deals with repatriations most weeks all over the world ✌🏻
T Fissionghost 3 years ago
Well sir, I am sure you made your job properly. But as a former ramp employee, I can asure you that coffins CAN LEAK, just because there are funeral companies that do not work correctly. I have witnessed multiple cases of leakage, the overwhelming stench(of dead) and the hell it becomes to clean the aircraft up to the complete ventilation system.
Load More Replies... HarriMissesScotland 3 years ago
That is a definite HazMat situation. I hope that things have improved since Covid began.
Lace Neil 5 months ago
Back when the DC 9 had the cabin door issue, a plane had the door blow off mid flight. The pilots were able to land the damaged plane safely with no fatalities. However, in the cargo hold was a coffin complete with body. The coffin exited the hold when the doors came off. Some random person found it in their backyard.
#8
3 consecutive dings over the loud speaker means you're probably going to die
Danny Swaanenburg 3 years ago
Signed up to reply to this one, it’s not true. It indicates there is a real life emergency that needs direct attention and action by the pilots.
Cyd Charisse 3 years ago (edited)
I think that’s the exact point they were making, but just trying to inject some humour and hyperbole into it. But actually, the three dings is initiated by the pilots.
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Hannah Edwards 3 years ago
Me either, ignorance is bliss in this type of situation
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Hades (but good) 3 years ago
4 consecutive dings, Nathaniel, and you are transported straight to h3ll.
Cyd Charisse 3 years ago
It's an emergency signal from the pilot to the cabin crew. S**t's going down.
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Cyd Charisse 3 years ago
No worries people. This is NOT standard procedure in an emergency. It’s only used if there’s not time to call the cabin crew. So, it’ll be followed up by flight attendants sprinting down the aisle and probably immediate maneuvers (ie dropping altitude). You won’t even realize that there were three dings because a lot more will be going on.
Zack Podany 3 years ago
I don't know that I'd have shared that one. Won't it just cause panic?
Cynthia Marshall 2 years ago
Different airlines have different signals. 3 bells doesn’t necessarily mean “you’re probably going to die”
#9
Tray tables are rarely if ever sanitized do not put food directly on them.
Autumn Artemis 3 years ago
How rich do you gotta be to get whatever the heck is in that picture on a flight?
Sue User 3 years ago
Fly Air France. Flew to Europe and it was a delight. Free wine with dinner in economy class. Real brie, crackers, for snack. Blown away.
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Toni Ahlgren 3 years ago
This "sanitize everything" culture is really tiring, just relax. Maybe the flight attendant didn't wipe his butt properly before touching your wine glass. Like, it never ends if you don't stop thinking about it.
It’s great that being a flight attendant comes along with excellent perks, but becoming one in the first place can require all sorts of jumping through hoops. According to the New York Post, it’s actually harder to become a flight attendant than to get into Harvard. Apparently in 2018, Delta airlines announced that they were hiring 1,000 new flight attendants, and over 125k hopeful applicants submitted their resumes. After their initial submissions, a video interview, in-person interviews and eight weeks of training at Delta headquarters, only 1% of the applicants received job offers. And in true modern day fashion, Delta even documented the applicants’ journey in a Youtube miniseries titled “Earning Our Wings”.
#10
Long haul flight attendant for a great airline here. Not sure if I'm allowed to name the airline so Let's just say it's the safest in the world. And if any of you watched Rain Man then u are in the know. So so so many things the public doesn't know. Where to start. Ok. I'll just break it down into categories. Safety - the people who pay attention to the safety demo have more chance of getting out alive by a huge 70%. - there is no smoking on an aircraft for several reasons. Though one of the main ones is internal fire. It takes only 90 seconds to burn thru the a/c and fill everyone's lungs with toxic lethal smoke YET it takes 8 mins to land the plan from cruising altitude. - the captain is not always the last person to get off an a/c in an emergency, it depends on the a/c type. - in an emergency- Disabled, incapacitated passengers, unaccompanied minors, babies, pregnant women, geriatric people etc will always be the very LAST people that we flight attendants will get off the a/c. And it will be only when we get everyone else off and go back thru the cabin to do a cabin check to see if these type of passengers have been left behind. So if it's a burning or sinking a/c your chances are slim. - For us to get into the cockpit (since 9/11) we have a briefing before every flight and the protocol is different for every flight. It is also different for half the crew. So one half has access one way and the other half -another. Only the captain (not even the 1st officer) knows who does what to gain access to cockpit. - Contrary to popular belief, there are no guns stored anywhere on an a/c. Not even the cockpit. (We have other things to handle a situation). - All the rafts are equipped with survival needs that could keep the raft occupants alive for 4 weeks. That's a full raft, so if it was at half capacity, its longer. Also on the raft, if anyone dies, they must be thrown over board- no exceptions i.e. Babies etc - In a successful ditching (a rarity), the a/c is designed to stay afloat for a min of 15 mins. However the aircraft is also designed to breakup on impact on land. so the chances of a successful ditching is so remote that your chances of survival are minimal. - 99% of a/c crashes occur on take off and landing. - 90% of a/c crashes are due to pilot error. - It's protocol on my airline that men are not allowed to be seated next to a UMinor There are so many more, especially in regards to safety -just think this post is getting a bit long. There are also heaps of mundane protocols like the service, boarding an a/c etc the public don't know about as well. So will reveal if anyone wants to know more. Just ask a question. I'll also edit and add as I think of them
Julie C Rose 3 years ago
Air New Zealand got rid of the “ew men are paedos” rule decades ago after a male passenger called it out. As a woman who isn’t especially sociable, I appreciate not getting double the chance of being seated next to an unaccompanied minor.
Debbie 3 years ago
Somehow the fact that unaccompanied minors are left behind last troubles me more then disabled,pregnant,geriatric adults. Those are adults. A baby has a parent with him/her. Not that I would let my kids fly without someone - flying here isn't as common as it seems to be in the US.
Snorkeldorf 3 years ago
I think in most cases, an unaccompanied minor would become accompanied in an emergency. Whether I were flying solo or not and a Uminor was in my area during an emergency, that kid would be with me and my responsibility from that point forward.
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Sue User 3 years ago
Thanks for the infornation about pkane breaking up on landing. I slways wondered why the plane landing on the Hudson was such a big deal.
James G. Currie 3 years ago
It was a big deal, not because the plane and passengers survived... But because he did it without thrust. The only one I can remember that was more impressive was the "Gimli Glider."
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ChickyChicky 3 years ago
Interesting to me how many resources are put into things that are statistically so unlikely to happen: lifeboats with four weeks worth of survival gear for example.
Ivy la Sangrienta 3 years ago
So how was smoking allowed on flights before? I remember the smoking and non smoking sections of the plane, separated by a curtain from the late 80s, lol.
James G. Currie 3 years ago
Because smoking was acceptable. I can remember seeing pictures of people in oxygen tents(!) smoking.
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Beth Simic 2 years ago
With evacuations common sense and lots of historical data comes into play. Experience from aviation and all other rescue services around the world in considered when deciding on procedures and what works best. Anyone unable to evacuate themselves will be assisted when possible. How does one get to those in need of help whilst everyone else is running, panicking etc. Once the main flow of traffic has passed/evacuated the crew can then access and assist anyone yet to be evacuated. UMs are briefed to follow others in an emergency but if they do not, for whatever reason, we assist them alongside anyone else still in the cabin before we evacuate. We, the crew, go last. 90 sec does not leave a lot of time for politeness. Passengers are always able to assist without having to wait for crew but time is on the essence.
Sportsgal 3 years ago
Do you REALLY have to turn off wifi devices for safety, or is that just a $$ grab to get us to pay for wifi? Thanks.
Beth Simic 2 years ago
It is not wifi that can possibly interfere, it is cellular. Thats why we have flight mode on our devices, to turn off the cellular signal.
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Heather Talma 3 years ago
Does anybody know WHY the people who need the most help are the last off when it matters?
Cara G 3 years ago
Because by removing all the able bodied people first, they can get as many passengers off the plane as quickly as possible and then use the remaining time to focus on those who need additional help. Simple time management.
Load More Replies... #11
Airplanes fly "broken" more often than not... Dated a chick who was a FA and had a brother that was a flight mechanic at Sky Harbor, in Phoenix. They told some crazy stories about planes that flew with stuff that may or may not have been functioning properly. The duct tape game is strong.
Persephone 3 years ago
Nah, this is true... my BF is a head of flight safety for a major airline... he's the person that puts his foot down when this stuff is far too common. They want flights to get where they need to be for a specific part or repair.
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Robert T 3 years ago
There are levels of defect. Undercarriage not working means that the plane won't fly. In flight entertainment system not working means that there are going to be some unhappy passengers, but it doesn't endanger the safety of the aircraft. I've known planes with undercarriage problems, even if it is just a warning light, fly empty with the undercarriage down so that they can be repaired.
GoddessOdd 3 years ago (edited)
I was flying with my ex from Orlando to Chicago. It was a late afternoon flight, and we were seated just behind the cockpit. The door was open, (pre-9/11) and we could hear people arguing. The pilot said "I am not flying like this" and the other guy said "we can ground it once you hit Ohare". More angry words were exchanged, and the pilot got off and another got on. We said "whoa... if the pilot is getting off, we're getting off!" Surprisingly, they let us off (sans luggage) and booked us on the next flight. I don't know what was wrong with the plane; it reached Chicago ok, but I have always wondered...
Gary Sansom 3 years ago
Not surprised at all. Not many vehicles get as much hard work in such extreme environments than aircraft..
Tonk Terrier 3 years ago
My first proper girlfriends Dad was an air accident inspector and trainer for long haul heavy commercial jets for Air NZ. (Back in 1990's) He used to avoid LOTS of airlines. Don't fly them he would warn us...
Sean Sean 3 years ago
I took an Uber with an airplane mechanic a few years ago. He basically said that if people knew what they did and didn't do in regards to repairs, they wouldn't fly commercial. Repairs can be very costly, and if the risk is "relatively" low, they'll just leave it for as long as they can.
Natalia Allen 2 years ago
Yep I was ground staff at a boarding gate and a few of us were assigned to stand in front of a window to block the view of passengers as the plane had a minor hole in the wing. Safe to fly but done to avoid panic.
#12
As a former aviation journalist I can tell you a few things:
Yes, on trans-oceanic flights there is a cabin for crew to get some sleep. No, you won't be invited in for fun times. On some newer planes there's also a hold for people who have died on the flight. No, you won't be invited in for fun times either.
If a meal service is on offer go for the kosher option, so you know it was prepared that day.
Nathaniel 3 years ago
"Lets have some fun times!" "There is a dead body in there!" "Hmm! Kinky!"
Scott Crowell 3 years ago
I saw weekend at Bernie's so I know it would be lit down there, maybe we could revive them with all the extra parts from other posts!
Load More Replies... Cyd Charisse 3 years ago (edited)
It's not usually a separate cabin for crew rests. More often, it is a grouping of seats that are curtained off, sometimes in coach, sometimes in business. Only the newest planes have separate cabins. (Flight attendant for near 20 years)
Chris 3 years ago
Planes built in the late 70s and then 80s and up have cabin crews in them. (plane built for long haul).
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Carol Emory 3 years ago
Also, with most US flights, unless you are near the front of the plane near first class, expect to bring your own packaged and sealed food on board for long flights. I'm diabetic and was on a 6 hour flight. By the time the meal cart reached us in the middle of the plane, all the meals had been purchased and were gone. I was lucky enough to have prepared for this. If I hadn't, I would have been relying on sodas and juice to keep my blood sugar steady until we landed...not a good way for a diabetic to maintain their blood sugar.
Brivid 3 years ago
I've flown trans-oceanic flights and US coast to coast flights and I've never noticed them not have enough food for everyone. Granted I never sat at the very back of the plane. Well, I guess that's just one more way to be shockingly disappointed by the airline industry.
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Kathryn Baylis 3 years ago (edited)
Obviously this is mentioned because someone tried it and got caught. Why do some people’s minds go that direction? FFS people, the crew is WORKING, and would rather not get fired mid-flight. TBH, I’m pretty sure the LAST thing on the minds of the exhausted crew members trying to sleep in that cabin is “fun times”. The hours of careful unbroken concentration a pilot needs to fly the plane, and the flight attendants having to deal with the constant needs and demands of passengers when you’re stuck in a tin can five miles up in the air for hours on end with nowhere to run but that cabin, will drain you FAST!!! Sleep, not sex, is ALL they want. Leave them TF alone!
deathrose 3 years ago
Fun thing I know from being a catering chef: the reason airplane food tastes so bland is because at higher altitudes we lose our ability to taste salt. The reason more salt isn't added to the food is because to add enough salt would be dangerous to anyone with a heart/fluid/diabetic disorder.
Emily Mulheran 3 years ago
Ohhh thanks for the tip about choosing a kosher option for meals!!!!
Verena Abt 2 years ago
Not on every transoceanic flight. Depends on the length of the flight and the aircraft type.
Cyd Charisse 3 years ago
You’re not taking someone else’s meal. You order it in advance and it is boarded just for you, with your name on it. They don’t board kosher meals unless they are requested and they are only given to the passenger whose name is on it
Load More Replies...Apparently it’s necessary for airlines to put their flight attendants through boot camp before offering them jobs because so much of the position requires great knowledge of safety and first aid. There is a common misconception that flight attendants are mostly waitresses or customer service workers, but that’s only a small facet of the job, “Our first priority is to keep you safe and that’s what those weeks of training are for,” says Shawn Kathleen, a former flight attendant who was an EMT and police officer before pivoting into the airline industry. “Learning self-defense and how to take care of violent passengers and how to do CPR if someone’s heart stops. Being a flight attendant was 100 percent harder than being a cop. And they have to hire people who can handle it.”
#13
A flight attendant told me that in the event of a situation where passengers have to cover their heads you do not 'lock' your fingers over head but place one hand on top of the other. If something falls on your hand/head, you'll still have one good hand to use.
Mama Penguin 3 years ago
Now I know to put my left hand on top of my right in case of brace position.
#14
If I tell the pilot " I don't feel safe with passenger in seat 35A" you can and most likely will be removed from the plane. So think twice before acting like a complete utter jackass on the plane. Standard jackass behavior is usually tolerated
David Brown 3 years ago
Pretty sad flight crew have to put up with any sort of jackass behavior.
Person 3 years ago
Yes. If you wanna do illegal stuff on an airplane, ALWAYS go for seat 35A. It's the crime seat.
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Trash (she/her) 3 years ago
I can picture the jackass being straight up yeeted off the plane mid-air
Tota Mostafa 3 years ago
So the pilot is pretty much the daddy to all flight attendants in the plane
ᴇᴅᴇɴ 3 years ago
What if it's an actual emergency? Like the person next to you has a sharp object?
Kathryn Baylis 3 years ago (edited)
I know, that’s what it looked like to me at first glance. It’s actually the flight attendant(s) alerting the pilot, after seeing someone acting strangely during boarding—-most likely alerted to it by the person sitting next to them, if they didn’t see it right away themselves.
Load More Replies... Sleeping Solipsist 3 years ago
What if you don't feel comfortable with the guy in the pilot seat? 🤔
Cyd Charisse 3 years ago
Then you can, and most likely will be removed from the plane
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#15
Count the seat backs to the closest exit. Good chance you won't be able to see in some types of accidents.
GoddessOdd 3 years ago
Good advice. I also read that when flying you should try to wear natural fabrics, long pants, long sleeved shirt, sturdy shoes with leather soles. If, heaven forbid, a fire occur in the cabin, people dressed this way fare far better than those wearing nylon shorts and running shoes.
Allan Breum 3 years ago
Yup. having your clothes melt into your skin definitely decreases the odds of you surviving.
Load More Replies... James G. Currie 3 years ago
This is why they have the light strip and row numbers on/low to the floor, so they can be seen in low visibility events.
Along with being able to handle the rigorous safety training, there are a laundry list of other skills and qualifications that can help applicants have a leg up when trying to become a flight attendant. Having a college education, being fluent in multiple languages, being attractive and “well-groomed”, being friendly and a good conversationalist, having basic computer and math skills and being willing to relocate and work major holidays can all help an aspiring flight attendant stand out. Being physically strong is apparently important too, as those beverage and meal carts can be quite heavy and customers might require help lifting their bags into the overhead compartments.
#16
There are sometimes body parts in the storage area near your luggage ( when they are flying transplants for hospitals). Also your pets are In the same area as well.
Robert T 3 years ago
Can we just be absolutely clear here. The "body parts" are packaged in sterile containers and not simply floating about in the hold. "Ooops, just stepped in this here liver." "Never mind, just scoop it up and put it back in the bag."
HarriMissesScotland 3 years ago
One of my friends had 2 strange encounters with items in overhead compartments. She got hit in the head by an artificial leg, but the most bizarre by far was a taxidermied monkey filled with coffee beans. This was in the early 70's so it wasn't a problem to carry on.
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Robin Virga 3 years ago
Organs being transplanted are in special containers, and they usually ride with the cabin crew. The airline holds flights to take organs for transplant, and they are "last on, first off." You will never come into contact with them.
Autumn Artemis 3 years ago
When the flight attendant said the staff put their whole hearts into their work, I didn’t think he meant it literally…
Nathaniel 3 years ago (edited)
What happens if you have a smart dog or cat that can escape crate and undo latches?
C W 3 years ago
It’s so traumatic to animals to fly in the hold. Also, many many pets go missing When flying
Monday 3 years ago
No, very few pets go missing when flying because there's nowhere to go. Many die in transit because it's stressful, but I can only find 1 case on an animal going missing and that pet went missing in the airport, not while flying.
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Jessica Julian 3 years ago
Nope...my pet will not be there, because I would never put her through that. Ever.
alwaysMispelled 3 years ago
The transplant procurement team goes to get the organ to be transplanted and they fly back, they don't pack it and check it on a commercial airline?!?!?!? Jesus Christ. Morons.
Hiram's Friend 3 years ago
The transplant team seldom flies to the harvest site if it's several hours away. A local team does the harvest and has it flown out. Shortest possible time between donor and recipient.
Load More Replies... #17
I'm a flight attendant!
First, I wouldn't recommend drinking coffee or hot tea from the plane. It's made with the potable water and those tanks are rarely cleaned out. None of the crew usually drink it. I had a passenger on one of my flights fill his water bottle up using the sink in the lavatory and I stressed to him that it wasn't a good idea but he didn't care lol
Second, we aren't paid till the main cabin door closes so we are ready to leave just as fast as you are. When there are delays, bitching at the cabin crew isn't going to help anything! We are waiting around just like you and wanting to get back to our families as well.
Third, smoking your e-cig in the lav will set off the detector!
Fourth, bringing a bag of candy or treat to thank the flight crew will most likely get you free drinks or a seat upgrade, I always hook people up lol
Julie C Rose 3 years ago (edited)
As someone who’s done the candy thing as a pay-it-forward thing (I’ve spent my whole life in two countries that are well known for excellent airlines and had good experiences when I was going through something), you usually won’t get an upgrade and you shouldn’t do it just to try to get something from them. You also shouldn’t feel obligated to do it.
Kathryn Baylis 3 years ago
People who have worked with the public long enough can generally tell whether you’re being generous because it’s just the kind of person you are, or if you’re doing it specifically to bribe them and get something back in return.
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jessica r 3 years ago
I'd think eating candy from a passenger would be considered a safety hazard. What if some lunatic messed with it? Isn't it a bit weird to hand the crew a bag of something upon entrance? "Here, eat this, trust me, it's good and safe"?
Scotira 3 years ago
Isn't it sad, that when someone does something nice just because, the first thing we say is: that could come from a lunatic trying to kill all of us. 😢🙈
Load More Replies... Cyd Charisse 3 years ago
Most airlines will fire a cabin crew member for upgrading a passenger unless there is a malfunction in the scheduled seat and there are no other seats in that class if service (exceptions can be made for service members IN UNIFORM). This is just a hard-and-fast rule so flight attendants don't start playing favorites. But we will abide by it. Just because you were nice to us doesn't mean I'm going to risk losing my job so you can fly in first class. Please don't ask me for an upgrade. The Union can't save a flight attendant here.
HarriMissesScotland 3 years ago
I have been late once in my life for a flight. I was flying on a 6 a.m. flight between Orlando and DC, but my alarm did not go off on time. I literally ran the entire length of the airport (before 9/11) and barely made it on. I am still not sure why, but the FA asked I would like to sit in 1st class. I was by myself, the only passenger there. It was wonderful, as was the FA.
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Djinn and Jews 3 years ago
If you're at work, you need to be paid. It should be illegal for airlines not to pay FAs for literally every second they spend on a plane (other than personal travel as a passenger).
Trophy Husband 3 years ago
In high school, My best friend's mom was a flight attendant. Once my mom was on a flight with her and at some point she handed my mom a bag and said not to open it until she got home and go give it to me. It was about 50 little bottles of alcohol. My mom didn't give it to me because I was 16 at the time, but she told me about it years later. My friend had been drinking since he was 12, she never understood the laws against that.
Shelli Aderman 3 years ago
I’ve got to say, I’ve flown a good deal, and I’ve never seen the present hand-off to flight attendants before. 🤷🏽♀️
#18
An airplane can fly with one engine, and if an engine catches on fire, they have the means of extinguishing it while in air.
J. F. 3 years ago
Planes, even the biggest ones, can also glide for quite some time in case all engines stop working
Christof Irran 3 years ago
Not really. Read up on the Gimli Glider - Air Canada Flight 143
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Needmorecowbell 3 years ago
I have been on a flight that lost an engine mid-fight. It was not fun but we landed safely.
Kathryn Baylis 3 years ago (edited)
Amazing though, that an airplane engine’s worst enemy is a bird. More so if it’s a large bird like a goose. Even more so if it’s an entire flock of birds. Birds. Just birds. An animal no one ever thinks of as being so dangerous.
Robert T 3 years ago
Back in the days of Dan Air (Dan Dare as we used to call them), they would simply extinguish an engine fire that occurred at take off and then try again! As long as a fire is extinguished and doesn't spread to the fuel tanks in the wings, a plane should be able to land normally on one engine (or half its engines on four engine aircraft).
UnpopularPanda 3 years ago
Me too, airplanes is one of those things that I totally understand the science behin but still makes me look at them and wonder as babies. (Video) calling across different timezones is another esp. the day night differences ones.
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When someone does manage to earn a coveted spot as a flight attendant, there are a lot of aspects of the job they need to brace themselves for, including dealing with difficult customers. There will always be a handful of difficult and entitled passengers who love to complain about the tiniest things or pick fights with the people sitting next to them, so sometimes flight attendants are responsible for de-escalating a situation. But there are also passengers who have the audacity to hit on or proposition the airline staff. “People hold on to this notion of Pan Am stewardesses from the 1960s and that we are there to look pretty and serve the passengers,” one flight attendant told the New York Post.
#19
Flight attendant here with a major carrier.
Pilots can get qualified to carry fire arms in the flight deck (cockpit). They don't get paid extra for it. They are called FFDOs which stands for Federal Flight Deck Officer. There's a joke that they have the smallest jurisdiction out of any federal official (only behind the door of the flight deck).
Video taping/photographing crew is not allowed in any circumstance. Even if someone is getting arrested or during an evacuation, however, we can't force you to stop. If I like someone and they ask for a picture or want one taken with me I will.
Any animal can be certified as an emotional support animal. I had an emotional support turtle once. In my opinion it's a little out of hand. I don't discredit people who actually need them, but they aren't trained like regular service animals. They've been known to attack other passengers on occasion.
You aren't aloud to consume your own alcohol in flight. The reason is that we have to be able to monitor your alcohol consumption in flight. The exception is first class. If you bring your own booze we can serve it to you in first class only. We can also deny boarding if we suspect you're intoxicated.
Flights often times are transporting prisoners. Sometimes high profile ones. Serial killers, etc. They are most often escorted by 1 officer minimum and up to 3 officers. They are all dressed in civilian clothes and and the prisoners hands are usually hidden. They usually board first and are sat in the very back of the aircraft.
We are trained for just about any situation. I personally have had a lot of things happen in my short tenure. I've had to do CPR, I've had to subdue and hogtie a passenger for assaulting other passengers, I've been flashed by men and women (usually drunk), and various other medical emergencies. We're there for your safety first and foremost.
Training lasts for different lengths of time from airline to airline. Mine was 8 weeks. The majority of the time is spent on safety stuff and it's pretty brutal.
A large population of flight crew commute. Some even from all over the world. They are based in one particular city and commute in to work their trips. I've flown with people that live all over the world
Most of the people I fly with, I have never met before in my life.
Taibhse Sealgair 3 years ago
The emotional support rules changed in the US in late 2020. Airlines can now treat them as simple pets. Service Animals are different story.
HarriMissesScotland 3 years ago
No more kangaroos, peacocks, pigs, sheep, goats, llamas. Dogs and some cats are allowed. Thank goodness.
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Taibhse Sealgair 3 years ago
The alcohol rule makes perfect sense. The comment, however, reminded me of something I witnessed several years ago. That is, when the FA hands a passenger one of little bottles of booze, they always crack the seal, and sometimes ever take the cap entirely. The latter I understand. It prevents you from taking it with you. But I could never figure out the point of the cracking of the seal and then putting the cap back on Anyone?
Nikki Sevven 3 years ago
Opening the bottle changes the status of the alcohol from "sealed purchase" to "open container." Most of the US has "open container" laws both in public places and while in your vehicle.
Load More Replies... Jude Laskowski 2 years ago
Former police officer here, my partner and I had to fly to Chicago to pick up a fugitive. They always sent two officers so we could sit one on each side of the prisoner. We walked him on the plane in handcuffs, but they had to be removed at takeoff per FAA regulations. We were seated in the back row which used to be the smoking section. I hate smoking. My partner turned to the prisoner and said, "Please don't p*ss her off; she hates smoking and will probably shoot you if you make trouble." The poor guy turned pale, and I tried to not laugh.
Ivy la Sangrienta 3 years ago
I have never seen anything but a dog/cat in a carrier inside the cabin. I'm pretty sure the emotional pet thing is mostly a US concoction.
#20
Most U.S. based domestic F.A.'s are only paid from the time the doors close and the plane pushes off until the plane lands and the doors open. So if it takes 45 minutes to get everyone on board and seated...no pay
Taibhse Sealgair 3 years ago
And it's changing here. Delta announced it back in April. Interestingly, this may not benefit the actual passengers. You kinda want the FAs moving people along during boarding.
TheElderNom 3 years ago
As a passenger I don't care, people should be paid for when they're working. I drive trains and yes I get overtime when we are late, I still don't delay trains for shits and giggles, if I want more cash I take an extra shift, they pay better anyway.
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Sleeping Solipsist 3 years ago
Yes, but the CEO doesn't get paid between board meetings.. No..wait..
Jessica Julian 3 years ago
That is B.S. and should be illegal. Same goes for similar practices in the trucking industry.
Nadia Dodd 3 years ago
I'm ex cabin crew UK based and flew for an airline that changed their contract to say that I would be paid from the time the chocks (the bricks placed behind the wheels) were removed, to the time they were placed back on!!! So if I turned up for work at 12pm (for briefing etc) and was delayed for whatever reason for 3hrs sat on a fully boarded aircraft , I'm wasn't paid for that time!!!
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Cyd Charisse 3 years ago
It is starting to change, but has not changed at all airlines yet
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#21
Flight attendant for a European airline for the past six years here. I'm late to the party but I'll still chime in.
Lots of passengers panic when the flight is delayed for technical reasons or when they see the maintenance guys board the aircraft. There's really no need to be! That just means that we're aware of a problem and won't budge until it has been resolved. Much better to be aware of a problem on ground than at 36000 feet! The pilots do thorough pre-flight checks to make sure that everything is ok, and the engineers check the aircraft at the end of the day. Flying is safer now than it ever has been, no need to worry!
Yes smoking really is an issue on board, please *please* don't do it. We're all trained in firefighting but it's still extremely dangerous to do so on board. Vaping on the other hand is completely harmless but forbidden anyway, purely because it may entice other passengers to light up real cigs. The only real problem with e-cigs are the lithium batteries.
Many passengers see us as glorified waitresses and waiters, and to be honest we are for 70% of the trip. But we are also highly trained professionals who are able to deal with any situation on board.
There are assholes on almost every flight, for sure but they are outnumbered massively by nice people (depending on the destination - stereotypes exist for a reason). A simple smile and politeness will get you a long way with most crew!
Kathryn Baylis 3 years ago (edited)
I’m a lifelong non-smoker, and remember flying back in the seventies and eighties when people could still smoke in flight. Cripes, it was such an accepted norm, we really had no clue of the danger we were all in! (And NO, I am not being facetious.)
Allan Breum 3 years ago
There is one ironic/paradoxical effect from smoking being banned on commercial flights; The air-quality in the cabin has decreased significantly, because they don't have to cycle the air as much, rendering the CO2 levels several times higher in the cabin these days.
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Gwyn 3 years ago (edited)
E-cig smoke is harmful to bystanders, if they were allowed to smoke on the plane it would expose all the other passengers to it. Not ok by any means.
Raven Reeves 3 years ago
I supposed that fog also is harmful to bystanders as well.... Since all an E-Cig produces is water vapor.
Load More Replies... Amy Stone-Chandler 3 years ago
I flew to Jamaica in 96 for a couple weeks. Was a 4.5 hour flight. I am a smoker butobviously by then all smoke free flights.. Anyway, 2 guys were flying to party there..I learned from all the yelling drunk idiot guy "A" telling everyone. Guy B although drinking, Clearly had more respect and brains. Just as it announced we were de-cending to land, guy A, lights up a smoke(dude we were almost there!), I called him a goof and told him to out it out asap. Guy B heard, turned to see his Bro with a lit cigarette and literally, punched it right out of his mouth. I stepped on it to extinguish. Guy B is my hero. Wish I had video lol
Heather Talma 3 years ago
Vaping can definitely harm someone sensitive to things like that, can't exactly open a window for some fresh air.
Chickens are fluffy 3 years ago
Remembered my brother once was nice and had a pretty nice small conversation with a Flight Attendant and it seemed to make her day because he got an extra bag of cookies
Rebecca McManus 3 years ago
Was once on a flight that was delayed due to snakes on the plane, yes, it really did happen. Flight from Sicily to Italy and someone spotted that there were some snakes that had sneaked into the luggage area; they had to empty the hold of luggage and find the snakes and then reload it, missed dour connecting flight back to the UK but I wasn't complaining.
YetAnotherSarah 3 years ago
"The only real problem" as if vaping/e-cigs don't produce second-hand. And there are planes in the air *today* that used to be smoked in on every flight (smoking wasn't fully banned until 2000).
Raven Reeves 3 years ago
Second-hand water vapor? Gues you wear a respirator when it is foggy out, or when you take a really hot shower.
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Cyd Charisse 3 years ago (edited)
As a flight attendant, I don't think this is racist. It isn't based on race or ethnicity, but location. Sorry to tell you, but it is true that flying into certain cities presents very specific challenges, and I can think of at least one US city where the flights are awful: many, many entitled and rude passengers, who apparently are getting their private planes detailed or whatever. Other cities that might seem unexciting (looking at you, Wichita!), but I LOVE going there because the passengers are always so nice! Other cities present different stereotypes (you know there are going to be a lot of kids on an Orlando flight) that have nothing to do with race
Load More Replies...Most flight attendants enjoy the social aspect of the job, as they find it fun to speak to passengers and meet a variety of individuals, but there are times where travelers expect the cabin crew to act more like therapists than flight attendants. “You will find that most flight attendants are very empathetic and understanding, and they are going to try to make a passenger as happy and comfortable as possible,” one flight attendant told the New York Post. But she also noted that you can never predict exactly how travelers will behave. “We do enjoy most of the passengers … but then, you will find yourself having conversations with adult human beings about why it’s not okay to watch porn on a flight.”
#22
We are not bionics and we may get hurt just same as you may during a severe turbulence and we have to buckle up immediately too. So pushing insanely on call panel to call us over and ask as if the turbulence is "normal" is not normal at the first place. Also, i can't stand up after "take off position" call out from the captain. That's why, you shouldn't feel frustrated when i get to respond the chime at least 4-7 minutes after take off. The core idea behind everything we do (from being unresponsive to assertive; gentle to polite) is, calculating our moves that may lead to an emergency or save as much lives as possible during an emergency. First 3 minutes during take off is the most dangerous part of the flight with last 7 minutes. Any abnormalities may cause a crush landing. Or an unstable approach with a runway excursion. This is also one of the biggest reasons for an evacuation. Each cabin crew is responsible for at least 50 passengers' lives on board. That's why, securing myself and deny to bring your water for 7 minutes is not selfish but to save lives in a serious possible accident/incident. Just know that anything seems ridicilous has a real life saver idea behind it.
Kathryn Baylis 3 years ago
People just don’t bring their brains with them everywhere, especially when they fly.
Person 3 years ago
A lot of people left them at pre-school and never got them back.
Load More Replies... #23
Dated a former Air Hostess, the story that got me was when an old woman died on the plane, just fell asleep on the long-haul overnight flight back from JFK to Manchester and never woke up.
Essentially they wrapped her in spare blankets and secured extra seat belts around her to keep her in place... Nobody further down the plane knew a thing until they got asked to wait in their seats while an ambulance crew took the body off before they could disembark.
TL:DR - Passengers might *not* know someone died on the flight and is still in their seat!
John L 3 years ago
Not to sound like a smart@ss, but what else are they supposed to do, announce it to the plane and hold a wake? Also, how did "woman died" not get "panda'ed". They cross out "pass" as for a test, but not this? Ya'll slippin'
Robert T 3 years ago
I'm not quite sure what else you'd expect them to do? I just hope that they offer to move those unfortunate enough to be in the same row.
Brivid 3 years ago
Yes I wonder what happens to their seat mate? And when people die it is common for them to release urine and whatever was left in their colon, because their muscles relax. So my first thought is that the surrounding passengers could possibly have to smell this for the remainder of a possible 10 hour flight? Nightmare for other passengers, but how horrible for the family and/or friends they may be with.
Load More Replies... Amy Stone-Chandler 3 years ago
Depends how long flight I presume? Rigor sets in 2 to 6 hours after death(making moving body difficult). Autolysis(self digestion) starts in about 4 minutes after death. Bladder and bowels often empty/let go. Adding blankets to try and slow the body from cooling too quick to try and slow the process as much as they can. People shouldn't be grossed out or afraid of dead bodies. Everything dies. It's less traumatic to leave a body in the seat, then to try and move a dead weight body. Besides, they don't have access inside the cabin to store a body below where the designated areas are
Bender Bending Rodríguez 3 years ago
Is anyone else thinking what I am thinking regarding what they said about disembarking?
#24
Im flight coordinator, a lot of people dont realize, that when they make jokes like "I know this plane will crash" or "security check failed to spot bomb in my backpack" during boarding, it MUST be reported to guards which will have a little talk with them.
Freya the Wanderer 3 years ago
Jokes about flight safety and terrorism ARE NOT FUNNY at the airport!!!!!!!!!!
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Kathryn Baylis 3 years ago
Some jokes are just not funny, especially in certain circumstances. Save your comedy routine for the comedy club, if you ever get there.
Rebecca McManus 3 years ago
Woman in a company I worked with made a joke about having a bomb in her bag just after 9/11; she missed her flight and lost her job
Amy Stone-Chandler 3 years ago
If your that STUPID to make a bomb joke on a plane(or anywhere) you should be dealt with legally.
Trophy Husband 3 years ago
I once flew with a friend who was convinced that they have microphones everywhere and you would get arrested for saying "bomb" on a plane, so I wispered it to him many times during the flight as he got very nervous.
Cara G 3 years ago
If you guys have not seen the Key and Peele sketch "Prepared for Terries", please stop whatever you are doing right now and go watch it. It's on YouTube and you WILL. NOT. BE. DISAPPOINTED.
Cyd Charisse 3 years ago
Why has this been downvoted? This sketch is hysterical!!! I wish I could bump you back up some more!
Load More Replies...Another difficult aspect of being a flight attendant is that it’s almost impossible to live a “normal life”. Settling down and maintaining relationships or having a family is incredibly hard when you’re constantly traveling, missing holidays and on-call for work. As exciting as all of the traveling is, being a flight attendant is not usually a life-long career. Often, cabin crew members will hold the job for a few years until they are worn out from all of the industry’s demands.
#25
Just started at an airline;
* There isn't as much CCTV as you may think
* We can often be working 6 days in a row on minimum rest, treat us nicely please
* We have to ask the captain to remove you from the flight if you're being an a*****e. They will say yes.
* Even on the smaller aircraft, crew will find a place to sleep.
* Someone has probably thrown up on the floor by your seat.
Yeah, you heard 3 years ago
I've been on flights and seen people being arseholes so many times. No one ever got removed.
GoddessOdd 3 years ago
After some recent news stories, I have begun to believe that all planes should have a stainless steel pod or two, where obstreperous passengers can be safely contained for the duration.
#26
If something was gonna go down and we had to evacuate, 99 times out of 100 it will happen during taxi, takeoff, and landing. So when I tell you to put up your tray tables and seats and get your bags under the seat in front of you, please just *do it*. You are compromising the safety of everyone around you if you don't comply. And for the love of god please do not try to get up and use the lav during taxi or right before we take off! Most times we tell you things for everyone's safety, not just cause it makes us feel good or something?? Please just comply the first time you are asked.
Kathryn Baylis 3 years ago (edited)
Just pretend you’re a kid again, going on a road trip with your parents, and your father says as you’re all going out the door, “If you have to go, go NOW or hold it, because I am NOT stopping!
Who Panda 420 3 years ago
It's when the plane is being guided out of the gate and towards the runway.
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Amy Stone-Chandler 3 years ago
If a customer has legit intestinal health problems and cannot hold it, what happens? Do they run to bathroom and the plane has to stop or do they c**p themselves and keep on for take off? Sorry I have a very inquiring mind ;)
#27
Is this limited to flight attendants? I'm a ticket agent and, boy, the stories I could tell. One thing people definitely should know is that a surprising amount of the delays that happen are due to passengers. Yep, passengers. That one guy who throws a fit because he can't take four ounces of liquid through TSA and decided the gate agent was a great target to take out their wrath on caused your delay. So did that family that decided it was a great idea to bring three strollers and two car seats for their single child. That sweet old Grandma who insists she doesn't need help getting onto the plane, but can't walk faster than one step every minute? Gotta wait for her. And that last delay you had that the agent told you was due to maintenance? Was thanks to some guy trying to hijack the smoke alarm in the plane. There are lots of delays for other reasons (weather being a big one. And don't even say that there's no weather where you are. There isn't, but that doesn't mean there's not weather somewhere else!), but you'd be amazed at how many are caused by the people around you while you're trying to board the plane. This is also part of why gate agents are so strict about cutting off loading times. Airline employees love to help when they can, but there are times when we kind of wish we could turn to the nearest wall and whack our heads against it a few times just to improve the situation.
Kathryn Baylis 3 years ago (edited)
Once the door is closed on the plane, even if it sits there for another hour, NO ONE else is getting on! I worked for TSA, and you would not believe the number of people who are late coming through security—-which takes time to get through—-and see their plane disengage from the walkway at the gate, yet will still yell out “Stop that plane”! like they’re someone important or they’re in a f*****g movie or something. Biden himself couldn’t stop that plane from leaving if he missed that flight, FFS! Which would only happen if Air Force One or Two were ever out of order at the same time and his only recourse was to fly commercial (I would be really disappointed if the flight and/or maintenance crews for those planes ever f****d up that way—-they’re supposed to be the best, ffs). Nope, you will just have to book a later flight. No exceptions.
Tim 3 years ago (edited)
Air Force 1 and 2 aren't specific airplanes, they are whatever airplane the president and vice-president happen to be flying on at whatever given time. There's several. And if the president had to fly commercial, you can be damn sure that the plan would wait for the president. Also, the plane would be empty except for him, his entourage and Secret Service.
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Paula Marentette 3 years ago
Before 9/11 and TSA, I was on a flight from Cleveland to Detroit, where I was going to get a connecting flight on the same airline to my destination. Before landing, the FA read out the gates for all the connecting flights the passengers were taking. The flight was a bit late getting in, so this info was helpful. While I was rushing to the gate the FA had given us, I glanced at the monitor and saw that not only was the gate incorrect, but so was the concourse! I rushed to the correct concourse and gate only to find the door closed. The gate agent chirpily told me, "It's a good thing we ran out of ice!" That was the only reason the plane hadn't left yet. I was allowed on, which was a good thing because I would have given the airline a piece of my mind if I would have been denied boarding. I would been there in plenty of time had the original flight left on time and the correct information been given out in the first place. I suspect that quite a few passengers missed their connections!
Tonk Terrier 3 years ago
Totally agree. I fly a fair bit and am always amazed at how many folk are just totally unaware of what can't go on an aircraft
We hope you're enjoying your journey on this Bored Panda flight today and that you've learned something valuable you'll take with you in your future travels. Enjoy the rest of this list of interesting tidbits from flight attendants, and be sure to upvote the responses you found most eye-opening. Let us know in the comments if you know any secrets from cabin crew members, and remember, in the event of an emergency, be sure to place your own oxygen mask on first before helping others. Bon voyage!
#28
- Never saw a seatbelt get changed out or washed either - even after they were puked on, pissed on, etc.
- NONE of the flight attendants have sex in the lavatories or anywhere else on the plane in our downtime. This was a question I got asked constantly - but yeah, no. We see how truly disgusting those planes are and we have to go into those lavs and see the diarrhea on the walls, p**s on the floor, etc.
- Along with the "sexy" flight attendant myth - lol. I have never felt more disgusting than when I was a flight attendant. I was constantly bloated from the air pressure, or doubled over with gas pain from holding in my farts. My feet smelled like hell, along with my shoes. I sometimes couldn't properly wash my uniform or tights on long trips. I avoided the lavatories because they were disgusting so god knows what my (required) makeup looked like half of the time.
- When the seatbelt sign is on, stay in your seat, or at least try to. I know there are emergencies with having to pee and all that, but the most likely situation where you will get hurt on a plane is turbulence.
Person 3 years ago (edited)
Wait reeeeaallyyy? The people who are just trying to do their jobs and get their work done don't wanna have sex in the bathroom??! Bro this is ridiculous there's no wayyy that's true oh my goddd. I would like to note I'm trying to make fun of people who believe that.
kelliewhyte_85 2 years ago
Lol it's so amazing how many people would actually take your comment seriously to the point that you have to point that out.
Load More Replies... Amy Stone-Chandler 3 years ago
No one is important enough to me that I would hold in my farts if I had your job. Being doubled over in pain isn't happening lol
Natalia Allen 2 years ago
When I was a kid on a plane and some pretty heavily turbulence kicked in I apparently starting crying and shouting that I was sure we must be running out of petrol :)
#29
I dated a flight attendant for a while. One thing I haven't seen mentioned is that sometimes delays are caused by Flight attendants not showing up and the airline scrambling to get a back-up scheduled. Like a flight attendant was partying too hard last night and decided to call off 2 hours before that $1500 cross ocean flight you just popped on.
She loved to party as did a lot of her coworkers and were often hungover or "out of it" on flights. Even though pay was s**t, their union made it very hard to get fired so call-offs were kind of no-big-deal.
Cyd Charisse 3 years ago
I don't know what airline she worked for, but my (major international airline, 18 years) company was better prepared. First of all, we were a little more professional than that and this just wouldn't happen. As a crew, we would make sure we were all in the right place during the trip. At major airports, there are crews sitting stand-by, in case of last-minute illness or injury (and if someone makes a last minute call-out more than once, you BET that person's job was in jeopardy. The union might be able to save their job, but not without mandated rehab & help with the drinking problem. It's just not as lawless as this person suggests.
kelliewhyte_85 2 years ago
I'm guessing that maybe, hear me out.... It depends on where you work???
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Kathryn Baylis 3 years ago
More flights are delayed or cancelled for weather than for repairs or lack of crew. However, I have seen flights go out with no one on board but crew members shuttling back to their home airport, so if that flight is late because of weather or something, I hope they don’t blame the crew members.
#30
Not a flight attendant but...
Everyone knows that you can lift arm rests between seats for cuddling or whatever but armrests next to the aisle don't lift. Well, you can lift them. There is a button underneath that releases a catch so that you can lift the armrest. Useful for getting in and it while the food tray is down.
You can lock and unlock a lavatory door from the outside. The switch is under the metal plate next to the occupied sign.
Cyd Charisse 3 years ago
No, not all aisle armrests lift. Somebody found the button on ONE aisle armrest and thinks they’ve found el dorado. It’s for disabled passengers, and it is only SOME aisle armrests on SOME planes. Also, different methods of raising it, depending on the aircraft. Boeing’s little buttons are very different from Airbus’ little buttons. Sheesh.
Emma London 3 years ago
Is it allowed to lift the isle arm rest up for more a*s room in the economy seats? Asking for a friend.
John L 3 years ago
Knowing how dirty and gross planes are, do you want to try?
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#31
I was cabin crew for five years - long haul only - and whilst we've all passed the exams and tests and bla bla bla and have a refresher every year, you never *really* know how anyone will react in any kind of emergency. Firemen and police are tested on a weekly basis, but in the five years i was crew, there was nothing I personally experienced that put any of the proper training into use, and I'd like to think I'd not not freeze or fall to pieces, but you just never know.
So definitely pay a bit of attention for the three mins of the safety demo and figure out where the nearest exit and it's alternative are because you never know, you might end up having to help yourself.
#32
When you're taking off/landing and you see the flight attendant seated on her jumpseat, well she is simulating a crash/evacuation procedures in her head. It's called : SILENT review. So it's probably not the best time to flirt with her ;)
#33
The FAA minimum crew rest on a layover is 8:45 block to block (between when the cargo or main cabin door is opened when we arrive to when to captain releases the brakes before departure). That does not include the time it takes for passengers to deplane, for us to get to the hotel van, the drive to the hotel or the time to get back to the airport in the morning. Meaning we often get less than 6 hours in our hotel room. So when you are told your flight is delayed because of crew rest it isn't because we are being lazy. It really is because we must have mandated rest. There is a big push from the union to get this changed to a longer rest period because of safety but I think the airlines are pushing back.
Shelli Aderman 3 years ago
It should be a 12-hour rule! And Flight Attendants should get paid from the moment they step into the airport! It’s their office, for Pete’s sake!
Kate Jones 3 years ago
Any flight crew have any tips for severe ear pain when flying? I've tried the bubble gum trick and the popping my ears trick but there have been times the pain is excruciating to the point I feel like something is really wrong. It doesn't always happen but it happens enough for me to get really anxious before flights.
Powerful Katrinka 3 years ago
You might want to see an ENT specialist to make sure you don't have something wrong with your inner ear or sinuses. Particularly if your pain is causing that level of anxiety.
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#34
Lots of times when the planes go down they break apart in the air. The decompression knocks everyone unconscious. They wake up about 20 seconds later not remembering what happened. So if something goes wrong on the plane you will suddenly wake up freefalling in your seat with no idea what happened. That fall will take a little under 3 minutes.
Freya the Wanderer 3 years ago
Apparently the last crew of the space shuttle Challenger were conscious until the cockpit hit the water.
Tim Douglass 3 years ago
This is patently untrue. Aside from explosions, planes almost never break up in flight. The vast majority of airplane accidents happen on takeoff and landing and the in-flight ones, like the Air France on over the Atlantic, generally involve loss of control, and rapid descent, but no breakup of the main airframe. Planes are remarkably sturdy.
#35
We do not ask you to put your seats in an upright position during takeoffs and landings because we are jerks. It's because we have ninety seconds to evac. the plane in case of emergency and your reclined seat may impede the person in the row behind you from getting out.
Cyd Charisse 3 years ago
I know it seems like the inch-and-a-half wouldn't make a difference, but that's only half of it. Your seat has a lock. If it is jarred while locked (upright), it will remain upright. If it is slammed while unlocked, it will likely break and fall back into the lap of the person behind you. Now your seat back is a horizontal total barrier to everyone in that row. And you likely have a broken back. And plane-crashes aren't the only thing that will cause that action: I've seen the pilots slam in the brakes on the taxiway hard enough for a seat to break.
#36
1. We can't strike without congressional approval. That isn't ever going to happen, leading to a stall in our quality of life. 2. It is perfectly legal to only give flight attendants 8 hours between getting off the plane to getting back on it. 3. We travel for free domestically on all airlines. 4. A lot of girl FA's do end up dating pilots. 5. Most pilots are so used to being in control that they don't listen to anyone else. That causes safety issues, and is the biggest risk in aviation today in my opinion. 6. Flight attendants that leave the US to go to Emirates, Qatar, or Etihad have a curfew when they're home. 7. Planes are disgusting. Don't. Touch. Anything. 8. They lied to you about the extra precautions during the Ebola outbreak. 9. Everyone is hiring big time. Delta is seen as most desirable due to work conditions. If you go to United you will have an "on-call" schedule for the first ten years of your career minimum. 10. The city you're based in changes the whole culture at work. You can tell how a coworker is going to behave just on where they are based. 11. I work at what is considered the worst airline (Spirit) and we have the youngest flight attendants, best health insurance, easiest standby odds, and most fun. Who'da thunk. Edit: Also if your plane goes down in the ocean you better hope the impact kills you. Even if you make it on a raft you'll never be found.
Nikki Sevven 3 years ago (edited)
Because oceans are bloody huge. Look how long it took us to find the Titanic, and we knew its route. Best solution: geotag the rafts. (Edit: I didn't downvote you. I never downvote people for asking questions; that's how we all learn. In fact, I'm upvoting you to erase the downvote.)
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Shelli Aderman 3 years ago
I really hope that flight attendants are, in fact, WOMEN, and not girls. 🤦🏽♀️
April Miller 3 years ago
I’m confused about FA’s who go to Qatar having a curfew when they are home.
#37
Most passengers don't know about the overhead sleeping areas for the crew on 777 and 747 aircraft. Much less where the entrance to these areas are. Yet everyone walks past them every time they're on one of these planes.
Cyd Charisse 3 years ago
But to clarify: not ALL long haul planes have them. But when they do, it’s a magical treat for us :-)
Load More Replies... #38
Not flight attendant but former airport security.
Clearly, the passengers don't know that that joke they've just thought of we've heard about 5 million times, and the smile and laugh are fake all the way through.
Also, the little jokes the personnel will tell you are more like standup than improv. We see the exact same situations thousands of times and all have our little jokes that are usually tried and proven by the end of the first 2 weeks of work.
SCP-3998 3 years ago
Customers telling old jokes isnt new. Working as a server; "Oh would you like some sugar for your coffee/tea?" Older customer: "oh no, I'm sweet enough!" *cue laugh track* "oh! Hahahahahaha! Arent you clever!" Internally:"yea I havent heard that 12 times today alone at alllllll"
#39
Everyone knows what's going on under the blanket.
SCP-3998 3 years ago
Both? Lol for some, it's the thrill of the possibility of being caught. Most of the time, everyone knows but no one says s**t because it's not worth the confrontation.
Load More Replies... #40
It's an FAA regulation to have 1 flight attendant per 50 passengers. Just a neat fact, I'm an aircraft dispatcher for a major airline.
#41
Yes we know when you're upset/angry. When we say "see you next time" to certain passengers as they deplane after arrival, that's our code word for "f**k you - I hope you never fly with us again".
Freya the Wanderer 3 years ago
At Disney resorts they use the term "treasured guest" for somebody who is an a**hole.
Pumpkin Spice 3 years ago
First time I traveled alone, the flight attendant said, "See you next time!" I didn't ask for anything the whole flight, never reclined my seat, followed all the rules. So this may not be true.
#42
It is nearly impossible for turbulence to crash a plane (even the bad stuff). Turbulence is only dangerous because of things flying around the cabin and that includes people not wearing seat belts. Most accidents happen at take off and landing that's why we make you do all of those things before take off and landing.
~~The plane can move like a seesaw so seats nearest to the wings can have the least turbulence and seats farthest away will be the worst.~~
Since the altitude of the plane (simulated to 8,000') thins your blood alcohol will hit you harder. We were told one in the air for two on the ground. Also, it is illegal to be intoxicated on a plane and it is illegal for us to get you drunk. So if we cut you off don't argue we may serve you later if you're nice.
Edit: Sounds like I was told wrong about turbulence. The back is the worst but the front is better than over the wings. Yay I learned something!
Mama Penguin 3 years ago
As someone who's prone to motion sickness, I always try to book seats that are nearer to the wings. Once, I was stuck with a seat at the back of the a/c and I definitely felt the turbulence more.
#43
FAs and most airline crew get to designate a person to fly free on flights with space available. These people are referred to as "SA" or "Space Available" passengers. They are often found waiting on standby and can recognize one another by the smell of anxiety. Also, attendants usually hook them up something fierce on flights knowing that they are SA, as each attendant has his/her own SA designee that they would like other attendants to hook up.
RLS 3 years ago
The crew doesn't get to decide the priority of a "non rev" (non revenue passenger). It is decided by date of hire of employee, or whomever is flying and related to the employee. Also decided by status: is it a trip for work? Pleasure? Are you a union rep or airline executive on company business? There are several categories and all priority of "nonrevs" is decided by a computer code.
Cyd Charisse 3 years ago
No, but they can bring them extra goodies leftover in first class. Amenity kit, sundae, cookies…. Also, comp them drinks. There are other ways to hook them up other than giving them boarding priority
Load More Replies... #44
Former jet engine mechanic here. Those drop down masks are orange because if there's an explosive decompression, it's going to get real foggy, real fast. Went through one on a KC-135 years and years ago.
#46
Not a FA, but I have upwards of 1 million miles in the air as a passenger... ProTip: If you wear a pair of compressible foam earplugs - the 3M orange ones found at gun shops are good - from the time you enter the airport until you exit at the other end - the reduction in noise will VASTLY improve your trip.
#47
My dad is a private pilot (Gulfstream 550 for those interested) and his girlfriend is one of the flight attendants on the plane. They used to fly Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie around for press junkets and one time Brad Pitt got drunk and cut holes in the lunch meat on board and put it over their makeup artists eyes while she was sleeping.
#48
DO NOT get on an airplane excessively drunk. If the we see you obviously inebriated, your a*s gets booted off the flight.
#49
I'm not a flight attendant so I don't mind letting out this little secret. So about 30 mins before you land, a lot of the times, the flight attendants will lock the bathrooms so no one uses them during landing. But let's say you REALLY have to go. I mean it's at the point where it's the bathroom or the aisle. You can unlock the door by lifting up the little metallic "Lavatory" sign. Under it is a slide lever identical to the one you'd find on the inside to lock it. The flight attendants will probably get pissed at you for doing this but what're they gunna do? Stop you from peeing?
Cyd Charisse 3 years ago
One: only SOME of the locks work this way Two: at certain airports, a passenger in the lav means an aborted landing, a go around, and we circle in the air until you're done. THEN we get to land. Thanks, selfish asshat. Three: enjoy the splashes as we land. They WILL find you and you know what they are.
Nikki Sevven 3 years ago
Are the passengers warned that there's a last chance to use the rest room? (Not all at once; I realize the chaos that would cause. But an announcement that the restrooms will be locked in an hour would be helpful to people with less reliable bladders.)
Load More Replies... #50
How much the pilots sleep.
Cyd Charisse 3 years ago
This is crazy. They don't sleep that much. On long-haul flights (longer that eight hours of flight time, there will always be a spare pilot, and they will take designated breaks in designated break spots. (If it's during the day, outbound leg, then they'll likely watch a movie during their breaks). They're not up there sleeping the flight away. There's not much for them to do up there, except during take-off and landing, so they might be chatting, playing a game, doing a crossword, etc. Of course, I've seen the occasional pilot nod off, but definitely NOT if he was the one in control of the aircraft and only for a passing moment, much like some do in church or meetings. This is not an issue
Mama Penguin 3 years ago
Thank you. I thought it sounded a little outlandish.
Load More Replies... What do you think ?
Milan 3 years ago (edited)
Once, flight from NY to Vienna with Air Berlin (r.i.p) we sat at back (half airplane booked only) and the FA wanted some rest, so she used the seats right behind us to take some sleep. My wife and i had a discussion about something and the FA woke up with anger and shushed us that she can’t sleep. And i was like WTF? I paid 1500€ for tickets and can’t even talk? Like yeah, i know she was tired but what? Then i asked to change the seats which she could offer us at the beginnig and everybody could be happy 😀😀😀 I just remember, did fly few times with Air Berlin, the cabin crew was mostly terrible 😀
AsexualShrimp 3 years ago
Yep. I had a horrible experience with Air Berlin too. Me and my dad were traveling to London to catch a connecting flight and on the plane there, the flight attendant randomly asked my dad to give her his bag for her to check. In there was my stuffed animal and she just took it and left??? We were the only ones “checked” and oddly enough, we were one of the only people with brown skin. I still miss Pipsqueak :(
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Freya the Wanderer 3 years ago
A lot of these belong on the List of Reasons to Drive Instead. If you can.
Kathi Schäffer 3 years ago
Definitely. But my last trip was to Thailand and that's a hell of a long way to drive from Munich ;)
Load More Replies... Milan 3 years ago (edited)
Once, flight from NY to Vienna with Air Berlin (r.i.p) we sat at back (half airplane booked only) and the FA wanted some rest, so she used the seats right behind us to take some sleep. My wife and i had a discussion about something and the FA woke up with anger and shushed us that she can’t sleep. And i was like WTF? I paid 1500€ for tickets and can’t even talk? Like yeah, i know she was tired but what? Then i asked to change the seats which she could offer us at the beginnig and everybody could be happy 😀😀😀 I just remember, did fly few times with Air Berlin, the cabin crew was mostly terrible 😀
AsexualShrimp 3 years ago
Yep. I had a horrible experience with Air Berlin too. Me and my dad were traveling to London to catch a connecting flight and on the plane there, the flight attendant randomly asked my dad to give her his bag for her to check. In there was my stuffed animal and she just took it and left??? We were the only ones “checked” and oddly enough, we were one of the only people with brown skin. I still miss Pipsqueak :(
Load More Replies... Freya the Wanderer 3 years ago
A lot of these belong on the List of Reasons to Drive Instead. If you can.
Kathi Schäffer 3 years ago
Definitely. But my last trip was to Thailand and that's a hell of a long way to drive from Munich ;)
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