Those chimes are really a secret code
If you’ve been on enough flights, you’ve probably noticed the chimes that play both when you’re taking off and when you’re landing again. Rather than signaling to the passengers that the journey is beginning and ending (since, let’s face it, they likely already know) the bells you hear are to signal to the crew that the most hazardous stages of the flight are over.
They’re allowed to nap on the job
Being a flight attendant means working long hours in uncomfortable clothing, but there are some perks. Many larger planes have sleeping cabins built-in for staff, so they can catch a few z’s during the unsociable hours of long-haul flights. Far from luxurious though, these quarters are usually windowless and built below the galley, so you’d never even know they were there!
Attendants recommend keeping your shoes on
One of the quickest ways to get comfy when settling into a long flight is to take off your shoes, but you may want to replace them with slippers instead of wandering around in sock feet. Plenty of gross accidents can occur in-flight, and the carpets are usually only fully cleaned in between journeys, so there’s really no knowing what you could be stepping in!
Yes, attendants really are judging you
After an incredibly early or multiple layovers, you might rock up to the plane looking less than your best and have the sinking sensation that your flight attendant is judging you. The good news is, they probably are, but not for the reasons you think! Attendants are trained to identify passengers who could be a help or a hindrance during a flight, as well as those with disabilities or children who may need extra support.
Upgrades do happen, but they’re less common than you think
As a general rule, being kind and courteous is never a bad idea, and this is doubly true on planes. While an upgrade to a seat with more legroom, free champagne or even a swap to first class is never guaranteed, flight attendants can swap people between empty seats at their discretion. It helps if you have a genuine need, due to being too tall or pregnant, for example.
The pay is not as glamorous as the outfits
On the surface, working as a flight attendant might seem like a dream. You get to travel the world, wear red lipstick to work, and even nap on the job! The reality is much more tiresome though, as attendants are only paid their full rate for the hours the engine of the plane is running. Outside of that, they can be paid as little as $1.50 an hour. Yikes!
You’re not imagining it: planes make you drunker
Ever gotten a little carried away on the plane and spent the first day of your vacation already hungover? Well, it’s not just pre-holiday excitement causing you to overindulge – your intoxication could also be blamed on the plane itself! The changing cabin pressure can often cause your body to have an outsized reaction to alcohol, just like drinking on top of a mountain would lead to a faster and more intense buzz!
Want to be unpopular? Ask for Diet Coke
In many restaurants, you’ll often hear the phrase “is diet okay?” but on a plane, the opposite is far more likely to be said. Diet Coke is much fizzier than other soft drinks, so takes about three times as long to be poured without bubbling and overflowing. Needless to say, flight attendants hate this extra hassle, and would rather you opt for anything else if you don’t have a strong preference.
There’s a reason the lights are off during take-off
Planes will often turn the passenger lighting off through the night and during early morning hours, but cabins also remain dark during takeoff and landing. Rather morbidly, this is because these are the two most dangerous stages of a flight, and so everyone’s eyes need to have adjusted to the low light in case of an emergency. Try not to think about that next time!
Maybe don’t order a coffee…
Flights are often long, boring and fatiguing, so no one could be angry at you for ordering a coffee or tea to keep your spirits up. However, you might be angry at yourself once you find out that the tanks storing the drinking water are not cleaned as often as you’d hope. Plus, the valve housing potable water is often right next to the lavatory water valve. Yum.
Attendants are never off their phones
Lots of things about working as a flight attendant are inconvenient or annoying, from the constant jet lag to having to wear stockings, high heels and lipstick daily. With that said, there are also things that attendants get to do that would never fly (get it?) at a normal day job, such as spending a ton of time on a mobile phone when things get slow.
The stereotypes about aeroplane food are true
Everybody knows that aeroplane food is bad, but the reason why it sucks so much often eludes people. Mostly, it’s because the meals are deliberately loaded with salt, sugar and fat, in order to make you feel full despite the tiny portion sizes. Unfortunately, that glut of energy won’t last for long, leaving you hungry again by the time you’re passing the £7 airport sandwiches.
They can restrain you with zip ties if they need to
Flight attendants are some of the most unfailingly gracious professionals in the world, but that doesn’t mean they’re afraid to get serious when the situation calls for it. In the case of aggressive or trouble-making passengers, attendants are trained to use zip ties or seatbelt extenders as restraints, before escorting them to a part of the plane where they can’t endanger other passengers.
It’s a pretty demanding job
Despite the elegant veneer and prestige shown in movies and television, being a flight attendant isn’t always glamorous. Not only does the role necessitate being away from family for long periods of time, but there’s also the requirement to work over the holidays, not to mention the 4 AM start times.
First class is actually a dangerous place to be
If you’ve ever been on a flight, chances are you’ve felt that pang of envy when the people with first-class tickets were called up to board first. True, they do get nicer seats, better quality headphones and more complimentary drinks, but those luxuries come at more than just a monetary price. Studies show that passengers in the rear of a plane have the highest survival rates due to being near the emergency exits, which are at the opposite end of the plane to first class.
It’s all about the look
If flight attendants are known for anything, it’s the look. Though standards have changed in recent years due to shifting ideas of beauty and respectability, there is still a dress code to adhere to if you want to work on any airline. Though red lipstick and high heels are increasingly not required, hair is always to be worn neatly styled or pulled back, and uniforms are to be kept spotless and wrinkle-free.
Attendant openings are oversubscribed
Think the cute outfit is worth the hours spent marching up and down and attending to passenger requests? Good for you, just know that the hard work starts way before you’re hired. For every 1,000 flight attendant openings, there are on average 100,000 applicants, meaning only the very best even proceed to the interview stage. That shouldn’t stop you from throwing your immaculately styled hat in the ring if it’s your dream though!
Flight attendant love is pretty common
As with any other job, your mileage with a workplace romance on a plane will vary. Flight attendants are allowed to fraternise with each other and do so often, since they are packed into close quarters for extended periods of time and don’t have time to form other romantic attachments due to the constant travel. However, discretion is tantamount to keeping both workplace morale high and passengers comfortable.
Don’t hit on your flight attendant
Though it’s considered pretty common for flight attendants to begin relationships with one another, it’s far less advisable for a passenger to attempt to initiate a connection with someone on duty. Most attendants have horror stories about being hassled by tipsy, overtired or just over-enthusiastic passengers for a date, and it almost never works out.
The oxygen in the masks is limited
Nobody wants to have to use the emergency oxygen masks that pop down in front of the seats, but it’s important to know about them nonetheless. Each one contains between 12 and 15 minutes of oxygen, which may not sound like much, but is usually enough for the pilot to navigate the plane down to a breathable altitude. In the interim, it’s important to breathe slowly and levelly, which will keep you calm and prevent the waste that hyperventilating can cause.
Your extra luggage isn’t a huge deal
Every airline has rules about how much it costs to bring extra luggage aboard and how much weight you can actually travel with, but how big of a deal is it really? Well, in truth, most airlines use sandbags to even out the plane in the case of extra, unaccounted-for weight, so bringing a few more books or an extra pair of shoes isn’t likely to be the end of the world.
You really should turn off your devices
You should always listen to your flight attendants regardless, but one rule it’s worth paying special attention to is the no-phones instruction. It may seem archaic to have to switch off your mobile during take-off, but phone signals are still strong enough to interfere with air traffic control frequencies, which can drag out take-off for longer. In short: Twitter can wait for a few minutes!
Nice at check-in, easy flight
Just like in restaurants, where the front-of-house staff will 100% tell the chefs if you’re being dreadful to your servers, your airport check-in staff and your flight attendants aren’t as separate as you might think. The check-in team will definitely let the plane know if you’re likely to be a difficult passenger, so a smile and a thank you can definitely go a long way.
Tipping is encouraged
Tipping your flight attendant isn’t as mandatory or expected as tipping your waiter, your hotel maid or your bellhop, but that doesn’t mean it’s not appreciated. Flight attendants are allowed to take tips, and thanking them for the free drinks, accommodations or just politeness can help make up the shortfall from the money they lose while waiting for the plane to take off.
Never wrap your souvenirs!
It’s pretty common to bring friends and family back gifts from your holiday, but while that’s definitely a very sweet and thoughtful thing to do, you may want to hold off on wrapping them until you’re back on home soil. If a flight attendant thinks a package looks suspicious or just puzzling, then they’re within their rights to tear it open and check it out. So either wait til the taxi home… or just use a gift bag.
It’s worth skipping the blankets
Getting a good night’s sleep on an aeroplane is pretty difficult even in the best of circumstances. Not only are you upright in an uncomfortable seat, but there’s usually a crying baby, three people talking loudly and one person snoring. To make matters worse, most flight attendants recommend you don’t use the provided blankets, since they’re not cleaned as thoroughly or as often as they should be. Yuck!
The Mile-High Club isn’t all it’s cracked up to be
Nothing is more likely to elicit an eye-roll from your flight attendant than mentioning the oft-lauded mile-high club. The more plane employees spend a significant portion of their day either cleaning up after couples or discouraging them in the first place, and for good reason. Nothing is particularly romantic or exciting about tiny bathrooms with bad fluorescent lighting, especially during an 11-hour flight.
The flight might be delayed, but the snacks won’t be
Nothing feels worse than a delayed flight, especially when you’ve got a tight layover to make or you’ve already been travelling for hours. The good news is, even if your flight is grounded for a while, the snacks are still likely to make it to your seat. This is because flight attendants are ordered to start circulating food after a delay of more than two hours.
Bring an empty water bottle
If you’re one of those people who still hasn’t been converted to a reusable water bottle, then make sure you bring an empty plastic one to the airport with you. Past security, the airport is full of water fountains you can use to fill up, which will save you a fortune on the incredibly expensive bottled water in the shops and on the plane. Plus, it’s one less thing to bother your flight attendant about!
Bad behaviour gets remembered
Being a frequent flyer with loyalty to a particular airline has its perks. You’re more likely to have your seat upgraded, you have access to the VIP airport lounge, and you may even redeem rewards as you collect more points. Be warned though, if you’re a regular presence on certain flights it’s likely your name has notes by it for flight attendants to read, detailing your normal behaviour as well as your likes and dislikes.
Bring wipes for the tray table
Just like you should be wary of the coffees, blankets and pillows offered by your airline, you should also think twice about using the tray table attached to the seat in front of you. Just like the carpets, these tables are only thoroughly cleaned between flights, with a quick spruce up once a day. So if you’ve brought sandwiches, you might want to bring some hand wipes to use first!
Even pilots get sleepy sometimes
It is incredibly difficult to become a pilot. The training is extensive and involves several advanced tests, which makes sense, because those who qualify hold the lives of 1000s of people in their hands every day. However, while taking off and landing a plane require immense skill, a large plane can basically take care of itself in between, so pilots have been known to nap while their co-pilot supervises and vice versa.
Keep calm and carry on
Lots of people experience anxiety while flying because there is something inherently disquieting about hurtling through the air in a tin box with 100s of other people. Flight attendants can be incredibly helpful in reassuring nervous passengers, but it’s worth remembering that they would remain cool and calm even if there really was something to worry about. Doesn’t that make you feel better?
Don’t forget your headphones!
Even running out to the grocery store without headphones can turn a pleasant errand into an infuriating nightmare. Being trapped on a plane with bawling babies, hyperactive children and people who listen to their movies out loud is even worse. Most planes do provide earphones, but quality isn’t guaranteed, so as a general rule it’s always better to bring your own.
Some flights have complimentary Starbucks
You’ve probably heard the cliche of rolling up to your airport gate with a giant Starbucks, but you may actually want to skip your expensive coffee and go straight to your flight. That’s because, depending on what airline you’re flying with, you could be entitled to complimentary Starbucks once on board. Your flight attendant is unlikely to tell you about this perk though!
You could be sitting next to an Air Marshal
Air Marshals are the most important part of a flight that you’ve never seen or heard. These highly-trained army or police officers are instructed to take flights in plain clothes and jump in to assist the flight attendants should any violence or dangerous situation break out. They are always armed, always quiet and polite, and nearly impossible to identify. Try and spot one next time you’re flying!
Don’t discount the brace position
The emergency brace position really does sound like something made up to keep people calm in a crisis, but it actually is worth bearing in mind. Though obviously, it won’t prevent you from getting seriously injured in a major catastrophe, it will go some way to protect you if the plane needed to make an emergency landing over the ocean.
Medical emergency? No worries!
Medical emergencies are scary at the best of times, and having something go wrong when you’re several thousand feet in the earth is even scarier. The good news is, you won’t be stuck fending for yourself, as all flight attendants are trained in CPR and the Heimlich manoeuvre. Not only that, but there are defibrillators and first aid kits on board.
Don’t ignore your seatbelt
It may not feel like it when you’re experiencing turbulence that makes the windows rattle and your seat rumble, but planes are incredibly sturdy, with most even able to withstand damage when struck by lightning. However, they are not invincible, and so it’s important to take the seatbelt light seriously. It’s better to be safe than sorry, after all!
What the captain says, goes
Much like the captain of a ship, the pilot in charge of a plane is also known as the captain and is responsible for far more than just navigating safely. The captain holds the power to order disruptive and dangerous passengers to be moved to less populated areas of the plane, and they can also call the authorities to instruct police to arrest someone the second the plane lands.
Attendant meals aren’t usually included
Depending on your opinion of aeroplane food, this next fact may either be a drawback of working as a flight attendant, or a perk. On domestic flights, attendants aren’t usually served the same meals as passengers, in fact, they’re not offered food at all. Instead, they have to bring their own lunches and dinners, which are probably better than the glorified microwave meals anyway!
Unused food is just thrown away
Wasted food is a huge part of any customer-facing industry. Cafes, restaurants, bakeries and even supermarkets are constantly left with food they cannot sell. Usually, this food is distributed amongst employees, to charities or food banks, or to third-party apps that help cut down on wastage. Unfortunately, plane meals that go uneaten are simply thrown away, as they cannot be given away.
Airport food is anything but fresh
Aeroplane food is one of life’s great cruelties, and the low quality has often been attributed to airline stinginess, tiny portion sizes or lack of seasonings. In actual fact though, the reason a plane meal is never as satisfying as it could be is that all the meals are made way ahead of time and flash-frozen before being reheated, which leads to a less complex and rich flavour.
There’s more than suitcases in storage
Next time you’re getting a flight to a romantic city break or relaxing beach getaway, try not to think about the fact that there may be way more than just suitcases below your feet. The unfortunate truth is that people do occasionally pass away on vacation, and their bodies need to be quickly and safely returned home. As such, there is a non-zero chance of human remains being on any plane you board.
The engines are not as crucial as you might think
The engine faltering or going out during a flight across a terrifyingly vast ocean or highly populated city might sound like the beginning of a disaster movie, but it actually isn’t something you need to immediately panic about. Not only are pilots drilled thoroughly on what to do if an engine fails, but planes can actually continue to glide in such a scenario, and won’t simply drop out of the sky. What a relief!
Pets and aeroplanes don’t get on
Flights are inconvenient and stressful in a whole bunch of ways: they disrupt your daily routine, you have to eat different food, and they stop you from sleeping properly. All of these factors are doubly distressing for pets, which is why experts say not to bring your furry friend with you on a plane unless you absolutely have to.
Cut comfort, not safety
It’s true that the price of a plane ticket seems to be going up all the time, while the seats get smaller and closer together and things like paid seat selection and baggage fees crop up more and more. The good news is, while airlines can cut as many corners as they want when it comes to comfort and convenience, they legally cannot cut corners on safety, and so money is being spent where it truly counts.
Early flight, easy flight
Though nobody can control the weather, there are things you can do if you’re a nervous flyer and want to have the smoothest journey possible. Thunderstorms happen later in the day, so the earlier your flight is, the less likely you are to experience turbulence. Plus, you’re more likely to be tired if you catch an earlier flight, so you can probably sleep through any bumpiness that might occur.
