LONDON: A flight attendant’s job is more than serving drinks with a smile. They’re responsible for passengers’ safety and, of course, they know a lot about flying – more than any frequent flier.
To find out more about the world of flying, one Quora (question and answer website) user asked: “What are some things that airline cabin crews know but won’t tell you?”
A number of seasoned flight attendants responded to share some unexpected truths about their industry and reveal what goes on behind the scenes at 38 000ft.
You’ll be told if the plane is going to crash
If you’re a nervous flier, chances are that you watch the flight attendant for signs of panic during bouts of turbulence to figure out whether or not the plane will crash. But the captain and cabin staff will tell you if the plane is in trouble, according to a crew member.
“The captain will give you the same information that we know if there is time, and then we will begin emergency landing procedures,” the anonymous flight attendant said. “My job is to make sure we all get out alive, so, of course, I would want you to be as prepared as possible.”
Flight attendants don’t get paid until the plane door closes
They are paid for the duration of a flight only, according to one cabin crew member. “We are not paid during boarding or until the door to the aircraft is shut. This means it’s mandatory to show up to work about 2 hours early but not be paid for it,” the user wrote in a Quora post that was upvoted by a retired US Air Force pilot.
Airlines often reuse blankets and pillows
Yes, that blanket you’re sleeping under may not be so fresh. Some airlines reuse blankets and pillows on flights, according to Quora user Tony Busko and former flight attendant Fatihah Sudewo. "They just fold em (sic) up and put them away for the next flight.” She added that it depends on how cheap the flight is.
The best solution, according to Busko, is to ask for a new blanket in a plastic bag.
Plane water is gross
If you do get a drink, make sure it’s not tea or coffee. The water used to make your beverage likely comes from the plane’s water tank, which is located under the plane, and it probably isn’t very clean. But the bathrooms are even worse, an anonymous flight attendant commented.
Your bathroom breaks could hold up the entire plane
A poorly timed visit to the bathroom when the seatbelt sign is illuminated could mean a landing delay.
“If somebody goes to use the restroom, we have to tell the cockpit, and they have to stop the plane and wait until the person is back in their seat and buckled up. During that time we could lose our spot in line,” one attendant was cited telling Woman’s Day magazine.
The cabin crew gets better meals than you
Plane food may be a disappointment to most passengers, but flight attendants are treated to better-quality meals, according to Sudewo. While the quality of food varies by airline, she said that there’s “at least a trolley dedicated for the crews” with fresh fruit, bread rolls, desserts, drinks and more.
Flight attendants don’t sleep much, especially if there’s a delay
A delay might set back passengers’ plans to get to the beach by a few hours, but it’s far worse for flight attendants. For cabin crew, a delay means missing out on valuable sleep time before their next shift.
“If I was going to originally have 10 hours of rest before flying the next morning, now it is 8 hours. This includes having a meal, showering, getting ready for bed, getting ready in the morning and travel time to the airport.”
So, consider this on your next early morning flight, and maybe throw in a “please” and “thank you” to the exhausted flight attendant handing you a drink. – The Independent