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.  

• Read More: Flight Attendants Spill 30 Secrets About The Airline Industry That Most Passengers Don’t Know

#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.

Image credits: BiggRicc

#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.

Image credits: Giftofnarwhals

#3

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.

Image credits: Nodeal_reddit

#4

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.

Image credits: Legion3382

#5

3 consecutive dings over the loud speaker means you’re probably going to die

Image credits: paulwhiskie

#6

Tray tables are rarely if ever sanitized do not put food directly on them.

Image credits: dallenhill

#7

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.

Image credits: Squurrelly711

#8

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.

Image credits: penguinopusredux

#9

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.

Image credits: DeviantOffspring

#10

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.

Image credits: oh_sneezeus

#11

An airplane can fly with one engine, and if an engine catches on fire, they have the means of extinguishing it while in air.

Image credits: asamermaid

#12

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.

Image credits: anon

#13

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

Image credits: dallenhill

#14

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!

Image credits: anon

#15

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.

Image credits: Big0addy

#16

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.

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