This text first appeared here on Brigitte.de.
Airlines like to pretend that everything is done correctly with them: everything is safe, everything is clean, the uniform fits. And although everyone knows that this is not always true, the jobs on board are still in demand today.
Sure, jetting through the world professionally has its advantages: you get around, there is a lot of variety, and such a crew life can be really fun. In addition, aviation still has a touch of glamor from the past, when air travel was reserved for the jet set.
This is shown by the statements from flight attendants that we have collected online. Because if flying can be uncomfortable for us in the narrow seats and rows, how uncomfortable is that for the flight attendants who have to take care of the needs of hundreds of passengers in the cramped cabin? Who take care of us, calm us down, clean after us and always remain polite - even with the most outrageous special requests and the sexiest sayings?
In an emergency, they are also responsible for our safety and for ensuring that the "High Mile Club" grows as little as possible.
But read for yourself and find out some of the well-kept secrets of international aircraft crews:
"The first thing I look at is what the passengers are wearing. Some people are dressed like they've made an effort to make a good impression. Others look like they picked up their clothes off the floor and ran out of the house. "
"When flight attendants greet you as you board, they do two things: 1. Check if you're drunk or stoned. 2. Check if you're strong and fit so they can involve you in an emergency (e.g. lifting heavy). things or when opening the emergency doors)."
"The crew talks about the passengers. If you are rude to any of us, remember that we all know who you are and where you are sitting, and there will be entries about you in the airline database - for future flights."
"We have a list of each passenger's name and seat number. Sometimes, when we're bored, we google you."
"We have plastic handcuffs and have been trained on how to use them if you misbehave."
"If someone asks us to change the onboard temperature, we just pretend to comply. It's always a bit cooler in the cabin because if we get caught in turbulence, the odds that a passenger will: throws up significantly higher when it's warm. I don't know why."
"The plane is disgusting. Don't walk barefoot and just stop eating your mint once it hits the ground."
"I always advise never to use the seat pockets. They are emptied, but never cleaned. A lot has been taken out of them, used handkerchiefs, used vomit bags, socks, chewing gum, sucked candy, core casings - and then you put your smartphone in there. .."
"I wouldn't drink water, tea or coffee on board, just bottled or canned drinks. The water isn't that bad, but how often do you think the tanks are cleaned?"
"We do not wash/replace the pillows and blankets."
"We don't usually know each other before the flight. You'll often hear us calling each other 'Hey honey', 'Hey my dear', 'Hey my gutter' - all because we're sharing the names of the crew members. members can't remember."
"On long-haul planes there is a room with beds for the crew. We're aware of that, but I've heard that a lot of people don't even know that."
"The worst thing is pouring Diet Coke because for some weird reason it foams a lot more than any other fizzy drink."
"It's getting really boring up there - you spend a lot of time daydreaming and staring at passengers and imagining them in situations that will never happen."
"Many want to be flight attendants because they think they can explore the world. But the layovers are usually only 10-14 hours, which is barely enough to drive to the hotel, shower, eat and sleep. "
"When a plane lands at night, the cabin is darkened in case the plane needs to be evacuated. Your eyes are already used to the dark and you can see better when you're outside."
"If you experience a hard landing in bad weather, it's not because of the pilot's lack of skill. That's on purpose. When the runway is covered with water, the plane has to land hard to prevent aquaplaning."
"You can unlock airplane lavatories from the outside. Usually, the mechanism is hidden under the No Smoking sign on the door. Just lift the flap and push the latch aside..."
"Pilots are not allowed to eat the same thing, but they are allowed to eat at the same time. The plane then flies on autopilot."
Sources: Docjournals, Bestlifeonline, Buzzfeed
