The flight attendant’s role is to ensure comfort and safety onboard the aircraft, and the emphasis is most definitely on safety. While most passengers only see flight attendants during boarding, in service, and when deplaning, their assumption often is that they are only there to serve food and drinks, which could not be further from the truth. The real role of a Flight Attendant is much more complex than that.
Ever since the early days of aviation, there have been variations in the role of flight attendants. The first ‘stewards’ or ‘cabin boys’ helped load aircraft and served drinks during flights. The very first known steward worked on airships and took cigarettes and matches from passengers to ensure safety. The first ‘stewardesses’ were nurses, brought onboard to calm nervous passengers and provide first aid to those who were nauseous during the flight. Since then, the flight attendant role has evolved, and over the last 50 years, the primary focus has been on safety.
Why Passengers Should Follow The Crew’s Instructions
Flight attendants take their duties very seriously and will always focus on safety, which is thoroughly rooted in their training. It is very important to follow the instructions of the crew at all times, and in fact, it is illegal not to and can result in fines or even being banned from an airline. Unfortunately, some passengers deliberately do so without thought, which puts other lives at risk as they misunderstand the role of flight attendants and their duties. There is always a safety reason behind any instruction given.
A flight attendant may ask a passenger to put their seat back upright for landing. This is because if the seat back is reclined, and an evacuation was required, it could prevent the people seated behind from getting out of their seats, especially in a dark, smoky cabin. This simple act could impede evacuation and result in loss of life. A passenger may be asked to open a window blind on takeoff or landing. This is not just an inconvenience; it allows the crew to see clearly outside in the event of an evacuation, so they can assess outside conditions. They need to be able to assess if it’s safe to open their exit door and start the evacuation of the aircraft. In a bulkhead row, there is no seat in front, where one would normally place a small bag. Passengers in these rows will be asked to place baggage or any loose items in the overhead bin. In an emergency situation, loose items can become projectiles and can significantly injure you or those around you.
Indeed, flight attendants are trained to fight fires, evacuate the aircraft on land and in water, and provide medical assistance to those who become sick during a flight. They also receive training in security, survival, dangerous goods, restraining unruly passengers, and much more. Only a small amount of training is service; flight attendants are trained to deal with emergency situations. There are many rules that flight attendants follow to ensure a safe flight, and passengers should be aware of them too.
The Safety Demonstration Is Still Important
The safety demonstration is there for good reason, although passengers rarely watch, listen to, or acknowledge this important information. Because emergencies are quite rare, they don’t believe it will happen to them on their flight. It is important to note that not all aircraft are the same; doors have different operating methods, and passengers are always seated in different locations relative to the nearest exit. It is a good idea to count the rows to the nearest exit, so in dark or smoky conditions, you can find the way out more quickly.
If wearing headphones, passengers may be asked to remove them for the safety demonstration and ideally for takeoff and landing. If there is an evacuation, you should be able to hear and follow the crew’s instructions. These are short instructions that everyone must follow in an emergency evacuation (these may vary between airlines). For example:
- “Unfasten seatbelts, come this way!”
- “Leave all baggage behind.”
- “Exit blocked, go that way.”
- “Wait, slide inflating.”
- “Jump and slide.”
These are aimed at getting everyone out of the aircraft within 90 seconds and as quickly, efficiently, and safely as possible. Knowing the correct brace position, how to use the safety equipment, and knowing how to find the nearest exit are essential, in case of an emergency. One online video taken during a decompression showed that most passengers were wearing the oxygen masks incorrectly. Therefore, watching the safety demonstration is still important and increases the chance of survival.
Why Passengers Are Carefully Observed
Right from the moment anyone steps foot on an aircraft, the flight attendants are monitoring passengers as they smile and welcome you on board. They will look for signs of sickness, for example, as no one wants to be ill on an aircraft, although they are well-trained to deal with such issues. Since the pandemic, the spread of disease has become a significant concern, so if someone is noticeably sick, they may be offloaded. If a person is heavily pregnant, a doctor’s letter is often required to certify that they are fit to fly.
Flight attendants will spot a nervous flyer and will give encouragement during the flight. They will also look for passengers who are elderly or injured or have infants who may need special assistance and extra help in an evacuation. Flight attendants look for Able Bodied Passengers (ABPs) who may be able to help in an emergency evacuation and also note any doctors, fire personnel, or off-duty pilots and flight attendants that may be able to assist, should an emergency situation occur.
As cases of disruptive passengers continue to rise, it is important to look for anyone who is intoxicated, potentially aggressive or unruly, or noncompliant, who may cause problems during the flight or impede an evacuation. It is permissible for them to be offloaded before the aircraft departs to avoid any issues during the flight. Flight attendants are also trained to notice any unusual behavior during a flight and can report any signs of human trafficking, drug mules, or anything else suspicious.
Other Rules To Be Considered
Dress code may not be considered when traveling by air, but it is another important factor. Clothing should be practical and comfortable, but also respectful. Shoes should always be worn in the cabin, and especially in the lavatory for hygiene reasons. Passengers should also consider if what they are wearing will impede them (and others) in an evacuation on land or water.
Passengers are not allowed to touch, poke, or verbally abuse a flight attendant to get their attention. They should also be patient when asking for something, like a blanket or an extra drink. Although they are more than willing to help, they may also have other passengers to deal with, especially during service in the cabin. In terms of safety, a flight attendant has around 50 passengers to look after but may well deal with many more during service.
Etiquette goes a long way in the cabin. Passengers should be aware of their personal space and not intrude on others. Loud music through headphones is not nice for the people sitting next to you. The person occupying a middle seat is entitled to use both arm rests. Reclining a seat during a meal is a no-no, and a flight attendant can ask that seats remain upright until the meal is finished. Leaving a mess in the cabin after the flight is disrespectful and should be cleared up.
More On Safety
If a passenger is seated next to an overwing exit, a briefing should take place so that the passenger knows that they are responsible for opening the overwing exit. They have to be able to communicate clearly with the crew member, understand how to operate the exit, and possess the strength to lift it out. If this is not the case, the passenger will be moved to another seat, and another person will be found. There are also strict rules that airlines have in place about who can sit in an exit row.
With severe turbulence increasingly on the rise, it is wise to keep your seatbelt fastened during the flight. Clear air turbulence is the most dangerous and can hit without warning. Keeping the seatbelt on can stop passengers from hitting the ceiling or another seat. Of course, the seatbelt sign should also be followed at all times. Although the crew may be allowed to move around the cabin, the passengers may not. The crew may be finishing their duties and are used to turbulence and will be informed by the flight crew, if it is unsafe to continue and be seated.
Safety is key to all aspects of flight, and flight attendants are there primarily for safety, and service is secondary. Passengers should be aware of that and also take responsibility for their actions. One would hope that they don’t see what the crew are really trained for, but sometimes things don’t go as planned, and flight attendants are ready to deal with a medical emergency or any other type of emergency.
In Conclusion: Respect, Etiquette And Safety
Flight attendants should be treated with respect as they are safety professionals, not servers. They train and take recurrent training every year, to ensure that they are safety proficient, and are also tested every flight with a briefing beforehand. They know all the airline rules and follow them to a T, to ensure a safe and efficient flight.
Passengers should be aware of etiquette when flying regarding the flight attendants and fellow passengers, and have some respect for each other. Everyone understands that airlines have rules (written and unwritten) that should be followed. Passengers should understand that all instructions given by a flight attendant are for a good reason, with safety in mind, and not just to be an inconvenience to them. Every procedure taken on a flight has a safety first focus.
Better safety awareness would be the ideal outcome, and maybe the airlines should encourage this to educate the passengers on their responsibilities. There are so many cases of disruptive passengers nowadays, and these should be stopped before the boarding gate. Although things are improving, there is still a long way to go. The understanding of the flight attendant role is still somewhat misjudged and needs to be reevaluated as more than just a uniformed server, but a safety professional who could save your life.
