Did You Know?
The average age of a flight attendant for most US airlines is 44 years.
Gone are the days when flying was an expensive venture, reserved only for executives and royals. Today, flying has become very accessible, convenient, and comparatively cheaper. But one thing remains the same - the ever-helpful and smiling air hostess.
These ladies (and these days, gents) have a very tough job on hand. They have to manage a flight full of diverse people - from stressed-out businessmen to families with screaming toddlers. To add to that, there are obnoxious and rude people on board, who make their jobs even more difficult.
To make things a bit easier for them and ensure a smooth flight, many air hostesses and stewards have little tricks under their sleeves. Here are some of them, and some other things which they won't tell you out of sheer politeness.
Their job is to keep passengers safe
Contrary to what most people think, a flight attendant's primary job is to ensure your safety - the helping and serving part of their job are just add-ons and a courtesy extended by the airline. If they are assisting you with your luggage, it is to make sure it is stowed properly and does not harm anyone. They are not required to lift your bags or help you take them elsewhere. All the other assistance, such as providing you with a drink, handing you hot towels, etc., are to make sure you stay calm and satiated.
They get paid only for flight hours
As unfair as it may seem, the time that a flight attendant spends in getting the plane ready, settling you down, etc., is not included in their salary. The stingy paychecks are due in part to the falling revenues of the airlines themselves. They do, however, receive some expense allowance for the entire time they clock in - it is pretty frugal though.
Decaf rules
An air hostesses will often serve only decaffeinated coffee during a flight, ensuring that most passengers doze off. This is not just to reduce their workload though, as a nap makes the flight a lot more of a positive experience to everyone involved - from the napper himself/herself, to the the people sitting near them.
They might water down your drinks
If a flight attendant feels a passenger is ordering too many drinks, and getting drunk, they might avoid serving him/her by avoiding eye contact. When that fails, they might just fill the glass half-way or give him/her a diluted drink, masking it by dipping the rim of the glass in full-strength liquor.
They are trained to identify human traffickers
A number of training programs and workshops exist to train flight attendants in different aspects. As traffickers are using flights more and more to smuggle in children, flight attendants are being regarded as the first line of defense against this heinous crime. The benefits are already evident - a number of trafficking rings have been busted, thanks to alert flight attendants on board.
If you are sitting at the back, you will get less drink/meal options
This is a bit unfortunate for those sitting at the back of the plane, but nevertheless true. As the attendants start serving from the front of the plane to the back, the variety of drinks or meals might go down. This is because a plane has limited space, only a certain number of items can be stored, and by the time they get to the back of the plane, they run out of at least a few of the options.
The seat-belt sign is 'On' far longer than necessary
Flight attendants may keep the seat belt sign 'on' for a longer time than is really necessary. With everyone settled in their seats, it is easier for them to bring out those humongous trolleys and serve everyone, without any passengers attempting to 'squeeze' through the narrow aisle.
They hate diet coke
If for some reason you want to trouble a flight attendant, ask him/her to serve you Diet Coke in a glass. The beverage is so 'fizzy', that an attendant can pour 3 glasses of any other drink in the amount of time it takes them to pour a single Diet Coke.
Although glamorous, a flight attendant's job is extremely difficult. It is physically and emotionally demanding, as air hostesses and stewards have to deal with all kinds of people politely and with a gleaming smile. However, these little secrets and tricks make their job slightly easier.
