Have you ever wondered why flight attendants stand and greet you every time you’re boarding a plane? Well it’s not just a nice gesture or a welcoming protocol, it’s actually important for the safety of everyone on board.
There’s more to it than politeness
While it might seem like flight attendants really only greet you at the door of a plane as a way of being polite, there’s more to it than just that.
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A quick greeting between a flight attendant and a passenger can indicate if the passenger is unwell or unfit to travel.
It could indicate if you are unwell
Wizz Air flight attendant Ioana Iachim on TikTok shared that your answer to a simple ‘hello’ can help flight attendants notice if a passenger is unwell or even too drunk to fly.
Although it’s quite common for people to drink before they get on a flight, if a person is too drunk, it could pose a safety risk to everyone on board the plane.
An unwell person could increase the chances of diversion
A drunk or unwell person could also increase the chances of a possible diversion or emergency landing in the case of any health issues coming up.
And the flight attendant and content creator wasn’t the only one to explain that the plane greeting was more than meets the eye.
The TikToker was backed up by another
Another flight attendant who works for the airline shared footage of herself making an in-flight announcement, writing over it, “Did you know that your flight attendant greets you not only out of politeness?”
She repeated the first crew member’s point, that the ‘hello’ isn’t just a greeting, but ‘to check whether you are too drunk or sick to fly’.
Crew members would also be looking for ABPs
When greeting people, flight attendants would also be looking for able bodied passengers (ABPs) who would be of help to the crew members in case of an emergency or the need to evacuate the aircraft, this is per the industry’s standards.
People online were shocked to learn this
A lot of flyers who saw the videos were shocked to learn that they weren’t just greeted because of their great looks, but rather as part of a safety practice.
“I always thought it was my devastatingly good looks and awesome personality. Now I’m heart-broken,” one person joked.
Flight attendants also look out for the exit row
Another user reflected on one of their trips upon learning this new information, saying, “I came home from Vegas drunk with my cousins and I was so shocked they even allowed us on the plane.”
Flight attendants don’t just look out for ABPs to help in case of an emergency evacuation, they also make sure not to place children, the elderly, or passengers with physical or mental disabilities in the exit row on the plane. This is to avoid the impeding of plane evacuation, should it be needed.
Last Updated on March 13, 2025 by Nour Morsy
