A FLIGHT attendant has revealed the real reason the crew greet passengers as they board the aircraft – and why they may stop you.
The inside information was shared by Beth Bourneuf, a former teacher who became a flight attendant in 2020.
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She explained how the crew will stand by the entrance of the plane for a secret reason.
This is to identify able-bodied passengers, also known as ABPs, who may be able to help in case of an emergency.
“We look to see how many bags people are carrying, and we also have to be conscious of what kind of bags they’re carrying,” Bourneuf said. “Anyone with a cooler, we need to ask what’s in there.”
In a blog for Sun Onlie Travel we told why flight attendants need to assess who they think is the strongest on the plane.
The reality of being a flight attendant is that there are way more passengers than there are cabin crew members.
And if something bad happens and we need to make an emergency landing, we’ll need some people to help us out.
That could mean lifting heavy objects, if for example the cabin is in disarray, or opening the emergency doors, which are also pretty hefty.
So, while passengers are getting board, I’ll be sure to ask the fittest and strongest ones to see their boarding cards, as if I just want to send them in the right direction.
However, I’ll be making a note of where they’re sitting so I know who to go to, should I need that emergency assistance.
So if someone asks to see your boarding pass as you get on the plane, they could be marking you down as a potentially useful person, in case there’s a crisis.
The revelation was made as part of a series of debunked flying myths.
Others included the idea that dressing up will get you an upgrade.
Flight attendant, Vinia DiGeronimo, said: “Airlines have strict systems for upgrades, and flight attendants don’t have the authority to dole out seating assignments.
“I know that if I were to upgrade someone out of order and not go by that [upgrade] list, I would get in so much trouble.”
“There are times where the people who actually pay for economy plus will call the airline and ask for a refund because they saw people moved up for free,” said Amber, who has been a flight attendant for eight years.
Everything you need to know before boarding a plane
“And we can get terminated for that,” she added.
It comes as holidaymakers were warned about a simple hotel mistake that could lead to them being slapped with a hefty fine.
Failing to remember this simple rule could leave you hundreds of pounds out of pocket – even if it’s not your fault.
Smoking cigarettes may appear glamorous in movies, but it has become a usually destructive social habit in real life.
Part of this is due to the true health risks involved with smoking, and the rest is due to the stench of cigarette smoke, which is almost impossible to eliminate.
This is why hotels have strict restrictions concerning smoking in their rooms.
Even if a smoker opens a window in a hotel room, the smell of cigarette smoke may remain on drapes, linens, carpets, and other materials.
