Welcome aboard！Flight attendants reveal "7 types of passengers they pay special attention to during boarding"

▲When flight attendants greet you with a smile as you board, they’re also evaluating you from all angles. (Photo / Darizi / Illustration)

Reporter Peng Huaiyu / Comprehensive report

"Welcome aboard!" When flight attendants greet you with a smile as you board, they’re also assessing whether you’re intoxicated, emotionally unstable, or even whether you might be someone they can rely on in case of an emergency. According to Janice Bridger, a flight attendant with 27 years of experience in the aviation industry, flying comes with various potential risks, and flight attendants must remain vigilant and make quick judgments to ensure safety.Travel editorSophie-Claire Hoellerhas compiled a list of 7 types of passengers that flight attendants are particularly attentive to.

1. They check if you’ve been drinking
According to Sjaak Schulteis, who has over 30 years of flight attendant experience with Lufthansa, if a passenger has been drinking or is heavily intoxicated, they have the authority to deny them boarding because such individuals pose a potential threat to flight safety. Flight attendant Amar Rama also said that in an emergency requiring evacuation, there are only 90 seconds to act, and no one wants to risk their life helping an intoxicated person escape.

2. They check if you’re physically strong
Janice Bridger said that if she sees someone who looks physically strong, she’ll remember their face and where they’re sitting, because in the event of an onboard altercation, these individuals are considered resources. She also mentioned that if flight attendants sense a potentially adverse situation may arise, they may discreetly ask these individuals if they’re willing to help restrain unruly passengers, just in case, as a precautionary measure.

3. They check if you might be an airline employee
Bridger said she pays special attention to whether any passengers are airline employees, especially those trained in flight procedures. Those with relevant knowledge in medical, mechanical, or other fields can be extremely helpful, and in an emergency, they can become immediate "team members."

4. They check if you’re sick
Flight attendant Myriam Mimi said she checks whether passengers are drunk, under the influence of drugs, sick, or emotionally unstable, and pays extra attention to their responses when greeting them. Amar Rama said that if you’re flying in a confined space with others, sick passengers could potentially transmit illnesses, which is not acceptable. He added that no one wants a serious medical issue to occur mid-air rather than on land. Although flight attendants receive basic first aid training like CPR, they’re not doctors and cannot diagnose or treat illnesses.

▲Airplane cabin. (Photo / Darizi / Illustration)

5. They check if you’re scared or anxious
Bridger said flight attendants are very mindful of passengers who are afraid of flying, and they’ll offer timely comfort and encouragement.

6. They check if you have a disability
Bridger said they’re especially careful not to seat passengers with physical limitations in emergency exit rows, because during an emergency evacuation, they need to be able to lift a hatch weighing 60 pounds or a door weighing hundreds of pounds. Rama also said they check passengers’ special needs to see who might require extra assistance in an emergency, ensuring no one is overlooked.

7. They check if you’re attempting any illegal activities
Bridger mentioned that she’s seen people try to smuggle pets in their carry-on bags or hide alcohol in their briefcases (corks are okay, but you can’t drink your own alcohol on the plane).