When it comes to flight attendants, most people assume their main role is a “waiter in the
sky”.
But they are capable of much more than bringing you a beverage and a snack.
Would you believe they could even save your life?
That is exactly what happened during a flight from Seattle to San Francisco.
For one female flight attendant, she had no idea that this short flight would turn out
to be unlike any she had ever had in her ten years of experience.
At first, everything was routine, but as the plane took off she noticed a strange pair
among her passengers – a young girl and a much older man who accompanied her.
The flight attendant couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but she felt like something
was off and she couldn’t seem to shake that feeling.
The girl looked nervous and subdued.
Was she afraid of heights and scared of flying?
The flight attendant didn’t think so, and she continued watching her closely.
It caught her attention that the girl avoided eye contact with anyone, including her fellow
traveler.
They both didn’t speak to each other.
And the strangest thing about them was their appearance; the girl looked disheveled and
was dressed in shabby clothes while the man was well-dressed and seemed wealthy.
They weren’t acting like relatives or friends.
So what brought these two together?
This question kept nagging at the flight attendant.
She tried to engage them in conversation, but the man got defensive, telling her to
leave them alone.
The girl didn’t dare to look up at her.
While attempting unsuccessfully to talk to them, the attendant noticed the girl was just
a teenager and had some bruises.
Those observations were enough for her to spring to action.
She knew she had to make sure the girl wasn’t in some kind of trouble.
But how could she do it?
There was obviously no way the man would let her speak to the girl.
The only solution that came to mind was to leave a note for the girl on the airplane’s
toilet.
She wrote a quick note, asking if the girl was OK and left it in the restroom.
At some point the flight attendant managed to catch the girl’s attention and mumbled
the word “bathroom”.
The girl got the hint and quickly nodded.
She asked the man sitting next to her if she could use the bathroom and luckily, he agreed.
The girl left and within a few minutes, she returned to her seat.
The flight attendant rushed to the bathroom to read the girl’s response to her note.
Her answer left the woman speechless.
It said “I need help.”
Her suspicions were finally confirmed and the disturbing situation became clear.
The girl seemed to be a victim of human trafficking.
Without any hesitation, the flight attendant informed her fellow staff members.
They contacted the pilot and showed him the note.
He then notified the police in San Francisco and asked that they meet them at the gate.
The flight crew knew they couldn’t let the dangerous man find out he’d been caught,
so they pretended as if nothing happened and patiently waited for the plane to land.
When they finally reached San Francisco, the police boarded the plane right away and arrested
the man.
It was the flight attendant’s quick thinking and her attention to little details that saved
the girl’s life that day.
This story just goes to prove that the work of a flight attendant is more difficult and
demanding than you might think.
Their job is not merely traveling to amazing spots all around the world for free.
Here are some other fascinating facts about flight attendants you may not have realized:
1.
They know survival skills.
Flight attendants have to deal with many unpredictable situations.
For example, if the plane is forced to make an emergency landing on some deserted island,
you can rely on them for surviving in the wild!
They know how to create a shelter, gather food, and find safe drinking water in the
jungle, rainforests, deserts, and even in the Arctic, which means you’re in very capable
hands!
Flight attendants also know how to contact help in extreme conditions.
Isn’t that nice to know?
2.
They can deliver babies.
Yup, you heard right!
They receive extensive medical training so it’s no problem for them to welcome a new
life into the world mid-flight!
In most cases, women late in their third trimester are advised not to travel by plane because
even the slightest turbulence can cause premature labor.
But if such an emergency happens, the flight crew will always first check to see if there
are any doctors or nurses among passengers to assist them.
And the perks?
A baby born in the air may find itself with free air travel for the rest of its life.
Unless the miracle of birth occurs on a budget airline…
3.
They can perform hand-to-hand combat.
You never know what might happen on a plane during a flight.
The main role of a flight attendant is to ensure the safety of all passengers and manage
the cabin when things get out of control.
In order to ensure passenger safety, they must be ready to deal with disruptive or unruly
passengers or know how to act during hijacking situations.
That’s why flight attendants are also trained in hand-to-hand combat.
Hopefully you’ll never have to see a flight attendant going all Chuck Norris on someone,
but knowing that they can certainly does make you feel a lot safer!
4.
They have to meet grooming standards.
Ever wonder why the cabin crew always look so perfect?
Well, that’s because they have to follow strict guidelines regarding their appearance.
They wear a standard uniform that must look immaculate at all times.
And not only are there instructions about their uniforms, but also their hairstyle,
makeup, accessories, and even the preferred shade of lipstick and nail polish.
Flight attendants are the face of the airline, so they must make a positive impression on
the passengers.
Airlines used to have weight restrictions for flight attendants as well, but that rule
is no longer followed.
Flight attendants do still have to be very conscious about their diet to maintain a healthy
body mass index.
5.
They hate delays as much as you do.
Next time your flight gets delayed and you get upset about wasting your time at the airport,
think about the fact that flight attendants don’t get paid until the plane’s cabin
door is closed.
Most airlines offer them an hourly wage, but only the hours spent in the air count.
So flight delays, cancellations, and layovers affect them just as much as they affect you.
That also means that even during preflight time, when they’re trying to cram all your
carry-ons into the overhead bins, that time doesn’t show up in their paychecks.
6.
Their crazy schedule takes a toll on their personal life.
For a flight attendant, it’s difficult to plan anything beforehand like a getaway with
friends, family gatherings, even a romantic picnic with their partner.
They’re often “on call” which means they have to be available to get to the airport
within two hours or less to make a flight.
If they miss that call, they can sit “ready reserve” a couple days a month, which means
they’re in full uniform, packed, and waiting in the airport crew lounge just in case they’re
needed to fly.
On top of that, they usually find out their work schedule at the end of the month.
Being away from home that much and having unexpected shifts is probably the hardest
part of their job, at least I think so.
Yeah, I don’t envy them!
7.
They also suffer from jetlag.
If you think that your international flight disrupts your sleep cycle, then imagine what
zigzagging across the globe nearly every day can do!
Sure, flight attendants on long flights have special cabins where they can nap, but it
doesn't make them immune to jetlag.
Usually, a person needs a couple of days to get used to the change in time zone.
But flight attendants don’t have that luxury.
While their passengers are adjusting to the time difference, they're heading back to the
airport to work a return flight to the previous time zone.
And more often than not, crew members end up using their days off to catch up on much
needed sleep and time changes.
Oh boy, I’d probably be cranky all the time!
What do you think the hardest thing about being a flight attendant is?
Sound off in the comments below!
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to always stay on the Bright Side of life!