I’m a flight attendant, AMA

r/

I’m bored. And I have the answers to all of those questions you’ve been wondering about what it’s actually like in the friendly skies.

Logging off for now! But I’ll answer more questions over the next few days. Lots of great questions I really want to take the time to answer and respond to! Thanks y’all!

Comments

  1. naasei Avatar

    Ever been propositioned by a passenger?

  2. Gapedout Avatar

    What’s up with airline food?

  3. plutosfar Avatar

    how much do crews hook up ?

  4. jacobdr Avatar

    Do you ever get scared ?

  5. legonerd63 Avatar

    Most annoying thing someone asks?

  6. Zeldablulink1 Avatar

    What’s the craziest thing you’ve witnessed?

  7. Just_a_Ginger_Fella Avatar

    Are you a member of the mile high club?

  8. Less-Obligation-8600 Avatar

    What are some things you would absolutely not do on a flight as a passenger?

    How often do people get caught doing the naughty? What’s the procedural response to people having sex on the plane?

    Hardest part of your job?

  9. Neither_Detail5645 Avatar

    I fly every week so more of an appreciation to those in your field. I always try to get gift cards as a thank you!

  10. Local-State9700 Avatar

    flying is rough on the sleep. i get tired just thinking of traveling for a living. what keeps you in the skies?

  11. inteligent_zombie20 Avatar

    What was one of your more memorable flight ?

    Ever had a crush on one of your passengers and actually acted on it ?

  12. MangoLimeSalt Avatar

    Thank you for your service to the public! How often do you have to deal with an unruly passenger, and what was the worst case of passenger misconduct that you’ve dealt with?

  13. Dr-Clappie Avatar

    Is there anything that passengers can do to help you guys out? Like is there anything we can bring or specific stuff to do?

  14. Seyi_Ogunde Avatar

    After I land from a flight, I feel dizzy for a day as the pressure equalizes in my body. I always wondered if people who fly for a living, have the same experience? After landing, does it take a bit of time for your body to adjust?

  15. the-samizdat Avatar

    should I drink the coffee?

  16. Sailor_NEWENGLAND Avatar

    Have you ever met a straight male flight attendant?

  17. FABU10USNESS Avatar

    Im genuinely terrified of flying. Is there anything I can do to feel better about the experience? How do you get so used to it?

    I travel frequently, and every time, it’s like this anxiety and panic inducing experience!

  18. Skittlescanner316 Avatar

    What is the thing you love the most about your job and what is the thing you love the least about your job?

  19. bhadit Avatar

    Can you please list out the extra hygiene precautions one should take on a flight?

  20. SnooCalculations9259 Avatar

    I am not a frequent flyer lol. However in the flights I had twenty years ago compared to today, the service is noticeably different. My last flight two years ago, (can’t recall the airline) I was seated in the very last row, the two flight attendants seated behind me in jump seats. I heard their whole life stories like I was not present for an hour straight. One before that I had the exit row, on landing the attendant made sure no eye contact was made when she took her seat in front of us. Now these are small sample sizes, but is customer service emphasized in training nowadays? Twenty years ago I felt like they made flying fun, now I just see them as people I hope not to anger so I can get a drink.

  21. IdealRevolutionary89 Avatar

    Are pilots as big of assholes as they seem?

  22. ThatsData Avatar

    Have you or any coworkers seen a UFO?

  23. LaughingDog711 Avatar

    Do you flight attendants/pilots/crew have their own personal bathroom to dump out in?

  24. Monkeyisbest Avatar

    Any idea why we can’t get an extra inch or two of legroom lol?

  25. ChipHazard1 Avatar

    Are you or people you know watching The Rehearsal? Are many pilots like the ones depicted in the show?

  26. Hamm3rFlst Avatar

    Are you more worried about flying lately with the air traffic controller issues? Any thoughts if or when it gets safer again?

  27. thehermit1111 Avatar

    Someone has already asked about unruly passengers. Have you ever had a standout passenger (in a good way) or witnessed a moment on board that restored your faith in humanity?

  28. shibuyaqueen Avatar

    Do you drink the hot water in the plane? Or is it a no go to use the water in the toilet to brush teeth?

  29. an-font-brox Avatar

    how much rest or “land leave” do you get in between flights? and does the airline provide the accommodation for you say if you are far from home?

  30. Kalirasta Avatar

    Can I ask for as many sodas as I want?

  31. appricaught Avatar

    Is it true that y’all only get paid when you’re in the air? Not during boarding, taxi, etc?

  32. FakeStripclubName Avatar

    is it true if a passengers gets up to use the restroom during landing you just make them stay in during landing? Does this happen often and are there ever consequences for passengers

  33. 49lives Avatar

    I slept with a stewart at a resort once while her friend watched. Is that a common trope or a one off.

    I apologize for the inappropriate nature of this question. But it happened years ago, and I always kinda wondered.

  34. Refinedspirits Avatar

    Is there anything other than gift cards that you would appreciate? Im an incredibly nervous flier and it helps my anxiety to give them to FAs.

  35. whiteycnbr Avatar

    Has anyone died on one of your flights

  36. AntaresInfinity Avatar

    Have you ever seen UAP (UFO)? There are testimonies of pilots (commercial and military) – they claim they have seen something flying in our skies using physics not known to them: extremely high speed (over G10 forces), instantaneous acceleration, sudden stop and hovering…

  37. ImmaEnder Avatar

    I’ve heard that there’s a huge culture of hooking up among basically all airport personnel. Like basically that everyone sleeps with everyone. Is there any truth to this?

  38. RumblingRacoon Avatar

    In the case of an emergency: can you (or any other cabin crew) actually order an evacuation? Or is this always in the hands of the PIC?

  39. RoughFine2841 Avatar

    On a scale of 1 to 10 [1 = utterly and irredeemably; 10 = ebullient], how cynical has your work made you concerning humanity?

  40. technical-mind4300 Avatar

    I heard mixed things about talking to you guys in the galley. I am a very social person and always am very polite to flight crew and sometimes you guys feed me an extra cookie or drink which is appreciated. But I don’t want to disturb you either – do you like chatting or prefer to be left alone?

  41. psjjjj6379 Avatar

    Do you perceive the recent mainstream news coverage of malfunctions/accidents to be overblown for the sake of viewership? Are they fear mongering?

    Meaning, is there genuinely an increase in these malfunctions- or from what you personally experience and hear about from colleagues, these malfunctions are pretty par for the course and remain somewhat rare?

  42. KingBooRadley Avatar

    I am old and when I forget and say “stewardess” my wife gets mad at me and tells me that I’m a dinosaur.  Is this term really offensive to women in your line of work?

  43. zinfandelbruschetta Avatar

    What would you do if a passenger had depression and anxiety and was afraid and sad

  44. MingleLinx Avatar

    Do airports have rooms for you and your coworkers to sleep or does your airline set you guys up with a hotel in the area maybe?

  45. Ok-Olive4278 Avatar

    How much discretion do FA’s have to give stuff to passengers? I’ve gotten many drinks comped.

    Is the “see you later” comment from an FA really a sign of flirting?

    What could a passenger do to show appreciation?

  46. MoldRebel Avatar

    Can a flight attendant be fired for letting a passenger smoke a cigarette in the crew rest quarters?

  47. pdxrider01 Avatar

    I’m seeing quite a few videos of people freaking out or behaving badly on planes. Has it been getting worse over the last few years or is it just that everyone now has a phone and films it?

  48. BigXthaPugg Avatar

    Are strict height and weight restrictions for flight attendants still a thing?

  49. bhadit Avatar

    Hi, Thanks to you and your fraternity for all the smiles 🙂

    • How do you react to personal compliments on the job?
    • What is the best compliment you’ve got; maybe one which obviously made you blush?
    • Which cities do you commonly fly to?
  50. dee615 Avatar

    How clean / dirty are the blankets ? ( Are they laundered and disinfected after each use?)

  51. A1S1R Avatar

    Why shouldn’t I be scared of planes? I know it is very safe but it feels weird lending your life to an unknown (to me) pilot and some piece of steel

  52. Spicy_Enjoyer Avatar

    How often do people have medical emergencies on flights?

  53. albmalkin Avatar

    I’m on DL887 right now, and the guy behind me is conspicuously jamming his knees into my seat. He started when I reclined my seat shortly after takeoff. I passed the FAs a note asking if they could help, and in the ensuing conversation, he said, “He doesn’t have to recline his seat.”

    His seat is also reclined.

    Thoughts on the whole reclining issue? Ideas to help me deal with this guy, who seems determined to mess up my back for a week?

  54. TheBklynGuy Avatar

    Is the best way to deal with seat squatters done by informing a flight attendant? This seems really common lately. I never had an issue but the last place I want to be arguing with someone is on a plane that needs to get boarded and moving.

  55. L_Is_Robin Avatar

    Are the education backgrounds of FAs diverse or do you notice a trend on whether or not FAs have college degrees/what they studied in college?

  56. Naughtygoose1 Avatar

    Have you had anyone famous on your flights?

  57. Historical_Traffic30 Avatar

    Have u ever experienced or caught someone being trafficked

  58. dearzackster69 Avatar

    I have a theory that giving up my aisle or window seat so a family can sit together gets me unlimited gratitude points from the flight crew. Any truth to my theory?

  59. Elegant-Expert7575 Avatar

    I know you’re busy, but why do all flight attendants seem annoyed even by polite passengers that smile? I’ve had 4 flights this year and it never changes.

  60. MonsterMashGraveyard Avatar

    Have you, or any pilots that you’ve worked with, seen things in the sky that you could not explain?

    I’ve asked flight attendants this before, the answer has surprised me….

  61. Emotional-Tomatillo8 Avatar

    Biggest pet peeve? Travel tips?

  62. Yeppie-Kanye Avatar

    Ok, so is it true that you guys make tea from recycled water? Is it normal to always get thirsty on a flight? Have you ever thought about joining the mile high club with a passenger?

  63. Accomplished_Tea9698 Avatar

    Shoes. Which ones are the winners for the long haul. I feel like a hot mess after flying and yet the FAs are immaculate. Please share your secrets.

  64. manster5475 Avatar

    If I have 4 lotto scratch offs 2 of them are winners and 2 are not but I only pick one of them is that still a 5050 chance of winning? My gf says no I say yes it’s still 5050

  65. bhadit Avatar

    If a passenger politely asks for their instrument (say, a guitar or something) to be accommodated in FA storage unit, how likely is it to be accommodated? If not, what are the passenger’s options for an expensive poorly packed instrument?

  66. Windermed Avatar

    Have you ever caught someone sneaking in to a first class seat at the start or in the middle of a flight?

  67. wheezyrotunda Avatar

    Is it annoying when people tune you out during the pre-flight safety talk? Like, they just have their headphones on and don’t pay attention

  68. holzmann_dc Avatar

    For how long have you been serving the flying public in this career? What passenger trends, for better or worse, have you noticed and since when?

  69. Thegrillman2233 Avatar

    Thanks a lot for this!

    • What’s the long-term career path for a flight attendant? Is there much scope for progression?
    • For how long do people tend to be a flight attendant before moving on to a new job?
    • What sort of exit opportunities exist for flight attendants?
  70. dearzackster69 Avatar

    How drunk are the pilots usually? Jk my life is in their hands and I’m very grateful for their expertise and professionalism. But there so seem to be stories about some number functioning alcoholics among the profession, do you believe those stories?

  71. 2021newusername Avatar

    How much of the food served, especially the juices, is expired ?
    This happens often – looking at you UAL

  72. AunKnorrie Avatar

    Why are the pursers always so free with alcohol? Can you guess which psenger goes amok and who will just be glassy eyed?

  73. broccolee Avatar

    So whats the deal with images of all these passengers who have no respect for the other passangers. Such as man spreading, barefoot, long hair coverjng the screen if the passanger in the back, oh and even using the armrest in the seat in front to rest their feet?

    So how do you help deal with this complete disregard? Do you just simply look the other way?

  74. Just_keep_it_simple Avatar

    Is it true that there is a lot of sex activity between the pilot and flight attendants?

    Once, I met a girl who was dating a pilot and she complained that her boyfriend did not have much sex drive… I didn’t want to say directly to her, but it was kind of obvious he already had his balls empty…

  75. token75 Avatar

    How bad is the situation at Newark right now? I’ve heard ATC has had 3 radar malfunctions in two weeks. Airlines trying to redirect flights. Mine has been rescheduled and delayed

  76. ShahkHuntah Avatar

    How are you? Do you sleep well? Do you have any addictions that help you get through your day? Who’s the rudest passenger you ever had to tolerate?

  77. Capable_Cat161 Avatar

    How many people do you catch attempting to join the mile high club? 😂 (I hope not many. That’s def something I wouldn’t want to be a part of my job)

  78. Midnight_Soul_92 Avatar

    I’m planning to host my sister and her 2 kids to visit me. It will be an 8 hr direct flight for them. Kids are generally behaved, will be aged 4 & 2 next year when they come. We don’t want to bother other passengers and would love to have a calmer area for the kids and mom to rest without paying premium prices, but a fair budget for the small reprieve. What seats do you recommend us book and what should we do inflight to ease the experience for all in the plane? TIA.

  79. holzmann_dc Avatar

    Assuming the cabin door is about to shut (or already shut) and assuming my status grants me premium economy, what magic words can I tell you to get bumped up into a remaining EMPTY domestic first or international business class seat?

  80. Striking-Ad8317 Avatar

    In recent years I’ve been told several times by FAs on different flight to close my window shade, even in the middle of the day of long haul flights. This never used to happen and I pick the window seat to enjoy the views, so not only does it annoy me but it also leaves me wondering why? It seems like they want us to sleep all the way so they don’t have to serve us. Is this correct?

  81. Dishavingfun Avatar

    How important is it to turn off your cell phones during flights?

    If so, why?

    Thanks and have a great week and good sleep.

  82. Billthepony123 Avatar

    What do you do when you don’t work ? I assume flight attendants don’t get a lot of chill time or time with their family

  83. TeeVee213 Avatar

    I hate flying. It’s scary to me. I’d never be able to do the job that you do. Do you ever have a bad feeling before you board the place, and just want to like say you feel sick or something and go back home? Fuck, I’d probably get that often if I was in your shoes.

  84. meowaek Avatar

    Logging off for now – but will answer more over the next day or two because there’s so many great questions but I want to take the time to really type it out and answer! Thanks y’all!

  85. linuscarlson89 Avatar

    When I fly, i tend to fall asleep, often before the plane even lifts off. For some reason almost every time when I wake up I have this strange pain in my neck that feels almost like a constant tension in the muscles there. It doesn’t happen if I fall asleep in another vehicle like a car or a train. Is this a thing? If so what is it?

  86. thomaskyd Avatar

    What are first class passengers like? Do you ever feel stressed trying to give them a seamless, premium experience? Passengers can already be so demanding, I can’t imagine what it’s like when they feel like they deserve it because they spent a bunch of money

  87. pobox01983 Avatar

    How do you maintain 7-8 hours of sleep? I change one time zone 2-3 hours ahead or behind, my schedule gets messed up. Any tips for sleep?

  88. cerebrum3000 Avatar

    What has been your most disgusting situation to deal with? Or, what has been one of the funniest ones?

  89. Expensive-Key-9122 Avatar

    Can you get into the cockpit if the pilot tries to block entry from the inside? Are you taught what to do in that scenario, or are your options more limited?

  90. anon12873629 Avatar

    best advice to give to an anxious flyer??? i fly to seattle in a week 🤪😮‍💨 i’ve been there before and have flown to wyoming but ive had a panic attack at least once each trip. i’m trying to minimize that this time lol

  91. thesqrtofminusone Avatar

    Not a question here, when I was 21 I broke my arm on vacation. On the flight home I was feeling really sick, probably the injury, heat and 2 weeks of drinking alcohol.

    Anyway a flight attendant saw me struggling and looking off, put me up in the jump seat with her and kept a cold, wet towel on my neck. It was magic.

    That was a couple of decades ago and will never forget that moment of kindness.

    Thanks FA around the world!

  92. Lakerman0824 Avatar

    I get crazy anxiety flying with my 2 toddlers. FA have been great but any tips to make sure FA don’t get annoyed with a crying toddler

  93. Ex-President Avatar

    I work on submarines and we always use flight attendants as our reference for how little exposure to radiation we get. Do you have a monitoring program for lifetime exposure? Do you know yours?

  94. Working_Routine9088 Avatar

    How hard is it to become a flight attendant? How do you become one and Is there a lot of competition?

  95. trustmeimweird Avatar

    Do you get really dry skin from being in the cabin days in a row?

    I have a dry skin condition and planes are my worst nightmare, idk why. But I could never be a flight attendant because it makes my skin feel so tight and horrible.

  96. beijinglee Avatar

    are your uniforms uncomfortable? i’ve seen some uniforms where long haul flights would be a nightmare.

  97. SwampyChiliRing Avatar

    How do I know you’re official? And not lying about your credentials? You could easily be lying about all of this. Please, enlighten me.

  98. esquinabubblez Avatar

    Do you get a lot of guys hitting on you? If so is this always annoying, or just sometimes annoying?

  99. fatcapone25 Avatar

    Sorry if this sounds rude, but what happens once you reach a certain age? Because I’ve never seen older flight attendants. Does your company move you to another part? Is it even in the contract?

    I’ve always wondered.

  100. Stillson09 Avatar

    If I may, I’ve got a few questions.

    Often, when the drink cart comes by, I’ll ask for a full can of a soft drink, but it’s hit and miss. Sometimes, I’m allowed the can sometimes they say it’s not policy. Any idea why sometimes they hold out and sometimes can’t care less?

    I often hear stories and rumors of people getting free upgrades on seats for a better section because they brought some chocolate to the attendant at the gate before leaving..are you able to provide any insight on how I could go about doing it when traveling alone? Is it all BS?

    Is it true you can fly anywhere your partnered airline goes for free? I chatted with an attendant for Porter a while back, who told me they get free flight passes anywhere Porter went 0 notice required.
    (He told me, as long as there was an open flight going that day, and it wasn’t a working day for him, he could just show up to the airport and tell them he’d like a ticket).

  101. jonnylmee Avatar

    Is the “see you later” really a thing? Like if a flight attendant tells you that, they are into you?

  102. Most_Imagination8480 Avatar

    My gf is a CM in the UK. Honestly the conversationa between crew make my ears bleed. What is it about that industry that attracts the sex crazy, the alcoholics, the serial adulterers, everything. I don’t know any job quite like it. I know, 2nd hand, the details of every single one of her hundreds of colleagues sex lives. I’m guessing they know mine. Every single sector there seems to be new information. It’s genuinely shocking.

  103. Tight-March4599 Avatar

    I don’t fly much, but how do I increase my odds to be selected to be seated in First Class? I have seen the FA do the sweep, but my sweet smile doesn’t seem to work.

  104. Fine_Pass_3033 Avatar

    Ever see a couple coming out of bathroom after joining mile high club? Are most male flight attendants gay?

  105. GooberChubby Avatar

    Do you know if passengers sneak hit their vape? I sat next to a guy who I’m pretty sure was doing it but I didn’t see any smoke (vapor?) and I minded my business.