There are several myths about flight attendants circling around. The issue is that many people believe these myths to be facts when, in fact, they are just that: myths! As a result, here are some myths about flight attendants that you should never believe because they are false. These are caused by opinionated social media posts by people who aren’t even remotely involved in the aviation industry.
I’ve observed cabin crew training provided by airlines and interviewed airline cabin crew trainers. Furthermore, I have spoken with a thousand different flight attendants from various airlines. This also includes airline executives, retired cabin crew, and cabin crew managers. Basically, I understand what they go through, the fun, the hardships, and the difficulties.
Many people are unaware of what goes on behind those fantastic smiles when you board and exit an aircraft. Is it all glitz and glam? So, I’ll be naming these myths one by one and busting them wide open. I hope to raise awareness of the role of flight attendants.
Myth: Flight attendants are required to stow passenger luggage into the overhead bins.
My response: Flight attendants are not required to store your luggage in the overhead bins; however, if the passenger is incapacitated or has difficulty carrying their luggage into the bin, the flight attendants may be able to help. They would typically help people with disabilities, children, and the elderly lift their luggage into overhead bins. Please don’t complain if your flight attendant doesn’t help you carry your luggage, especially if you’re physically capable of doing so. However, due to health and safety concerns, especially during emergencies, they are not required by the airline to stow your luggage in the overhead bins.
Myth: Being a flight attendant is easy and it is a very glamorous job.
My response: Certainly not. If you read my previous article on WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A CABIN CREW, you will notice that there are more requirements than just physical fitness. A person’s personality will undoubtedly determine whether or not they are suitable for cabin crew. A flight attendant’s training is rigorous, and they face danger on a daily basis. A commercial aircraft is not unlike a spacecraft in that both are massive life support systems. Cabin crew have worked and trained hard to earn their wings, so being able to travel to different places is a reward for the price they paid during training.
Their jobs may appear simple, but we may believe that an iceberg is small because of what we see on top, but we have no idea how big it is because we cannot see what is hidden beneath the waters.
Myth: Flight attendants are ‘glorified maids’ in the air.
My response: Working in the service and hospitality industry is a very noble profession. Flight attendants, hotel receptionists, nurses, grocery baggers, waiters, housekeepers, security guards, and so on are all examples of occupations. There is something like helping someone else.
One of the most common myths about flight attendants is that they must do whatever the passengers want. Allow me to correct this.
The primary responsibility of flight attendants, however, is to ensure the safety of all passengers. They are trained to fight fires, open heavy doors, administer CPR, lead passengers into an orderly evacuation during an emergency, carry injured passengers on their backs, and ensure that the lives of all passengers come first. As a result, I refer to them as “the silent heroes of the air.” Try reading about Asiana Airlines Flight 214. In fact, after an emergency, flight attendants undergo a post-traumatic debriefing.
Flight attendants serve passengers, but there are always limitations, especially when safety is at stake. Serving others is a noble and rewarding profession.
This is one of the biggest myths about flight attendants as people think that they must follow whatever the passenger wants.
Their primary responsibility is to ensure the safety and security of the passengers on board. Serving and attending to your comfort needs is essentially secondary because safety is always their top priority. In the cabin, their authority must be respected.
A flight attendant is unquestionably a safety expert. Serving coffee, tea, or water is essentially secondary. They are unsung heroes because they will risk their lives to save yours first. Flight attendants have their own loved ones waiting for them at home, but they are the last to leave an aircraft during an emergency because they want the passengers’ safety to come first.
These are huge myths about flight attendants that are not really that true.
First love never dies. I fell in love with airplanes and aviation when I was a kid. My dream was to become a pilot, but destiny led me to another path: to be an aviation digital media content creator and a small business owner. My passion for aviation inspires me to bring you quality content through my website and social accounts. Aviation is indeed in my blood and blog!
