Flight attendant shares real reason cabin crew say greet passengers as they board

A flight attendant has revealed to passengers the real reason why cabin crew greet them as they board a plane.

Most of us are used to a friendly greeting as we board. Credit: MesquitaFMS/Getty Images

Yes, ever wondered why flight attendants always seem to be smiling and greeting you as you board a plane? Probably not.

Because, like me, you've probably just always assumed that it's a polite gesture to help you feel at ease before your flight.

Well, it turns out that there's a lot more to it than that.

Rania, a flight attendant who regularly zips across European skies, recently took to TikTok to explain the real reason behind those welcoming smiles. As passengers scramble onboard, hastily stowing away their carry-ons and settling into their seats, the cabin crew is doing much more than directing butts to seats.

In her video - which has amassed more than 11 million views - Rania (@itsmekikooooo) shares that while the crew’s greeting may seem like a friendly hello, they are actually sizing you up. They're on the lookout for signs that you might be too inebriated to fly or too ill to make the journey.

"Your flight attendant greets you, not only out of politeness, but also to check whether you are too drunk or sick to fly," she said.

And it doesn’t stop there. These quick assessments aren’t just about weeding out passengers who might pose a risk to themselves or others; they're also about spotting potential helpers in case of an emergency. According to Rania, the crew is silently identifying which passengers might be capable of lending a hand should things go south.

And Rania isn't the only flight attendant to confirm this.

In fact, one cabin crew member took part in a Quora Q&A that revealed the real reason why flight attendants greet passengers as they board the plane and why they ask for their boarding passes.

Now, most of us will probably assume they're just being polite and helping to direct us to our seats - but that's not the case. (I mean, unless you're going in the cockpit, you can safely assume you're going down the fuselage where all the seats are.)

It actually has a hidden security purpose that I guarantee you'd never have thought of, and that is to assess the health and general wellbeing of the passenger, and confirm that they are indeed in a fit state to fly.

Credit: Jupiterimages / Getty

Shrey P, who claims to have been a flight attendant for five different airlines, stated that the crew "check plenty of things and it will all happen in a glance". Some of the main points Shrey listed were:

• What kind of clothes are you wearing?
• Are you traveling alone or with someone?
• How patient are you while waiting in that long line during boarding?
• If you are an able-bodied passenger, in case we need help for any kind of emergency.
• Are you intoxicated?
• What kind of book are you carrying or reading? (If you are reading a medical journal or so we know who to approach for First Aid)

Shrey then stated: "The list can go on which usually happens in few minutes of boarding time."

Some of Shrey's points were also confirmed by TikTok user Kat Kamalani, who said in an eye-opening video: "Have you ever walked on the plane and seen the flight attendants standing here greeting you, or the flight attendants walking up and down the aisle? Well, I'm about to tell you what we're really doing.

"When you walk on the plane and see our happy, smiley face, we're actually looking you up and down and trying to find our able-bodied people. So these are people who are going to help us in an emergency."

Kalamani says that flight attendants often keep their eyes peeled for military personnel, firefighters, nurses, and doctors on board the aircraft.

Myriam Frafar, a flight attendant for German airline Condor, also confirmed Shrey's points, explaining the valid reason for the cabin crew asking for your boarding pass on the thread.

Frafar explained: "I check if they are drunk, drugged, sick, angry or afraid. That is extremely important as if I have the possibility to avoid any kind of troubles over the Atlantic, then I address it on ground. I say 'Hello, welcome on board', and I listen to how they respond."

Featured image credit: Eyesfoto/Getty