A flight attendant has shared insider secrets about flying – including the little white lies cabin crew tell passengers about coffee and temperature, plus what really happens to unfinished drinks
Flight attendants have a lot of responsibility(Image: Getty)
Flight attendants shoulder an enormous responsibility. Not only must they ensure passenger safety, but they’re also tasked with maintaining comfort and contentment throughout the journey.
The role demands extensive training and preparation – it’s far from straightforward.
These aviation professionals also possess a wealth of insider knowledge about the realities of air travel – and one cabin crew member has anonymously revealed their covert practices. Speaking to eShores, this flight attendant disclosed the harmless fibs they tell passengers – along with what becomes of those final drops of wine once the aircraft touches down.
They confessed to making one particular swap routinely in passengers’ best interests, reports the Express.
“When a business class passenger asks for a coffee on a night flight, I’ll make a decaf coffee just so that they can fall asleep”
But that’s not the sole untruth passengers might encounter. Aircraft cabins are notoriously frigid, yet should you request the attendants warm things up slightly, you might well be misled.
They admitted: “When passengers ask to have the temperature of the cabin turned up, we lie and say yes, we will turn it up, but really we don’t because we get warm walking around.”
Should you worry about catching a chill on your upcoming flight, it’s prudent to pack a scarf or blanket to drape around yourself, ensuring warmth regardless of the air conditioning settings. Another crucial point the cabin crew member highlighted concerns the water quality aboard aircraft.
With salty nibbles frequently on offer, passengers naturally become parched, but the onboard water supply might not be up to scratch.
They revealed: “The water tanks don’t get cleaned and are probably full of limescale, but we still drink it and use it for tea and coffee.”
It’s worth considering bringing your own bottled water if you harbour doubts about the taste of plane water, or alternatively opt for soft drinks or alcoholic beverages. That said, if you do indulge in a tipple, ensure you polish it off.
Any leftover alcohol at the conclusion of a flight gets poured straight down the sink. They explained: “We pour all unused wine and champagne down the drain before landing, even if it’s 3/4 full”.
Should such wastefulness trouble you, there’s always the option of decanting your unfinished beverage into your reusable water bottle to savour at a later time.