Flight attendant secrets

Cabin crew member Cher shares the insider tricks she uses on every flight – from avoiding being bumped off oversold planes to protecting your skin at 30,000 feet

A cabin crew member has lifted the lid on her insider knowledge and disclosed the tricks she uses when travelling that passengers can adopt too. Flight attendants have racked up some of the best hacks on navigating air travel thanks to travelling the world.

Cher, who has been working on aircrafts for five years, shared three crucial tips she’s gathered during her time in the aviation industry. She ensures she implements her own advice even during personal trips to guarantee her journey runs smoothly.

Her guidelines can be applied by anyone, not just cabin crew, so keep them to hand for your upcoming getaway, reports the Express.

Check-in

Cher’s first recommendation is that she always checks in at the earliest opportunity for her flights when travelling as a passenger. She elaborated: “Airlines often do something called overselling the flight, which is where they sell more tickets than there are actual seats on board.”

The flight attendant explained that typically this system works as numerous passengers tend to miss their booked flight. But if that doesn’t happen, Cher noted you might hear a tannoy announcement at the airport offering vouchers to travellers willing to forgo the flight due to excessive ticket sales.

“If some people won’t take that voucher, it means they are going to bump the last few people that have checked in off of the flight,” she revealed.

“If you are waiting until the last minute to check in for your flight, then you’re going to get bumped onto the next flight either later that day or the next day, which could totally ruin your trip.”

Cher also pointed out that early check-in allows passengers to secure “better” seating options.

Sun cream

The cabin crew member revealed she never boards without SPF protection. Cher highlighted that research has shown airline staff face heightened skin cancer risks.

She explained: “I do my best to try to keep the window shade closed as much as I can.” Regular travellers might want to follow suit by applying sun protection and keeping window blinds down during flights.

Hand luggage

Cher urges people to put important items in carry-on baggage rather than checked suitcases. She even recommends these essentials be kept in the personal bag that sits at your feet.

She warned: “It is not uncommon for somebody to mistake your carry on as theirs and take it off. I have seen this dozens of times.”

Cher advises packing underwear, a toothbrush, toiletries or “anything you couldn’t go a couple days without” in this bag. She noted: “The best thing in aviation is to basically prepare for the worst.

“Flight attendant bags are marked up to the nines with custom tags so we can identify them as ours. I would recommend doing something on your bag that will prevent somebody else from confusing it as theirs.

A Virgin Atlantic flight attendant with five years’ experience has shared the airplane seats they would never choose – with tips to stay comfortable on long-haul economy flights.

Enduring long-haul flights can be a daunting prospect, especially when you’re crammed into economy class for over 10 hours.

But fear not, there are ways to make the journey more tolerable, comfortable and perhaps even more enjoyable .

Medical travel insurance firm AllClear has joined forces with a seasoned Virgin Atlantic cabin crew member to reveal top tips for maintaining comfort in economy class.

The flight attendant, boasting five years of experience in the skies, shared some seating choices they would personally avoid, reports the Express.

While many passengers opt for the bulkhead, emergency exit rows or seats near the lavatories, this cabin crew member wouldn’t follow suit.

They explained: “I don’t like the first row by the wings. People congregate by the toilet, and it can be noisy because of babies in cradles at the bulkhead.”

Despite this, the extra legroom offered by emergency exit seats makes them a popular choice among travellers, although there could be another issue with this seating placement.

If you do decide to sit there, the crew member advises bringing two essential items with you to make it a more comfortable experience.

They warned: “On some older aircraft, it can get quite chilly near the emergency exit rows. I’d usually avoid these seats if you’re sensitive to the cold.”

For those seeking maximum cosiness during their flight, the flight attendant suggests packing a few additional home comforts to keep you snug and warm.

They stated: “There’s nothing stopping you from bringing extra flight socks or even a hot water bottle – we’re more than happy to fill one up for you during the flight.”

They also expressed their preference against sitting at the rear of the plane due to the noise levels. They explained: “The aft [rear] of the plane can be a bit noisy because toilet flushes are quite loud.

“The seats at the back on all our aircraft recline, so that’s not a problem, but sometimes light catches through the galley curtains on a night flight, and it can be noisy as the crew are working. So, I also wouldn’t choose back row seats.”

Two places cabin crew wouldn’t sit

According to the Virgin Atlantic flight attendant, they wouldn’t sit by:

• the first row by the wings; or
• rear of the plane.

Ever wondered what happens if you forget to put your window up during take-off or landing? One flight attendant explained the purpose behind the important safety precaution

Travelling on a plane comes with plenty of safety precautions, like going through security and putting your phone on airplane mode. While it can be nerve-wracking for people to remember these steps, there is a cabin crew to remind you along the way.

Now when you’re about to take-off, flight attendants usually have a checklist to tick off before the plane enters the runway. You must have your seats in a upright position, as well as armrests down. But one crucial part of safety is making sure your blinds are up during take-off and landing, so have you ever wondered what happens if you forget?

In a Reddit post, one person asked: “Why do you have to have the windows up for landing sometimes? This is something I’ve always wondered and I had no clue who to ask!”

Well the reason for having your windows up is quite simple – it’s in case of an emergency.

That’s because if you need to evacuate, you won’t be able to see if the engine is on fire, or there’s any hazard which means you can’t evacuate out of that side.

A flight attendant said: “In case something goes wrong a passenger can see it and alert the flight crew. It also has to do with safety. If you crash upon take-off inside a dark plane, the light could be blinding upon evacuating.”

Putting your window shades up during take-off and landing is for critical safety reasons as it also allows crew and passengers to see external hazards.

It’s also done for quick assessments to help your eyes adjust to light for a faster emergency exit and allows emergency services to see inside the cabin if needed.

Often flight attendants require your blinds to be up during take-off and landing. At night, shades stay open (with cabin lights dimmed) so emergency services outside can see in, meanwhile in the day, it’s so your eyes adjust.

What other safety precautions are there during take-off and landing?

• Seatbelt: Passengers must make sure their seatbelt is fastened and even when the sign is off, it’s best to keep it buckled.
• Seat position: Make sure your seat is in a full upright position
• Tray table: Put it away securely
• Electronics: All devices must be switched off or on airplane mode
• Attention: Watch the safety video and demo
• Exits: Revise your nearest exits in the case of an emergency
• Shoes: Keep footwear on to protect your feet from debris
• Window shades: Keep them open for visibility
• Baggage: Make sure carry-ons are stowed away properly