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Flight attendants are checking out how fit you are when you board the plane – but it’s not why you’d think
And important tips to keep you safe on board your next flight
WHENEVER you get on a flight, you'll be greeted by members of the cabin crew.
We'll be stood at the door of the plane, saying hello to you and each and every person boarding, telling you all where your seats are and waving and smiling like we're delighted to see you.
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However, as happy as we are to have you on our flight, we're also checking out how fit you are.
We're on the look out for strong, healthy-looking people, seeing who's carrying the heavy bags, and considering who we think are the fittest people on board.
We're not pervs, though, this is actually a pretty important part of our job.
In this week's blog for Sun Online Travel, I'll explain why we need to assess who we think might be the strongest on the plane, just in case we need you to help us.
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The reality of being a flight attendant is that there are way more passengers than there are .
And if something bad happens and we need to make an emergency landing, we'll need some people to help us out.
That could mean lifting heavy objects, if for example the cabin is in disarray, or opening the emergency doors, which are also pretty hefty.
So, while passengers are getting board, I'll be sure to ask the fittest and strongest ones to see their boarding cards, as if I just want to send them in the right direction.
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However, I'll be making a note of where they're sitting so I know who to go to, should I need that emergency assistance.
So if someone asks to see your as you get on the plane, they could be marking you down as a potentially useful person, in case there's a crisis.
What NOT to wear on a plane
Very often, once everyone's on board, we'll remember where the people we've spotted are sitting and have a walk around the cabin just to make sure you're where you should be, so we know where to find you.
Sadly, we can't tell who is and isn't a doctor just by the looks of the people getting on board.
But if you are one, and you'd be willing to help us out in an emergency, we'd really appreciate you letting us know when you get on board.
Just a quick heads up, saying "I'm a doctor and this is my seat number" would be really appreciated.
Flight attendant safety tips
There are other things I would recommend doing when boarding a plane to make sure your journey is as safe as possible
Firstly, you should always wear you seatbelt, even if the seatbelt light isn't on.
Turbulence can strike at any moment and your belt could be the difference between you being thrown from your seat into the ceiling and you staying seated.
You should do all you can to remain in your seat with your belt on at all times.
Reduce standing up to toilet visits, or to stretching your legs every now and then on long haul flights.
There are certain clothes you should avoid wearing on board, including high heeled shoes which are going to be no good to you if we're evacuating the plane.
They could cause you to trip, or could puncture the inflatable slide.
Wear trainers or comfortable shoes that won't make it difficult for you to quickly clamber down the aisle should you need to.
It means we know who to go to in case of a medical emergency and can reduce the amount of time for someone to receive vital treatment, should they need it.
We're not only keeping an eye out for fit people, however, we also want to look out for anyone who looks unwell.
Some people fly when they really shouldn't and we're well within our rights to remove someone from the plane if they look too sick.
The last thing we really want is illness spreading through the cabin, so anyone who's obviously unwell, or goes straight to the toilet after getting on board will be viewed with suspicion.
We don't have a lot of time between people getting on the plane and it taking off, so we very often have to make quick judgement calls on whether or not they're fit to fly.
So, if you're strong and muscular, or ill and sniffling, we will be paying special attention to you when you get on board.
But don't take it the wrong way, we just want to know whether you can help us in an emergency, or if you need to be thrown off before we get going.
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Meanwhile, this is why you should always book the early flight, even if it means getting up at 5am.
And this is the common complaint flight attendants are sick of hearing on planes.
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