Flight Attendant Shares the True Purpose Behind Your Boarding Greeting

Flight attendants do far more than simply offer a friendly "hello" when passengers board an aircraft.

A message featured on a viral TikTok post by user Miva (@mrsmiva), who identifies as a flight attendant through videos on her profile, states: "Did you know that your flight attendant greets you not only out of politeness but also...to check whether you are too drunk or sick to fly?"

The caption accompanying the video, which has amassed 12.3 million views since its March 23 upload, adds: "Also to see who...could help us in an emergency."

Josephine Remo Finderup, a travel blogger and former flight attendant for SAS (Scandinavian Airlines) as noted on her LinkedIn, told Newsweek: "Yes, flight attendants are trained to spot signs that passengers may be unfit to fly. These signs include unsteady walking, slurred speech, and avoiding eye contact."

Dan Bubb, a historian and former airline pilot who teaches at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, explained to Newsweek that "it is the gate agent's responsibility" to stop passengers who are intoxicated from boarding.

"However, sometimes that does not occur," he added, noting that flight attendants then take over. "Flight attendants are trained to recognize passengers who have consumed too much alcohol. Typical indicators include slurred speech, erratic behavior, and difficulty maintaining balance," he said.

Regarding the assessment of passengers who might assist during emergencies, Remo Finderup explained: "This judgment is based on personal impressions of a person's character and physical strength. The goal is to identify someone who you trust to remain calm in an emergency and follow instructions.

"Additionally, you look for someone physically strong who could block others if necessary," she said.

In the latest annual "100 Best Jobs" ranking by U.S. News & World Report, the flight attendant profession placed 48th overall. It also ranked third among the highest-paying jobs that do not require a college degree, fifth among the best civil service jobs, and fifth among the best jobs without a degree.

Employment for flight attendants is expected to grow by 11 percent between 2022 and 2032, which is "much faster than the average for all occupations," according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

"Approximately 16,600 flight attendant job openings are projected annually over the decade. Many of these openings will result from the need to replace workers who change occupations or leave the labor force, such as retiring," the BLS stated.

What Happens When a Passenger Is Too Drunk or Ill to Fly?

Remo Finderup said that once it is determined a passenger is unfit to fly, they are informed that "they should not fly in their condition."

Bubb noted that if a passenger is refused boarding due to intoxication or illness, the gate agent will "quietly and discreetly explain the reason to the passenger to avoid alarming other travelers."

"If the situation escalates, law enforcement will be called. Gate agents are trained to de-escalate conflicts and know when to involve authorities," he added.

If a passenger is discovered to be intoxicated during the flight, "the first action is to stop serving them alcohol," Bubb said. Flight attendants then ensure that the individual does not disrupt fellow passengers or crew members.

Bubb explained that if a passenger becomes "seriously ill," the lead flight attendant alerts the captain, who decides whether to "declare an emergency and divert the aircraft to an alternate airport."

When medical assistance is needed, after informing the captain, flight attendants will "quietly and discreetly" ask passengers if any medical professionals are onboard, explaining the situation to those who respond, Bubb said.

"The captain ultimately decides whether to continue to the destination or divert to another airport based on the severity of the situation," the former pilot concluded.