35 Of The Darkest Airline Industry Secrets, Shared By Flight Attendants

Flight attendants have seen it all. And I'm not just talking about traveling the world. This also applies to all the (unforeseen) scenarios they go through on the job.

So the next time these folks kindly tell you to return your seat to its upright position, just hit that button instead of giving them a hard time about it. Believe me, there's a reason to what they do and say. Even if you're not immediately aware of it.

Interested in taking a sneak peek at the inner workings of the airline industry, Reddit user bobbylink21 made a post on that platform, asking: "Flight attendants, what's the dirty little secrets of your industry?"

As the comment section grew, we picked the most interesting answers and found a few additional "submissions" from elsewhere on the internet. We then put everything together and ended up with this list that, I think, you'll be quite interested to see. Enjoy!

This post may include affiliate links.

35 Of The Darkest Airline Industry Secrets, Shared By Flight Attendants I used to be a flight attendant and when someone was really rude I’d just go to the computer we had to reset the inflight tv screens and I’d keep resetting theirs sporadically so that they couldn’t watch their movie. Very petty of me I know.

Fluffy-Departure , alevision.co Report

Final score:

538points

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June’s Very Own 2 years ago

That is pretty petty, but serves them right I guess

138points

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35 Of The Darkest Airline Industry Secrets, Shared By Flight Attendants Not a secret - but if you’re nice you can get quite a bunch of stuff for free.

Example - I was on a flight home (American Airlines) and there was a baby behind us that was just nooooottt having it. Pretty much cried all the way from Phoenix to Chicago. I felt awful.

I was in the aisle, and saw that both the parents were taking turns walking around with the baby. So I asked them if they wanted something drink or a snack…I figured even the human interaction would be nice.

I ordered them something and just went back to my movie. A few minutes later - I got a tap on the shoulder and got a little 'goodie bag' with some treats, and drinks and a little voucher for 24 hour** access to the AA lounge.

Be nice people - it pays off!

Onederbat67 , Lukas Souza Report

Final score:

525points

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June’s Very Own 2 years ago

That’s lovely. Kindness for kindness

151points

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We won't hesitate to tape you to the seat if the situation demands it.

De_La_Roche Report

Final score:

388points

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shodokai 2 years ago

Thank you! Don't put up with any of that crazy s**t.

159points

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35 Of The Darkest Airline Industry Secrets, Shared By Flight Attendants Back pre-911 I was traveling globally for the military (not American. Canadian and Brit).

Whenever I stopped in at a major Canadian airport I would grab a mess of Air Canada luggage tags.

Alot of my American contemporaries would ask for them when flying commercial to put on their luggage, especially when flying through the Middle East and Africa.

The American luggage was targeted for abuser, theft, etc

They never touched Canadian bags.

MyNameIsAjax , Edgar Okioga Report

Final score:

386points

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Kimi Tomminello 2 years ago

🎵 Oh Canada 🎵🇨🇦

127points

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35 Of The Darkest Airline Industry Secrets, Shared By Flight Attendants A friend of mine who works for Emirates told me this little gem. Whenever they fly into Saudi Arabia, Emirates makes the flight attendants lock the entire galley including all the food, water and drinks, all the napkins and cutlery too. This is beacuse in the past, Saudi Arabian authorities would come on board and literally take anything they want and walk out. And there was nothing the airline or staff could do.

REAIMY , Sourav Mishra Report

Final score:

362points

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June’s Very Own 2 years ago

What the hell

194points

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35 Of The Darkest Airline Industry Secrets, Shared By Flight Attendants If you bring a box of chocolates for the flight crew, you will get all the free snacks (and sometimes beers) they can throw at you.

My old coworker had been a flight attendant for like 20 years and knew all the secrets. This was his best recommendation for a good flight.

Hoosier_816 , Monique Carrati Report

Final score:

362points

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June’s Very Own 2 years ago

You could also give them chocolates just for the sake of being nice too, you know

261points

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35 Of The Darkest Airline Industry Secrets, Shared By Flight Attendants The flight attendants already know what you are going to say. Every joke, come on, request, complaint. They KNOW you are going to say that thing. If this is their 3rd flight of the day, they’ve heard it 6 times already.

No one is clever on an airplane.

-Blixx- , Kenny Eliason Report

Final score:

349points

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Miss-Un-Derstood 2 years ago

Oh really? You haven't heard my hilarious jokes though...

107points

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35 Of The Darkest Airline Industry Secrets, Shared By Flight Attendants I once overheard a phone call at the gate check-in. A flight attendant was hungover, slept-in and was going to be pretty late.

A minute later, the person at the kiosk made an announcement about how some pre-flight maintenance was going to delay the flight.

I was thinking like, 'you lying sonofab*tch'. Lol

TheDjTanner , Tanathip Rattanatum Report

Final score:

328points

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June’s Very Own 2 years ago

Lmao that last part

73points

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Flight attendants dont get paid on the ground. Only flying hours are paid. We are slave labor on the ground and duties are continually added to our unpaid work time because the company knows they dont have to pay us. We show up 2 to 3 hours before we even start getting paid and some days we will work up to 14 hrs and only get paid for 5 or 6 of those hours. It should be illegal.

Please be kind when you are boardng the plane and getting all pissy about your bags etc, the flight attendant is a volunteer while she is helping you on the ground, she is essentially doing you a favor.

abicus4343 Report

Final score:

316points

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shodokai 2 years ago

This should be criminal.

227points

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#10

They ought to change the name "Flight Attendant" to reflect the PRIMARY responsibility instead of the incidental tasks performed when everything is going ok. I've been suggesting "Cabin Safety Officer" for years. I bet with that name, they'd have to take a lot less s**t.

theservman Report

Final score:

309points

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Bella10 2 years ago

I honestly don’t mind being considered a glorified waitress in the sky, because I genuinely love hospitality. But if you have a heart attack, if you are hypoxic, if you need reassurance due to severe turbulence, if we need to evacuate, if there is a depressurisation, if there is a non normal situation and you need someone in control, then I can promise you, we’re highly trained. Call me a trolley dolly, and that is fine…. Hopefully it’s a good day at the office, and that’s all you think of us crew… but we have your back in an emergency 😉

36points

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#11

35 Of The Darkest Airline Industry Secrets, Shared By Flight Attendants We have a list with every passenger’s full name and seat number. Sometimes when we’re bored we’ll Google you.

TheVintageStew , Solen Feyissa Report

Final score:

301points

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June’s Very Own 2 years ago

Not creepy at all s/

165points

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#12

35 Of The Darkest Airline Industry Secrets, Shared By Flight Attendants Flight attendants get equally if not more annoyed when flights are delayed. A lot are paid only for the 'flight time' - meaning they aren't paid to sit at the airport to wait....or even to greet customers during onboarding...

For that reason alone, the longer the flight the better. Imagine working on a short route where your actual work is 3-4h but you're paid for 55 minutes as that was the duration of the flight.

psotnica , Pixabay Report

Final score:

287points

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shodokai 2 years ago

Should be illegal to not pay them for all time required to be in uniform and performing a function. If it's required, then it needs to be paid!

478points

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#13

35 Of The Darkest Airline Industry Secrets, Shared By Flight Attendants Used to work for a UK airline (non crew).

It was normal for passengers that died onboard to be kept in their seats until landing. They would be wrapped in blankets and propped up to look like they were sleeping to not freak out other passengers.

gjs78 , Matt Hardy Report

Final score:

279points

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River Webb 2 years ago (edited)

what about the people next to them? but then again ig the body could be used as a headrest

102points

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#14

35 Of The Darkest Airline Industry Secrets, Shared By Flight Attendants Former flight attendant here. First of all I’d like to say that everything varies from airline to airline and country to country. I worked for a Latin American airline. The environment was quite toxic, there was A LOT of harassment from the pilots and copilots.. some of them would abuse the position of power they had to make some indecent proposals to the air hostesses. Maybe this is not a secret but for me it was a shock when a pilot (aged 40+) would text me during my days off to hang out (I was 19), I don’t even know from where he got my number and I felt very uncomfortable around him. This was nothing in comparison to other things that many of us experienced.

Original-Spring-6195 , Jae Park Report

Final score:

268points

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Miss-Un-Derstood 2 years ago

Sounds just like every other industry with creepy old men

150points

Stephanie Wittenberg 2 years ago

Alas, this is so sorrowful true. And why do some middle-aged Jerusalem think a lovely young woman would be interested in giving them a weekender? Get a reality check guys!

12points

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Dave Smith 2 years ago

I hear you. As a teen I was groped daily. Being 1 of the only 3 males that worked there, the much older ladies would just grab me as I walked by. But of course wasn't allowed to complain as I was a male. Strange really that it happens both ways but only one set get to complain.

7points

Xander Kurtz 2 years ago

It literally happened to me (with managers specifically going after me as an adult teen) at dollar general, Tyson, and Jack in the box. And that was AFTER i had developed "reverse anorexia" where i made every effort to make myself as big as possible because of just how often, as a minor, i would face physical abuse or sexual harassment because of how small and easy to target i was. By family, classmates, cops, neighbors. Literally everywhere where there's creepy old men (the students weren't the creepy old men. But the administrators at the school and the campus cops that enabled the rape threats and physical bounsary crossing even publicly and on school cameras, certainly were. They enjoyed watching it and seeing how i couldn't really do anything to make it stop until it did actually "go too far", which they'd revel in. The absolute creeps)

7points

Gptls 2 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

1point

Meg Pearson 2 years ago

But trapped in a metal tube with them for hours on end.

1point

Leesa DeAndrea 2 years ago

You can leave out the word old. You think men suddenly turn creepy when they reach a certain age? No. They were always creepy.

-3points

JM 2 years ago

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Suzi Q 2 years ago

Happened to me twice. First at an engineering office, I was 17 and a receptionist. One of the architects (age 47.) would pry into my sex life and always asking to take nude pics with him, massaged my shoulders and talk dirty. I left when it got unbearable. Second right before the first experience my BFF and I worked for A&W restaurant and the franchise owner would smack us on the ass. He'd grope our asses. We both quit once on a busy Saturday afternoon when the place was full. Awful.

10points

Fried Mermaid 2 years ago

Huh Latin American and toxic, wonder if it's certain airline whose main color is red

6points

Manu 2 years ago

Avianca

1point

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Hollysmom 2 years ago

So saf

2points

Keisha 2 years ago

That's horrible. I would have blocked their number and carried pepper spray and a taser and if one of those guys go near me they would be sorry.

1point

Mazer 2 years ago (edited)

So sorry that women must go through this. I would remark that I have no doubt some guys also have issue with toxic work environments.

1point

GramDB 2 years ago

OMG! Report them!

0points

backatya 2 years ago

She should have kicked him in the nuts so hard that he wouldn't be able to have sex any more

0points

Taniel 2 years ago

Omg, the man asked a younger woman if she wanted to hang out! What a criminal!

0points

Judy Sharits-Johnsen 2 years ago

Terrible. What's wrong with these guys.

0points

ᴚe˥ɐƎʇS NnOuOɹԀ 2 years ago

StOrY TiMe: I was flying American and a guy two rows ahead of us kept flirting with the flight attendants. I was going to the bathroom and this guy was squeezing the flight attends thigh and when He showed the ladies in front of us his phone number in his info was JD. I'm like oh god this guy is a lawer?

0points

Lisa Yamaguchi-Townsend 2 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

0points

Helena ortiz 2 years ago

U shouldn't have delt w/ crazy

0points

Mickie Shea 2 years ago

Wow! Older man attracted to younger woman. Would not happen on todays air lines

-1point

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#15

Source: my mom is a flight attendant.

When flight attendants greet you as you step on the plane, they're doing two things: 1) checking to see if you're drunk/stoned, and 2) checking to see if you're strong/buff, so in the event of an emergency they can tap you in if need be (i.e. need to pull open the emergency door or lift something, etc.)

nbel1996 Report

Final score:

258points

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Fried Mermaid 2 years ago

I've read this one long ago in a different thread. Last time I flew to visit my home country, when I was leaving, was crying my ass off, and remembered the scanning the attendants had to do. Many of them asked me I was ok, and many others looked at my eyes and just lowered their heads. Felt like a nice gesture, them trying to give me some privacy surrounded by a lot of people and being extra nice the rest of the flight

126points

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#16

35 Of The Darkest Airline Industry Secrets, Shared By Flight Attendants My friend is a flight attendant, she told me they change their emergency code words every few months. Once an emergency code word (could be something like “marvellous”) is used by a crew member when speaking over PA to pilot, pilot will automatically lock cockpit and not open the door again no matter what.

Lamonthie , Kenny Eliason Report

Final score:

237points

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Agfox 2 years ago

I thought it was normal for cockpit doors to be kept locked anyway...

175points

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#17

A significant number of them are homeless. Living out of their suitcase and the crew break room.

I was a pilot for a low paying regional airline in the US. The pay for new flight attendants is pathetically low. Since they spend 90% of their lives on the road anyway some don’t have a permanent place to live.

usmcmech Report

Final score:

233points

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June’s Very Own 2 years ago

That’s so sad

137points

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#18

35 Of The Darkest Airline Industry Secrets, Shared By Flight Attendants Not a flight attendant, but used to be a supervisor for a major US carrier. We had an employee whose child had a science project about germs. She brought her kid in on an overnighted aircraft and they took samples from all over. The galley, lavoratories, seats, tray tables, just about everywhere. The area with the most amount of fecal matter was the tray tables. Yep. I also never drink anything that is never sealed because I have witnessed cleaners who clean the lavoratories then jump to the galley without changing gloves.

cardsfan4life17 , Kai Pilger Report

Final score:

229points

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June’s Very Own 2 years ago

That’s a health code violation, surely.

137points

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#19

Flight attendant here.

If someone acts like a major jerk mid flight, we will have security meet you on the ground at the destination.

We have limited resources available, so if you get b****y about wanting steak but we only have chicken left, there are literally zero things we can do about it. There is only so much space we have to stock all the goodies.

There may be major drama going on between crew members, but we do our best to hide it and give good customer service. I have literally cried behind a wall before because a crew member was being condescending and rude, and walked out into the cabin smiling afterward.

We make fun of people for being rude, being inconsiderate of others, playing videos out loud, clipping toenails, eating salt dried fish and leaving the bones on the floor.....

People will literally ask us about mileage points and why they didn’t get upgrades and why their bag got delayed and how they’re going to miss their connection. If there is a major delay flying into a city, we literally hide in galleys to avoid people asking us questions.

If a passenger is rude to our face, we will crunch up the snack mix or cookie before handing it to them, essentially giving them a bag of crumbs.

Spag_n_balls Report

Final score:

203points

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Potty pagan panda 2 years ago

Fair enough

64points

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#20

35 Of The Darkest Airline Industry Secrets, Shared By Flight Attendants I worked for the ground crew at a private airport. Flights from other countries have to throw away all uneaten food right off the plane, as it is International Waste, and needs to be incinerated.

Additionally, if flights for private planes are delayed, their food that was standing by has to go somewhere... So they gave it to us. So tasty.

Onlyhereforthelaughs , wikimedia.commons Report

Final score:

200points

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Kathryn Baylis 2 years ago (edited)

My first job was with a rental car company at the local airport. Got to know all the airline folks, and the people from the catering company that supplied flights with meals. Got a LOAD of free meals when a flight landed and the plane would be staying at the airport overnight. They can’t (or couldn’t back then, not sure about now) use the meals the next day, and were just going to throw them out, so gave away as many as anyone wanted. Remember, these were complete hot meals with side dishes and desserts, so way more filling than just snacks. I was 19, in my first apartment, and making $3.45/hour (1979, when minimum wage was $2.90/hour) when I started working there, so those free meals kept me going when money was tight. This was back in the late seventies to early eighties at a midsized airport. Probably not like that anymore—-though I’d be so happy to find out differently!

121points

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#21

Nobody is ever pronounced dead on a commercial flight. The crew will perform CPR until the body is removed from the plane. Otherwise, the coroner’s office can impound the aircraft for days, until their investigation is complete. If a physician on board declares the patient dead, well, bummer for the airline. More than once I came in to work to find a deceased passenger in the locker room, waiting for the coroner to pick up the body.

Also, dead people are transported as cargo on commercial flights. We refer to them as human remains. If you see a long rectangular cardboard box the size of a coffin being carefully loaded into a cargo bin by several rampers, it’s human remains.

N2TheBlu Report

Final score:

188points

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Jette Wang Wahnon 2 years ago

It is not all gloom and doom though...I had a flight Lisbon-copenhagen with a stop-over in Madrid.My dog was travelling with me in his carrier.Due to his size he was in the cargo area.Whenever I travel with my dogs I make certain they are onboard before I enter and when we were boarding the plane in Madrid again I noticed a large box being carried onboard.We took off and after a while the flight attendant came back to coach were I was sitting and asked me to accompany her to first class...yuppie,I thought,I have been up-graded !!....arrive at the 1st class and see my dog lounging in a seat with a silly grin while adoring crew are feeding him goodies..??? a coffin had come on board in Madrid and laws forbid animals to travel in the same compartment as deceased...The pooch didn´t even acknowledge my presence...he was living the life of Brian !

157points

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#22

35 Of The Darkest Airline Industry Secrets, Shared By Flight Attendants You have a set limit of how many hours you can fly, and you need 12 hours of rest between duties, i've once seen a pilot Wait 2 unnecessary minutes to turn off the engine to make the flight attendant out of hours for the next day.

Pellem01 , Luis Cont Report

Final score:

173points

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Sleazy Weaver 2 years ago (edited)

this isn't phrased very well, i can see others are getting confused. let me try to explain: flight attendents have to work x amount of hours before they're required to take 12 hours of rest. otherwise, tired or not, they'll be scheduled to work more. on one flight, the pilot kept the plane on for extra long to use up the last of the flight attendants' hours so they could have a mandatory day off to rest without the airline taking advantage of them having time left (even just two minutes) & scheduling them to work another flight. the pilot was doing the flight attendants a favor; the airline industry has such thin margins for turning a profit that they take advantage of employees whenever possible. the pilot was helping combat this by ensuring his coworkers would have time to rest whether the company likes it or not.

420points

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#23

35 Of The Darkest Airline Industry Secrets, Shared By Flight Attendants The only dirty thing about my job was the airplanes. they never wash the floors, the seats. it’s gross.

Peanut-Expert , Natã Romualdo Report

Final score:

156points

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June’s Very Own 2 years ago

Gosh. Honestly how hard is it to hire some cleaners?

37points

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#24

35 Of The Darkest Airline Industry Secrets, Shared By Flight Attendants The Galley!

Not a Flight Attendant but exEngineer and trust me, if the aircraft galley were inspected like any other food business it would be condemned within the first trolley!

That’s excluding the dirty water tanks and cleaning crew using one rag from ceiling lights to floor trim.

If you ask anyone who maintains aircraft, you bet they’re buying their meal at the airport.

WoodEngineering , Jue Huang Report

Final score:

150points

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Phill Healey 2 years ago

That's why aircraft meals are typically made at a special facility and are delivered sealed. They are then just steam heated onboard the aircraft

3points

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#25

There's a 600 page book in the cockpit with every. Single. Thing. that can possibly go wrong, from a bulb going out to an engine falling off, a biohazard or a bomb threat.

Exos9 Report

Final score:

147points

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Kathryn Baylis 2 years ago (edited)

Makes sense. 99.9% of pilot, and I sure hope flight attendant, training consists of “what-if” scenarios. Everything from an unruly drunk passenger to a hijacker to a bird strike to a bomb. Only a tiny portion has to do with the perfect flight. Why do you think the crew is so calm when there’s an emergency? They don’t panic because they know exactly what to do. When you’re in a situation like that, it’s the not knowing that can make you panic. Training eliminates that, by having you concentrate on the next step instead.

76points

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#26

35 Of The Darkest Airline Industry Secrets, Shared By Flight Attendants I used to work as a flight attendant and I've seen a lot of stupid and crazy [stuff]. The alcoholism, drug abuse and depression is common in the domain. It's hard for a lot of people to live a superficial life. It's fun at first to see new places and new destinations. But at some point rome or new delhi is just another place at work. Sound downing but I've seen a lot people complain about this and me as well.

ChemicalSet2716 , Caleb Miller Report

Final score:

145points

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Shelley Dawson 2 years ago

I don't know about the depression but you're right about cities of dreams being just another place to visit. When I stopped flying and returned to the UK, I'd mention placed where funny things had happened and people were so jealous. They didn't realise what it is like to wake up in the morning (or evening) not knowing where you are and what day it is.

3points

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#27

35 Of The Darkest Airline Industry Secrets, Shared By Flight Attendants This little secret has been in the news lately, pilots and flight attendants are usually only paid when the aircraft door is closed. I am a flight attendant for a regional carrier get paid per diem, about two dollars an hour from the moment we sign in until the moment our trip is finished. However, our hourly rate is only paid when the doors closed.

While the hourly rate might sound good ($20-50+ depending on carrier and seniority) we are typically only paid 75 to 85 hours a month.

That-World , Jacky Watt Report

Final score:

142points

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shodokai 2 years ago

That is purely criminal corporate behavior!

130points

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#28

35 Of The Darkest Airline Industry Secrets, Shared By Flight Attendants I buddy of mine has been a pilot for the better part of 30 years and says that back 15-20 years ago the Russian/Soviet pilots and crew had to been watched like hawks (sometimes even being locked in a room) because there was a high chance of them getting absolutely s**t faced before when they were supposed to fly.

richard-777 , Emerson Vieira Report

Final score:

137points

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Mama Penguin 2 years ago

That's not terrifying at all.

54points

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#29

35 Of The Darkest Airline Industry Secrets, Shared By Flight Attendants There is an alarming amount of things that can be broken/inop on a MEL (minimum equipment list) and the airplane can still fly.

GrievouzZ , Sebastian Grochowicz Report

Final score:

127points

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Sleazy Weaver 2 years ago (edited)

actually, this is pretty cool. the parts that make or break a plane are so interesting. most commercial jets can survive with a busted engine or two depending how many it has, but a problem with the jackscrew can take a plane out of the sky with no hope of survival. even a hole in the plane isn't certain death because they're designed with so many failsafes & emergency protocols. it's actually in a plane's best interest to be able to function on minimal equipment, but have enough onboard anyway to make flight safer & easier. problems most often arise when airlines skimp on maintenance because of razor thin margins to turn a profit. the airline industry is garbage but planes themselves are cool as hell.

102points

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#30

I was a flight attendant: we had a boiler in the back galley that provided warm water that we used to serve hot drinks (coffee/tea/chocolate).

Well, the tanks in which water is stored are rarely cleaned thoroughly.

I had that water myself every now and then (since it was the only free thing we were allowed to take from the bar -we had to pay for water bottles!!!-), but if I fly as a passenger I try to avoid it as much as I can!

I can’t even imagine the amount of germs and mold that can be forming in those tanks!!

Ah, also, the water intake for the refill of that tank is centimeters away from the waste disposal valve…

xvagabondx Report

Final score:

113points

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June’s Very Own 2 years ago

I’m genuinely surprised. Is there no inspectors who come in and test the cleanliness of airplanes at all? It sounds like they have free reign to be lazy.

71points

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#31

35 Of The Darkest Airline Industry Secrets, Shared By Flight Attendants The toilets are near where we sit, and no matter how hard you try to cover the fact that you’re taking a dump. It makes a different noise than if you just go number 1.

No matter what stupid thing you see or read about getting a 'free upgrade' 99% of the time it’s all bollocks.

FlyFeetFiddlesticks , wikimedia.commons Report

Final score:

112points

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Nadine 2 years ago

So how do you get an upgrade?

27points

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#32

My primary job, is 'Credit Card Salesman'.

My secondary job, is preventing people from writing letters to corporate or appearing on the 6-O'clock news.

My tertiary job is to keep us from getting sued when you run to the bathroom during turbulance.

tommygunz007 Report

Final score:

108points

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TomCat 2 years ago

Welcome aboard Spirit Airlines!

41points

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#33

35 Of The Darkest Airline Industry Secrets, Shared By Flight Attendants FA here... crop dusting. Basically farting whilst we walk down the aisle due to the bloating. If you fly frequently theres a high chance an fa has farted right by your head as they walked down the aisle.

MilkySteps , Hanson Lu Report

Final score:

107points

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Davo gifman 2 years ago

Crop dusting...😆 that's pretty funny.

2points

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#34

35 Of The Darkest Airline Industry Secrets, Shared By Flight Attendants Flying isnt glamourous, one of my friend got spit on and cornered by a passenger and the company and the police did absolutely nothing about it. Also have heard of a few pilots trying to get sexual favors in flight, to no avail (from my knowledge).

walloh , Евгений Шухман Report

Final score:

101points

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Unnamed Hooman 2 years ago

That’s just disgusting

35points

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#35

35 Of The Darkest Airline Industry Secrets, Shared By Flight Attendants Pilots are on their phones or reading the newspaper all the time.

AirspeedIsLife , Rayyu Maldives Report

Final score:

77points

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Also Anonymous 2 years ago

I am not a pilot, but this example is worthless. Sure, they are On their phones. But when the auto pilot fails, you bet your ass I want a real pilot landing the pane.

126points

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#36

Ex airline employee here. Often we'd have someone on board with terrible body odor. You can set the temperature in one end of the cabin hotter and it localized the smell to one part of the plane. If you see coffee filter bags hanging anywhere its because someone smells like open ass somewhere on the plane.

FAs often talk about the "hot guy in 23B" or whatever seat he's in.

Pilots f**k around a lot up front. They'll take pictures, post on FB, watch movies, automation has taken over a lot of the work on long flights.

Subrookie Report

Final score:

26points

POST

LandAhoy 2 years ago

Is the temperature set higher or lower around the area of the smelly person? If the smelly person is put in hot surroundings surely it will make them smell worse?

2points

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#37

Former flight attendant here.

Landing gear got stuck on decent, we flew in circles for ages just waiting to see find out if we needed to crash land or not. Luckily the gear eventually came down, passengers never knew something was wrong.

One time I accidentally spilled coffee creamer on a bald dude's head while he was sleeping during service. Myself and everyone around him silently agreed to say nothing. He looked as if a bird pooped on his head....I still feel guilty about it.

Never drink the coffee, I have never seen those machines cleaned.

nosayingbagpipe Report

Final score:

25points

POST

tirebiter 2 years ago

I was on a flight where the landing was aborted when the plane was very close to the ground. I looked out the window and saw debris on the runway. The plane circled a few times before landing. There wasn't an announcement discussing the delay.

5points

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#38

A few months ago I was on a flight and the FA who came on the intercom was having trouble speaking. I was super concerned and mentioned it to the person next to me thinking she might be having a stroke. He thought the same. Another FA walked by and I mentioned it to her and she said she would check in with the pilot. Next announcement was the pilot informing us there was a delay and they are waiting for another FA to show up. Long story short, the FA with slurred speech was totally wasted. I saw her walking off the plane and she could barely walk straight. Couldn’t believe it.

jdperk Report

Final score:

22points

POST

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#39

Don't fly with an ear infection or fluid in your ears. There is a chance you can rupture your eardrum. Flight crews are especially susceptible to this since we are constantly going through pressurization and depressurization when we work.

AcromionProcess Report

Final score:

22points

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Mary Rotman 2 years ago

Not to mention it hurts like hell

11points

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#40

We quote the movie airplane a lot.

FabulousJewfro Report

Final score:

22points

POST

Seán Baron 2 years ago

Stewardess, I speak Jive,

8points

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#41

Stayed in a hotel that provided lodging to lots of airline staff. I used the hotel’s business office computers and this flight attendant forgot to log off her FB. Her DM’s had BF’s all over the world.

[deleted] Report

Final score:

21points

POST

shodokai 2 years ago

Good for her! They are the modern day Sailors. She's got a BF in every port and I bet they all smile when they think of her... and she them.

34points

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#42

FA here, depending on airline policy, the crew gets to sleep on full flat bed on long flights. We prefer you return your trays the way we gave it to you. Sometimes the passengers think stacking them will be helpful but its not. Also, female FAs are used to getting hit on by passengers. And some of my colleagues end up being married to a passenger so it is possible to find love in flight.

raknaitu69 Report

Final score:

20points

POST

M Rob 2 years ago

Do NOT hit on FAs during a flight

7points

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#43

Not a flight attendant, but on and around airliners when they’re deplaning. The amount of those tiny alcohol bottles that leave the plane in flight attendants’ bags is astounding.

waffle_fries_evryday Report

Final score:

18points

POST

Tx jac 2 years ago

Good for them ...from reading the above posts, sounds like there is a lot of work without pay

14points

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#44

My aunt was a flight attendant for a major airline for nearly 40 years. She flew exclusively South American routes from the US.

She told us how drug use and alcoholism was rampant in her industry; flight attendants, maintenance and ground crews, and especially pilots. There was one pilot she’d work with frequently that would pass out during flights. The flight attendants would set timers to remind themselves to go check on them.

She was not excluded from the drug and alcohol issues. The airline made a habit of surprising people with drug tests as they came off international flights. She and other flight attendants figured out system for them to be able to escape without getting drug tested.

Smuggling was also common among flight staff. The amount of stuff she smuggled back into the US from Brazil, Argentina, Peru, and Chile would’ve put her in federal prison for a few years.

She’s gone now. I miss her insane stories.

caitycc Report

Final score:

18points

POST

Miss-Un-Derstood 2 years ago

What did she smuggle? Drugs? Money? Designer dresses stolen from passengers suitcase?

5points

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#45

Friends with one.

Food shortage is a thing. And to meet demands, they have to manage with what they can do.

The example told to me was when there is demand for more vegetarian food, they simply remove the non-veg from dishes and serve it.

greg_says_relax Report

Final score:

18points

POST

Irish Lad 2 years ago

If you allergic to something, tell them. Don't say I'm a vegetarian. There is a big difference.

11points

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#46

That the captain had a heart attack and passed away mid flight and he's the reason we have to have an unscheduled stop, not to refuel.

I was a cabin crew back for a five-star international airline.

0ntheverg3 Report

Final score:

16points

POST

WhyAmIHere 2 years ago

That's fun.

-1point

#47

My cousin is a flight attendant, its not mid-flight, but airplane lines will fly attendants all over the country just in case there needed elsewhere. My cousin had to fly out from Portland to Seattle and some other places all in one trip, never having to work. Also, if you are sick you have to show up anyway and let the people in charge decide if you can fly or not. If you don't, you get 3 warnings then your fired.

Crescent_WW Report

Final score:

16points

POST

Kathryn Baylis 2 years ago

Crew shuttle, or flying jump seat. I’ve seen entire planes filled with crew shuttling to another airport.

6points

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#48

35 Of The Darkest Airline Industry Secrets, Shared By Flight Attendants My roommate’s a flight attendant and she says the flight crew (including pilots) often stays at the same hotel and parties together, and that the pilots often sleep with flight attendants regardless of marital status. Idk if that counts as a secret of the industry, but she says it is.

asitype1 , Tony Yakovlenko Report

Final score:

15points

POST

Mama Penguin 2 years ago

I think it's a well known secret at this point.

14points

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#49

35 Of The Darkest Airline Industry Secrets, Shared By Flight Attendants Sex isn't really that common in flight (ldmcr is too small to do naughty stuff)... but in hotels it happens... and its usually the copilot doing naughty stuff

keli_kelly , Kevin Woblick Report

Final score:

15points

POST

Sara Frazer 2 years ago

ldmcr ???

9points

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#50

One of my all time favorites is the Captain accidentally broadcasting his passenger briefing (welcome aboard, weather in chicago and so on) on frequency instead of the aircraft PA system, blocking up ground, ramp, tower, etc. for a solid 15 seconds. You automatically become the laughing stock of the airport.

Sir_Giraffe161 Report

Final score:

15points

POST

Chris 2 years ago

That actually sort of regular, every few months or so.

1point

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#51

35 Of The Darkest Airline Industry Secrets, Shared By Flight Attendants Pilot is sleeping and co-pilot is flying and there are [passed away] bodies in the cargo.

Source: my mom who is a former flight attendant.

Echo_FoxTrot_123 , Andrew Palmer Report

Final score:

15points

POST

June’s Very Own 2 years ago

When you think about it. There’s nothing much they can really do about a dead body on the plane right?

14points

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#52

We eat delicious food while you eat that disgusting airplane food.

Iveneverbeenbanned Report

Final score:

15points

POST

shodokai 2 years ago

Good.

14points

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#53

35 Of The Darkest Airline Industry Secrets, Shared By Flight Attendants There's a special frequency called Guard that all aircraft are supposed to monitor. It's for emergencies, or for when an aircraft ends up on a wrong frequency and the controllers need to get contact with them to change them to the right frequency.

It's full of pilots meowing at each other, and people accidentally asking for gate assignments and making other radio calls.

dog_in_the_vent , Honglin Shaw Report

Final score:

14points

POST

Mama Penguin 2 years ago

Lol at pilots meowing at each other.

17points

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#54

35 Of The Darkest Airline Industry Secrets, Shared By Flight Attendants With South African Airways, it was the fact that flight attendants were stealing from people’s bags.

TerminalHopes , nappy Report

Final score:

13points

POST

Miss-Un-Derstood 2 years ago

Disgusting.

0points

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#55

Former FA - as a new hire fa I would obey the FAA rules like we were taught, but then after a couple years I learned the easiest way to have a good flight was to learn which rules to ignore. Especially carry on items in first class. Put a few passenger items in empty galley carts to get us out on time.

Bougainville70 Report

Final score:

12points

POST

#56

My mother was a 20 year flight attendant, if your grounded plane suddenly goes full flaps down prepare for SWAT.

InsertScreenNameHere Report

Final score:

12points

POST

My O My 2 years ago

We need more detail here

7points

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#57

I read once that you should never use the coffee pot in your hotel rooms because if stewardesses stay in those rooms they use those pots with hot water to wash leggings and pantry hose and socks.

tdmmnnl Report

Final score:

11points

POST

shodokai 2 years ago

disbelieve

6points

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#58

What's in the pilot's carry-on?

Many bring window shades! Along with pillows and books to help them sleep.

bobbypkp Report

Final score:

11points

POST

Andie Day 2 years ago

I don't doubt North/South pilots have a side shade to reduce sun glare on instruments. And why wouldn't they bring a pillow and a book? There's two people in the cockpit, both of them don't have to monitor at the same time.

1point

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#59

NSFL warning: My Sister worked for an unnamed airline based out of the UAE; apparently the treatment of staff was so horrible, one of the flight attendants jumped out of one of those massive jets (while loading passengers) to try and kill herself in protest. Instead she succeeded in only completely f**king her self up; screaming writhing in pain.

Rather than delay the flight, the incident was cordoned off and all staff were summarily ordered to pretend it wasn’t even happening and ‘the show must go on’ (or there would be ‘consequences’). No one was offered counselling etc and it’s just not a good look to ask about it going forward.

the_colonelclink Report

Final score:

10points

POST

June’s Very Own 2 years ago

Disgusting behaviour

9points

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#60

Oxygen masks only supply around 15-20 minutes of oxygen. I'm not a flight attendant but I just know that.

Own_Speaker2572 Report

Final score:

9points

POST

Sleazy Weaver 2 years ago (edited)

they also don't deploy if the plane is full of smoke. oxygen + fire = bad, & even if some people pass away from smoke inhalation, it's absolutely vital the fire is kept as small as possible because there are no firetrucks in the air. the oxygen masks are actually there in case of an explosive decompression. that's when a hole opens up & the pressurized air is sucked out of the plane. the air at high altitudes isn't breathable, so you use an oxygen mask until the plane descends, which is done within the 15-20 minute time limit.

18points

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#61

A little birdie once told me that it’s not uncommon for crew to get involved in drug smuggling…

idontgiveafrunk Report

Final score:

8points

POST

Lulxby 2 years ago

Wow. Wish I knew that sooner lol

4points

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#62

Pilot and copilot are exchanging files and playing video games together via wifi.

IDoNotUseALotOfWords Report

Final score:

8points

POST

shodokai 2 years ago

Lots of down time, why not?

13points

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#63

Not an FA but I once rode up an elevator in Johannesburg with a crew from a middle eastern airline. Don’t remember which one but the male pilots talking to each other were clearly Australian. The women FAs were in head to toe Muslim garb and quiet. The FAs got off on my floor and ended up in rooms near mine. Later when I saw them they were all blonde Aussie shelias, wearing skimpy clothes and partying hard while off duty. Quite a contrast from their public image.

No I did not hit on them or flirt with them, etc. I’m married and not a creep.

Xyzzydude Report

Final score:

7points

POST

Miss-Un-Derstood 2 years ago

So what? I'm glad they were out partying. I'm sure they needed to let off steam after having to walk around in burka's!

8points

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#64

I saw a website that was filled with flight attendants selling their panty hose and their dirty socks and shoes … lol

Mully_bee Report

Final score:

2points

POST

oktopus 2 years ago

Wait, I thought per preceding post they used coffee makers to wash them in?

3points

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#65

I used to work for THAT airline (yes you know wich one), I've seen some s**t, I can say for sure that flight attendant steal from the trolley, we are polite just because we get 10% of sales onbord that we make individually (this causes lots of fights behind the "curtains"), we are doomed to live in a foreign country because that means having to buy a ticket just to visit family, there is a lot of drama since everyone is young and horny, 90% of cabin manager abuse their power to get more sales and benefits from the company.

Pellem01 Report

Final score:

-7points

POST

shodokai 2 years ago

That was one helluva run on sentence mate.

17points

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#66

My buddy is a pilot for American airlines and has hooked up with well over 100 flight attendants while on the road.

trumisadump Report

Final score:

-10points

POST

Mama Penguin 2 years ago

Capt. Glenn Quagmire?

26points

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#67

The radiation experienced while flying is so great it sets of Geiger counters if not turned off. The airlines have numbers out there to talk about the minor amount of radiation you become exposed to, but it's a lot higher than they say. (Did someone say conspiracy? Haha)

My mom is a lifetime flight attendant and the crazy thing is we found this out from a family friend who works in environmental reclamation who deals with radioactive reclamation sites worldwide. He said that their meters while flying were double the concerned level of radiation on his site in the Ukraine.

I_Use_Games Report

Final score:

-16points

POST

Mary Rotman 2 years ago

This defies all medical research into this aspect of flying. When you go to the beach and get a sunburn, did you know you have a radiation burn? Sunlight is radiation.

18points

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What do you think ?

Mr Zipperface 2 years ago

A plane has just landed at it's destination and the pilot makes the standard "Welcome to..." announcement, then thinking he has switched off the PA, he turns to the copilot and says "Well I'm going to have a s**t, shave and a shower then I'm going to f**k that new flight attendant senseless". The FA in question is at the back of the plane and upon hearing this, she starts to run down the aisle to alert the pilot to his mistake, halfway there she trips and falls flat on her face at the feet of a little old lady who looks down at her, smiling, and says "It's ok honey you don't need to rush, he said he's going to have a s**t, shave and shower first!"

Almarako94 2 years ago

Smooth granny

Freya the Wanderer 2 years ago

Quite a few of these are worthy of being added to my long, long list of Reasons to Drive Instead.

Roald 2 years ago

A lot of the misery of the crew would be solved by raising the ticket prices, so they would get decent salaries and not get squeezed out with insane rosters. This has been going on for decades. Why? Everybody wants to fly for 29 euros to Madrid, so airlines are in a race to the bottom with ticket prices, else the likes of Ryan or Easyjet will scoop up the passenger. It is not more complicated.

Aileen Horowitz 2 years ago

Shareholders and CEO'S would just take the increase like they do now. Do you seriously think the executive suite isn't paid outrageously? The airlines needs to pay FA an annual salary or pay FA for actual hours worked.

29points

W J O 2 years ago

Why do pilots say Fahrenheit when they say it's 90° out? If it were 90°C, we would all be dead.

EmCWolf 2 years ago

Thankfully airlines like Delta are finally paying attendants during boarding!

35 Of The Darkest Airline Industry Secrets, Shared By Flight Attendants

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Rokas Laurinavičius

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