The beaming smile, the gleaming white teeth, the immaculate appearance…it can only mean one thing; you’re being welcomed onboard an aircraft by an air steward. But have you ever stopped to wonder what flight attendants really think of us?
Despite the fact that their smiles may be forced, flight attendants seem to go all out to keep you sweet – fetching blankets and water, calming nervous passengers and dealing with disruptive drunks.
But what’s it really like to work in the skies? And who are air stewards’ favourite (and least favourite) types of passenger?
A recent survey by Jetcost.co.uk of 2,019 British air stewards revealed that loud and excitable passengers were the worst type of passenger for 69% of those questioned, followed by drunk passengers that are difficult to control (61%), screaming and hyperactive children (45%), fussy and complaining passengers (30%) and leering and sexually inappropriate passengers (17%).
But why choose that career path in the first place? The majority of those questioned (47%) said it was to take advantage of ‘the ability to travel and see different countries’, followed by wanting to ‘branch out from an office job or unfulfilling career’ (19%) and ‘the prospect of meeting the rich and famous’ (12%).
And the best parts of being an air steward? 32% said ‘travelling around the world’ 27% said it was the ‘feeling of being free’ and 26% said it was ‘the people that I get to meet along the way’.
The things that really riled flight attendants (apart from abusive passengers) included ‘missing out on key events with family & friends’ (38%), ‘tending to the passengers’ (34%) and ‘the strict uniform and make up regime’ (21%).