Nervous fliers often experience heightened anxiety when boarding a plane, so a friendly “hello” from the flight attendants can be reassuring. However, this greeting serves a more practical purpose than just being polite.

Flight attendants use it as an opportunity to assess whether passengers might be too intoxicated, ill, or otherwise unfit to travel. This subtle check is crucial for ensuring safety on board, as visibly impaired or unwell passengers can be a risk during the flight.

Wizz Air flight attendant Iona Iachim recently highlighted this on TikTok, explaining that this greeting helps identify passengers who may be inebriated or unfit for travel.

Other cabin crew members echoed this, emphasizing the importance of spotting passengers who could help in emergencies—known as “able-bodied passengers” (ABPs)—as they may be needed for tasks like assisting with evacuations.

The flight crew is also mindful of where they seat passengers, especially near exit rows, where children, the elderly, or those with physical or mental limitations are typically not placed to avoid complications during emergencies.

This practice, though simple, plays a significant role in maintaining the safety and efficiency of air travel.

@ioanaiachim Did you know? #fyp #cabincrew #cabincrewlife #airbus #flightattendant #flightattendantlife #crewlife #iamwizzcrew #fy #foryou #flightattendanthairstyles #dayinmylife #cabincrewhairstyle #CapCut ♬ Apple – Charli xcx