Why flight attendants greet you at airplane doors goes beyond customer service

Flight attendants also identify passengers who may need special assistance, such as those with reduced mobility or young children. They watch for visible illness and may intervene if a contagious disease is suspected to prevent its spread in the confined cabin environment.

During boarding, crew members look for able-bodied passengers who could assist in emergencies. These individuals must be physically capable and willing to follow instructions; they may be briefed on how to operate emergency exits or help others evacuate if necessary.

Doctors and off-duty airline staff are also noted by flight attendants so they can be quickly located if needed during a medical emergency or evacuation scenario.

Attendants pay attention to details such as passenger attire and baggage size that could impact emergency procedures—for example, sharp jewelry might damage evacuation slides or inappropriate footwear could slow down an evacuation.

Other concerns include identifying passengers under the influence of alcohol or drugs and monitoring for signs of non-compliance with crew instructions—such as wearing headphones during safety briefings—or behaviors associated with drug trafficking or human trafficking.

Ultimately, these observations are part of ensuring efficient boarding and on-time departures while maintaining overall safety standards. As stated in the release: "All in all, flight attendants have to be very observant of passengers during the boarding process to assess any potential issues that could occur during the flight." The primary responsibility of cabin crew is passenger safety; their quick assessments at boarding contribute significantly toward preventing problems before takeoff.

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