You might notice flight attendants glancing at your shoes as you board a plane - here's why
For some, being a flight attendant would be a dream job - you're getting paid to travel the world.
But there's a lot that goes into being a flight attendant that we passengers don't even realise.
From the shoes a traveller is wearing to what they've labelled the "splash zone", there are a few secrets of the trade that aren't often talked about. Until now.
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Flight attendants have secrets. Getty
Senior Travel Expert Jessie Chambers from Global Work & Travel has shared some of the untold secrets of flying with 9Travel.
First up - the shoes you wear on board could make a big difference.
In a real emergency, heels and thongs can slow evacuations. So discreetly, as you board the plane, the crew often clock who's best equipped to move quickly.
Sometimes, Jesse says, they will quietly prioritise who to assist based on footwear alone.
If you're wearing sneakers, they might mentally flag you as a great person to turn to in the slim chance there's a need to evacuate.
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Flight attendants take notice of your shoes. Getty
And if you go barefoot while you're on board, just know that the flight attendants are judging you.
It might feel freeing, but the plane floor (especially near the toilets) is coated in bacteria. Many crew members refer to the carpet near toilets as the "splash zone".
If you really want to stay barefoot for the flight, you could take a cheap pair of slippers - like the ones you get in hotel rooms - on board. Use those when you go to the toilet, and throw them out after the flight.
READ MORE: What flight attendants first notice about passengers
Flight attendants can spot a liability a mile away. Getty
As well as looking at your feet, flight attendants also rank passengers mentally. Jesse says they sort people into three categories: Hero, Neutral, and Liability.
She says early on in the flight or while boarding, they'll clock everyone and determine who looks calm, aware, and able to help in an emergency.
Flight attendants are good at spotting who's likely to freeze, panic, or argue in the event that something bad happens. It's informal, but it happens on every flight, Jesse says.
Another trick of the trade: flight attendants have secret code words used to discreetly talk about things among themselves.
For example, 'Bob' is used as a complement for a good passenger (standing for Best on Board), while 'Philip' is a stand-in for a 'passenger I'd like to punch'.
ABP translates to 'able-bodied passengers', and 'crotch watch' is the nickname for the process of walking up and down the cabin, making sure everyone has their seat belt fastened.
Are you fit to fly?
Flight attendants have been sharing online how they are actually responsible for giving passengers a once over as they are boarding to make sure they are actually fit to fly.
In one TikTok video, KLM cabin crew member Esther shared that while she is "being nice" and welcoming passengers on board, she is also checking if they are "too drunk or sick to fly".
Flight attendants have plenty to check while passengers are boarding. Getty Images/iStockphoto
Likewise, another flight attendant in the US warned travellers who like to have a few cheeky beverages at the airport before a flight.
"Please, just don't make it noticeable when you get on the plane. I don't want to kick you off," she said in another video on TikTok.
"You don't want to be embarrassed, you don't want to miss your flight."
A flight attendant for Delta Air Lines revealed they check the state of your carry-on as well.
"I try to pay as much attention to bags as possible. Does anything look a little off? Is the luggage too large to fit in an overhead compartment? I also check whether bags have been tagged to be put in cargo or have hazard labels on them," he said.
