Flight attendant reveals they always secretly memorise your face if you fit certain criteria when boarding plane

Greeting the flight attendants at the door is just part of the ritual when you get on a plane, you say hi then awkwardly shuffle down the aisle waiting for others to sit down so you can get to your seat.

But for the crew, it all happens for a reason that’s different to us just being polite.

Because while they say hello to us for a very specific reason, the attendants are apparently secretly memorising our faces if we fit certain criteria.

Yep, while you’re stood there in your best airport trackies or with a bag absolutely rammed full of three days’ worth of clothes, the crew are essentially judging you.

Cabin chief Duygu Eren Toysa of Turkish Airlines explained to Travel + Leisure that when they greet the passengers on a plane ‘they are also analysing a number of important factors that could contribute to the in-flight experience’.

Apparently they're judging us. (Getty stock)

And this is because they’re getting themselves prepared for any situation.

“They are identifying passengers who may be able to help assist in an emergency,” Toysa explained, “as well as passengers who may need additional help in an emergency situation, such as an elderly or injured person.”

So, when you board, crew tend to take a sneaky look to figure out if you could be a nervous flier or vulnerable, or just very handy to have around when things go wrong.

Well-seasoned flight attendant Janice Bridger also explained on Quora the criteria she uses when welcoming passengers onto a flight.

She tends to keep an eye out for people who may need assistance as well as those who might be able to assist her in an emergency.

"If I see someone who is muscular, powerful, strong, physically fit, I memorise his/her face and make a mental note of where they are sitting," Bridger wrote.

Not only are they saying hello for a specific reason but they're taking us in. (Getty stock)

"I consider this person a resource for me. In the event of an attack on the flight or on me, these are my 'go-to' people. If a situation looks like it could develop, I'll privately and discreetly ask one of these people if they would be willing to help us if necessary.”

She also explained how she tries to learn if any passengers are also ‘airline employees’ because they are a ‘resource’ to her.

“They know how to handle the situations as well as I, and are trained to become an instant 'team member,' fitting right in immediately if needed. They are an invaluable resource for me, and I like to know who they are and where they're sitting,” she explained.

So, better get pumping those weights before your flight if you're hoping to be analysed as a potential hero.