Flight attendant explains real reason they speak to you as you get on plane

It seems there's a lot of misconceptions about why cabin crew go out of their way to greet every passenger who boards the plane.

Some people hilariously thought it might have been a subtle flirting technique, while others presumed that flight attendants must just be partial to a good chinwag.

But according to this airline employee, there is actually a method to the madness.

It turns out that this brief exchange with the staff who are responsible for tending to your needs in the skies is actually an essential part of the journey, although most travellers are apparently completely unaware of it.

Ioana Iachim, who works as cabin crew for budget airline Wizz Air, explained the purpose behind this short chat in a video shared on social media.

Why do flight attendants say 'hello' when boarding?

In a TikTok video, which was originally shared back in 2024 and has since racked up more than 3.5 million views, she explained that people with her job aren't just saying hello because they have impeccable manners.

Unbeknownst to most passengers boarding the plane - who are probably preoccupied with thoughts of them kicking a chill on a sun lounger with a cocktail in hand - cabin crew are actually conducting a subtle test.

Ioana explained that they greet you at the door of the aircraft 'not only out of politeness, but also to check whether or not you are too drunk or sick to fly'.

This left the majority of social media users who stumbled across her video baffled, as a host of people admitted they had no clue that airline staff were weighing them up.

The comment section of her post was brimming with remarks from frequent fliers who admitted they had made the wrong assumption about the purpose of the short discussion.

One person hilariously admitted: "And I thought they fancied me..."

Another added: "I knew I wasn't crazy for thinking they looked at you a bit too much when they say hi!"

A third wrote: "I feel like they always stare and judge."

A fourth joked: "They always ask me if I want to sit in the exit row, so I must get an A+ during this test."

While a fifth baffled user chimed in: "I thought it was so they seem approachable!"

A pilot's take

A pilot also previously corroborated Ioana's explanation for the greeting while sharing a LinkedIn post last year.

Captain Tomar Awdhesh, a seasoned A320 airline pilot with more than 15 years of experience in the commercial aviation industry, explained that flight attendants are 'secretly scanning' people... as well as 'being polite'.

Explaining why cabin crew always say hello to travellers, he said: "It means they quickly scan if someone looks unwell, overly nervous, intoxicated, or acting suspicious.

"They also scan for able-bodied passengers, people who look strong, fit, and calm. These are the individuals who might assist during an in-flight emergency, like evacuation or handling an unruly passenger.

"If they notice a problem, they can act before takeoff to keep everyone safe."

So there you have it, folks - make sure you mind your Ps and Qs next time you say hello to a flight attendant.