Travelers place a great deal of trust in airlines, including their pilots and cabin crew. For this reason, crew members are trained to be thorough in their duties, which includes the genuine reason behind their friendly “hello” to each passenger. This warm greeting allows cabin crew to observe and evaluate every passenger on board, helping to maintain overall safety.
Itsmekikooooo is a popular TikToker with over 500,000 followers who regularly shares videos about her daily routine and life as a cabin crew member. With nearly 1,000 posts across TikTok and Instagram, she offers followers a glimpse into her luxurious lifestyle, her growth as a flight attendant, and the behind-the-scenes reason for the warm greetings passengers receive when boarding. Flight attendants use these greetings to evaluate passengers for several purposes.
Cabin crew closely watch passengers who might have consumed too much alcohol and could pose a risk to themselves or others. As Rania explained, “Your flight attendant’s greeting isn’t just polite—it’s also a way to assess if you’re too intoxicated or unwell to fly.”
Many followers shared their thoughts about why cabin crew greet passengers so warmly. One passenger commented knowingly, “When I had pancreatitis in Corfu, I acted normal while boarding the plane because I knew they wouldn’t let me on otherwise.”
“During boarding, we watch for passengers without mobility problems who can speak English, seem capable of opening a door, and are ideally traveling alone,” added another flight attendant.
A third one joked, “That’s me walking onto the plane with headphones on, totally ignoring the flight attendants…”
On the other hand, many followers were skeptical of her explanation. Some admitted feeling confused, while others shared they had very different experiences. One person candidly said, “I threw up from drinking three times on a flight, and the flight attendants helped me by holding my hair—no one stopped me from boarding.”
Another questioned, “I don’t get why airport bars are so popular, yet they’re so strict about passengers being drunk on the plane.” Meanwhile, a third asked, “What happens if a passenger isn’t fit to fly?”
On the other hand, many followers used her video to share their personal experiences of fear and anxiety about flying. One commenter wrote, “I get so anxious on planes that I have to ignore everyone because they stress me out even more.” Another shared a sweet but somewhat unrelated story: “My dog gets lots of attention—they’re always saying, ‘There’s the doggo.’ After the flight, they’re surprised she didn’t make a single sound.” Fortunately, cabin crew are usually very friendly and skilled at soothing passengers’ nerves, making them a valuable support for those adjusting to flying.
Although this unique tip from Rania helps passengers feel more at ease and welcomed, it’s just one of many ways cabin crew enhance your flight experience. Passengers can also request perks such as complimentary bottled water, activity books for children, and basic hygiene kits containing items like toothpaste, a toothbrush, mouthwash, floss, a comb, and sanitizing wipes.
Unfortunately, flying offers fewer perks these days, especially when it comes to convenience. Frequent cancellations without notice or compensation, unsafe or disrupted flights, reduced schedules with more layovers, and the common fear of flying have led many travelers to reconsider their travel options. Some airlines have developed particularly poor reputations; for instance, United and Spirit are often linked to stories of major financial losses and poor customer service. Airlines like Air Canada and Air France have also faced criticism from unhappy passengers.
Behind the scenes, cabin crew have a challenging role that goes beyond what most people realize. Their cheerful greeting to each passenger is just one part of their important responsibilities.
