When traveling abroad and staying in a hotel, it is important not to immediately lay down upon entering the room. CabinCrew24, an American aviation platform, recently shared a “Flight Attendant Room Inspection Guide” to help prevent potential risks such as hidden cameras, intruders, and other dangers by spending just 90 seconds checking five blind spots in the room. This not only protects privacy but could even save lives.
Many flight attendants, upon entering a hotel room, do not rush to unpack but instead follow a routine inspection procedure. They start by using their luggage to block the door, ensuring there are no other individuals inside the room. They then carefully check the bathroom, closet, identify the closest emergency exit, test the door and window locks, and confirm that the room phone can dial an outside line.
These practices are not born out of paranoia but rather a culmination of experiences accumulated over years of staying in unfamiliar rooms in different countries. Flight attendants prioritize safety over comfort; before indulging in the minibar amenities, they are more concerned about knowing the location of the emergency exits.
Experienced flight attendants, upon opening the room door, use their luggage to secure the entrance, allowing them to easily exit if needed, as they inspect the room for any signs of others inside. This precaution is rooted in real-life cases.
While there may not always be intruders, hotels can sometimes mix up reservation information or housekeeping staff may not have completed their duties. Many flight attendants have encountered awkward situations where they walk in on a previous guest’s belongings still in the room or even find the guest has not checked out yet.
Flight attendants start their search from the bathroom closest to the door, checking the bathtub behind the shower curtain, opening all drawers to see if any items are hidden or forgotten. The inspection then extends to the closet, under the bed, and behind the curtains.
Some airline unions caution their employees, especially when traveling alone and entering a room, to request hotel security to accompany them at the door until the room’s safety is confirmed.
Flight attendants also review the “evacuation route map” behind the room door to identify the nearest emergency exit. Several airlines even mandate that flight attendants, during training, count the number of exits on their floor and ensure that emergency doors and stairs are clear and easily accessible in case of an emergency.
In the United States alone, nearly 4,000 hotel and motel fires are reported each year. Fire experts strongly recommend counting the number of doors from your room to the nearest emergency exit upon entering; in the event of a fire, visibility in thick smoke is limited, and individuals may have to rely on feeling their way through by counting doors to escape.
After confirming the room is empty, flight attendants lock all the door and window security locks and chains. Aviation unions’ safety guidelines emphasize securely locking all windows and keeping a flashlight and room key within reach on the nightstand to ensure quick access in case of a power outage.
They also test if the room phone can dial an outside line or connect to an emergency help line. Many hotel phones require operator assistance, which may not be available late at night; some may require dialing a specific number to reach outside lines.
Experienced flight attendants often include a secret weapon in their 90-second check—a personal alarm costing less than $15. Placing it under the door, if someone attempts to forcefully enter, before they even step inside the room, the alarm will sound.
Some flight attendants even use a rolled-up towel to block the gap under the door, not only to prevent hallway light from disturbing sleep but also to effectively block thick smoke from entering in case of a nearby fire.
During check-in, many flight attendants request the front desk staff not to loudly announce their room numbers. They also avoid mentioning their room numbers in places where other guests might overhear.
Additionally, some flight attendants verify who is outside before opening the door, even when expecting room service.
This information draws reference from the aviation website, CabinCrew24, and the travel magazine “Travel+Leisure.”