At the airport, you may have seen pilots and flight attendants from different airlines dragging their suitcases, preparing for duty or just completing a flight mission. While you might assume that pilots carry flight-related manuals in their luggage, do you know what flight attendants have in their bags?
According to the aviation news website “Simple Flying,” in addition to everyday items like phones and keys, flight attendants carry the following essential things in their luggage:
Flight attendants must carry a lot of documents as required. Apart from passports and visas like any other person, flight attendants also need to have their flight crew license, medical fitness certificate, and other relevant documents to board the aircraft.
Moreover, flight attendants need to have various work manuals with them. These could be in the form of physical copies or electronic files stored in their phones or iPads, including cabin safety manuals, emergency manuals, service manuals, or task lists. Sometimes, they may also need to carry proof of medical insurance. Regulations may vary between different airlines.
Most flight attendants have their own travel toiletry bags containing items such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, combs, hair gel, cosmetics, perfumes, etc., to keep themselves presentable while on duty.
Some flight attendants even carry shoe polish to keep their shoes shiny, meeting the airline’s standards. These items come in handy during long-haul flights and can also be useful if they have an overnight stay at an airport unexpectedly.
Many flight attendants carry a small first aid kit that can be used in case of emergencies. Band-Aids can help with minor cuts or blisters, Tylenol can relieve pain, and eye drops work well in the dry cabin air, especially on long-haul flights.
As flight attendants often handle food and hot beverages in the narrow galley onboard, they are prone to burns. Therefore, burn relief gels can help alleviate the pain. In recent years, some flight attendants also carry hand sanitizer and wet wipes.
Flight attendants represent the airline’s image and must dress appropriately. Apart from the uniform, they may wear an apron or a vest while serving meals. Female flight attendants may wear high heels while welcoming passengers onboard but could switch to flats while serving, so they typically carry an extra pair of shoes.
Since they might get wine, coffee, ketchup, or curry stains while providing meal service, flight attendants also carry an extra shirt for such situations. For long-haul flights, they might bring a pillow or even pajamas for rest. Sometimes, they also carry casual wear to be prepared for unscheduled stops during flights.
Although flight attendants are accustomed to eating the onboard meals provided by the airline, some prefer to bring their own, healthier food. This is because airplane meals often contain high levels of salt and sugar to enhance their taste at high altitudes, making them less healthy.
In cases where airlines do not provide free meals to flight attendants, those looking to save money may bring their own food or snacks.
In addition to the items mentioned above, flight attendants may also carry paper and a pen as some passengers may need to borrow one, and they might need to jot down meal or beverage orders. When selling duty-free items or food, they may need to use a calculator or provide samples to passengers.
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