What flight attendants are really looking for when they greet you – they’re not just being polite

Flight attendants are said to be determining who is most fit to help out in case of an emergency. 

This is what the industry terms an ABP (or able-bodied person).

Kat said: "When you’re walking on the plane and see our happy, smiley face we’re actually looking you up and down and trying to find our ABPs (able bodied people),” 

“This is people who are going to help us in an emergency.

These can be anything from military personnel to pilots, nurses, doctors, police, and firefighters.

That’s not all attendants are looking for when they take in who’s on their plane, however. 

“We’re also looking at one more thing,” Kamalani goes on. Besides “looking for things that don’t belong on the plane” — including disallowed liquids — attendants are checking for human trafficking.

“It happens a lot in the industry,” Kamalani explained. “Our passenger safety is our No. 1 priority, so we’re just looking for things that look off.” 

There were also some other things airline crew scout for when people board the plane.

Flight attendant Beth Bourneouf told : "We look to see how many bags people are carrying, and we also have to be conscious of what kind of bags they’re carrying.

"Anyone with a cooler, we need to ask what’s in there.”

Then, there’s the question of inebriation.

Eagle-eyed flight attendants will be able to tell if you’re too tipsy to board by checking in on you with a quick “hello”.

It comes as a flight attendant revealed why giving passengers a free seat upgrade could get cabin crew members fired.

Asking for an upgrade is always a big risk, and not just for the passengers who are gambling for a better place to sit.