A flight attendant known only as Rania has explained the reason behind the tradition of greeting passengers with a friendly “Hello” as they enter the plane. It’s not only out of politeness, but also to quickly assess the condition of passengers, looking for signs of intoxication or illness that might prevent them from safely flying. Even one drunk passenger can pose a risk. They also observe passengers to identify those who might be able to assist in an emergency, such as able-bodied passengers who could help with evacuation and other tasks. They also check to see if there are any military personnel, pilots, firefighters, police officers, nurses or doctors on the flight. That way, in case of a medical emergency or security breach, they know who is on the plane who can help. Last, but not least, the friendly hello is also a way to get the trip started on a positive note.
