Sometimes, working as cabin crew, the last thing that you want to do is get on yet another aircraft. We spend more time on aircraft than we do in our own homes. But, we need to travel by air for work or vacation too. So, is it just another day in the office or a welcome relief?
Invisible for once?
Firstly no one will know that you are cabin crew, which can be a relief. Although it does feel odd, sitting in economy instead of on a jump seat. There are signs that you are cabin crew, that another experienced crew member may spot, which we'll talk about later. Also, if they see the crew tag on your wheelie bag during boarding or disembarkation, they would recognize it. If you are traveling on standby, it will show on the passenger list, so they might also know you are crew that way.
Politeness
Cabin crew do not get the respect they deserve, and we rarely even get a 'Hi,' or a 'thank you'. Passengers, in general, seem to not be very responsive, maybe because they are stressed or nervous or too caught up in their cell phones. In turn, we always smile, use eye contact and are super polite as a passenger as we know what it is like on the receiving end.
Safety
In turns of safety, we are very vigilant and situationally aware of everything going on around us. We do watch the safety demonstration, as we know how important it is. Even if you have worked on the same type, things may be different. I always note where my nearest exit is and count how many rows it is to the exit door (in case of emergency evacuation where you cannot see).
Attention to detail
Because we are so used to uniform standards and high standards of personal presentation, we will notice if another crew member doesn't look the part. We will also notice small details, like if the seat belt is not folded correctly or if there is a safety card missing from a seat pocket. We, naturally, observe the cabin crew.
Natural reactions
Upon boarding, we will stow our bags correctly in the overhead locker, but if the person next to us is struggling to find space, we tend to help them. When walking down the aircraft aisle and someone is heading towards us, we step into the nearest row of empty seats to let them pass.
Signs to look out for
When a chime goes off (the communication system) we will always look up to see who is calling. We know from the color of the light, whether it's the flight crew, the senior crew member or another crew member. We also know if it's a passenger call bell or an emergency call. On take-off and landing, I still assume the cabin crew brace position and do a 30-second review. I double-check that my seat belt is securely fastened. It's just habit after flying thousands of flights. It would feel unnatural not to do so.
Problematic
It can be difficult to cut off from your job, sometimes even as a passenger. If you see a crew member make a mistake during their cabin secure check, you cannot say anything. If two crew members are talking on landing instead of doing a 30-second review, as crew ourselves, we find it unprofessional behavior and question the airline's training and standards. Afterwards, we will tell our crew friends about it. Most of us take great pride in our work, so we find it puzzling when some do not.
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It is also sometimes problematic with passengers. For example, when the passenger in front of you reclines their seat again after the cabin crew have completed their cabin secure checks. You can't say "I'm sorry, sir, but the seats are upright for a reason, and you are now stopping me from getting out of this aircraft in an emergency evacuation." So, we sit and hope for the best.
Duty of care
As cabin crew we do tend to have a 'duty of care'. We are responsible for passenger safety. When traveling as a passenger, that doesn't really change. If another passenger near me is struggling with something, I'll try and help. When there have been medical emergencies onboard, I have offered to assist as another crew member. Would I help in an evacuation? Absolutely.