- A first-class passenger received unwanted scrutiny from the cabin crew after asking a question related to security during a flight.
- Flight attendants are not allowed to discuss aircraft security procedures.
- Passengers should be aware that such questions will draw suspicion from flight attendants.
Even flying first class, there are some things passengers should not ask their flight attendants.
According to a story posted on Reddit, a passenger in seat 1B on a red-eye flight from Maui, Hawaii, to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, asked a question to their flight attendant that brought the passenger unwanted scrutiny, as told by a passenger in a nearby seat.
Just as inflight service was about to begin, the passenger asked the flight attendant about new security procedures.
“Hey totally random question, but on my last couple flights I noticed the FAs did not block access to the galley when the pilot used the lavatory,” the poster on Reddit reported that the passenger said. “Is this a new procedure for you guys?”
The flight attendant demurred from answering the question, but reported the passenger to the cabin manager. According to the poster, the cabin manager then approached the passenger in seat 1B to ask why they were inquiring about security procedures on the flight. When the cabin manager informed the passenger that the information was not something that the flight attendants could discuss with passengers for security reasons, the passenger was reported to have said “Oh excuse me, I didn’t realize I wasn’t able to ask questions.”
The cabin manager is said to have replied, “I can answer most questions, but I cannot answer questions related to the security of the aircraft.”
Flight attendants are always hyper-alert for suspicious behavior from passengers that could indicate an intention to cause harm to the pilot, fellow passengers, or the plane itself. A passenger seated very close to the cockpit and asking about perceived weaknesses in pilot security procedures is the sort of thing that can raise a red flag for flight attendants.
The rest of the red-eye flight continued as usual, until the pilot got up to use the lavatory during the journey. Two flight attendants were summoned to the front of the plane to block access to the galley, while reportedly pointedly looking at the passenger in 1B during the procedure.
“Unbelievable this guy can’t understand why it might be suspicious for the passenger seated in one of the two closest possible seats to the flight deck door to ask about galley obstructions procedures,” the original poster on Reddit wrote.
Passengers should be respectful and aware on flights and avoid behavior that could draw suspicions from the flight attendants.
