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When passengers are greeted onboard an aircraft, the Cabin Crew will smile, help them find their seat, and find space for their luggage. They check the boarding pass and make sure that they are on the correct flight. One might think this is just the great customer service expected of cabin crew, who always try to make a good first impression and set the tone for the flight. However, it is not as simple as it seems, and there is more going on than meets the eye.
In fact, the cabin crew are evaluating every single passenger before takeoff for several things that passengers would not normally be aware of. They are performing risk assessments and are screening for safety and security purposes. This is because they need to identify potential problems and stop them before the door is closed. In this article, we will look at some of the things cabin crew look for during the boarding process.
Unruly Passengers
Stopping problems before they start
Every day, we hear of cases of unruly passengers who have started fights, been rude, and ignored the crew’s instructions. These are sometimes caused by excessive alcohol, prescription drugs (or a combination of the two), or following an in-flight dispute. These events can end with a passenger being restrained, the aircraft being diverted, and security meeting the plane on the ground. They cause a great deal of disruption, so any signs of a potentially unruly passenger should be spotted before takeoff.
Cabin crew will be looking for passengers who seem drunk or drugged in some way. A passenger may also have anger issues, act entitled, be aggressive or rude, and those are warning signs that they could later become an unruly passenger. Once that happens, the person becomes a threat to the safety of the aircraft, the passengers, and cabin crew. After a warning, the crew can restrain the unruly passenger and divert the aircraft to offload them. Of course, if this can be spotted on the ground, all the better.
Cases of unruly passengers have increased since the pandemic, although numbers have slightly decreased since the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) introduced hefty fines and a zero-tolerance system. The FAA can impose fines of $43,658, and there can be multiple fines. So far in 2026, there have been 1,163 cases of unruly passengers in the US alone, as of the end of August 2026, according to the FAA.
Signs Of Illness
Fit to fly?
One of the first things cabin crew look for is any signs of illness and whether someone is fit to fly. Although cabin crew are trained to deal with medical emergencies, it is not an ideal situation to have onboard. During boarding, cabin crew scan passengers from head to toe, looking for injuries, signs of illness, or obvious symptoms. This could include things like fever, coughing, pale and clammy skin, or extreme exhaustion.
Visual clues may include medical bracelets, lanyards, or physical injuries. Those in the later stages of pregnancy are also closely monitored. Travel after 28 weeks often requires a doctor’s letter or medical certificate to send to the airline. Passengers who are drunk or sedated can be refused entry to the aircraft for safety reasons.
Because the aircraft is an enclosed environment, diseases can spread easily, which is far from ideal. This can include things like COVID-19, measles, and norovirus. If a passenger is suspected of carrying a disease that may be passed on during a flight, they can be offloaded before the flight because they pose a risk to others. If someone looks visibly ill, they can be refused onboard.
Special Assistance
Cabin crew will also be informed if any persons of reduced mobility (PRM) are onboard, or if anyone is visibly or audibly challenged, and will assist as needed. Passengers with obvious injuries like a broken arm or leg will also be noted, in case there is a need to evacuate the aircraft. Elderly passengers who may have mobility issues may also need extra assistance with boarding, disembarking, and in an evacuation.
Children who are traveling alone (UNMIN: Unaccompanied Minor) will sit close to cabin crew so they can be monitored. A parent traveling alone with an infant may also need extra help and may request a bassinet. Cabin crew will hand out infant seatbelts during boarding and continue to observe passengers in the cabin.
Nervous flyers also require help from the cabin crew and should never be afraid to tell the crew that they are anxious about flying. The cabin crew will reassure them, sometimes sit with them, or, at a minimum, maintain eye contact during takeoff, landing, and turbulence. If possible, they will explain different aircraft noises and what is happening at different times, and keep an eye on the passenger.
Suitable Clothing
It’s better to dress well
Cabin crew do notice how passengers dress, and many would say that passengers don’t even think about it, by wearing pajamas or gym attire or swimwear. Pajamas are never acceptable on an aircraft, let alone at an airport. Provocative clothing should not be worn, and cabin crew can ask a passenger to cover up or give them a blanket to cover themselves. Clothing that has curse words should not be worn, nor should anything that might be considered in bad taste or indicate a security risk.
Cabin crew will recommend that passengers dress practically for an evacuation, should one occur. Having completed their training, they also know that the slide can cause injury, so arms and legs should ideally be covered to avoid friction burns. Shorts and short skirts should be avoided. Polyester and nylon fabrics should be avoided as they are a fire risk, and natural fibers should be worn should there be fire. Sturdy shoes, not flip-flops, should be worn to evacuate swiftly and to avoid sharp or hot metal.
One thing is for sure: cabin crew can spot that baggage is too large for the overhead locker ten feet away, and then the bag has to be offloaded and placed in the hold. If a passenger cannot lift their own bag because it is too heavy, then they should not bring it onboard, and crew are not allowed to lift bags due to injury. If a passenger is dressed well, it can be an advantage because they can be listed as suitable for upgrade (SFU), and if an upgrade is available, SFUs are chosen first.
Help In An Emergency
Those who can help evacuate the aircraft
Crew members scan for physically fit individuals, such as off-duty pilots and crew, police officers, or firefighters who can help open emergency exits or restrain disruptive individuals during an emergency. These are called able-bodied passengers (ABP). In a planned emergency evacuation, for example, they may be asked to operate a door (should the cabin crew member be incapacitated) or guide people off the end of the slide and away from the aircraft.
Off-duty Pilots and cabin crew are also noted as ABPs as they are already trained to evacuate an aircraft and operate emergency exit doors. When traveling on duty or off duty for commuting or leisure purposes, they are often placed in over-wing exit rows or at bulkheads adjacent to exit rows to open doors in an emergency and help guide an evacuation.
Doctors are often listed on passenger information lists (PIL) so that, if a medical emergency occurs and the cabin crew needs additional assistance, they can call on them. In this case, an announcement would be made, and proof of their license would be needed. Most airlines now use a system called MedLink, where, in a medical emergency, specially trained doctors are put in immediate communication with the crew on the aircraft to helpassess the passenger and decide whether a diversion is needed.
Passenger Behavior
Unusual observations
During a flight, cabin crew stay alert for indicators of illegal smuggling, distress, or human trafficking, noting unusual dynamics between travelers. On certain known routes, there may be an increased risk of illegal smuggling, and cabin crew are trained to recognize signs. Smoking or vaping is illegal onboard but can sometimes occur, especially in the lavatories, so cabin crew have to be aware of the safety hazard and tell the passenger to stop.
In cases of human trafficking, there may be an unusual pairing of people that doesn’t look right. A young person may make unusual signals or show signs of distress. If any of these are suspected, they should be reported to the captain, who can call law enforcement to meet the aircraft on arrival. Although passengers are allowed to bring alcohol onboard, they are not allowed to drink alcohol in their possession. It is illegal to drink any alcohol onboard that is not served by the cabin crew, and any found will be confiscated.
Passengers who do not follow the crew’s instructions during safety checks or watch the safety demonstration are considered non-compliant. These passengers are less likely to be prepared for an evacuation and more likely to be a liability, potentially impeding an evacuation. They are also more likely to disobey crew commands during an evacuation by taking bags and ignoring instructions.
