Friendly cabin crew are sizing you up

There's a lot more behind that welcome greeting by cabin crew to passengers as they board a flight.

Creating the impression they are "warm, approachable and competent" is only one element of the greeting, according to Gaea Peregrinor, an American who has been an air hostess for 25 years.

"I'm evaluating you very closely," Peregrinor revealed on Quora, an online Q&A forum. She said she memorises the faces of any passengers who seem strong and could be of help in the event of an attack on board.

"If a situation looks like it could develop, I'll discreetly ask one of these people if they would be willing to help us if necessary. Help might involve subduing or restraining an unruly passenger," she said.

Equally, cabin crew also make note of any passengers with injuries or disabilities that would disqualify them from sitting in an exit row.

Flyers who look intoxicated are not welcome as the "potential for future problems is too great", she added.

"I've had passengers board who look pasty and pale, deathly ill. We removed them; nobody wants their flu germs!

"Air travel is fraught with inherent danger, made more so by the political and religious climate of the world today, one must be constantly alert.

"So when I greet people, you better believe that I'm always very aware of each passenger who steps through the door of the aircraft."