There are plenty of flight attendant myths and facts circulating online, often creating confusion. You may wonder if flight attendants can sedate passengers, accept gifts from travellers, or even wear acrylic nails. Below, we clear up these myths using specific airline policies, offering straightforward answers about what cabin crew are allowed—and not allowed—to do.
TL;DR:
- Flight attendants can’t sedate passengers or hand out prescription meds—only basic first aid.
- Seat upgrades aren’t up to crew—those decisions come from the ground team or loyalty programs.
- Small gifts like chocolate are usually fine, but cash or expensive presents are a no-go.
- Grooming rules depend on the airline—some allow acrylic nails, bangs, or subtle piercings, others don’t.
- Crew can restrain passengers if things escalate, but it’s a last resort with full reporting.
Can Flight Attendants Accept Gifts from Passengers?
It depends heavily on airline policy. Emirates clearly states no cash tips or expensive gifts can be accepted to avoid conflicts of interest. Small gestures like thank-you notes, chocolates, or candies usually pass as acceptable on airlines like British Airways or Virgin Atlantic. But crew members are explicitly told never to request gifts or tips from passengers.
Can Flight Attendants Sedate Passengers?
Absolutely not. Cabin crew have zero medical authorisation to give sedation or prescription medication, even in emergencies. Airlines like Lufthansa or Delta train their crew extensively in basic medical first aid, but sedatives aren’t allowed on board. If someone’s severely disruptive, airlines divert the plane or arrange immediate landing rather than risk legal or safety issues.
Can Flight Attendants Have Acrylic Nails?
This is airline-specific. EasyJet and Ryanair typically allow short, neatly maintained acrylic nails in neutral colours, as long as hygiene standards are met. But major carriers like Singapore Airlines or Emirates have stricter grooming policies, explicitly forbidding bright, flashy, or long acrylic nails for cabin crew.
Can Flight Attendants Upgrade Passengers?
Flight attendants don’t control seat upgrades. Airlines like American Airlines or Qantas clearly prohibit cabin crew from independently moving passengers into business or first class. Upgrades are always managed by ground staff, loyalty programs, or senior management—not because you asked nicely or seemed friendly.
Can Flight Attendants Take Phones Away from Passengers?
No. But crew members can instruct you to turn phones off or stow them during critical flight phases. United Airlines explicitly outlines in training materials that crew can’t confiscate phones unless it directly threatens passenger safety, such as interference with emergency equipment or aircraft systems.
Can Flight Attendants Restrain Passengers?
Yes, but only as a last resort. Airlines including British Airways and Southwest provide crew members with specialised restraint kits and clear training guidelines. But any incident requiring restraints is reported immediately after landing, and authorities meet the flight upon arrival.
Can Flight Attendants Have Coloured Hair?
It varies. Low-cost carriers like JetBlue allow subtle colour highlights or natural-looking shades. However, traditional airlines such as Cathay Pacific or Qatar Airways generally restrict crew to natural hair colours to maintain a standardised professional image.
Can Flight Attendants Have Bangs?
Typically yes, as long as they’re neat and professional-looking. Airlines such as Air France and ANA clearly state that hairstyles—including bangs—must not obstruct vision or appear messy. Short, tidy bangs are widely accepted.
Can Flight Attendants Wear a Hijab?
Yes, increasingly common. Airlines including Emirates, Etihad, and British Airways now provide standardised uniform hijabs for crew requesting them. Inclusivity policies are actively expanding, especially among Middle Eastern and European airlines.
Can Flight Attendants Have Piercings?
Usually limited to earrings. Airlines such as Lufthansa explicitly restrict visible facial piercings, while some low-cost airlines (like easyJet) have begun allowing very small, discreet nose studs. But lip, eyebrow, or extensive piercings remain prohibited across most airlines.
Can Flight Attendants Wear Their Hair Down?
Usually no. Safety and hygiene regulations from airlines like Singapore Airlines or Delta require long hair to be styled up or neatly tied back during service. Short hairstyles not covering the face are typically fine, but loose hair rarely meets airline grooming standards.
Can Flight Attendants Bring Family on Board?
Never without booked tickets. Airlines like Southwest or Emirates provide crew and their immediate families discounted staff travel, but this must always be pre-booked and cannot be spontaneously arranged by the crew onboard.
Can Flight Attendants Work While Pregnant?
Yes, with limits. Airlines including United and KLM allow cabin crew to fly during early pregnancy if medically cleared. Later in pregnancy, crew transition to ground-based roles for health and safety reasons, clearly outlined in airline pregnancy policies.
Can Flight Attendants Work Part-Time?
Sometimes. Regional and low-cost airlines like easyJet or Jetstar offer part-time or flexible contracts. Major carriers often prefer full-time crew, but occasionally offer job-sharing or reduced hours based on staffing demands.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can flight attendants sedate passengers?
No, flight attendants can’t sedate passengers because they lack medical authority and training.
Are flight attendants allowed to accept gifts?
Flight attendants can typically accept small gifts, like chocolates or cards, but airlines forbid cash tips or costly items.
Can flight attendants upgrade passengers?
No, flight attendants can’t independently upgrade passengers; seat upgrades follow strict airline policies handled by ground staff.
Are acrylic nails allowed for flight attendants?
Short, modest acrylic nails are permitted by some airlines, but others enforce stricter grooming rules prohibiting them.
Can flight attendants restrain unruly passengers?
Yes, flight attendants can restrain passengers in severe situations, following specific airline training and procedures.