Flight Attendant Friday: How Do Flight Attendants Go Through Security

I was sitting at the airport earlier this week, and a very nice gentleman seated next to me asked this question:

Q.  Do Flight Attendants have to go through this whole security rigmarole than I just did?

A.  It depends. 

When we are on duty and in uniform, we are not subject to the restriction about liquids.  (No don’t ask me to carry anything onboard for you!)  That’s why you may see Flight Attendants carrying through a cup of coffee or a bottle of water.  When we are on duty, we also can cut to the head of the security line to go through ahead of others waiting in line.  Other than these adjustments, we still go through everything else that you do — removing jackets, sweaters and shoes, removing our laptop from our bags, removing anything that is going to set off the security alarm, etc. 

When we are on duty, but not in uniform (which could occur when we are positioning for a flight), we can still head to the front of the line, but must comply with the liquids restriction.

When we are not on duty, and are traveling for pleasure, we’re just like you.  We stand in line and wait.

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