Flight attendant shares ‘disturbing’ reason for ‘sitting as close to the door as possible’

flight attendants are not only trained to serve food and drinks on board a flight. They must also be on hand to keep everyone safe in the event of an emergency and be informed about everything from minor accidents to life-threatening hazards.

A crew member posted on a Reddit forum devoted to “troubling secrets passengers should know,” urging passengers to carefully plan where to sit.

The anonymous flight attendant, posted under the name HausOfDarling, said: “I am a long-haul flight attendant, up to six years.

“I’ve worked short, long and now ultra-long flights.

“From economy to first class and everything in between.

Mandatory, my opinion is my own and not my employer’s and I can only speak for the airlines I have worked on.

“To me, a lot of it is general common knowledge.”

While not all airlines allow passengers to choose their seat for free, it may be worth it if you can afford to spend a little extra, or have the option to check in online.

READ MORE: Ingenious flight attendant hotel room trick to make blackout blinds

The flight attendant explained: “Take off and landing is the most dangerous time of the flight.

“Try to sit as close to the door as possible.

“It’s pretty obvious, but they’ve done studies where your chance of survival decreases dramatically with every row you’re away from the door.”

However, if you find yourself in a queue at an emergency exit, it comes with some important responsibilities.

According to British Airways: “The exit row seats are next to or directly behind the emergency exit door, so in the unlikely event of an evacuation you will be expected to assist in opening the emergency exit door.

“Once you arrive at the airport, we will verify that you meet the CAA security requirements that you agreed to when reserving your seat at the exit.

“If you don’t, we’ll make the decision to reassign you and you won’t get a refund.

“If your circumstances change and you no longer meet the CAA requirements, you must notify us at least 48 hours prior to your flight departure to claim a refund.”