From “My Third Wife” to “Prime Beef”: Flight Attendants Reveal Pickup Lines Passengers Actually Use — Some Even Worked

Several flight attendants are sharing the best and worst pickup lines that passengers have used on them. Some of them are actually witty or at least produce a good story. And some of them worked.

But many of them are just cringeworthy.

• A passenger grabbed the flight attendant’s crotch. He responded, “Sorry, sir, that’s not part of the entrée selection. We’re only offering chicken or fish, not prime beef!!”

• One passenger suggested, “I work for Marriott. Do you want to marry me and merge the benefits?” He actually tried that line on the same flight attendant on two different flights, without realizing he’d seen her before.

• “You remind me of my third wife!” followed by “I haven’t met her yet!” (The flight attendant adds, “I almost married him there!”

• After a flight attendant was thrown into a passenger during turbulence and his head ended up in her chest, “I think we should probably get married now.”

• Flight attendant: “Watch that tea sir, it’s very hot.” Passenger: “Well that makes both of you…”

• A passenger faked not having proper entry permission into the United States, getting a flight attendant to go talk to the captain, and later admitted “It was just an excuse to talk to you… you’re really handsome. Wanna grab a drink on your layover?”

• Flight attendant: “There’s now free texting for points members.” Passenger: “Can I text you?”

• Passenger asked for help, “I can’t figure out how to put my phone in airplane mode,” and hands it over with the “add contact” screen open.

• “Thank you for this meal — what about dinner next time?”

An FAA inspector passed a note to a flight attendant, “You’re like the morning sun that rises after a hard rain.” He handed it to her with his phone number after sitting in front of her jumpseat making notes (she thought he was writing up violations). She thought it was sweet. I find it highly inappropriate. He’s working in a safety role, acting under the color of authority.

There are a lot of other inappriate ones like “Would you like a snack, sir?” “Are you on the menu?” “What would you like for lunch?” “You?” “Are you married?” “Yes.” “Any children?” “No.” Presses himself against her back at the door: “Need any help with that?”

And then there was this classic, as a flight attendant opens the lavatory door for a passenger, “I wouldn’t mind if you opened it while I’m still in it.”

Many flight attendants do get hit on regularly although some say they haven’t ever had it happen. Most pickup lines are seen as cringe or annoying, not flattering. And a lot of the “classic” lines (“Are you on the menu?”) are treated as tired, gross, or eye-roll old.

Some stuff is genuinely offensive or crosses into harassment. Physical contact is completely over the line. Sexual comments tied to the lav are disgusting, not flirty.

Still, some flight attendants admit encounters with passengers – just not as a result of some crude one-liner.

• Acceptable-ish: Light, non-explicit flirtation; a compliment that’s not graphic
  
• Offensive: Anything graphic, sexual, suggestive in a professional context, demeaning about their job or body.

Saying something once, with a smile, when they have a moment might be fine when treating the flight attendant as a person, reading the room and respecting the fact that they are working. Saying it while they’re busy, trapped in the aisle, or during safety tasks is not appropriate. Saying it after the flight, at the gate, or via a note can be received better if it’s not explicit. Touching without consent can land you in jail.

One Delta flight attendant actually offers tips on how ot ask out a member of the cabin crew: do it discretely and at the end of a flight, and hopefully after you’ve made a connection of some kind over drink service, trash pickup or in the galley.

Dating a flight attendant is really hard, and that’s once you’ve managed to create a connection.

• Schedules are constantly changing, which means making plans is difficult.
  
• Flight attendants most likely to be dating are junior enough never to get holidays off.
  
• They’re away from home regularly, with colleagues, and this can promote jealousy in relationships.
  
• Flight attendants also have among the highest divorce rates.

Ultimately flight attendants are just like anyone else. They may be looking for love, or love might strike when they’re least looking. They are also… at work. And asking out a flight attendant in front of 180 other passengers as well as their colleagues is awkward. Plus, there’s very little that’s sexy about most flights. Better if you happen to bump into them off-duty at the hotel bar!

You’re trying to create connection out of thin air, it’s almost like in-person online dating where the first rule is be attractive and the second rule is don’t be unattractive. Still, you might hit it off in conversation that goes on for awhile in the galley.

If you’ve made a connection – maybe you’re dressed just right, stood out by helping another passenger or offering food or layover advice – try to wait for the end of the flight and hand over a card with a short note and your number. Don’t do it midflight because that just makes everything awkward until you deplane. If it’s meant to be, hopefully they’ll send you a ‘nice to meet you’ text.