Bet he wishes he hadn't spoken to me!

[Alpha Strike]

Now see, I might've asked what else a flight attendant does, but not in a you-don't-do-anything sort of way. I'd be asking because I was honestly curious how you'd respond and I'd find your information about training enlightening. But hey, I usually don't assume I know how to do a job I've never done before. Just sayin'

I don't believe that I was asking in that way but if I did, my apologies to the OP.

I was just quite curious about what the OP's training entailed that gave them a leg up on the average, untrained passenger.

[Evil Queen]

Katie, I still wish I had your job. I want to travel more!

[AirHostess]

I don't believe that I was asking in that way but if I did, my apologies to the OP.

I was just quite curious about what the OP's training entailed that gave them a leg up on the average, untrained passenger.

Don't worry, I can see why many people don't know what training entails as it's not widely known

[bainsidhe]

No worries Alpha. I wasn't referring to you, but rather to the SCs who assume flight attendants don't do anything. The OP mentioned the guy who thought flight attendants only served meals and drinks. Besides, I doubt any of those SCs would be surfing this website.

[Chromatix]

I wonder, does the training include the absolute basics of how to fly the plane and obtain assistance for landing it? There have been (very rare) instances when the cockpit crew were incapacitated but a flight attendant was still available to potentially take over.

One example was the Helios disaster, where a flight attendant and a passenger attempted to regain control of the aircraft, but ran out of fuel before they succeeded.

I would know enough to do this, but I'm not your average passenger.

[Ironclad Alibi]

... but what can you do that someone else can't?

It's not so much what she can do that someone else can't, it's that she has the authority and responsibility to do it.

[cinema guy]

At the cinema we are trained what to do in the event of a fire, which is to point to the fire exits and say loudly, "This way out."

It is less about the knowledge and training, more about someone with a little bit of authority being able to tell panicking people what to do. I imagine Princess Katies' roll is similar, although more complex.

[Kirkygirl]

I almost slapped him when he said "well no offence but most of your job is just serving meals and drinks isn't it?"

No, it's putting up with your BULLSHIT, siirrr.

Oh My. That opened up the floodgates as I went off on a polite rant about how I had 6 weeks safety and security training, how CAA dictates one flight attendant per 50 seats, how we are onboard primarily for safety and security, how I know all about: advanced first aid, fire fighting, emergency drills, ditchings, decompressions, hijackings, bomb threats etc

His face was a picture and he didn't talk to me after that!

Begin rant:
I know that many people think that there are too many employees of BC (Beastly) Ferries, particularily on the ferries themselves. No no no. There are so many frikken many people sailing that they HAVE to have staff to take care of all of the passengers. Transport Canada makes the rules, NOT the ferries, and NOT the airlines! Every single crew member has to have some lifeboat operations training, firefighting skills, I would imagine some occupational first aid, highjacking threats as well as ass-kissing (commonly known as customer service). Oh and you just thought that they were there to wipe your ass and clean up your mess.
/rant

Sorry my dad used to be an engineer on the ferries and I can't stand it when people bitch out the poor cashiers/cleaning staff, esp. when they have nothing to do with stuff that breaks down in the middle of a crossing.

Don't worry, I can see why many people don't know what training entails as it's not widely known

Because they have never had to have gone through the same crap and paranoia inducing training that you have. Or see the list of courses above.

Needless to say, I sympathise and I feel your pain.