Cross check: how Cathay Pacific cabin crew prepare for take-off

Safety, security, service – in that order. With roughly an hour to go before departure, Cathay Pacific cabin crew have a formidable list of tasks to complete before passengers step on board. Much of the groundwork is laid in advance through crew communications and a briefing before the bus ride to the aircraft. But it’s in this final hour that planning meets reality, says Inflight Service Manager (ISM) Arpha Mak.

“After boarding, we put our bags away and hang up our jackets,” Mak says. From there, there’s a checklist of checklists.

Crew members have already been assigned their “door” – their position for take-off and landing – and now carry out safety equipment checks in their designated zones. “This includes fire extinguishers, oxygen masks, medical kits and equipment,” says Mak. They also cross-check with the opposite door on the status of the emergency oxygen bottles. “They’re sealed, so we make sure they haven't been tampered with and are in good condition.”

Once these checks are complete, Mak calls every extension on the interphone from his forward office, ensuring he can reach all parts of the aircraft. His next priority is joining the boarding gate lead and the turnaround coordinator (TCO) in the “triangle handshake”: a crucial face-to-face interaction between crew, airport team and the TCO, who coordinates the engineering, catering, cleaning and baggage loading teams. “We agree on a boarding time, usually 35 to 40 minutes before departure,” he says. This short meeting also enables the airport team to brief the ISM on any passengers with specific needs or medical considerations, ensuring a seamless transition from the ground to in flight.

While these actions are under way, galley crew spend 10 to 15 minutes checking meals, carts and ovens, and preparing welcome drinks. Other crew members ensure amenities – blankets, pillows, magazines, menus and water bottles – are in place and that bathrooms are spotless.

Mak then plays the safety video, which is also a practical way to confirm that all seatback screens are functioning, with any issues flagged to engineering. Then, a seven-minute security sweep of the cabin and overhead bins, and a final check of lifejacket seals.

Only then does service come to the fore. “I’ll tell my crew to sip some water,” Mak says. “Greeting and settling our passengers is one of the most focused phases of the flight.”

With safety and security now assured, it’s also the moment that sets the tone for the inflight experience that follows.