Lovefly Ep. 265 - Sarah Fowler, Flight Service Manager Discussing Risk Management in her job
Jan 21, 2026
Sarah Fowler, a Virgin Atlantic flight service manager with 26 years in long-haul cabin crew, shares stories about managing everyday and unexpected risks. She explains pre-flight safety checks, assessing crew and passenger fitness, hidden in-flight routines, and recovering from a serious road accident. Short, revealing conversations about how aviation practices shape safety on and off the plane.
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Preflight Briefings Are Rigorous Safety Gates
- Pre-flight briefings are intensive safety checks not casual chats.
- Sarah tests each crew member on aircraft specifics and fitness to fly and will offload anyone who fails to maintain standards.
Passenger Checks Start At Check-In Not Just Onboard
- Passenger risk assessment begins long before boarding across check-in, security and gate staff.
- Crew at the door watch for intoxication, medical issues, excess baggage and unusual behaviours like 'nesting' to escalate concerns.
Do Perform Regular Cabin Safety Checks
- Keep routine safety checks during flight even while serving.
- Sarah checks toilets every 20 minutes, monitors rubbish and electronics, and watches alcohol consumption to mitigate cabin risks.