I have seen this before – but less since 9/11.
I have even been that person – once on airline I didn’t even work for – I had just done one of my first owners inspections and something had come up I couldn’t fully explain, knowing I had to mention it in my report but also knowing that my knowledge wasn’t sufficient on entry to my flight home I gave the stewardess my card and asked if she would see if the pilot would let me ask a question – he agreed and I went the flight deck we discussed for a while and then suggested I stayed during TO and watched – after TO I went back eat my meal etc and then returned to the front for descent and landing so I could see the operation during the various phase of flight.
Sorry – I really can’t remember what is was except it was the operation of a flight instrument and as I was ex SMW I was “rusty” on how those worked.
(actually I’m also ex line etc – but it’s amazing how quickly you forget things your not involved with every day)