Jordan
Toronto, ON
Female, 28
Space Waitress, Trolley Dolly, Stewardess...everyone has their own term for us. We are the baby-sitters, life-savers, servers, cleaners and all-around problem solvers for any and every in-flight issue. Sometimes we get a bad rep for being apathetic and miserable despite having what looks like a glamorous job, so here's a peek into the gritty details beneath the shiny surface to explain why the job - though incredible in lots of ways - is more than just snappy uniforms and matching luggage.
I was working as a waitress in a cocktail bar, that much is true...
I really was. The money as a server was decent but my wagers became way more stable once I got hired as a flight attendant, and instead of handfuls of tips I was getting ~$750 paycheques every two weeks (it's not huge, but I'm a girl of simple tastes), plus flight and health benefits.
My training lasted a month and when the time came for my first pairing I was a nervous wreck. I had to commute in for work on a flight the night before and I felt totally overwhelmed trying to remember everything to pack. Thankfully I ended up having a fantastic crew - who pranked me endlessly by hiding in the overhead bins to scare me and stuffing random things into my luggage, but also surprised me with champagne and cake - and the senior flight attendant who was supervising me was approachable and helfpul, and also knocked a couple bad work habits out of me before they had time to even form.
I confess when she took me upstairs after our last flight to officially check me off and seal my fate as an FA I started crying! All the stress of the previous month - a gruelling amount of training, endless exams, meeting so many new people - just burst out of me in a wave of relief. I'm not sure which of us was more shocked! Immediatey after being officially signed off I hopped on a plane to LA to reward myself and celebrate my birthday which was two days away.
The following months were filled with all the excitement and uncertainty of a new job. I got lost in a couple airports trying to find the crew bypass entrances, I found it really hard to keep up the pace on short flights, I met new people every time I showed up at the gate for work... it was exhausting - and so much fun! It was almost a year before I snagged my first international layover (St. Lucia!) but in the meantime I got to know my own country so much better.
I still get excited about my job four years later; you never know who'll you'll meet or where you'll end up. I have a lot more confidence in my job now, and sure sometimes I roll my eyes at my schedule when I get another layover in the same old place, but I still get a thrill when I steal a moment by the window and watch the world go by!
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Actually there's quite a variety! I wish they were all 5 stars, but more often they're not that fancy, more of 3-4 star range (Holiday Inn, Radisson, etc). There's a team from the airline who visit the interested hotels in each city to verify that the establishment is up to company standards, and elected representatives from the pilot and flight attendant departments go along to give their two cents as well. The cleanliness and safety of the property is more important than the star rating, but I will say that the majority of hotels that crews stay in are nicer than what I pay for when I go on vacation!
Layovers at my airline are anywhere from 10 to 48 hours, so definitely there are days when there's time to hit the gym and a lot of crew members are itching to do just that! You can end up eating and sleeping so irregularly on the road that working out is one of those things that crew members feel in control of, and can make them feel better about the sometimes less than healthy environment we work in.
On occasion I'll pack some gym clothes but I would way prefer to explore the city! That's one of the greatest assets of the job, so when I work with flight attendants who just want to kick back in their hotel room and watch tv I can't really relate. Because of this job I've had opportunities to see parts of Canada I never visited before, not to mention all the other countries I've seen. I've visited museums, explored shopping districts, gone to festivals, and enjoyed food at countless restaurants... it sure beats the pay-per-view in the hotel room!
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I confess I did a double take when I first read this question, I thought it was sarcasm at first but then it really gave me some food for thought!
The quick answer is yes, that is, sight and hearing are very important to the job and will be tested before you can proceed with training. Every FA must undergo medical screening, and though the methods vary from doctor to doctor, an eye exam and hearing test will be included. My own screening wasn't very stressful - the hearing test consisted of the doctor moving from one corner of the room to another, whispering the names of different cities in our flight network, and I had to repeat them back to her. It felt kinda silly.
The ironic thing is that FAs who have been flying a long time, especially on turbo-prop planes that are extremely loud, have terrible hearing from all the ambient noise bombarding their ears day in and day out. Just sayin'.
I've never worked with someone sporting hearing aids, but I did just work with a flight attendant who was born blind in one eye yet still had the doctor's approval to fly. The standards are definitely not as strict as they are for pilots (for example, you can be colour blind and still be an FA) but you do need to pass basic tests for sight and hearing.
Smell is important too, in fact last week a flight I was on had to turn around and head back to the departure city because of an acrid burnt-plastic smell that manifested in the cabin. We use our senses all the time to alert us to a potential emergency situation. Happily, we landed and all got home safely!
I hope this answered your question!
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Hi there!
Actually there is no weight restriction at most, if any, North American airlines - I don't think they can legally prevent someone from getting hired for that reason. However, FAs do need to pass a medical exam before they can begin training, and that covers hearing, vision, as well as basic fitness and mobility - lifting the weight of the average suitcase for example (40-50lbs).
Our Boeing aircraft that we fly at my airline require us to bend over to arm our doors which is something that can be difficult if a flight attendant is extremely heavy. I work with people who are all shapes and sizes though, and at the end of the day an airline is looking for people who have great customer service skills, and who take safety seriously. If you look cute too, well, that's just a bonus :)
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Yes, we are given basic first aid training and prepped on how to handle an emergency, but most often our role is to ensure the sick passenger is comfortable and, if possible, has some privacy, and then get them into the hands of a medical professional. That can mean paging for medical assistance, relaying information to the doctors we have available via satellite phone, or communicating to the Captain the status of the ill passenger, and ensuring EMS (paramedics) meet the aircraft - typically we'll do all three.
It's not very often that we get down and dirty ourselves and have to rely on our own limited training to help a sick person. More likely an FA will assist any volunteer medical professionals on board (I've never paged for help and NOT had either a doctor, nurse, paramedic or firefighter on board who leapt up to save the day) by bringing medicine, blankets, water, etc to the scene and writing down vital information, and the other FAs will work to keep the pilots informed and the rest of the cabin in order. We owe SO much to the medical professionals who come to the rescue when we call on them, and we do our best to get their information after the emergency has passed so that they can get a thank-you travel credit for their assistance.
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Oh gosh... I'm really not sure! If it were me, I wouldn't mention it unless the application form specifically asked. I was laid off from a previous job and don't remember mentioning it on my application or during my interview. Just be prepared to explain why you were fired in case you do get asked during an interview, because honesty is the best policy. If you were at fault then be ready to explain how you learned from the experience, and if you were wrongfully fired than don't dwell on being the victim. Disclosing that you were fired won't do you any favours on paper, but in person you can put a positive spin on anything, and being open about previous mistakes can demonstrate a lot of maturity and openness to feedback that a potential employer may like.
I'm no recruiter so I'm sorry I don't have a black or white answer for you - my guess is that it will depend on each airline's company policy - but in my opinion that is information that only needs to be given if requested.
Good luck!
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Hey George,
I've flown with hundreds of pilots and can only recall two who also previously worked as flight attendants, however they both already had their pilot's license before they chose to become cabin crew. In other words, they met all the qualifications to become a commercial pilot (certified and flown a minimum amount of hours) but they were having a hard time getting a job at the airline they were interested in. They each seperately opted to become FAs at the airline just to get their foot in the door in order to network with the intent of eventually getting hired as a pilot internally. One of them also worked as a fueller for the same reason but hated it so much he transferred to the inflight department after a week!
So my bad news to you is that one way or another you'll have to pay for flying lessons and build up your hours, because those qualifications are pre-requisites to becoming a pilot and no amount of networking can get you past that. That said, I work with a handful of flight attendants who take flying lessons, and are slowly working up to their full pilot's license by paying for it over several years. If you have an interest in becoming a Flight Attendant anyway, it's not a bad way to pass the time while you save up for flying lessons. Be warned though, they are two vastly different jobs, and if you don't enjoy customer service you'd be better off getting a job as a ground handler or aircraft caterer if you are determined to get hired in the industry while you work up to becoming a pilot!
As for the stereotypes about male flight attendants, if you plan to work in the commerical airline industry - as a pilot OR an FA - I'd recommend you keep an open mind since people from all walks of life choose to work for airlines and you will be working alongside them. Let go of the stereotypes, don't assume anything about your co-workers, and don't worry about what people might think of you! Don't let other people's uninformed opinions stand in the way of something you want to achieve, or you won't get anywhere!
oh - and I've only ever heard English used on the aircraft radios, regardless of the country we're flying into, so stick with that!
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