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.
Yes indeed! You will get a flat rate (I received 4.5 hours pay for each day of training even though the classes were more like 8 hours a day) because a flight attendant's salary is based on working 80hrs/month and it would be too costly for the airline to pay it's new hires the hourly wage for the duration of training, which could add up to 160hrs/month.
You may have some up front expenses like paying for your uniform (some airlines charge the employee, others don't), or paying for a hotel if you do not live in the city where the training takes place (this is not covered by the airline). I just read about an airline that made its employees pay for a portion of the training that was taught by Disney, which is atypical and kind of bizarre.
You won't receive per diems during your training as that's something you only accrue while away from base (ie: on a pairing). I hope that answers your question!
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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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Well, where would you like to go? It's hard to predict which language an airline will be looking for at any given time, but you can be sure that once you get hired for a second language, you will be scheduled on those routes. It won't do you any good to study French and then realize you hate spending your layovers in France!
If you have your heart set on a particular airline, look at their destinations and perhaps that will influence your choice of language to study. Some airlines will specifically list which languages they are looking for on their careers page of their website, but those positions might fill up before you have a chance to get proficient. There's no right answer for choosing a language (well, maybe there are some wrong answers... Latin won't get you anywhere) so instead pick one that feels manageable, and whose culture interests you, and go from there!
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Of course! Hey, if God put it there, who is an employer to complain? Now if you had a bunch of facial tattoos, that would be another story...
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Stand-Up Comedian
How do you fend off hecklers?
Navy Officer (Former)
Just how educated is the typical US military serviceman?
Fashion Model
Do you feel objectified when you're standing around in skimpy outfits?
Try www.crewgear.com or www.ebags.com. At work we use Travelpro and Samsonite, but there are so many other brands out there to choose from!
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Hmm... it could depend on the airline, but in my experience health benefits don't come into effect until one has been an employee for 3 months and passed a 'probationary' period. For me, that was all it took for me to be considered a full time employee, even though I still have to hold reserve on occasion. Other airlines only hire flight attendants seasonally and require them to hold reserve exclusively for the duration of their employment before being laid-off at the end of the season. As far as I know from speaking to former FAs of those airlines, they don't receive either flight or medical benefits, unfortunately. It ultimately doesn't matter so much about whether or not you're assigned reserve vs. scheduled pairings, but how long the company has hired you for. I would recommend inquiring at the particular airline you're interested in!
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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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