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.
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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Jumping Jehosephat, you've already graduated at 15?? Well, if you're sure you're not destined to become a medical prodigy or some kind of physics genius then yeah, why not become a flight attendant?
The schedule is the trickiest and best thing about the job. It can be nerve-wracking, like on Reserve which is essentially a drawn out period of perpetual suspense not knowing if or when you'll get called to work a flight, and the schedule can also be frustrating - oh it's the long weekend and you want to party? Too bad, you're working 5 flights between Toronto and New York instead.
But it can also be Tony the Tiger Grrrreat! For example, I have a whole week off just because. And that comes in handy since I have really cheap flight benefits that give me no excuse but to take a trip as often as I can afford it. Or I can stay local and catch up with friends and family, and go to the mall on a Wednesday morning when there are no line-ups for the change room!
I suppose I do live out of a suitcase, but it's not as bad as you think. The worst part of that sentiment to me is the idea of constantly packing and unpacking. But if you buy two of each toiletry you need, and pick an outfit you like but won't miss too much when you're at home, you just keep it in the suitcase and it takes all the thought out of it. Don't worry, you get enough days off to spend at home to make up for life on the road. :)
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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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Personally, I say NO. Of all the people I've flown with over the years, I can count the number who studied travel and tourism or went to FA school on one hand - and one of them had to wait years after her graduation before actually getting a job, so there are no guarantees!
If you have work experience that demonstrates your customer service skills that will get you a lot farther than a certificate from any school. Of course post-secondary education is an asset, but don't devote too much money or time on just studying how to be an FA.
All airlines will train you to be the Flight Attendant that they want you to be. Sometimes people tranferring from other airlines have it worse than those of us with no prior experience because they have to "unlearn what they have learned". Announcements and procedures that have been committed to memory suddenly have to be tweaked and adjusted for new verbage or standards. I can see the same thing happening with folks who have studied at a school.
In conclusion, I would say do yourself a favour and just get a job waiting tables - I work with countless servers, I was one myself, and when it comes down to it being a great flight attendant means having good people skills and knowing how to solve customer service issues on the spot. Don't worry about all the safety training because the airline that hires you will tell you all you need to know.
I hope that helps!
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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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If you are the type of person that enjoys routine and structure, becoming a flight attendant will be extremely challenging. There are no guarantees when it comes to an FA's schedule, and while it affords a lot of flexibility, it can also drive people crazy. You will get more time off than at an office job, but you will work some weekends and holidays. There is a lot of unpredictability - you may be scheduled a 24 hour layover in NYC and buy tickets to a show, only to have bad weather cancel your flight and leave you stranded in Toronto. It's beneficial to have a laid-back attitude towards your schedule, and to realize that sometimes it will work with you, and other times against you.
Flying a lot has also made me really identify with the phrase, "there's no place like home!" Being on the road can get tiresome, and when I do finish work and get back to my apartment, I'm usually physically and emotionally pooped (being around people all day can really suck the energy out of me!) Not every FA feels that way of course, but I have noticed an increase in my desire to just stay in on my night's off. Boring I know. I do aim to go on a little trip each month though, even just to visit familiy and friends, so that I take advantage of the flight benefits that had me interested in the job in the first place. Getting on a plane on my day off can be the last thing in the world I feel like doing, but it's always worth it!
I feel really lucky to have the job that I do, I have so much more free time as a result, and I have no problem working an early morning one day and an evening flight the next. A LOT of FAs have other jobs on the side, or go to school, or volunteer. Many raise kids, care for their parents, and have pets. Becoming a flight attendant doesn't mean you can't make outside commitments, you just have to be flexible and embrace the irregularity of the work schedule!
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Sure I have! It can be a bit unnerving, depending on what the situation is, but having good communication between the pilots and the cabin crew can really put you, and the guests, at ease.
A couple years ago I had a flight where a "mechanical difficulty" happened in the flight deck. Forgive my lack of technical knowledge, but basically it was a heater that kept the front window a specific temperature so that it didn't fog, and also gives it a malleable consistency so it doesn't crack during a birdstrike. We were en route from Montego Bay to Toronto and ended up diverting to Florida to get the piece replaced.
I was pretty tense when the Captain first notified us of the problem since we FA's weren't sure how serious it was, but I've worked with a lot of great pilots who explain situations clearly and without panicking passengers. We secured the cabin for arrival and prepared for a normal landing but with heightened awareness - the plane was heavy with extra fuel to get us to our final destination. Once we landed it was just a matter of keeping the guests happy until we could take off once more and continue the flight.
In a more severe situation, when the plane has to prepare for an emergency landing, FAs use an Emergency Landing Checklist that helps us to prepare the cabin for a hard landing, either on land or water, and possibly evacuate afterward. Thankfully I have never had to resort to that during any of my flights, and although I know crew who have had an engine failure during the flight or landing gear that didn't retract, they too just prepared for a "non-normal landing" rather than an emergency. (those flights landed safely without incident)
I will add that when there have been unusual situations that arise from mechanical difficulties mid-flight, I have been really impressed with the passengers and how calm and patient they were. It makes a big difference to your crew!
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