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.
The flight attendant schedule works out to be about half the month off. In Canada it's a requirement to be scheduled at least 13 days off a month, but usually I'll get a few more than that. So really, we're home more often than not, and we get more days off than the average 9 to 5-er, but we may end up working all weekends one month which makes it feel like we don't see friends as often. Most FAs I work with who are parents agree that they spend more time with their kids now than they did at their previous job, whether it was an office job or other shift work. You just have to be prepared to have your days off in chunks, so you may not see your spouse or kids for a week, but then you could have 9 days off in a row! It's unpredictable, but I still prefer it to the alternative!
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From what I can tell, flight benefits vary from airline to airline, and it's at the company's descretion to decide what to offer. While it doesn't seem to matter if the airline flies domestically or internationally, whether or not the airline is a charter or not will. Charter airlines, those that sell their seats through a vacation packager or travel agency, typically cannot offer standby travel to their employees because their seats have already been purchased by that third party.
My suggestion is to research each airline in which you have an interest, and go from there! Some will definitely offer extremely discounted/free flights for you, your spouse, children under a certain age (~21), and even your parents. Others may instead give you a specific number of passes per year to give to whoever you like, or a travel companion whom you can re-designate a few times per year. There are a lot of options - the airline I work for conducted a poll to see how the employees were using the flight benefits and subsequently adjusted them to be even better last year - and it's definitely something worth exploring before pursuing a job.
Also keep in mind that most airlines that offer travel benefits will do so for all full-time employees, not just crews, so don't feel restricted to join the inflight department if you could be a great fit in the airports or offices!
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Well, if there was a rule that we all had to have a perfect track record before applying there would certainly be a shortage of flight attendants out there! You will need to submit to a medical before you can proceed to training, at which time you may need to disclose any medication you're taking. As long as you are diligent in taking that medication at the right times and in the right amounts, I don't see why that would prevent you from getting a job as a flight attendant, provided you have the skills they're looking for, like an empathetic demeanour, a flexible outlook, and a good work ethic to name a few.
I work with a number of people who have had to get help for various emotional or mental illnesses, so it's not unheard of. In fact, sometimes companies can be surprisingly accommodating and offer avenues for assistance, whether it means putting employees on modified duties until they feel recovered enough to return to their original work, providing insurance to cover prescriptions, or offering confidential counselling.
I can't give you any guarantees, but if you don't give it a shot you'll never know, right? There are claustrophobic FAs, bi-polar FAs, and those of us (like me) that are petrified of heights, but we find a way to work despite those things. So if it's something you really want to try you just have to go for it!
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Hotel reservations for crew are under the airline's name, and organized by flight number. Once we check in, we can leave our name at the front desk, just in case someone needs to get a hold of us. Because there is no exchange of payment between the crew member and the hotel, you can't go charging things like extravagant meals and Dom Perignon to your room. Too bad!
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CrossFit Coach
Why is Crossfit so popular with women?
Hotel Front Desk Agent
Have you ever had a suicide occur in one of your rooms?
Emergency Room Manager
What is the most bizarre thing you've seen in your ER?
Variety is the spice of life, and I love that each day I go to work is different from the last. Never the same passengers, on the same plane, with the same crew, going to the same place. I'm not big on routine, so for me, having a few early mornings here and there, with the occasional red-eye flight is no big deal. Some days are 14 hours long, some are only 3. It keeps me on my toes!
The travel is the big draw for me though. I might be just as happy on a train or boat, but planes are fast and fun! I thrive on seeing new places, it just makes me so happy, and while I do miss my bed and love coming home, I also enjoy exploring foreign cities and turning the unknown into the known.
In terms of a career, I'll be honest, there isn't a lot of opportunities or even much ambition involved. If I wanted to move into an airline office position there could be some options for me, but I'm happy on the plane and that's probably where I'll stay until I leave the industry. I've never had much of a career plan, and I didn't grow up dreaming of this job, but for now it keeps me interested and I can feel good about helping people get from point A to point B and hopefully they'll even enjoy it a little!
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Apart from the wonderful benefits of bypassing security line-ups at the airport and bossing around businesmen to turn off their phone and buckle up their seat belts, FAs at my airline also get limitless cheap standby tickets for themselves and their "plus one". The exact travel privilages vary from airline to airline but at least during the work day you'll get to see some new cities!
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The starting wage of a flight attendant isn't anything great, I won't lie. But it'll come down to what you're used to making, and your lifestyle. I have no problem meeting my bills and have been able to save plenty since becoming an FA, but I have no kids or pets to pay for, I don't own a car, and my rent is reasonable.
I work with loads of people that have families, homes, cars and boats, or pay for schooling and other expenses, sometimes as a single-income, but where I work it's fairly easy to pick up extra hours if you want, or have another job on the side. I'm afraid it's not a black-or-white question to answer since each person's needs are so different, but I can say Yes, it's possible to live on a flight attendant's salary, but whether that's enough for you, only you can answer!
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