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.
Nope! The airport codes are handy to know but that just comes with time. For my training we had online courses we needed to complete before our in class training began, and there were some exercises included to quiz you on your airport codes knowledge, but they were open book and mostly for fun. I freely confess that when I get my monthly schedule I have to google where I'm flying sometimes!
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Oh pish posh, marriage can wait! Just kidding, to be honest there are probably a hundred different opinions amongst my co-workers on this subject so I'll just tell you what I've seen.
A LOT of FAs are married, many with kids of all ages. It may not be conventional, but it's definitely possible to have a fairly traditional family life while still enjoying a job that takes you around the world. You'll want to consider that you could be gone for several days at a time but overall you will enjoy more days off each month than a 9-5 job will offer. You may also have the option of requesting one-day shifts so you could be home each day to see your loved ones. And if you score a sweet layover many non-charter airlines allow their employees a travel companion who flies at a really reduced cost, so your honey could come with you! If down the road you have kids, it really helps to have flexible daycare, or even better, a relative who will welcome your little cherub with open arms while you take to the skies.
Ultimately what matters most is that your spouse supports you. I won't lie, I have seen some break-ups at work that resulted from the strain of too much time apart, but if your partner is excited about your career and trusts you - that's key! - you won't have to choose between your dream job and a family.
One last thing - life in the air can be socially rewarding since you're always meeting new crews and passengers, but it's also physically exhausting. Many of my fellow FAs would agree, that once you get your feet back on the ground and through your front door, the thought of doing anything that requires more energy than a bath can be unappealing! Having an understanding person to come home to - who won't take it personally that you just want to zone out for a few hours - is a great help.
Personally, I hope you go for it!
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Haha, all the time! I guzzle so much water to stay hydrated while at work that yes, I often am rushing to use the bathroom whenever it's free. While we are never told to avoid using the lavatories during flight, it's common courtesy to let guests go first. If there's a never-ending line up (which is most flights!) I queue up like everyone else. The one time I do butt in line is when I need to wash my hands before and after service. Unfortunely the planes at my airline aren't equipped with sinks in the galley so we have to push our way into the lavs once in awhile in order clean up so we can do our job. Oh, also the pilots will pull rank and jump the line in order to get back into the flight deck sooner, but I've never seen anyone have a problem with that!
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Hey Nicole, a per diem is an hourly payment that a crew member receives for their hours spent away from base, whether they're flying, sitting in the airport, or out having dinner with the crew. They kick in once the plane pushes back from the gate at the beginning of the workday, and keep adding up til the plane parks at the end of the pairing. They're meant to help offset the expenses of living away from home - basically lunch money. Some flight attendants specifically seek out 4 and 5 day pairings because the per diems accrue even while you're sleeping, and as a result you'll end up with an extra $400 in your pocket that is tax free. It gets added to your paycheck after the government takes their share of your salary.
Per diem rates are determined by the cost of living in the country that the crews overnight in. For example, when I have a domestic layover in Canada my per diem is lower than when I have one anywhere in the US or Caribbean. This helps to cover the cost of exchange rates too.
Payment for when FAs hold reserve is a very finnicky business. If we don't get called out, we get paid a pre-set amount of hours (4.5 hrs at my airline) even though you're technically on call for more than double that amount of time. If you do get called out to work something, you get paid whichever amount is greater. So if, for instance, you get called to work a one hour flight and then go to the hotel and are done for the day, you'll still get your 4.5 hours for that day. I hope that clarifies things for you!
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Actually no, I didn't. Growing up I wanted to be a meteorologist, or an illustrator, or a jedi. The epiphany to become a flight attendant only came to me during my third year of university. I was on exchange in Scotland and my good friend flew out to visit me. As we sat in the Edinburgh airport people-watching, a well-dressed flock of stewardesses strolled by in perfect formation. "Doesn't that look fun?" we thought. We decided then and there to give becoming an FA a shot.
I wasn't serious, but being the very focused and true-to-her-word kind of girl that my friend is, she actually went and did it. A couple years later she was flying the skies while I waited tables and interned at film and TV production companies. She switched airlines and immediately wrote in a referral for me at this second airline. I received a phone call and lined up an interview before I had time to protest. Lucky for me my friend knew a good gig when she saw one and years later I'm still thankful that she gave me the push I needed! Otherwise I'd still be sorting slides in a cold film vault and grabbing coffees for my superiors.
Actually I guess I'm still serving coffee but when you do it at 38,000 ft it seems a bit more prestigious!
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It depends on how the person complaining handles it. If they are discrete and bring up the topic with me in private I would do my best to reaccommodate them, if only so that the person they are sitting next to won't be subjected to their prejudice. But this is real life, and the more likely scenario is that the complainer will cause a scene, in which case I would hurry to move the other guest to a better seat if available, and give them a travel credit or anything that would redeem their flying experience. I'm glad I've never had this happen, but I have had people make a fuss about sitting next to someone very large, or who smells bad. And I feel for them, I really do, but it's all about delivery. Yelling or hurting a stranger's feelings does not help your cause or inspire me to do favours. It's a tough line to walk, but at the end of the day I just want people to be as comfortable as possible so if that means separating them I will. So let me end this by saying, please! Shower before you fly, and if you are large enough to require two seats, book them! Lots of airlines offer the second one free if you have referrals from a doctor. And if you're racist? Well, good for you for leaving your hole in the ground long enough to get on a plane. Maybe you should do it more often!
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In Canada, where the airline I work for is based, the ratio of flight attendants to passengers is currently 1:40, so for 250 passengers there must be 7 FAs. (The only exception to the rule is children under 2 years of age who sit on the lap of an adult, they don't count towards the total headcount) I'm pretty sure in some countries the number of crew members is determined by the number of seats, regardless of whether or not someone is in them, but I could be mistaken.
As for pilots, at my airline we only ever have two; a Captain and a First Officer. Some older models of aircraft, however, require a Flight Engineer or Second Officer to be carried, bringing the total up to three. They were there to calculate routes and help navigate, but now that newer aircraft have the technology to do those calculations by computer, the role of the third pilot has become obsolete. Or so I was told when I asked my FO during my last flight!
The other factor that determines the number of crew on board is the length of the flight. Long-haul flights carry two crews who take shifts, so the number of crew will double. This ensures that no crew member exceeds their "duty day" - the number of hours they are legally allowed to work from the time they report for duty to the moment they step off the plane after the flight and gratefully crawl into their hotel bed.
Thanks for asking, I learned something too!
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