Flight Attendant

Flight Attendant

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.

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Last Answer on August 26, 2013

Best Rated

What does flight attendance do after the plane lands? Do you get to have a short vacation at the destination?

Asked by Christy over 11 years ago

After the plane lands and the guests have all gone home we usually clean the plane (but that's not typical for most international airlines), clear customs if we flew outside of Canada - even if we didn't step off the aircraft all day - and then pile into a shuttle waiting to drive us to our hotel for the night.  At the airline I work for the layovers are between 10-48 hours in any one place. 

It can feel like a mini vacation sometimes because we do have some pretty sweet destinations; Barbados, Hawaii, New York, Cancun... and you learn to cram a lot into just a few hours.  If you get along with your crew it can be a blast to all grab dinner and drinks and explore the area.  Other times you barely have time to shower and fall into bed before you're back on the plane, and you'll hardly notice which city you're in.  For some FAs being on the road and holing up in a hotel with a king sized bed, a flat-screen tv and room service is the best way to take a break from being a mom or dad on their days off!  It's one of the coolest things about our job if you ask me... and you did!

Hi, I have a history of general anxiety and clinical depression. It is now well controlled on medication but I was wondering if that would affect my ability to get a job as a flight attendant.

Asked by Emily over 11 years ago

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!

I just got hired as a FA and i have not yet started training. I have been reading a lot of blogs and it looks like other FA aren't able to pick up as much hours as they want. My question is : what types of side jobs can we do to make ends meet?

Asked by BootCampBarbie over 11 years ago

Congratulations on getting hired!

So many people have jobs on the side in this business it's hard to remember them all.  I considered keeping my waitressing job from before I became an FA, but the lure of having extra days off won me over in the end.  The key is finding a job that has flexible hours, since you'll be flying during business hours and some weekends. 

A lot of cabin crew bartend or wait tables, and catering companies are also handy places to look for serving gigs since they usually don't require a long-term commitment.

I've noticed that many FAs have obtained their real estate licence in their down time, another job that lets you build your own hours. 

There are also a lot of small business owners among my co-workers, who are their own boss: wedding planners, personal trainers, actors, musicians, photographers, landlords, dance teachers, people who sell stuff on etsy... there are no boundaries really.  That's not to mention all the FAs who are going to school on the side, in case you want to switch careers later in life. 

I just would advise against committing to any kind of set-in-stone schedule since it's not always easy to get the days off you need in the airline business, or to trade shifts.  Try to find something with variable hours and that you really enjoy!

Would most flight attenants welcome an invite to dinner and a chance to see the city they are staying in get away from the hotel and the crew for a bit? Or is that to risky?

Asked by Ray over 11 years ago

Well, getting away from the hotel and crew is one thing, but accepting an invite to dinner is something else entirely.  It's not uncommon for crews to split up, particularly in places where there's lots to do so it's easy to make plans in advance (for example, Las Vegas - some FAs go for the shopping, others for the gambling, some for buffets and some for clubs.  Getting the whole crew to agree on a game plan is nearly impossible there).  So yes, definitely flight attendants welcome the chance to get out of the hotel, get some fresh air (after all, they've been on a metal tube all day!) and grab a bite to eat. 

I think it's really nice of you to want to take someone out and show them the city, especially since having a local as your guide is the best way to explore a new place.  I think whether or not they accept will depend on

a) your approach - if you're open to hanging out with the crew as a group that'll be 'safer', also don't pry into which hotel they're staying at.  Let the FA divulge that information if and when they want to.

b) the personality of the FA - if they're single and ready to mingle they're more likely to say, "sure, why not?", and

c) the location.  Some destinations airlines fly to are at a higher risk for crime so crews tend to stick together and not leave the hotel as often in those places.  

If you want to go for it I give you my blessing!  I myself have never (intentionally) met up with a passenger after a flight but I know others who have.  I hope it works out for you!

Does me, my husband and child get to all travel anywhere for free if I become a flight attendant of a domestic airline?

Asked by Nikki over 11 years ago

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!

What are the preveladges of a flight attendant?

Asked by Angel over 11 years ago

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!

Do the pilots and flight members get free drinks and snacks on the plane?

Asked by sarah over 11 years ago

Yes and no.  If it's free for the passengers, it's free for us too, so coffee, juice, pop, cookies, etc.

If it's not free for the passengers, we have to pay too - the only exception is if the flight is almost done and there are leftover items that will be thrown out anyway.  Then we can rummage through and see if there's something we want, but honestly, serving the same snacks all the time renders them pretty unappetizing, to me at least. 

Once in awhile I'll work a catered flight which includes meals and the caterer will set aside some for the crew.  That's kind of fun, but it's like any classic "airplane food" tray - some stuff will be scrumptious and others will be unrecognizable.

Generally I just grab a crew water (1.5 litre bottles, you really gotta stay hydrated!) and only dip into the plane snacks and drinks in moments of desperation where I don't have time to sit down and open my much healthier, home-packed lunch bag!