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.
Oh those sneaky people! To be honest it doesn't affect me too much when people bring extra bags on, but it can really screw over the other passengers who get stuck boarding last. When the overhead bins fill up we have to 'gate check' the extra bags and load them into the belly of the plane instead, which is a drag for the passengers who no longer have access to their carry-on goodies, and it can also cause delays. The customer service agents in the airport try to screen bags at the boarding lounge to help us out, but there are always people who manage to get a third carry-on past us. Similarly, the people who steal the space near the door when they're sitting mid-cabin are forcing the passengers near the front to stow their bags several rows away, so I try to remember to close the first few overhead bins before boarding to dissuade the bin hogs from striking. We really need those bins free since, on our planes at least, guests in the front row aren't allowed to keep anything by their feet for take-off and landing. Oh, and the FA's sometimes want some space to throw lunches and aprons etc. up there too, but we try to be considerate!
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I won't go all crazy on you like the airline employee in Meet the Parents, but it will help us both out if you wait. You might be one of those ultra efficient, savvy travelers that packs light and knows where they're going but sadly most people make boarding a plane about as fun as herding cats. Boarding by section just helps to relegate all the congestion to one area of the plane so we can keep things moving. In other words, rather than having Mrs 3E get on first and then block the aisle for five minutes while she digs around in her carry-on for her headphones, we let Mr back-of-the-plane get on and he can rummage around all he wants since he's not in anyone's way. Oh, and if you're sitting in the emergency exit row it really helps us out if you pre-board when you are called, since we have to do our little safety song-and-dance for you. May I take this moment to get something off my chest? When you board the plane and I greet you and ask to see your boarding pass, i don't care what seat you're in! I'm checking to make sure you're on the right plane so that you don't end up in Sydney, Nova Scotia when you really wanted Sydney, Australia. The day someone steps on and announces the flight number to me instead of their seat number I will shed tears of joy. Ok thanks, that feels better!
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It depends on what side of the bed they woke up on that morning. :)
Actually most likely it depends on how many more cans they have left in stock for other guests and possibly other flight segments before the plane is catered again. There's no rhyme or reason, but I'll work a flight where every second person asks for ginger ale or tomato juice and before you know it the entire plane is stocked out! When that happens I'm sure I cringe when someone asks for the whole can. It could also depend on where you're sitting - usually when serving my last row of passengers I offer the whole can so that I'm not bringing a bunch of half empty cans to the galley, since all those leftovers just get dumped down the drain otherwise.
If someone asks for a can, I'll always give it if I have it. But for those FAs that are a bit more stingy, it doesn't hurt to ask really sweetly!
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I think the starting wage at most airlines in Canada and the US for a flight attendant works out to be around ~$32-35 thousand per year. That doesn't include per diems, which are untaxed and will fluctuate with the kind of pairings you work. It may seem like you should be making more because hourly wages are in the mid-twenties to start, but since on average a flight attendant only works 80 hours each month (as opposed to the 160 hours demanded by an office job) it works out to being similar to entry-level positions in other fields.
You can expect to max out around $49-50 thousand after several years at a single airline, however you can augment that by either working lots of overtime, or upgrading to a cabin manager position which from what I hear adds at least $10 onto your hourly wage - along with a mountain of paperwork!
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EMT
What was the most gruesome trauma you witnessed while on the job?
Swim Instructor
Do parents ever get angry at you personally if their kid isn't learning fast enough?
Antiques Dealer
Do you think today's "stuff" will one day be collected as valuable antiques?
Yes it's true! Not all airlines post the height requirements on their website so there could be some exceptions, but typically they're looking for employees who fall into the 5'1-6'2 range. The exact height varies according to the aircraft type the airline uses, and sometimes you'll see it listed as a "reach" requirement, so I suppose if you are petite with unusually long arms you could still be in luck! Flight Attendants need to be able to reach the overhead bins and access emergency equipment (some of which is stored in ceiling compartments), but not be so tall that they need to duck to get through the cabin. I will add though that I've worked with girls who need to hop to close overhead bins, so I'm convinced that personality and work ethic can trump pesky height requirements at the end of the day!
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Wow, thanks!
Absolutely it's ok to come hang out with us, just try to, as we FAs say, "assess the situation". If it's turbulent, or there are carts out in the galley being prepped or stocked for service, better to wait. But if the seatbelt sign is off and the crew are sitting around reading or chatting, feel free to come say hi! I can't guarantee that every FA will be in the mood for small talk (if its been a particularly busy flight they might just need a few moments' break from people) but I would really miss it if guests onboard never struck up a conversation with me. It's fun the people you meet on a plane, everyone going on their own journeys. Having a moment to stop and connect with someone amid the hustle and bustle of a flight can serve as a welcome reminder that we're all human. Maybe that sounds cheesy, but it helps to bring the customer-service side of me out!
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I'm sure you'll be relieved to know that no, we cannot consume alcohol before work and go all Denzel on your flight. There are federal restrictions in place for us just like there are for the pilots. In my case, the airline I work for has chosen to add their own rules as well; our government dictates that crew must stop drinking no less than 8 hours before the flight departs, but the company has amended that to 11 hours. I have seen my share of drinking on overnights and I fully support the 11 hour rule, and it's taken very seriously by the crews. You might be tempted to finish the rest of your pint after the clock has struck but you never know who might be watching (another crew member, hotel staff, etc) and it's not worth losing your job over it. I've even sat down to dinner and seen the captain set an alarm for five minutes to cut-off so that no one accidentally over drinks. It can be a pain sometimes, but the pain of flying hungover would be far worse!
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