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.
On a regular day, FAs spend the time during flight setting up carts for service, completing that service (what we offer will vary from route to route, and depend on the flight time), then we restock, clean up, and if there's any time leftover we have lunch and flip through a couple gossip rags! We also do seatbelt checks if there's turbulence, hand out customs cards, and do cabin walkthroughs a few times each hour to make sure all the passengers are comfortable and happy. The work itself is very routine, but because the crew and customers are always new it keeps life interesting!
Security checks are something that we do on flights to and/or from specific countries because there is a greater risk of someone wanting to transport an illegal or dangerous substance to that country (ie: malicious intent or smuggling), or because the airport security in a city does not meet the international standards (for example, some airports are so small that they do not have security checkpoints to scan carry-on items). On these flights, the crew must literally tear the cabin apart and search every nook and cranny that passengers hypothetically could have had accessed, and search for suspicious items. It's a total drag, and we don't get paid to do it, but it's for our own safety so we grin and bear it!
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I wish it did! Unfortunately no, I'm guessing that even rudimentary knowledge would be way beyond the capacity of many flight attendants. Add to that the fact that we will (hopefully!) never put that knowledge into practice and consequently we'll forget it pretty quick. There are so many controls and dials and buttons up in the flight deck that I bet we would do more damage than good if we sat in the Captain's seat. The responsibilities and areas of expertise of the flight crew and flight attendants are very exclusive. Just watch a pilot step into the galley and fumble around looking for the sugar for their coffee and you'll get a sense of how little our knowledge overlaps!
I have worked with a couple pilots that make a habit of showing their crews how to shut off the engines while on the ground, or to turn on the radio while in flight, for example, so there are some pilots out there who agree with you that we should know at least a couple basics.
I've even flown with FAs who have their piloting license which is a great card to pull out of your hat if both pilots conk out. But... if you're flying with me? Sorry I guess we're all doomed!
Happy Flying!
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I love to be here, and I love that you love this! Thanks Jobstr Boys!
*group hug*
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Ha ha, I admire your resourcefullness but the simple answer is not really. We have to pass through customs whenever we leave Canada, just like all our passengers, and I swear sometimes the customs officers are harder on us than anyone else. If we purchase anything for re-sale we have to declare it and pay duty on it. I'm sure if you did it once or twice it could go under the radar, but the airline would certainly frown upon it if you made it a habit and word got out.
The gossip we hear online is always the juicy stuff - ie people getting fired for smuggling in illegal drugs - so I'm no expert on what happens if you start a side business bringing in legal foreign goods, but I can assure you that I never lie on a customs form about how much money I've spent outside the country because those customs guards live to catch you! I've been asked to declare goods for co-workers when they spent more than the legal limit within the time frame allotted and absolutely refused. It's always better to declare your goods than to get caught in a lie and lose your job over it. Airlines won't have your back if you've been trying to pull the wool over the government's eyes!
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Relocating is a reality in the airline industry, so it's great that you're preparing for it. Ideally you'll have enough notice to arrange a living situation before the moving date but if you don't, you have a couple options.
- commute! I don't live in the city in which my airline is based, so sometimes I have to fly 4 hours to start my shift. It sucks, but a lot of flight crew do the same thing. When you consider that you could realistically only have 4 shifts in a month (each lasting 4-5 days) you'll only be doing that commute 8 times. Depending on how far away you live, that could work out to being fewer hours than a typical drive-in commute for an office worker. Also, the cost of the flights should be pretty low if your airline offers travel benefits, or even covered entirely by the company depending on where you live.
- get a crash pad. Ask around at work - there are probably fellow employees who live close to the airport who have spare rooms that they offer to commuters for a nightly or monthly rate. Or, some commuters chip in and rent an apartment or house together as an alternative to hotels. If you're willing to have a roommate, you can check crew rooms for ads or on the company's internal website to see who else is in the same boat. For my training in another city, another FA and I rented rooms in a Captain's house - who worked so often that I literally saw him once during my entire stay.
- hotels. Not the greatest option considering how quickly it will add up, but if you do find yourself in a position where you have to spend a couple weeks in a hotel, ask around for crew rates. There will probably be a list of hotels that the airline has agreements with posted on the airline's internal website, but cold calling hotels in the area will also yield some deals (I recommend calling the front desk directly, and not the chain-wide 1-800 number). Most hotels will give crew discounts if you show your work ID at check-in, and I've had as low as $60 a night. Still not very sustainable for the long term, but better than full price!
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Congrats on the offer!
Definitely check out the answer I offered to the previous question:
"I'm pursuing a Flight Attendant career, the only concern I have is, if and when, for any reason, I get relocated, the problem isn't getting relocated, as much as, what do I do, live in motels until I can find a place to live close to the airport?"
So many pilots and FAs commute (ie: fly) to work, it proves that just because a position is based in a certain city, it doesn't necessarily mean you have to live there. Always ask for suggestions from other co-workers and your trainers, but it IS possible to happily commute, despite what naysayers may have you believe.
A lot of FAs will move a couple times before they find something right for them. If you're a homeowner or have kids or a spouse to uproot, of course moving will require a lot of consideration. The best way to make an informed decision about where you want to live, is to work at the airline for a while to get a sense of what works and what doesn't for commuters and locals alike. If it's at all possible, I'd recommend finding a temporary living situation in the new city (a rental, or a friend/co-worker's spare room) until you know more about the work, and what kind of schedule you'll be given, so that you can plan accordingly.
Your new co-workers will be an invaluable resource when trying to decide where to live. Moving can be intimidating, but your fellow crew members will have lots of suggestions (maybe conflicting!) about which neighbourhoods are best to look in, renting vs owning, driving vs transit, etc. When I began training, I requested the emails of the other new hires that would be in my class, so we could swap advice about finding places to stay and car rental. It was informative, helped calm my nerves, and even landed me a roommate.
You've got some tough decisions ahead but you can always change your mind if what you've decided isn't working out. Good luck!
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Hmm that's not suspicious at all... what on earth are you trying to transport? A Commodore 64? A suitcase of Smartphones? Robocop? I'm not sure that there is a limit but you'll have to be a bit more specific. Some electronics are considered dangerous goods and therefore are prohibited on all passenger aircraft.
The value of the electronics is irrelevant unless you are a) concerned about potential damage and want it insured or b) are leaving the country and passing through customs - but neither of those issues are dealt with through the airline.
Weight restrictions for all luggage, whether checked or carry on, will vary from airline to airline, and should be posted on their website.
Sorry I can't help you further but I'd need more details!
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