What do you think of the job of a Flight attendant?

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skyhigh

First I have to say "BIKER I LOVE YOU!!!!" Someone gets it!!!!

Oh the glamourous stewardess...............Maybe once, but it is a demanding job, physically, emotionally, mentally, fiscally, I could go on and on.

It does have it's benefits, but they seem to be rapidly evaporating. I started flying 10 years ago, and I truly believe that was the end of the "fun" era of flying forever. Don't get me wrong, I still love my job, I find it very rewarding personally. Passengers rely on you completely for a period of time, and with some this entails a ton of work.

Parents send their children alone on planes all over the world now, and they are your responsibility. Sometimes there may be as many as 8 or 9 on one flight. Then you have your elderly passengers that require mobility assistance, they need help getting on and off the plane, using the restroom inflight, etc. More than once, I have had elderly so frail, I have had to literally pick them up and carry them to the restroom. Then you have some that require oxygen during the flight, you have to administer this, and monitor it to ensure they have enough for the entire flight.
The you have the completely full aircraft (staffed at FAA minimum crew) and 5 or 6 families that are spread apart all over the aircraft, and want to sit together, and want you to fix it right now. You have to make sure you brief you exit row passengers on thier expected assistance in an emergency, and relocate the ones that would rather not assist. Now you are trying to reseat about 30 people on a full aircraft, no other passengers want to move, and the familes can't sit in the vacant exit row.

So that's about 15 minutes into the boarding process. While you are doing the above mentioned tasks, your first class passengers are impatiently waiting for you to hang their 16 blue pinstriped suit coats, and bring them a cocktail, fighting your way upstream against the boarding passengers, who shove you aside, like you aren't even there. Some helpless bimbo that packed so much crap in her bag she can't even lift it, is standing in the middle of the aisle, holding up the whole process, expecting you to come over and put it away for her. All the while, 3C is yelling for his gin and tonic, and your people in the back still need your help.

By some miracle, the flight departs the gate, and you taxi and takeoff. Oh yeah, that's right, you're a waitress too, better take care of that part of the job. It's a short flight 46 minutes, so you have an actual 20 minutes or so to serve 100 people. Everyone wants coffee, and juice, and some water to "take a pill".

Are you getting the idea? This really was my flight this morning from DTW to IND. That was one of five I had today, and they are ALL crazy like that! I could bore you forever with the details, the stories never end, but I truly do still like the job. It involves so many different duties, and is rarely boring. I have seen the entire world (and not from an airplane window, for the dipshit that said that, like he knows) on someone else's dime, and would have never been able to do so otherwise.

To be employed with the majors (legacy carriers) American, Continental, Delta, Northwest, United, you must be 21 years old, they prefer a college degree and a second language with some customer service experience. The regional and low cost carriers seem to be doing a lot of hiring recently, and their requirements are not a stringent. They also hire at 19, some even 18.

To be good at the job, it's all about multitasking. You will always be doing 6 things at once. Personally, I'm at my best in that environment, but it's not for everyone.

Waitress, my ***. SInce when does Flo at Denny's have to be trained in self defense and know the difference between an assault rifle and semi-automatic? I've never seen her pull out a defribulator and save someone's life, or look after someone else's children while they are at the restaurant. For all of you mental giants with this shallow opinion, I hope you never experience an aircraft emergency. I cite the recent Air France fire in Toronto. Every single passenger escaped unscathed and in 90 seconds!! Do you really think just any group of people can pull that off sucessfully? In thick black smoke, raging fire, everyone panicking, babies, elderly, handicapped, children............but I digress.

Sorry to the original poster, I got off on a rant.

blondie

This is an excellent job if you are young single and have no ties, I have worked within the airline industry for nearly 10 years and if i could turn back the clock i would do it all again!
Its a great opportunity to see the world and the travel concessions are great!
If it is something you seriously are considering don't hesitate, get your application in now!
As for it being just a glorified waitress, that person doesn't realise the intensity of the training, it is more than just pouring tea!

shiningthowra

It is for sure a very stressfull job...very hard work, indeed, you will have to be able to coop with all types of persons and it is also a very responsible job. Not even a private life you don't have much, as you fly always (sometimes not even sure when and where you land, depending on the company). It is money worth, but I personally wouldn't do it

PuNk RoCkEr AnGeL!!

hmm. what is your name~?

musiclicker

It takes a special person to be a flight attendant. If you like to be away from home all the time, and risk your life everyday to put up with all the crap they go through, then it might just be the job for you!

Topshopcitybeachbabe

great i can get away from my bifgooted husband and get my loeg over with captain even greater and yeah i wouldn't mind as they are great prospects plus a chance for meto travel see the worls which is my dream.

bender

it got its up's and down's

â—„ Mal â–º

Flight attendant can be a hard job depending on the airline you work for, your temperament towards working weird shifts in multiple timezones, dealing with the effects of altitude flying and timezones and also the customer service aspect (dealing with lots of morons who think they are special just because they fly!)

That aside, it can be a good job due to reasonable pay and allowances, travel, discounted accomodation and flights and the joy of something new.

dummy

Tough job ... many jobs rolled into one. Who would want to deal with irate passengers all day long?? Not me! My hat goes off to them!

MASH

i know that it seam like a dream job
but im not sure in reality its that good coz it might get boring!

and some ppl look to it as a waitress! on the plan! except they look sexier

EarthCalling

I am a flight attendant. I go, I come back.

carly s

Yeah it is hard graft for not alot of reward. I think airlines are still luring women (and men) into the job in the pretence that its a glamorous and exciting career, but the real truth is your just a glorified waitress!

wei_bei_li

see the world ,get jet lag, get old before your time, due to exposure to radiation from being in the upper atmosphere too much great job... tea lady in the sky

HoundOHolda

They have a reputation of being hos.

Biker

I have nothing but the utmost respect for Flight Attendants.
You all have to work strange hours have commuters that are jerks have to worry about what the company is trying to pull on you to boot.
Case in point look at the struggle at Northwest with this bankruptcy crap.
All that is is a rich company trying to save money by getting rid of retirement packages and screwing the workers out of money and insurance. I salute you and everyone struggling in that field of work.
And as a flier thank you for all the times that you all have been there and had a nice word and great service!

dancingleigh32

Fun, but terrible pay!!!

xjesuisx

Get a job as a pilot if you really want to fly better pay - flight attendants have to deal with crappy people who think they rule them just because they bought a ticket and the attendant has to smile all the time until a smile is stuck on their face.
If you are a young beauty marry a millionaire its the only way to fly.

paulrb8

its nothing more than a glorified servant.. serving tea and food, basic job... the only "glamorous" bit maybe is going to foreign countries... which you only see out of the plane window.....

kenhallonthenet

It is an awful job if you hate the public, or are terrified of flying.

DEATH

Yeah, and you should go for it! Besides, you get to travel and meet people, and see new places. I think it sounds like a fine career. Have fun!!

Barneyboy

I'm sure its very taxing for the intellectually challenged.

Sky

pretty things

spyderman1212

say goodbye to family and friends though...

buddhababy92

see the world, hve a small disount on flight 4 ur self not on duty. u hve 2 b willing to hve drinks spill on u in tubulane.

billy

glorified waitress

Jobfinder

It's not the best pay, but every trip should be a new experience. Benefits depends on the airline. It can be tiring, as you will have to face jetlag, probably some tough passengers, being away from home and constantly being on the move, but it can be a very rewarding job. It's all about providing great service, and its much more than being a trolley dollie.

woht

I think it is a difficult job, because you have to know about security and first aids issues, also it must be tired, because you have to be flying long hours, and not sitting down, you have to be working.

An admirable job.

tay_jen1

i think that it can be a difficult and often boring job not to mention physically demanding. However the ability to travel so freely is a big plus.

Away With The Fairies

Most hideous job imaginable. A cross between a waitress and a nurse - yeuck, revolting!

Bicky

good travel prospects

ambafox

Yes, it is hard work.... but think of all the places you could see if you are doing trans-atlantic flights.
In some flights, you dont travel back for 3 days.. so it is a good oppurtunity.

Go for it if you get the chance. It will look good on future job applications!

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