Flight Attendant Career-Flexibility

Flexibility Is A Must

As great as this flight attendant career is, sometimes it can be a bit trying. Yesterday was one of those day for me. Our schedules can change in a minutes notice and when we have plans to go to one destination, we may end up going to another. While this can be challenging and even a little frustrating, it is part of the requirement for this fantastic career.

What Does Flexibility Mean

I’m not implying the definition of the word in this paragraph, but more so how it applies to what our career entails. In this field of customer service we work with a variety of cultures, backgrounds, beliefs, etc. We must be respectful and not uncaring to another persons persuasion, conviction or background. We must be flexible in our ability to work with many different people every day of our career.

Our schedules can be flexible as well. In the good sense, when we are holding a regular line-of-flying, we may have the ability to trade, drop, or pickup trips so we can arrange our schedule to what best suits us for that month. In the bad sense, should weather, mechanicals or having to call off sick interfere with our schedule, it can potentially cause you to go somewhere you weren’t planning to go, or even cancel that entire trip. While that can be frustrating and disappointing sometimes, we have to roll with the changes and work through it.

Adapting

The constant change in our day and being able to handle that change is what makes us stand out as professionals. Flights change, weather changes, moods change, and airplanes change. There is fluidity in our daily professional lives as flight attendants and we have to learn how to handle each situation.

For example, you could be doing a beverage service on a flight and in one row of seats you have a grieving family who is dealing with a crisis. Their mood is somber and reserved. In the next row you go to, their is a couple who is celebrating their honeymoon. They are happy, exuberant and happy to be starting their life together. Your demeanor has to change in an instant and remain professional in each situation. This is a quality that is highly sought out in flight attendant candidates.

Conclusion

The more flexible you are with your ability to cope with changing situations, the more apt you are to enjoy this ever changing career and lifestyle. It’s not to say we don’t have bad days, because we do. Learn to deal with one thing at a time, professionally, and learn what you can and can’t control. It makes flying so much easier and enjoyable.