A Reality Check
As much as I love this career after over 27 years, it still can have its drawbacks. While many sites, including mine, will sell you the dream, I also want to sell you the reality. In this particular article I will cover some of the drawbacks and the downsides of being a flight attendant. It’s not that these problems are insurmountable, I just want to make you aware of them before you begin your career so that you will be even more prepared.
Long Days
While most of us have taken a trip somewhere and have flown up to two legs in one day, flight attendants can average 3 legs per day, domestically, at a major carrier. At a regional carrier you can have anywhere from 4-7 legs per day. When I was based in DEN with Republic, we flew the Q-400 turboprop plane for United Express. A typical trip on that plane looked something like this: DEN-COS-DEN-ASP-DEN-COS-DEN-ASP. Those are some short, but busy flights. Sometimes the boarding and deplaning process took longer than the actual flight. It can get exhausting for sure.
Similarly at a mainline carrier, I recently flew a 3-day trip that looked like this: DFW-SAN-ORD-STL (Layover), STL-CLT-RSW (Layover), RSW-ORD-DFW. Though not as many legs, the flights can get long, such as from SAN-ORD. Even DFW-SAN is over 2 hours long. That particular first day the duty day alone was over 12 hours. Depending on how long the layovers are scheduled for, adjusting to jet lag can take some time.
Compensation
Being compensated as a flight attendant can seem rather confusing. I merely want to explain the basics with you to help you understand how much or how little you can earn. I say little because some flight attendants may choose to fly less, if allowed by the company.
When you research a company and they provide the base rate of pay. Base pay is actually based on a set hour guarantee. For example, the company I fly for guarantees reserve flight attendants 75:00 hours a month. Even if I don’t fly 75:00 hours, I still get paid for 75:00. Also, for the line flight attendants, they wont build a month’s worth of trips that fall below 75:00 hours. Most reserve flight attendants and line flight attendants alike will fly more. Many airlines have systems in place that allow for picking up as well as dropping trips.
Another way I am compensated as a flight attendant is with expense money, in the form of per diem, which is usually calculated for each trip. Flight attendants receive a set amount of money (mine is $2.20) for every hour of a trip. In my example, I would collect $2.20 per hour from the time I signed in until the trip ended. The good news is, this money is tax free and it adds up to a nice check at the end of the month. Again, how much and when this is paid depends on the airline that you get hired with.
Remember that a flight attendant is only paid flight pay from door close to door open. The rest of the time, per diem will continue to be collected. Again, the specific airline that hires you will be able to explain more about how their flight attendants are compensated.
Nights, Weekends, and Holidays
Everyone who applies for the flight attendant position answers yes to working nights, weekends, and holidays. The holidays are when the job can be the most difficult. Laying over in DSM in a hotel, with no restaurants open, and being alone can be difficult. I experienced such a Christmas. I had to learn how to work through my sorrow and realize I had my dream job.
If your social life is active, your friends might be getting together on the weekends and yet you’re on an airplane flying. If you’re used to a regular 9-5 schedule, this career will be quite a change. There are several types of trips that start early, late, and some that are red-eyes where you fly all night while everyone sleeps. Those can be difficult when first starting out. Many trips have different start times mixed throughout and it can be tiring sometimes.
Delays and Cancellations
I’m sure most of you have experienced a delay in air travel at some point or another, but if you haven’t, you will. The drawback here is when you’re starting a trip and have a terrific layover in a fun city. The crew has made plans to do something exciting together, or you’ve told a friend you will be laying over in their city and you plan on meeting up for dinner. When a delay or cancellation happens, it can seem a bit disheartening and disappointing.
Dealing with disgruntled passengers during these times can also prove to be challenging. As a flight attendant, we are the sounding boards for the company. We are going to be asked questions we can’t answer, but yet the passengers look to us for answers. Their frustrations and anger can put a halt to a rather good day. When communicating with passengers during these times I’ve found the best thing to do is be honest. Don’t make an answer up. Don’t say anything to alleviate their fears that’s not true. If you don’t know, simply tell them that. Again, airlines will have policies and protocol in place for situations like this, but it’s still trying nonetheless.
Flexability
Because this career is so highly sought after, it is important to be flexible and open minded. Work through the difficult times and embrace the great times. Over the years I have adapted to having my holidays when I am off, celebrating birthdays when I can, and enjoying my friends on the days that I can be with them. It’s all about being flexible and growing into the position. The small amount of time this career is difficult is overshadowed by the amazing lifestyle this career provides. To me, it’s worth it.
Jason
