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.
Wow, that's a mighty broad question... I'm not sure if you mean the most common, or most horrible, or something else entirely, so I'll just tell you my top 5 things I dread having to deal with at work.
#5 - Having a problem with a crew member. If you've ever been a manager, or even just had to have a Conversation with a capital C with a co-worker because they were being a jerk, or not pulling their weight, or doing their job incorrectly, you'll get why this is a major difficulty. Add to that the fact that you might have to spend the next 5 days straight with them and you'll be ready to pull your hair out.
#4 - Running out of stock. This happens so often. Unfortunately we don't have a crystal ball to show us what's going to be popular at lunch on any given day so sometimes we just don't pack enough of a particular item. Most often it's cheese plates that we run out of (people love their cheese and I don't blame them), but even types of beer, or random items like tomato juice will become really hot commodities on a flight and before you know it I have to make my don't-shoot-the-messenger face (a cringe/defensive pose in case they strike) and say, "sorry, we're all out of that, can I tempt you with some tepid coffee instead?"
#3 - Delays. The angry looks and crying children and stressed out parents, argh! I hate it. It just makes everyone miserable, including the crew who got out of bed early for nothing, and we aren't getting paid for those extra hours of languishing in the airport while passengers give us the stink-eye.
#2 - Aircraft malfunctions. Maybe this should be my number one, but usually it's the pilots turn to stress in these situations and, in my experience, the passengers are typically calm, obedient, and patient. Plus, any mechanical hiccup that happened to me while mid-flight has always turned out 100% ok, (knock on wood) so it's not AS scary as my number one...
#1 - Medicals. At the very least, it means delays, mild stress and paperwork. At the very worst it means a life or death situation and that is just not what I hope to deal with when I get ready for work in the morning. I will be very happy if I can reach the end of my flight attendant career without ever having to use my first aid skills!
So there you have it. Now, as I read over my list, I realize I forgot Unruly Guests which should probably be #3 so let's just call this a Top 6 List and call it a day. All this talk of difficulties is stressing me out! :)
Share Answer: 
Actually there's quite a variety! I wish they were all 5 stars, but more often they're not that fancy, more of 3-4 star range (Holiday Inn, Radisson, etc). There's a team from the airline who visit the interested hotels in each city to verify that the establishment is up to company standards, and elected representatives from the pilot and flight attendant departments go along to give their two cents as well. The cleanliness and safety of the property is more important than the star rating, but I will say that the majority of hotels that crews stay in are nicer than what I pay for when I go on vacation!
Layovers at my airline are anywhere from 10 to 48 hours, so definitely there are days when there's time to hit the gym and a lot of crew members are itching to do just that! You can end up eating and sleeping so irregularly on the road that working out is one of those things that crew members feel in control of, and can make them feel better about the sometimes less than healthy environment we work in.
On occasion I'll pack some gym clothes but I would way prefer to explore the city! That's one of the greatest assets of the job, so when I work with flight attendants who just want to kick back in their hotel room and watch tv I can't really relate. Because of this job I've had opportunities to see parts of Canada I never visited before, not to mention all the other countries I've seen. I've visited museums, explored shopping districts, gone to festivals, and enjoyed food at countless restaurants... it sure beats the pay-per-view in the hotel room!
Share Answer: 
I was working as a waitress in a cocktail bar, that much is true...
I really was. The money as a server was decent but my wagers became way more stable once I got hired as a flight attendant, and instead of handfuls of tips I was getting ~$750 paycheques every two weeks (it's not huge, but I'm a girl of simple tastes), plus flight and health benefits.
My training lasted a month and when the time came for my first pairing I was a nervous wreck. I had to commute in for work on a flight the night before and I felt totally overwhelmed trying to remember everything to pack. Thankfully I ended up having a fantastic crew - who pranked me endlessly by hiding in the overhead bins to scare me and stuffing random things into my luggage, but also surprised me with champagne and cake - and the senior flight attendant who was supervising me was approachable and helfpul, and also knocked a couple bad work habits out of me before they had time to even form.
I confess when she took me upstairs after our last flight to officially check me off and seal my fate as an FA I started crying! All the stress of the previous month - a gruelling amount of training, endless exams, meeting so many new people - just burst out of me in a wave of relief. I'm not sure which of us was more shocked! Immediatey after being officially signed off I hopped on a plane to LA to reward myself and celebrate my birthday which was two days away.
The following months were filled with all the excitement and uncertainty of a new job. I got lost in a couple airports trying to find the crew bypass entrances, I found it really hard to keep up the pace on short flights, I met new people every time I showed up at the gate for work... it was exhausting - and so much fun! It was almost a year before I snagged my first international layover (St. Lucia!) but in the meantime I got to know my own country so much better.
I still get excited about my job four years later; you never know who'll you'll meet or where you'll end up. I have a lot more confidence in my job now, and sure sometimes I roll my eyes at my schedule when I get another layover in the same old place, but I still get a thrill when I steal a moment by the window and watch the world go by!
Share Answer: 
Hi there!
Actually there is no weight restriction at most, if any, North American airlines - I don't think they can legally prevent someone from getting hired for that reason. However, FAs do need to pass a medical exam before they can begin training, and that covers hearing, vision, as well as basic fitness and mobility - lifting the weight of the average suitcase for example (40-50lbs).
Our Boeing aircraft that we fly at my airline require us to bend over to arm our doors which is something that can be difficult if a flight attendant is extremely heavy. I work with people who are all shapes and sizes though, and at the end of the day an airline is looking for people who have great customer service skills, and who take safety seriously. If you look cute too, well, that's just a bonus :)
Share Answer: 
CBP Officer
What are the telltale signs you look to indicate someone's lying?
Professor
Are professors really subject to the "Publish or Perish" policy?
Programmer
Is Mark Zuckerberg really a genius programmer? Or was he just lucky?
Yes, we are given basic first aid training and prepped on how to handle an emergency, but most often our role is to ensure the sick passenger is comfortable and, if possible, has some privacy, and then get them into the hands of a medical professional. That can mean paging for medical assistance, relaying information to the doctors we have available via satellite phone, or communicating to the Captain the status of the ill passenger, and ensuring EMS (paramedics) meet the aircraft - typically we'll do all three.
It's not very often that we get down and dirty ourselves and have to rely on our own limited training to help a sick person. More likely an FA will assist any volunteer medical professionals on board (I've never paged for help and NOT had either a doctor, nurse, paramedic or firefighter on board who leapt up to save the day) by bringing medicine, blankets, water, etc to the scene and writing down vital information, and the other FAs will work to keep the pilots informed and the rest of the cabin in order. We owe SO much to the medical professionals who come to the rescue when we call on them, and we do our best to get their information after the emergency has passed so that they can get a thank-you travel credit for their assistance.
Share Answer: 
Oh gosh... I'm really not sure! If it were me, I wouldn't mention it unless the application form specifically asked. I was laid off from a previous job and don't remember mentioning it on my application or during my interview. Just be prepared to explain why you were fired in case you do get asked during an interview, because honesty is the best policy. If you were at fault then be ready to explain how you learned from the experience, and if you were wrongfully fired than don't dwell on being the victim. Disclosing that you were fired won't do you any favours on paper, but in person you can put a positive spin on anything, and being open about previous mistakes can demonstrate a lot of maturity and openness to feedback that a potential employer may like.
I'm no recruiter so I'm sorry I don't have a black or white answer for you - my guess is that it will depend on each airline's company policy - but in my opinion that is information that only needs to be given if requested.
Good luck!
Share Answer: 
Well, where would you like to go? It's hard to predict which language an airline will be looking for at any given time, but you can be sure that once you get hired for a second language, you will be scheduled on those routes. It won't do you any good to study French and then realize you hate spending your layovers in France!
If you have your heart set on a particular airline, look at their destinations and perhaps that will influence your choice of language to study. Some airlines will specifically list which languages they are looking for on their careers page of their website, but those positions might fill up before you have a chance to get proficient. There's no right answer for choosing a language (well, maybe there are some wrong answers... Latin won't get you anywhere) so instead pick one that feels manageable, and whose culture interests you, and go from there!
Share Answer: 
-OR-
Login with Facebook (max 20 characters - letters, numbers, and underscores only. Note that your username is private, and you have the option to choose an alias when asking questions or hosting a Q&A.)
(A valid e-mail address is required. Your e-mail will not be shared with anyone.)
(min 5 characters)
By checking this box, you acknowledge that you have read and agree to Jobstr.com’s Terms and Privacy Policy.
-OR-
Register with Facebook(Don't worry: you'll be able to choose an alias when asking questions or hosting a Q&A.)
Browse Jobs
Host a Q&A
Search
Submit Your Question
Host a Q&A
Last 7
