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.
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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Sorry Jackieblue, as far as I know they don't, not even Bed & Breakfasts are considered because they're just too small. There are so many criteria a hotel must meet to be considered for an airline contract that it would be a rare house indeed that could meet them all!
For example, crews require safe and reliable transport between the airport and the hotel 24/7, rooms above the ground floor, safes, nearby access to restaurants and/or grocery stores, fridges and microwaves in each room are a plus for crew that pack their own lunches on the road, and a block of rooms always ready and available. If you have all that then Wow. I need some real estate tips from you!
I hope you don't mind I answered on here in case other people were wondering too! Thanks!
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Oh lots! But fear not, they will teach you EVERYTHING you need to know. It's a steep learning curve, and if, like me, you're going into your training with no prior knowledge of aviation it can be enough to make your head spin. Some of the things you'll be tested on include:
emergency exits - where they are and how to open them
emergency equipment - where they're located, how to stow them, how to ensure they're in working order, and use them
those are the two big things (and believe me they take up a Huge chunk of training time) but other things you'll need to know is the location and proper operation of service equipment, the number of seats/passengers per plane, who's responsible for which safety checks, and how to write up broken equipment.
I'm lucky, at my airline all the aircrafts are Boeing 737s so there isn't much variation between one aircraft and another. Other airlines have multiple types of aircraft and some FAs will only be qualified to work on certain aircraft, depending on what their training covers. But like I said, your inflight training provided by the airline will go into detail about each of these areas, and give you all the material you need to become an expert on your aircraft cabin! Good luck!
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A perfect passenger is usually an invisible one! They board with ease, they don't have a million carry-ons, they respect the seatbelt sign, they are polite when I come through with service, and they may even give me a smile as they deplane. I know that doesn't sound very exciting, but it's also not that hard to be a great traveller! I like to tell myself that I was this kind of customer before I became an FA but that could be wishful thinking.
I also enjoy people who chit chat and joke around with me, or ask me questions, because I love to help out and interact with guests one on one, it makes my day a lot more interesting - but don't feel obligated if that's not your style!
And since you asked, please don't stand in the aisles when I'm doing service! I get it, when nature calls there's nothing we can do about it, but it is a pain moving my cart up and down the length of the plane so people can use the bathroom and then get back to their seats. I'm used to it, but it would make my job easier if people could time their bathroom breaks around our service rather than during! A girl can dream, can't she?
Thanks for asking!
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Do Mexican authorities help on THEIR side of the border?
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Are Crossfit gyms profitable right out of the gate?
This is a tough question. I would recommend the airline I currently work for but I am trying to retain a bit of anonymity so I'll just say that its business model is based on that of Southwest's, and so I would probably recommend them even though I can't remember ever flying with them! They consistently land in the top employers list of the US and likewise, my airline has been rated one of the best companies to work for in Canada, so I think they have a good thing going; Namely, taking care of their employees (ie health benefits, competitive salaries, opportunities to buy shares within the company) so that they, in turn, can pass on those good vibes to the passengers.
Beyond that however, your guess is as good as mine! I think a lot of flight attendants harbour those same visions of grandeur that Gwyneth Paltrow's character in A View from the Top had, about being a "first class, international" FA. Airlines like Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Air New Zealand and Virgin Atlantic for example, have a reputation for being luxurious and elite, and that appeals to potential employees as much as it does to travelers. If you're unattached and willing to relocate, have exquisite customer service skills and a second or third language on hand then by all means, have at her! Go fly with the pros so the rest of us can live vicariously through you! But be warned that the grass always looks greener on the other side. Sometimes it's hard to appreciate what you have when you compare yourself to crew from another airline.
I guess you'll have to decide what you're looking for in a career in the airline industry - long term stability or just something to try for a year or two? The opportunity to travel all over the world or a job with travel perks, but still local enough to juggle family life? Tax breaks overseas, or a homegrown company? Some FAs work for several airlines before they find their fit, so get out there and test the waters!
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Ah, drunk passengers. The very thought of them can make my blood boil. We try really hard to not overserve in the air, and the most common way that passengers get out of hand is when they smuggle their own alcohol (usually duty-free booze purchased at the airport - take note, it's ILLEGAL to crack open your own alcohol on a plane!) and consume it without us knowing. The thing is, drunk people may think they're sneaky, but they're actually about as subtle as an elephant. So, if people are drinking their own booze and honestly didn't realize they weren't supposed to, I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and let them off with a warning. However, if they think they can pull the wool over my eyes and act like they're sipping water instead of vodka, I might ask the Captain to have local authorities meet the aircraft when we land. Either way, that alcohol is being confiscated and going down the drain.
I always try to lead off with the nice approach because it can be frustrating and embarrassing to be cut-off, but I have so little patience for people who argue with me. I'm sure they're charming when they're sober but when drunk they just prevent me from serving the hundred or so other guests on the plane, and unfortunately, unlike the bar, we can't just have a bouncer kick them out! Really bad drunks will be removed from the flight (if they are drunk when boarding), or met by cops when we land, with the possibility that they'll be banned from flying with the airline again. So, go ahead, have a drink, but know your limits and the flight attendants will love you!
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I confess I did a double take when I first read this question, I thought it was sarcasm at first but then it really gave me some food for thought!
The quick answer is yes, that is, sight and hearing are very important to the job and will be tested before you can proceed with training. Every FA must undergo medical screening, and though the methods vary from doctor to doctor, an eye exam and hearing test will be included. My own screening wasn't very stressful - the hearing test consisted of the doctor moving from one corner of the room to another, whispering the names of different cities in our flight network, and I had to repeat them back to her. It felt kinda silly.
The ironic thing is that FAs who have been flying a long time, especially on turbo-prop planes that are extremely loud, have terrible hearing from all the ambient noise bombarding their ears day in and day out. Just sayin'.
I've never worked with someone sporting hearing aids, but I did just work with a flight attendant who was born blind in one eye yet still had the doctor's approval to fly. The standards are definitely not as strict as they are for pilots (for example, you can be colour blind and still be an FA) but you do need to pass basic tests for sight and hearing.
Smell is important too, in fact last week a flight I was on had to turn around and head back to the departure city because of an acrid burnt-plastic smell that manifested in the cabin. We use our senses all the time to alert us to a potential emergency situation. Happily, we landed and all got home safely!
I hope this answered your question!
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