I am sure that many of you are business travelers and have most likely thought to yourselves in the course of a flight: Gee, why would that person want to be a flight attendant? After all, the pay is dismal, the people can be rude, and you have the chance of going down with the plane! I mean, I just don't get it...i have been told in the past that FA's enjoy free travel etc. Well, that is fine, but they ofter share apartments with more that six or eight others, and really can't call any place home except a hotel room. Any thoughts? One last thing..I read that TWA started FA's at approx. 16k per year and that the max pay is approx 40k after twenty or so years! Sorry, I just don't get it!

This question is asked on a BBS populated by people who make long airplane trips just for the mileage credit and buy cases of food they would not otherwise eat for the same reason?

I don't know about TWA, but it is not uncommon for Japanese flight attendents to make 100ks a year. In the US, an oldtimer for the major airlines can make over 70ks a year without much effort. While it is possible for a new one to make 16ks a year, it also means that the person worked very little. Some contracts requires a minimum guarantee of working hours per month, so if you work less, you still get pay. They get paid very well. Maybe if you knew really how much they get paid, you wouldn't ask why someone would choose it as a career.

[This message has been edited by sergio (edited 12-21-1999).]

Anybody comment on jms8090's assertion that

I find it hard to believe that airlines ask their flight attendants to be anywhere near that crowded. Especially since I expect airlines would contract with hotels for very favorable room rates, and the incremental amount of money you save rapidly decreases as you add more and more people to the room. I.e., if rate is $100, giving 8 FA's singles cost $800; giving them doubles saves $400, but making them quadruple up only saves an additional $200.

pshuang,

I don't think jms8090 means when they are flying, but actually where they live.

I know some FAs who actually live in an apartment with 6 total people. They all travel so much, however, that they are rarely home. They also spend a great deal of free time traveling to other cities or visiting friends and/or relatives.

RichG,

My sister just started with a small regional - they live in a "crash pad" - an apartment in one FA's name - eight of them "crash" there when they are not home or on an overnight trip - they live there b/c they can't afford any other living space close by Dulles, and didn't have a choice (except to work somewhere else) as to which airport would be their home base. I think she's crazy, but she's told by some "old timers" that it is a way of life that they come to enjoy greatly and many former FAs return to the fold after finding that life in the the regular world with "regular" schedules is not as much fun.

thanks for the replies...but i hardly would equate buying diet coke with being a flight attendant. but, on the other hand, one of the reasons that i have been given for the career choice is seeing the world. of course, this is once one is able to choose routes. also, working in the first class cabin in preferable..i know why.

Who WOULDN'T want to fly in first class for free on domestic and int'l 3-class aircraft with lots of coworkers while paying customers are relegated to the back cabins????

Who WOULDN'T want a job where you could work for 30 minutes then spend 3 hours chatting with coworkers?

Who WOULDN'T want a job where surliness is just as acceptable as politeness?

BAH HUMBUG!!!!

(I know, I know, the pay stinks, hours and schedule are hard, etc., etc. But complaining is my RIGHT as a frequnet flyer )

An ex-girlfriend of mine is now a cabin service director with BA. She stuck with it for three reasons:

1. Travel - she did her early years in long haul international flights, and got to get into some of BA's new routes in Central Asia - great for a former backpacker.

2. A career which in her mind women were not discriminated against. (Previous employer was not very fair).

3. Not having to live in a routine. That includes socially as well. (Hence the 'ex' prefix above).

In case you want to know, i hardly fly with BA, so haven't been lucky enough to score that special service...

Let's say a junior FA lives in LA, but has to commute to NYC to go to work. The travel is NOT free. Lets say that once a month, only 1st class is available on the LAX-JFK commute. That flight alone will cost $100. If you are on of the F/A's on food stamps, you don't appreciate paying $100 to have your corn flakes served in a dish.

I won't even address your last two comments.

- Derek

------------------
50 cents an hour not a big Advantage?
Be paid $20-$120 an hour with BePaid.
http://www.bepaid.com/users.rhtml?REFID=10063853

Derek: While my tounge was firmly planted in cheek when I posted the above, your response rankles me.

To wit: why should I have any more sympathy for a flight a attendent who commutes to work than he or she has for me, a paying customer (and paying a LOT more than $100 for a coast to coast flight), who is on a plane "commuting to work" even though my "work" and the fa's "work" is somewhat different.

The issues of employees dominating first clas s on 3-class aircraft has been beaten to death. Let's just say that I'll agree to strongly disagree with you on this one...

And BTW, if that FA doesn't like the commute, the FA should consider living in his/her base of operation...

Oh yeah, and Merry X-mas!!!!!

[This message has been edited by kokonutz (edited 12-23-1999).]

I have never seen non-revs get put up front ahead of revenue pax or upgrades. Granted, I don't fly United.

I was referring to new hires who are making $15k a year. To have $200 a month just to go to work can be quite demanding.

Merry Christmas to you, too. I didn't catch the tounge-in-cheek-ness of your post.

- Derek

------------------
50 cents an hour not a big Advantage?
Be paid $20-$120 an hour with BePaid.
http://www.bepaid.com/users.rhtml?REFID=10063853

FAs can commute on the flight attendant "jumpseats" for free, if they are available.

Jadette

[This message has been edited by jadette (edited 12-09-2000).]

I suppose if you like to travel and like to have a few days off at a time, a FA job wouldn't be bad for a few years. Some do get battle worn as some refer to passengers as "the enemy"!
One FA told me that a fellow FA did nude massages to make money! She insisted that it was only nude and no sex was involved. I never brought up the sex part!

American's Jumpseat rule is that you are charged for the lowest class of service available unless there are no empty seats. This means that if only an F seat is available, you get billed for F.

- Derek

------------------
50 cents an hour not a big Advantage?
Be paid $20-$120 an hour with BePaid.
http://www.bepaid.com/users.rhtml?REFID=10063853