0 min left

Crewed Talk: Myth-Busting USA Today’s 5 Myths About Flight Attendants

27_FAMythbusting

The article that inspired this entry came out while I was on hiatus last month, but it stuck in my mind. When I had to set a dear friend straight about one of these myths yesterday — a friend who constantly impresses me with his airline knowledge — I knew it was an article worth going back for.

I’m talking about USA Today’s Five Myths about Flight Attendants. First let me say that this article is pretty great! However, there is a bit of debunking here that deserves some discussion.

1. Layovers Are One Big Party.

The article quotes Heather Poole, a travel expert flight attendant, as saying that “not a lot of partying is happening at airport hotels,” because her life is one of mostly 8- to 10-hour layovers in which she barely has time to eat, sleep and shower. It also mentions “slam-click,” a crew slang defined on my blog as:

Slam-Click(er) – When a crew member goes to the layover hotel and does not emerge again until pick-up from the hotel. As in: slamming the door and clicking the lock… end of story. Can be used as a noun or a verb. (“I’m so tired, I’m just going to slam-click.” or “Oh, you won’t see her for dinner. She’s a total slam-clicker.”)

All this is true, but — if for no other reason than interest — it’s worth pointing out that I’m not so sure it’s universal. International crews will see more fun than domestic ones (of which Poole speaks) because our layovers are usually more generous and motivating (think: Tokyo for 24 hours vs. St. Louis for 15 hours), but that’s just relative. More to the point, crews at certain foreign airlines tell a different story than either of ours.

At airlines in other regions — where the job still has a common shelf life of somewhere between 2 and 12 years, the crews are all young and single, and most destinations with generous layovers are in foreign countries — I believe when I hear it’s more “old school.”

One anonymous flight attendant for a Middle Eastern airline did a Q&A session on Reddit in which she confessed to having romantic “um, friends in layover cities. She elaborated by saying, “It’s really hard and you get really lonely, so you look for any guy to meet you after flights. All the crew sleep (sic) with each other in outstations. It’s a big problem, the cabin crew are desperate to sleep with pilots and senior crew.”

That quote is very funny to me because this flight attendant tells of a universe I’ve never been to! Clearly, things are a little different on the other side of the world, and there are places where the myth lives large.

2. You Should Tip Flight Attendants for Good Service

I covered this topic pretty recently, so I’ll refer you over to that article. Numbers four and five are pretty complete in the original article, so let’s get those over with.

3. Flight Attendants Are in It for the Free Travel

Not a myth for this girl! Not one little bit. I have met some who say that, but I think they’re totally weird! If they took away our travel, I’d quit on the spot and I’d be in very thick company.

The author of USA Today’s article is right that job flexibility is equally important and, at least these days, more accessible. Many flight attendants attest to not “bothering” to travel anymore because flights are so full and difficult to get on. Also true. There were several occasions last month where I got stuck somewhere and had to give up my plans altogether because I just couldn’t get a seat anywhere. It’s frustrating. Most of the time, however, I make it work. And I don’t mind what they say. I figure the more people who think it’s not worth trying, the more seats will be available for those of us that do! So, shhhh! Let’s not change their minds!

4. Flight Attendants Are Basically Waitresses/Waiters in the Sky

Nothing to add to USA Today’s debunking. If you choose to believe this myth, I’m sure I won’t change your mind. So, moving on…

5. A Flight Attendant Is Supposed to Help Me Stow My Carry-On Bag

Let me just repeat the important part, because people really, really don’t seem to know this one: I do help sometimes, but that’s actually quite dangerous. If we get hurt while moving your bag, it’s considered something we did “voluntarily” (read: not contractually obligated), so the consequences of any injury are on us. I’ve known several flight attendants who were put out of work for months, sometimes even years, as a result of injuries from carry-on bags. I do want to be helpful, but it’s not worth that!

[Photo: iStock]

Comments are Closed.
2 Comments
T
tigerhunt2011 August 28, 2014

What the hell seats are those in the photo and what airline flies with them? They look like the new-era seats from the Concorde...

K
kettle1 August 28, 2014

RE: #5 There was a thread about this and I found the following about DL and posted it on http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/delta-air-lines-skymiles/1605570-disappointing-ga-handicapped-scene-2.html In-flight Assistance: Do you have special in-flight needs? Our flight attendants are highly qualified to ensure your in-flight safety and comfort. They can assist you in using the onboard wheelchair and stowing or retrieving carry-on items, identifying food items on your meal tray and opening packages. However, flight attendants are not permitted to assist with feeding or personal hygiene and lavatory functions. They cannot lift or carry you, and they cannot provide medical services such as giving injections. If your medical condition requires others to provide this type of care, you should travel with a ticketed companion who can see to these needs during the flight. Source: http://www.delta.com/content/www/en_...bilities.html#