Originally Posted by FWAAA
It's an entry-level job. It's something that capable people do when they're young and something that less-capable people do as they age (if they can't or don't wish to qualify for anything else). For instance, college kids work summers at theme parks and on cruise ships. But that's something most grow out of as they age. 'Cause each year, there's a whole new crop of eager, enthusiastic college kids to take their place. Same thing with Flight Attendants.
That's an interesting perspective that I hadn't thought of before. I guess to a certain extent, you can classify all jobs as either "dead-end" or "career-path" oriented. If FA's are technically dead-end jobs similar to working at McDonald's, it would require a whole shift in mentality/thinking for the entire industry, and really de-glamourize the idea of being a FA.
You could allow a select few qualified/deserving FA's to gain seniority with higher pay and promotions, but the majority would be those who just got their fill flying and then moved on to something else. It would be spelled out for them very clearly when they apply.
However, that kind of policy will never take hold as long as there is a union.