I'm one of those flight attendants that does prefer to be called a flight attendant. I have to admit I am insulted when a person who is forty or younger calls me a stewardess. Plus, it's been "flight attendant" for about 20 years now, it's not new.

You have referred to this title as a retro word, but we aren't in a retro world. We all know airline travel isn't what it used to be, and believe me when I say my job isn't what it used to be. When I hear the word stewardess, I immediately think of sex kittens wearing hot pants and boots. To me it also implies that all we're capable of doing is bringing drinks. Now, I spend more time being a police officer, babysitter and nurse than I do serving meals. I still love being a flight attendant and do my very best everytime I'm in the air, but it's far from the "I love to travel" and "I love people" era of the 70's and 80's.

It's all symantics and really isn't that big of a deal, but to me being referred to as a flight attendant is much more respectful than being called a stewardess.

As far as the publics perception of the job, it's too bad it really hasn't changed over the years, because most of us work very hard at what we do. We spend a lot of time training in emergency evacuations, first aid, fire safety, and now you can add self defense and fending off troubled passengers. On my last few flights alone, I've had 3 medical situations that needed immediate attention, and a drunk who was fighting with his seat mate. What would the stewardess have done?