Oldest FA Ever!
Dec 6, 2007 | 12:34 am
#31
Guest
Posts: n/a
[QUOTE=skylady;8846525]
yep- and this is how I figured that amount-
Top pay- $50/hr.
100 hrs month x 50 = 5000 x 12 = 60k
add 1k for on time bonuses = 61k
estimated 500/month per diem= 6000
Comes out to 67k, which, as stated, is almost 70k, and can easily top that by working more hours (many work 110, 120...), and getting more per diem (600/month isn't hard to do at all, nor is 1000 if you are internationally based)...
Top pay- $50/hr.
100 hrs month x 50 = 5000 x 12 = 60k
add 1k for on time bonuses = 61k
estimated 500/month per diem= 6000
Comes out to 67k, which, as stated, is almost 70k, and can easily top that by working more hours (many work 110, 120...), and getting more per diem (600/month isn't hard to do at all, nor is 1000 if you are internationally based)...
Dec 6, 2007 | 1:49 am
#32
Fontaine d'honneur du Flyertalk
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Morbihan, France
Programs: Reine des Muccis de Pucci; Foreign Elitist (according to others)
Posts: 20,678
Good Gracious 1000 hours a month! Is that flying hours or duty hours? A round trip LHR EWR is - off the top of my head about 18 hours or so chock to chock. How many of those do you have to do a month? If that inclides duty time from reporting in to leaving then I can understand. Sorry if I appear dense?
To address the main points raised by the OP. I am a great believer that age should have nothing to do with one's ability to do the job. If sight and hearing are OK - if you can still work the doors and evacuate the aircraft -don life kackets and all the other things for which we are trained and which we hope never to ever have to do - fine. If the OP had told us that the FA was off-hand, unpleasant, or rude in First Class then so be it. However the whole thruse was that this person was elderly and that had something to do with it. That is entirely possible but not perhaps true in this instance.
Skylady who has posted here may have heard of a lady called Joyce. I do not know if she is still flying but about 4/5 years ago she became the No 1 senior FA at AA after waiting for two ladies in DFW to reitre. Joyce was then in her seventies. Let me tell you, she was an example for and an inspiration to us all. She was working LAX-HNL and she bounced round the F cabin as though she had completed training wekks ago. She had then 50 years seniority. At that time we had to fininsh flying at 55 (cockpit still does) - that has gone now - but there she was as fresh as a daisy and absolutely firendly pleasant and with a wicked sense of fun.
I fail to see the significance of going into the lavatory and "moving things around" - we often tip the tea and coffee down there when the drainage in the galley gets blocked (again). For all we know - he just might have been tidiying and cleaning after some less than particular passenger. Sitting in First Class does not automatically indicate that people have - how can I put this delicately - social skills.
That said - why the FA would at that age want to be doing the job is beyond me, but then I do not have to pay his bills each month and he may be lonely at home on his own. I have no idea. Maybe he has no choice. I for one will not be working until I am that age - I consider that I will have done more than enough long before then.
To address the main points raised by the OP. I am a great believer that age should have nothing to do with one's ability to do the job. If sight and hearing are OK - if you can still work the doors and evacuate the aircraft -don life kackets and all the other things for which we are trained and which we hope never to ever have to do - fine. If the OP had told us that the FA was off-hand, unpleasant, or rude in First Class then so be it. However the whole thruse was that this person was elderly and that had something to do with it. That is entirely possible but not perhaps true in this instance.
Skylady who has posted here may have heard of a lady called Joyce. I do not know if she is still flying but about 4/5 years ago she became the No 1 senior FA at AA after waiting for two ladies in DFW to reitre. Joyce was then in her seventies. Let me tell you, she was an example for and an inspiration to us all. She was working LAX-HNL and she bounced round the F cabin as though she had completed training wekks ago. She had then 50 years seniority. At that time we had to fininsh flying at 55 (cockpit still does) - that has gone now - but there she was as fresh as a daisy and absolutely firendly pleasant and with a wicked sense of fun.
I fail to see the significance of going into the lavatory and "moving things around" - we often tip the tea and coffee down there when the drainage in the galley gets blocked (again). For all we know - he just might have been tidiying and cleaning after some less than particular passenger. Sitting in First Class does not automatically indicate that people have - how can I put this delicately - social skills.
That said - why the FA would at that age want to be doing the job is beyond me, but then I do not have to pay his bills each month and he may be lonely at home on his own. I have no idea. Maybe he has no choice. I for one will not be working until I am that age - I consider that I will have done more than enough long before then.
Dec 6, 2007 | 8:07 am
#33
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: EWR
Posts: 373
Good Gracious 1000 hours a month! Is that flying hours or duty hours? A round trip LHR EWR is - off the top of my head about 18 hours or so chock to chock. How many of those do you have to do a month? If that inclides duty time from reporting in to leaving then I can understand. Sorry if I appear dense?
On the other end of the spectrum, there are the reserves. For example, during the month of 9/07 I worked 7 trips (I am internationaly based) averaging about 13 hours each. I worked a total of 96 hours and 58 minutes that month. So I worked 21 days for the same amount of hours as a senior person doing 3 HKG trips in 12 days. I also make $30+ less per hour than they do. It is very easy for them to make a lot of money if they choose to do so. Am I jealous of them? Maybe their paychecks, but I would never want to be on a plane regularly for 16 hours at a time. It basically boils down to your personal preference, and individual needs.
^
**END TANGENT**
Dec 6, 2007 | 9:32 am
#34
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,018
At the risk of thread drift,doing 3 HKG,NRT,PEK or any other polar flights in a month is exposing oneself to way too much radiation,period.The effects can be seen on many of the crew members that fly these routes regularly.Its similar to when we had smokong flights back in the day.It can't be good.
Dec 6, 2007 | 9:48 am
#35
Guest
Posts: n/a
Good Gracious 1000 hours a month! Is that flying hours or duty hours? A round trip LHR EWR is - off the top of my head about 18 hours or so chock to chock. How many of those do you have to do a month? If that inclides duty time from reporting in to leaving then I can understand. Sorry if I appear dense?
To address the main points raised by the OP. I am a great believer that age should have nothing to do with one's ability to do the job. If sight and hearing are OK - if you can still work the doors and evacuate the aircraft -don life kackets and all the other things for which we are trained and which we hope never to ever have to do - fine. If the OP had told us that the FA was off-hand, unpleasant, or rude in First Class then so be it. However the whole thruse was that this person was elderly and that had something to do with it. That is entirely possible but not perhaps true in this instance.
Skylady who has posted here may have heard of a lady called Joyce. I do not know if she is still flying but about 4/5 years ago she became the No 1 senior FA at AA after waiting for two ladies in DFW to reitre. Joyce was then in her seventies. Let me tell you, she was an example for and an inspiration to us all. She was working LAX-HNL and she bounced round the F cabin as though she had completed training wekks ago. She had then 50 years seniority. At that time we had to fininsh flying at 55 (cockpit still does) - that has gone now - but there she was as fresh as a daisy and absolutely firendly pleasant and with a wicked sense of fun.
I fail to see the significance of going into the lavatory and "moving things around" - we often tip the tea and coffee down there when the drainage in the galley gets blocked (again). For all we know - he just might have been tidiying and cleaning after some less than particular passenger. Sitting in First Class does not automatically indicate that people have - how can I put this delicately - social skills.
That said - why the FA would at that age want to be doing the job is beyond me, but then I do not have to pay his bills each month and he may be lonely at home on his own. I have no idea. Maybe he has no choice. I for one will not be working until I am that age - I consider that I will have done more than enough long before then.
To address the main points raised by the OP. I am a great believer that age should have nothing to do with one's ability to do the job. If sight and hearing are OK - if you can still work the doors and evacuate the aircraft -don life kackets and all the other things for which we are trained and which we hope never to ever have to do - fine. If the OP had told us that the FA was off-hand, unpleasant, or rude in First Class then so be it. However the whole thruse was that this person was elderly and that had something to do with it. That is entirely possible but not perhaps true in this instance.
Skylady who has posted here may have heard of a lady called Joyce. I do not know if she is still flying but about 4/5 years ago she became the No 1 senior FA at AA after waiting for two ladies in DFW to reitre. Joyce was then in her seventies. Let me tell you, she was an example for and an inspiration to us all. She was working LAX-HNL and she bounced round the F cabin as though she had completed training wekks ago. She had then 50 years seniority. At that time we had to fininsh flying at 55 (cockpit still does) - that has gone now - but there she was as fresh as a daisy and absolutely firendly pleasant and with a wicked sense of fun.
I fail to see the significance of going into the lavatory and "moving things around" - we often tip the tea and coffee down there when the drainage in the galley gets blocked (again). For all we know - he just might have been tidiying and cleaning after some less than particular passenger. Sitting in First Class does not automatically indicate that people have - how can I put this delicately - social skills.
That said - why the FA would at that age want to be doing the job is beyond me, but then I do not have to pay his bills each month and he may be lonely at home on his own. I have no idea. Maybe he has no choice. I for one will not be working until I am that age - I consider that I will have done more than enough long before then.
Dec 6, 2007 | 5:54 pm
#36
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 166
This particular F/A that he/she is referring to is not all THAT senior, he has been flying for 15 years, which means when CAL hired him, he was well into his 60's. He has recently had either knee or hip replacement surgery, so maybe he was not feeling well that day......
Dec 6, 2007 | 8:02 pm
#37
Join Date: May 2005
Location: FL
Programs: Premier 1K, 1 mm
Posts: 310
I must apologize for my post that began this thread. I have nothing against this gentleman. I have nothing against the elderly. I am sorry that it may have seemed as if I was discriminating - that was not my intention. I was simply trying to state that the overall service from this particular FA (I should not have mentioned his age) was poor. I expected more in terms of service for an F product - especially on a paid F fare. That being said, this isn't a matter of a FA having a "bad day." What does having a bad day have to do with not getting offered a drink until 45 minutes into the flight? Or not having the FA say more than two words to me? Or the FA never smiling? Or the FA going through the lavatory (not sure what he was doing) without washing his hands? Or incredibly slow service?
I certainly agree with you that you should not have mentioned his age. I'm 78, have lost a bladder to cancer, and have diabedes. What would you say about me clearing overgrowth in my back yard with a chain saw and making furniture with power tools? What has happend to humbleness and respect for elders?
Jack
Dec 6, 2007 | 8:51 pm
#38
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Philadelphia,PA
Programs: United 1K,Marriott Platinum Premier,IHC Platinum Ambassador,Hilton Gold
Posts: 1,898
@:-)As well all know FA Norma Heape has been flying with CO over 50 years and has no plans to retire..age has nothing to do with it..Age should have never been brought up here and esp. as the title of the thread..
Dec 6, 2007 | 9:54 pm
#39
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,018
Not the most loved fa by her peers or mgmt either.Point is age doesn't make a fa good or bad. We have plenty of rotten eggs from all age brackets,but more importantly,we have many many more good eggs across all age brackets.