Past & Present Flight Attendants - Opinions Needed Plz

Hi Everyone,

I have been recruited to interview for A FA position for a major US airline. Before I spend six hours on a plane to attend this interview I was hoping that someone who has actually held this job could offer some input

Is the pay really bad?
What does on reservel really involve?
How difficult would this job be with a six year old at home and a husband who works a rotating shift ( DH is FDNY)

I would appreciate any and all comments both positive and negative. Please FM me if you prefer

Thank you very much

Message edited 6/2/2012 9:20:11 AM.

Re: Past & Present Flight Attendants - Opinions Needed Plz

I have not been a FA but I have a friend who is. There are some perks (free flights, lots of days off) but negatives as well. I've been told that they only get paid for actual flight time - they do not get paid for prepping the plane, layovers, etc (might be specific to the airline so you'd have to check on that). I think you would be able to work around your husband's schedule but depending upon the flights, you may do an overnight before the return flight. HTH

Re: Past & Present Flight Attendants - Opinions Needed Plz

I've never been a FA, but I worked in a hotel that was near an airport where a lot of them stayed, as a waitress, and MOST were SUPER CHEAP. People I worked with said this was because they hardly made $$$.

They'd order like a $2.00 item and ask for all these "free" extras, like rolls and water and maybe give me something like a 50 cent tip. And this was w/ room service.

Granted this was while I was in college in the late 90's but I can't imagine things have changed all that much (although I hope they have).

My boss at the time wanted to make as much $$ as he could, at the expense of his staff, which was why there wasn't a minimum price for room service.

I often take the shuttle to Boston for work, so if you could get a gig like that, maybe it wouldn't be as bad if you didn't have to stay over somewhere.

Message edited 6/3/2012 5:21:31 PM.

Re: Past & Present Flight Attendants - Opinions Needed Plz

I was a f/a for over 10 years at a charter and it was the BEST gig of my life! Charter airline's make a lot more money. We only tipped those who handled our luggage or wait staff. In one month I would be at over 15-different hotels maybe more so NO we cant keep tipping

I do not know how you will do it with a child unless you have a support system. I resigned as soon as I got pregnant.

Majors pays a lot less to start but after time you wind up making more

they CAN change your base! did they say what base they are hiring???

Message edited 6/4/2012 1:39:47 PM.

Re: Past & Present Flight Attendants - Opinions Needed Plz

I was a flight attendant for 14 years with 2 carriers. One was a small company that did charters and the other was a major carrier that I left in 2008. I loved the job. Loved it. But I would never in a million years go back now that I have kids- even if I retained my seniority. A big old hell no to going back and starting at the bottom of the seniority list. Seniority is everything in the airline industry and it takes a LOOOOOONG time to develop seniority at big carriers like UA and AA. Even Southwest hasn't hired from the "outside" in years, so the same bottom 65% of each base has been sitting reverve for YEARS. Southwest has a rotating reserve system, so there is some relief from sitting without a scheduled line, but they're the only ones that do that I think.

Reserve is rough, especially at a legacy carrier like UA. Hours are crazy, schedule is never really "set" and air travel is just not "fun" anymore. Passengers are often annoyed- and will take it out on the first employee they see. Now with budget cuts, that first person is often the flight attendant. Many times people's expectations are too high and the airlines' are usually too low. Customer service and general politeness have gone out the window- and it's no wonder....

Flight crews are underpaid and overworked and my understanding is morale is pretty low at companies like AA and UA. Overnights are often the bare minimum. Also, training for UA is 9 weeks long and in Chicago, IIRC.

Sorry I can't be more positive, but the job is just not the same as what it was just 10 years ago.

Re: Past & Present Flight Attendants - Opinions Needed Plz

Thanks so much for all the insight . I decided to respectfully withdraw my candidacy