“Flight Attendants’ Pros and Cons Revealed”
Being a flight attendant is a dream job for many, as they get to travel the world while working. This is a major perk of the profession, but if you are considering or aspiring to be a flight attendant, it’s important to understand both the advantages and disadvantages of this career in order to make an informed decision.
According to aviation news website “Simple Flying,” being a flight attendant has many benefits, with the top three highlighted as follows:
Flight attendants get to travel to various destinations around the world while on duty, not only without having to pay for plane tickets but also enjoying free hotel accommodation, providing them with great convenience for traveling.
Additionally, like other ground staff, flight attendants can avail of discounted and complimentary flight tickets from their own or partner airlines on their off days. However, these tickets are on standby basis and cannot be pre-booked.
While most professionals work the typical nine-to-five schedule, flight attendants have irregular working hours. They follow a roster schedule and can sometimes choose which flights to serve based on their seniority, as well as swap shifts or take leave with colleagues.
Some flight attendants opt for working continuously for a period and then schedule extended days off for traveling. This kind of work flexibility is not common for most regular employees.
If you are a people-oriented individual, then being a flight attendant may be a good fit for you. While flight attendants prioritize flight safety, customer service is equally important. They interact with people from around the world on a daily basis, most of whom are strangers, providing them with the opportunity to make new friends.
Passengers board flights for various reasons, and each person has a different story to tell. Whether at airports, hotels, during flights, or layovers, flight attendants always come across different individuals, giving them ample chances to socialize and meet new people.
On the downside, the website pinpoints three main disadvantages of being a flight attendant:
Despite flight attendants earning decent salaries compared to some industries, considering the significant safety responsibilities they undertake, their pay is comparatively lower, especially when starting out. In fact, it may take years for flight attendants to reach a higher pay grade.
Being on standby is a regular duty for flight attendants, usually happening once or twice a month. All flight attendants must rotate equally on standby duty. During these few hours of standby, they need to be ready for duty on short notice until the last minute, as other attendants might be unable to make it due to illness or tardiness, requiring the standby attendants to step in.
Standby duty can be one of the most frustrating periods for flight attendants due to its unpredictability, impacting their schedules and personal lives. As reserve personnel, standby flight attendants only know where and for how long they are needed once they receive the notification. They could suddenly be called for longer flights, which were not initially part of their scheduled roster.
While some flight attendants can do same-day round trips on duty, most have schedules that require them to be away from home for several days at a time. This lifestyle may impact flight attendants with families, homes, or pets.
So next time you’re aboard a flight, remember that while flight attendants are there to accompany you during your time with loved ones, they themselves are far away from their own families and friends.