About the Flight Attendant Career
A flight attendant provides airline passengers security and safety during travel as well as additional duties like instructing passengers. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), in 2008 a flight attendant earned approximately $35,930 per year. There are great benefits associated with this job. For instance, the flight attendant and his immediate family are given free or discounted fares on the airline and per diem allowance during on-duty travel.
Other People Are Reading
-
Flight Duties
-
A flight attendant must greet passengers as they board the airplane. Also, he has to verify tickets and show passengers to their seats. If passengers need help storing carry-on items, an attendant has to make sure the items are properly stored. Before the flight, an attendant has to explain how to use emergency equipment.
During the flight, an attendant has to serve prepared meals and drinks. In addition, the attendant has to provide passengers with magazines or blankets.
A purser, also called a lead, has additional duties. The lead flight attendant is responsible for supervising the rest of the attendants on board.
Administrative and Clerical Tasks
-
Before the flight, a flight attendant must meet with the pilot to be briefed on the weather, flight's duration and emergency procedures.
When an attendant is not flying she has to perform clerical tasks. These tasks include writing reports and taking inventory of the products like headphones, drinks and pillows.
-
Hours and Work Schedule Requirements
-
This position requires constant travel. In fact, a flight attendant spends most of the time away from his home base or where the airline is located. Thus, an individual interested in this career can relocate to home base or choose to live in a different city than home base. According to BLS, however, the flight attendant must constantly commute between the city and home base.
In addition to relocation, a flight attendant may have to work nights, holidays and weekends.
Typically, the attendant works a 12-hour day even though he can be scheduled for approximately a 14-hour shift. The flight attendant receives 9 hours of rest after each work shift. Therefore, a flight attendant flies up to 90 hours a month. Plus, he works approximately 50 hours on the ground doing clerical duties like completing reports or waiting for the flights to arrive.
Work Conditions
-
A flight attendant must wear a uniform. In addition, this position is physically demanding. For instance, the attendant must stand for long periods of time and repeat the same movements such as walking and bending. Also, the attendant must be ready for any emergencies.
A flight attendant must constantly communicate with passengers and understand what they are saying.
Experience and Education
-
Airlines prefer an applicant with previous customer service experience. This position requires a minimum of a high school diploma. Nevertheless, an applicant who attended a school that offers flight attendant training may have an advantage over the competition, according to BLS. A flight attendant applicant with a degree in hospitality, tourism, education, communications, nursing or psychology is highly desired by airlines, also according to BLS.
A newly hired attendant must go through flight attendant training. The training is typically 3 to 6 weeks and must be successfully completed before an applicant is considered a flight attendant.
-
References
- Photo Credit airplane image by Grigoriev Vitalii from Fotolia.com
