13 Flight Attendant Facts you didn’t know
So when thinking about a job as a cabin crew, you’re probably imagining visiting exotic destinations, walking around the airport with a glamorous uniform and generally just being paid to travel the world. And while some very distorted version of these scenarios could be the case, what you’re not seeing is what goes on behind the scenes: all the trainings, medical checks, exams and sleepless nights that flight attendants have to actually go through in order to get their wings and start a career in the skies.
So I have compiled a list of 13 Flight Attendant facts that you probably weren’t aware of.
Dealing with…everything
We’re responsible for every single life on board, we’re trained to deal with people choking, having heart attacks, getting seizures, fainting, being on fire, surviving decompression, as well as dealing with drunk, offensive, abusive and disruptive people. It looks like a waitress job on the outside and then you start peeling it and it turns out it has nothing to do with that.
2. Unhealthy environment
Because of the unfavourable conditions we have to work in, we are at much higher risk for an array of diseases and medical conditions (low air humidity, exposure to hundreds of potentially sick passengers, radiation, etc). Just a small example is the humidity levels in the cabin: around 10%-15%, for reference, the humidity in the Sahara desert is around 23%
3. Firefighting
We’re trained to deal with fires, and it’s actually a very big part of the training, as fires can be extremely deadly 35000ft above the ground. I was personally trained by extinguishing actual fires in different parts of a plane mockup.
4. Survival trainings
We also have “survivor” trainings, in which we learn how to survive in every condition, at every temperature, how to build shelters, signs for SAR, how to use location transmitters and so on.
5. We only get paid when we’re in the air
Let’s say I have a morning flight to Rome. I have to wake up at around 2am for a flight that takes off at 5:30, put on full glam makeup, do my hair, eat and travel to work for about 40 min to an hour. Then the briefing starts 70min prior to STD(Standard Time of Departure). Then I do boarding, for which I’m not being paid and if there’s a technical problem and the plane can not take off, I won't be paid anything, even though I’ve woken up at 2 and have been preparing for the flight for 3 and a half hours. The duty ends 20 minutes after landing, but you’re always on the plane for longer. Then I have another hour to get to Vienna, as the airport is not in the city. I have to buy my own tickets and I only have transport at limited times. My duty officially ends at around 11:30 if there’s no delay. If there is a delay that usually doesn’t get us more money. So for preparation and going to work, I’ve spent 9:30 and yet I’ll be paid only 2 short sectors(which means for about 3/4 hours of work).
6. Airport standby
Which means that you basically have to dress up, put on all the makeup, prepare your suitcase and go hang out at the airport for about 6 hours so that if a flight attendant gets suddenly sick or someone is out of hours you can go do their flight instead.
7. Always a different crew
Most of the time I’m meeting the colleagues I’ll be working with during the briefing in the office before the actual flight. That could not be the case if you work for a small airline or a small base but it’s definitely true for big carriers.
8. Unlocking the lavatories
We know how to open the lavatory doors from the outside. Just keep that in mind the next time you decide you wanna become a proud member of the mile high club
9. Weight requirements
Weight requirements are a big thing and if you weigh more or less than you should according to your height on the BMI chart you’re most likely not going to be considered for the job.
10. Onboard meals
Onboard meals are disgusting and deep-frozen and most flight attendants won’t touch them with a 10-foot pole. Same goes for the water, tap water on the plane is absolutely horrendous so you’ll never see a crew member drinking it.
11. 9-5 is a no-go
Most people who work as crew can’t really handle a 9-5 job in my experience and that’s exactly why they’re working on board instead. The crew always consist of people from all walks of life, lawyers, nurses, IT specialists, bartenders but what they all have in common is that they love not working the typical 9-5 hours.
12. Helping with suitcases
We’re not allowed to lift passenger bags since it’s a health hazard and the last thing you want on a plane is an incapacitated and injured cabin crew member. Another reason is that if the bag gets damaged in any way, we can get blamed for it. if you’re a healthy adult and you can’t lift your own bag, you should put it in the cargo or pack less. If you don’t have a full range of mobility for any reason (age, injury, etc.) you should book assistance which is free at every airport and they’ll help you with getting through the terminal, going on the plane and also help you with your luggage.
13. Always being vigilant
We are judging you from the moment you set foot on board, as I’ve discussed in one of my previous YouTube videos, but we also judge your health, seeing if you can be potentially disruptive, drunk, or if we can use you as an ABP(Able-Bodied Passenger)
Did you know any of these facts or was all the information news to you?