Flight Attendants Expose The Absolute Worst Parts Of The Job
There was once a time when being a flight attendant was synonymous with exclusivity, especially during the Golden Age of Flight. Flight attendants, once also known as stewardesses, traversed the world and wore designer uniforms. The business has changed, but the allure and adventure promised to flight attendants remain. They get paid to travel (accommodations included) and enjoy other advantages, such as discounted flights for themselves and their families and insurance benefits.
However, this career is anything but simple. Flight attendants must provide customer service, deal with medical emergencies, and address safety concerns. Simply put, they do it all and more. Given this, it might not surprise you that the industry has a high turnover rate.
Speaking to CNN in 2023, several flight attendants noted that the job has grown increasingly difficult since the COVID-19 pandemic, citing long hours and a shortage of personnel. Even with the perks, flight attendants hate many aspects of the job. From low earnings to relationship troubles, nightmare passengers, and more, working as a flight attendant comes with significant drawbacks.
Unpredictable work schedules
While typical office workers work 8 hours a day with weekends off, flight attendants follow a much more hectic schedule. In fact, sporadic work days over 10 hours long are common for cabin crew. In a TikTok from late 2023, former Virgin Australia flight attendant Ashlee Rogers revealed she had decided to leave the job due to the lack of a stable schedule.
Per the Daily Mail, Rogers shared, "Nothing is guaranteed. Your shift for that day is not even guaranteed. Whatever you have tomorrow is not guaranteed. Everything can change in a second." She added, "You might just be going in for a day shift, next minute you might be away for four days. You don't know what's gonna happen." Ultimately, this prompted Rogers to quit after a year on the job.
Rogers' sentiment echoes what TikTok user @cloudsurferandy7 said in a video on the social media platform. Speaking about the worst aspects of being a flight attendant, she explained that she could not make plans because work could call her in at any moment. This is especially true if the flight attendant is on standby, which means they could receive a last-minute assignment.
Strained personal relationships
Irregular scheduling can negatively impact flight attendant relationships, romantic and otherwise. Being away frequently and at any given time means they'll inevitably miss various family or social functions. In addition, most flight attendants have to work holidays. The career has little flexibility, which can put a damper on a flight attendant's personal life.
In a 2015 article written for News.com.au, flight attendant Sarah Steegar disclosed that her job led her to forget important dates. She recalled that a close friend came to visit her from out of town, only to find her away at work, which caused contention in the friendship. One unnamed flight attendant admitted on the Daily Mail's "Dear Jane" advice column that she loves her job but struggles with her romantic connections. She divulged that her long-term boyfriend had broken up with her because of her schedule and noted that she had trouble dating due to the risk of leaving suddenly for her job.
In an article for Business Insider, former flight attendant Beth Windsor voiced similar complaints, stating that she felt men wanted to date her solely because of her job. However, she observed that this no longer seemed to happen after she switched to a different career.
Physical and mental health problems
You don't have to work as a flight attendant to know that airplanes carry a host of germs. Consequently, the job can adversely affect the flight crew's health. On Reddit, one flight attendant posted they got sick multiple times a year and were considering leaving their job because of it. They cited passengers and the physical toll of their careers as reasons for their recurring illnesses. According to a study from the National Research Council (US) Committee on Airliner Cabin Air Quality, respiratory infections and diseases occur frequently among flight attendants. It's no wonder that flight attendants suggest having a mask on hand.
Another study from the scientific journal Frontiers in Public Health states that flight attendants could develop cancer from constant radiation exposure during flights. Notably, flight attendants often receive breast cancer diagnoses. Additionally, they have a reputation for developing sleep issues, likely due to their turbulent schedules.
These physical factors, coupled with dealing with disruptive passengers, can also make the job mentally taxing. In an interview with CNN, flight attendant Nastassja Lewis admitted that her career had a detrimental impact on her mental well-being. Countless videos on social media of other flight attendants say the same thing. This led Lewis to create th|AIR|apy, an international text line and website with mental health resources for flight attendants.
Low pay rates
Unfortunately, flight attendants don't receive high compensation for all their hard work, especially when they are new to the job. Sara Nelson, from the Association of Flight Attendants, told NPR, "First-year flight attendants, you're getting real close to state minimum wages." Pay varies across the country, but ZipRecruiter reports that some flight attendants only make $25,000 annually. Those with seniority who have worked as flight attendants for years can make over $100,000.
However, most individuals don't reach such income levels. In a TikTok from @flexaroundtheworld, the flight attendant revealed that his water bottle costs more than his hourly wage. Another flight attendant, @josette_nicole, who works for Southwest Airlines, said on the platform that she only gets paid monthly, which can prove challenging.
Speaking to NPR, Julie Hedrick from the Association of Professional Flight Attendants said that flight attendants don't get paid for boarding or any time before the plane doors close. Flight attendant @flywithvivian noted on TikTok that they also don't get paid if delays or other problems keep the plane grounded — all of these issues regarding pay led to flight attendants striking around the country in February 2024.
Unruly passengers
You may have watched viral videos of individuals having a meltdown on planes. Regrettably, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) states this has become the norm since 2021. In 2023 alone, the agency documented more than 2,000 reported cases of unruly passengers. While flight attendants will tune out passengers for annoying behaviors, sometimes they don't have this option. Flight attendant Rich Henderson told CNN, "I had a passenger throw a cup at me, tell me I was worthless and tell me that I was horrible at my job." He added, "I felt so dehumanized." Henderson also told the publication that he believes societal changes triggered by the pandemic have caused this increase in bad behavior among passengers.
Although these passengers could face hefty fines and legal consequences, this does not deter them, explained a flight attendant, referred to as Sky, to the New York Post. "I'm not convinced in the heat of the moment, an unruly passenger will reason with the idea of federal charges." Sky continued, "On airplanes, there's such limited space ... Things can escalate faster than normal. People are on edge." Next time you have a flight, do your best to greet your flight attendants with a smile; you never know what they have dealt with that day.