A Day in the Life of a Flight Attendant

When I first got the idea that I'd like to be a flight attendant I was in high school during the time when the airline industry was exploding. It was viewed as a glamorous job and everyone wanted to be one!! Growing up in a small farming town, 3 hours from the nearest major airport it seemed like a fairy tale dream at best. Mix in with that the firm and emphatic response from my high school counselor that "I absolutely did NOT want to be a flight attendant" and you are right if you suspect that I was totally at a loss as to how to make it a reality.

That's all far behind me now but the excitement and desire was always there when I traveled anywhere on business or met someone who was (or had been) a flight attendant! So, five years ago, when I got the nudge from a previous co-worker to give it a try I attended an open house, got an interview, was offered the job, attending training and earned my wings!!! That's a big mouthful I know, but it's not an easy job to get and the training is grueling. That much hasn't changed.

A typical trip may vary from two to four days, depending on your seniority and your personal choice. For me it just makes more sense to pack a bag for three days and get a huge chunk of flying done all in a row. Saves on gas too as I drive to work and back only one time, vs. round trips for any other job. That's a perk, especially today!

No matter the length of a trip the job description doesn't vary ... the people you interact with do, of course, but the job is very specific and is done by the book. Many regulations dictate the regimen for everything you do, the fun begins when you mix with the crew and the people on board.

Prior to any passengers coming on board a flight attendant (s) will make the cabin ready by conducting a preflight of all emergency equipment, testing each item to be certain they are present, secure and in working order. Over the course of a given day it's hard to know how many times a smoke detector gets tested but you'll get a hint if you note (on your next trip) all the ink marks on the smoke detector in one of the aircraft lavs!! I've been on multiple aircraft on a single day and the process repeats itself with each new aircraft. . .the job is never done.

Our training included the obvious but also the things you might not realize. . .such as the ability to use a defibrillator, administer oxygen and perform CPR at 30,000 feet. We have received instruction and know the steps to recognize explosive materials and even how to move one if instructed to do so. You also might be happy to know that we know where to put it for the least amount of damage to the aircraft should the worst case scenario become a reality!

Just one quick word on the whys and why nots of all the rules for stowage of personal items prior to takeoff. It's an irritant to most passengers to have to stow items UNDER the seat or overhead because it's just easier to place things into the seat back pocket or better yet, just HOLD on to things during takeoff. What passes over the heads of many is that the ONE AND ONLY REASON for all the rules about putting things in certain areas only, keeping that seatbelt secure and so on is that we are preparing for the worst case scenario. Any small item will fly about the cabin on impact, the heavier the item the faster it will fly. Things locked into an overhead compartment won't fly about and the same holds true for the items at foot level, as long as they are fully underneath the seat in front of you. Next time you fly. . .fly safe. . .follow the instruction given and know that our concern is getting you out alive.

I love my job and I've found that most of the time it's easy to be resilient and kind even when my day has not been a good one. I'd be lieing if I didn't admit that some days are tougher than others. I've walked on aircraft at 815am and walked off at 635pm. . .10 hours and 20 minutes later. . .not having had any lunch or seen any view but the inside of the aircraft for the entire day so far. As I check my schedule I see that the next flight (that is now 5 hours delayed) has been held for us to arrive!! Many of the passengers are beyond irritated and some are getting aggressive at the gate believing that perhaps it's mismanagement or choice that keeps them stranded and without option to get on with their day. I dart into a public restroom for a quick minute and then proceed to the gate, ignoring the restaurant and food options along the way, knowing that inside my small bag I shoved an applesauce, a spoon and a small V8 earlier that morning. When time allows I'll pull those items out and hope that they'll fill in the void I'm feeling since the apple and protein bar I ate earlier that morning.

What you may not realize when you see those smartly dressed flight attendants in the airport is that on any given day when they experience weather or mechanical delays that they can be worked for a full 16 hours, instead of the normal 14. The next time you feel overworked during an 8 hour shift please know that that'd be considered a really short day in aviation!!

For all the long days and missed lunch's and short nights of sleep during those trips, I wouldn't trade what I do for anything. I'd spent years in sales and marketing and this is a breath of fresh air! The people you work with become your friends and the interactions with the people keep things new and entertaining. For all the angry passengers you deal with there are many more happy ones to soften the blow and keep things fun and fresh!!

I'd recommend this job to anyone. . .unless you don't like people and can't work under guidelines that are not negotiable. It's a blast but it takes a special personality to make it work. On any given day we are there to save you and everyone else on board in an emergency. . .everything else is extra.