Flight Attendants

Flight attendants are usually assigned to a home base in a major city or large metropolitan area. These locations include cities such as New York, Chicago, Boston, Atlanta, Miami, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and St. Louis. Some airlines assign attendants on a rotation system to home bases, or they may give preference to the requests for certain home bases made by those with rank and seniority. Those with the longest records of service may be given the most desirable flights and schedules.

Flight attendants need to be flexible in their work schedules, mainly because commercial airlines operate 24 hours a day throughout the entire year. They may be scheduled to work nights, weekends, and on holidays, and they may find that some of their allotted time off occurs away from home between flights. They are often away from home for several days at a time. They work long days, but over a year's time, a flight attendant averages about 156 days off, compared with 96 days off for the average office worker. Approximately 25 percent of flight attendants work part time, according to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL).

The work performed by flight attendants may be physically demanding in some respects. For most of the flight, they are usually on their feet serving passengers' needs, checking safety precautions, and, in many cases, serving meals and beverages. Working with the public all day can be draining. Flight attendants are the most visible employees of the airline, and they must be courteous to everyone, even passengers who are annoying or demanding. There is a certain degree of risk involved in any type of flight work. Flight attendants may suffer minor injuries as they perform their duties in a moving aircraft. The DOL says that flight attendants "have one of the highest rates of injuries and illnesses of all occupations. Common injuries include sprains, strains, and bruises." Flight attendants may suffer from irregular sleeping and eating patterns, dealing with stressful passengers, working in a pressurized environment, and breathing recycled air. Flight attendants also face risk of injury or death from hijackings. Since September 11, 2001, comprehensive security measures and upgrades have been implemented by airlines and the U.S. Department of Transportation to ensure the safety of travelers and industry workers.

The combination of free time and the opportunity to travel are benefits that many flight attendants enjoy. For those who enjoy helping and working with people, being a flight attendant may be a rewarding career.