Jordan
Toronto, ON
Female, 28
Space Waitress, Trolley Dolly, Stewardess...everyone has their own term for us. We are the baby-sitters, life-savers, servers, cleaners and all-around problem solvers for any and every in-flight issue. Sometimes we get a bad rep for being apathetic and miserable despite having what looks like a glamorous job, so here's a peek into the gritty details beneath the shiny surface to explain why the job - though incredible in lots of ways - is more than just snappy uniforms and matching luggage.
Hmm that's not suspicious at all... what on earth are you trying to transport? A Commodore 64? A suitcase of Smartphones? Robocop? I'm not sure that there is a limit but you'll have to be a bit more specific. Some electronics are considered dangerous goods and therefore are prohibited on all passenger aircraft.
The value of the electronics is irrelevant unless you are a) concerned about potential damage and want it insured or b) are leaving the country and passing through customs - but neither of those issues are dealt with through the airline.
Weight restrictions for all luggage, whether checked or carry on, will vary from airline to airline, and should be posted on their website.
Sorry I can't help you further but I'd need more details!
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Hey there! I get asked this question a lot and I can happily say that the airline takes care of that for you! You get your own room for every city you stay in, usually the whole crew will stay at the same hotel, and transportation to and from the airport is also pre-arranged. Most hotels selected by airlines have certain amenities as well, ie: a fitness centre, access to a crew room (a room with a fridge and microwave if they aren't in your room already), a restaurant either on the premises or very close-by, and free wi-fi. And if you're Really lucky and spending a night (or even a week at some airlines!) in a Carribbean locale, you'll end up at an all-inclusive! So. Much. Fun.
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Oh lots! But fear not, they will teach you EVERYTHING you need to know. It's a steep learning curve, and if, like me, you're going into your training with no prior knowledge of aviation it can be enough to make your head spin. Some of the things you'll be tested on include:
emergency exits - where they are and how to open them
emergency equipment - where they're located, how to stow them, how to ensure they're in working order, and use them
those are the two big things (and believe me they take up a Huge chunk of training time) but other things you'll need to know is the location and proper operation of service equipment, the number of seats/passengers per plane, who's responsible for which safety checks, and how to write up broken equipment.
I'm lucky, at my airline all the aircrafts are Boeing 737s so there isn't much variation between one aircraft and another. Other airlines have multiple types of aircraft and some FAs will only be qualified to work on certain aircraft, depending on what their training covers. But like I said, your inflight training provided by the airline will go into detail about each of these areas, and give you all the material you need to become an expert on your aircraft cabin! Good luck!
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Sorry Jackieblue, as far as I know they don't, not even Bed & Breakfasts are considered because they're just too small. There are so many criteria a hotel must meet to be considered for an airline contract that it would be a rare house indeed that could meet them all!
For example, crews require safe and reliable transport between the airport and the hotel 24/7, rooms above the ground floor, safes, nearby access to restaurants and/or grocery stores, fridges and microwaves in each room are a plus for crew that pack their own lunches on the road, and a block of rooms always ready and available. If you have all that then Wow. I need some real estate tips from you!
I hope you don't mind I answered on here in case other people were wondering too! Thanks!
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Hotel Employee
Can you give guests room upgrades at your sole discretion?
McDonald's Manager
Were you proud or embarrassed to tell people you worked at McDonald's?
Professional Reseller
What kind of mark-ups can you fetch on the clothing you resell from thrift stores?
I was working as a waitress in a cocktail bar, that much is true...
I really was. The money as a server was decent but my wagers became way more stable once I got hired as a flight attendant, and instead of handfuls of tips I was getting ~$750 paycheques every two weeks (it's not huge, but I'm a girl of simple tastes), plus flight and health benefits.
My training lasted a month and when the time came for my first pairing I was a nervous wreck. I had to commute in for work on a flight the night before and I felt totally overwhelmed trying to remember everything to pack. Thankfully I ended up having a fantastic crew - who pranked me endlessly by hiding in the overhead bins to scare me and stuffing random things into my luggage, but also surprised me with champagne and cake - and the senior flight attendant who was supervising me was approachable and helfpul, and also knocked a couple bad work habits out of me before they had time to even form.
I confess when she took me upstairs after our last flight to officially check me off and seal my fate as an FA I started crying! All the stress of the previous month - a gruelling amount of training, endless exams, meeting so many new people - just burst out of me in a wave of relief. I'm not sure which of us was more shocked! Immediatey after being officially signed off I hopped on a plane to LA to reward myself and celebrate my birthday which was two days away.
The following months were filled with all the excitement and uncertainty of a new job. I got lost in a couple airports trying to find the crew bypass entrances, I found it really hard to keep up the pace on short flights, I met new people every time I showed up at the gate for work... it was exhausting - and so much fun! It was almost a year before I snagged my first international layover (St. Lucia!) but in the meantime I got to know my own country so much better.
I still get excited about my job four years later; you never know who'll you'll meet or where you'll end up. I have a lot more confidence in my job now, and sure sometimes I roll my eyes at my schedule when I get another layover in the same old place, but I still get a thrill when I steal a moment by the window and watch the world go by!
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Ah, drunk passengers. The very thought of them can make my blood boil. We try really hard to not overserve in the air, and the most common way that passengers get out of hand is when they smuggle their own alcohol (usually duty-free booze purchased at the airport - take note, it's ILLEGAL to crack open your own alcohol on a plane!) and consume it without us knowing. The thing is, drunk people may think they're sneaky, but they're actually about as subtle as an elephant. So, if people are drinking their own booze and honestly didn't realize they weren't supposed to, I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and let them off with a warning. However, if they think they can pull the wool over my eyes and act like they're sipping water instead of vodka, I might ask the Captain to have local authorities meet the aircraft when we land. Either way, that alcohol is being confiscated and going down the drain.
I always try to lead off with the nice approach because it can be frustrating and embarrassing to be cut-off, but I have so little patience for people who argue with me. I'm sure they're charming when they're sober but when drunk they just prevent me from serving the hundred or so other guests on the plane, and unfortunately, unlike the bar, we can't just have a bouncer kick them out! Really bad drunks will be removed from the flight (if they are drunk when boarding), or met by cops when we land, with the possibility that they'll be banned from flying with the airline again. So, go ahead, have a drink, but know your limits and the flight attendants will love you!
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Wow, that's a mighty broad question... I'm not sure if you mean the most common, or most horrible, or something else entirely, so I'll just tell you my top 5 things I dread having to deal with at work.
#5 - Having a problem with a crew member. If you've ever been a manager, or even just had to have a Conversation with a capital C with a co-worker because they were being a jerk, or not pulling their weight, or doing their job incorrectly, you'll get why this is a major difficulty. Add to that the fact that you might have to spend the next 5 days straight with them and you'll be ready to pull your hair out.
#4 - Running out of stock. This happens so often. Unfortunately we don't have a crystal ball to show us what's going to be popular at lunch on any given day so sometimes we just don't pack enough of a particular item. Most often it's cheese plates that we run out of (people love their cheese and I don't blame them), but even types of beer, or random items like tomato juice will become really hot commodities on a flight and before you know it I have to make my don't-shoot-the-messenger face (a cringe/defensive pose in case they strike) and say, "sorry, we're all out of that, can I tempt you with some tepid coffee instead?"
#3 - Delays. The angry looks and crying children and stressed out parents, argh! I hate it. It just makes everyone miserable, including the crew who got out of bed early for nothing, and we aren't getting paid for those extra hours of languishing in the airport while passengers give us the stink-eye.
#2 - Aircraft malfunctions. Maybe this should be my number one, but usually it's the pilots turn to stress in these situations and, in my experience, the passengers are typically calm, obedient, and patient. Plus, any mechanical hiccup that happened to me while mid-flight has always turned out 100% ok, (knock on wood) so it's not AS scary as my number one...
#1 - Medicals. At the very least, it means delays, mild stress and paperwork. At the very worst it means a life or death situation and that is just not what I hope to deal with when I get ready for work in the morning. I will be very happy if I can reach the end of my flight attendant career without ever having to use my first aid skills!
So there you have it. Now, as I read over my list, I realize I forgot Unruly Guests which should probably be #3 so let's just call this a Top 6 List and call it a day. All this talk of difficulties is stressing me out! :)
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