Merilee

Salaries are based upon seniority (experience)...a new flight attendant on a no frills airline earns approximately $13,000.00...the average low is in the $20,000's and the average high is in the $60,000's...seniority also determines if a flight attendant will serve first class or coach, and it also determines who receives the best schedule...typically, a flight attendant works the equivalent of 3 or 4 days a week with very long hours...a Newark based flight attendant can fly back and forth between Newark and Orlando 4 to 5 times on the same day...I'd also like to say that flight disruptions for whatever reason affect the cabin crew members also...it can also mean missed events for them, too...sometimes even a connection that's bringing them home to their families...think about that the next time a passenger on your flight doesn't want to check his or her oversized bag that won't fit overhead and as a result the pilot misses his runway time because the passenger won't cooperate and sit down so the plane can move...emergency preparedness is the primary duty of the flight attendant...many of us don't see this side of their job because we take off and land safely...many people in customer service careers talk about their customers...it's human nature...and people do have a limit on how much abuse, verbal or otherwise, they can take.

Jim

Most flight attendants are professional and pleasant, but I was flying from New York to San Juan and another passenger asked this very queeny FA if there was a Miami Herald on board.
FA: Where are we going?
Passenger: Puerto Rico.
FA: Where are we leaving from?
Passenger: New York.
FA: Then WHY would we have the Miami Herald!

Sean

Makes sense to me. What part of the trip included Miami? Remember they are dealing with those dumb questions all day long.

xx

Jim, while this is pretty catty you gotta admit it is also pretty funny!!!!

Traveler1

Good answer from the flight attendant! Jim's seatmate needs to get a clue.

xx

I think it's telling when you take a flight and you notice that the FAs are NICE. Nice being different from the usual surly attitude. I never ask them for magazines or blankets nor do I eat the food. Basically I ask for nothing from them but I get plenty of crummy attitude. You can't say they have an excuse because the public is rude and annoying. Who did they think was going to fly on their planes, manequins? Working with the public, whether flight attendant, waiter or in sales, takes a certain amount of finesse and skill. If you don't like people you should find other employment for your own peace of mind.

Jan

And why is it that the flight attendants at Midwest Express have remained nice and pleasant despite all the hostility at other airlines?

CF

I don't view them as waiters...waiters are usually pleasant and polite.

lisa

Had to laugh when I saw the title of this post, because on a recent flight a young family with two very active boys around 4 or 5 years old sat across the aisle from me, and when the flight attendant rolled her cart up the aisle to begin the drink service, one of the boys yelled loudly, "Waitress! Waitress! I want a grilled cheese sandwich and a chocolate milkshake! Hey, lady!" To which his brother joined in, "Yeah, waitress, can I get a tuna fish sandwich?!" Surrounded by amused looks, raised eyebrows, and chuckles, mother and father continued to turn the pages of their magazines silently. All I could think was, you know, tuna fish or grilled cheese and a chocolate milkshake does sound pretty darned good...

Jess

Sorry FA's serving drinks and pretzels is part of your job and if you can't handle it for the measly wages they pay you get into another line of work. As to the safety aspect, every flight I have been on has showed the same old tired safety video while the real FA's sit and look bored. I always pay attention to the exits and I know how to use my oxygen mask, so if a real emergency come up I depend on my own instincts not some flight attendant barely making above minimum wage....

OfCourse

I recently overheard 2 off-duty FAs having a conversation in a bar while waiting for a flight out of Puerto Plata. I wouldn't trust these two to walk and chew gum at the same time let alone take of me or any other passenger in an emergency. I agree that the flight attendants used to be a safety thing but ... I just wish someone other than my wife and I had heard the conversation!! Morons! (BTW - I'm not saying that all FAs are morons - just these two. And I will look for them the next time I board a plane!)

xxx

First the travel agents and now the flight attendants? Does anyone here like anybody but themselves on this site?

nina

I've been very pleased with the concierges I've dealt with. Never met one yet who was slacking off.

lisa

I pity the flight attendants that deal with passengers like some of these posters. If you have ever been on a flight that has had trouble you sure would be glad that those flight attendants were on board. For every mean flight attendant there are probably 20 to 30 rude passengers.

I think this thread stinks. What kind of holier than thou person would put down an entire professional?

I'm a frequent flyer. I'd like to start a thread on what I expect from my fellow passengers.
1. No hovering in the aisle.
2. Keep the items you need to use during the flight under the seat in front of you. Why are you in the overheads anyway?
3. Decide your drink order before the flight attendant comes.
4. Take your coats off before you board the plane. Don't hold up boarding by removing your coat when you get to your seat.
5. Board and sit down. If you must arrange your crap, do it after everyone else boards. By the way if you must do this, you've brought too much on board.
6. Must you bring everything you own on board.
7. Don't monopolize the flight attendant. They are there for all of us. Not just you.
8. If it isn't your turn to board than don't stand near the boarding door.
9. Why do you all jump up when we arrive? You're not going to get off any faster because your standing up.
10. Watch your children's behavior. Trust me, not everyone thinks little Johnny or Susie is cute.

Get the drift, frequent.

anon

Lisa...didn't you post the exact same statement on the thread of things that piss people off?

Al

Come on Lisa get a grip. If you are bothered that much by business travel get in another line of work. Same with Flight Attendants. You don't like working for the public, get in something else and quit complaining. As to the overheard convesation at the airport between the 2 bubble headed FA's what do you expect? The new crop of FA's are the one's to dumb to get into college. A friend's daughter is a FA and while she is pretty cute she sure wasn't around when they passed out brains. She would have never survived college so she became a flight attendant because it sounded glamourous. Yea right!

irene

Lisa, There must be a pill you could take for such an attitude.

Bob Shakash

I happen to agree with Lisa.

Traveler

Agreed, nothing unreasonable at all about Lisa's list.

imlisa

Lisa, I don't believe I was putting down the entire professional, only the attitude.