Flight attendants held about 97,900 jobs in 2014. Although most worked for scheduled airlines, a small number worked for corporations or chartered-flight companies.
Flight attendants work primarily in the cabin of passenger aircraft. Dealing directly with the public and standing for long periods can be stressful and tiring. Occasionally, flight attendants must deal with turbulence, which can make providing service more difficult and causes anxiety in some passengers. Although rare, dealing with emergencies and unruly customers also can be difficult and cause stress.
Flight attendants spend many nights away from home and often sleep in hotels or apartments shared by a group of flight attendants.
Injuries and Illnesses
Injuries may occur when overhead compartments are opened, during turbulence, when the attendant is pushing carts, or during aircraft emergencies. In addition, medical problems can arise from irregular sleep patterns, the stress of frequent travel, and exposure to ill passengers. As a result, flight attendants experience some work-related injuries and illnesses.
Work Schedules
Flight attendants usually have variable schedules. They often work nights, weekends, and holidays because airlines operate every day and have overnight flights. In most cases, a contract between the airline and the flight attendant union determines the total daily and monthly workable hours. A typical on-duty shift is usually about 12 to 14 hours per day. However, duty time can be increased for international flights. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires that flight attendants receive at least 9 consecutive hours of rest following any duty period before starting their next duty period.
Attendants usually fly 75 to 100 hours a month and generally spend another 50 hours a month on the ground, preparing flights, writing reports, and waiting for aircraft to arrive. They can spend several nights a week away from home. During this time, employers typically arrange hotel accommodations and a meal allowance.
An attendant's assignments of home base and route are based on seniority. New flight attendants must be flexible with their schedule and location. Almost all flight attendants start out working on call, also known as reserve status. Flight attendants on reserve usually live near their home airport, because they have to report to work on short notice.
As they earn more seniority, attendants gain more control over their schedules. For example, some senior flight attendants may choose to live outside their home base and commute to work. Others may choose to work only on regional flights. On small corporate airlines, flight attendants often work on an as-needed basis and must be able to adapt to changing schedules. About 1 in 4 flight attendants worked part time in 2014.