Most people have preconceived ideas about flight attendants, much misled by the media. The job is very different from most people's perceptions, and the reality is striking. Let's take a look at the top ten common myths about flight attendants.
10 The job is glamorous
Gone are the days of glamour when the role of the flight attendant was seen as very exciting - it was a dream job for the young and ambitious who wished to travel the world for free. Still, the uniform does add a touch of glamour and is important as you are the face of the airline. However, that is it.
Ask any flight attendant about 'glamour' after a long-haul flight and you may be surprised. The uniform smells of aircraft meals, you will probably find some curry or red wine on your shoes. Then there's the sick bag or baby's nappy that just got handed to you. And, of course, then there is the jet lag, long hours, and difficult passengers to deal with.
9 Flight attendants are dumb
Many flight attendants have come from experienced backgrounds. Nurses, teachers, and lawyers have successfully moved to become flight attendants after a career change. Most cabin crew have degrees or are studying for one, and some also have master’s degrees or doctorates. Flight attendants are far from dumb.
8 Flight attendants want to marry a pilot
No, that is not the aim of a flight attendant. It would be an unprofessional too, at work. Not to say it doesn't happen; some relationships are formed that way. But you would never become a flight attendant just to marry a pilot!
7 We always fly the same route
Super-experienced flight attendants who have worked for an airline for a long time may have the option to choose their trips, and may opt for the same routes. This is very rare, and most flight attendants have a very mixed roster of flights. It may be domestic routes only, short-haul, long-haul, or a mixture of short- and long-haul flights, depending on the airline that you work for.
6 Flight attendants sleep with passengers
No! Despite the media portraying this in almost every series or movie with a flight attendant, it's just not true. For one, we certainly don't have the time (or the interest), and we certainly would not want to spend any extra time in an aircraft lavatory, that's for sure.
5 It is easy to get a job as a flight attendant
It is a fact that it is easier to get into Harvard than get a flight attendant job. Out of thousands of applications only around 2% make it through to finally getting their wings. The application process is arduous, and training is extremely tough, so not many people actually make it.
4 Most flight attendants are young white women
It used to be this way, back in the 1950s and 1960s. Now it is much more diverse, although often that image is still portrayed. Airlines are extremely multicultural, and in many western countries, the age limits and restrictions have been removed.
3
Layovers are always a party
Occasionally it happens. You work with a great crew, and you decide to meet after work at the hotel and go out for drinks and a meal. That can be great! However, on many layovers, you just want to recover from jet lag, speak to your family and catch up on sleep.
2 It's just a job
It's not a job, it's a lifestyle. After flying for a few years, you get used to the varying shifts, traveling constantly, and adjusting your sleep and eating patterns. You get used to being away from home and the normalities of life. Flying truly gets into your blood.
1 Just a waitress
This is the biggest myth of all. Passengers may only see us serving meals and drinks and assume that is all we are there for. In fact, we are there primarily for safety - comfort is secondary. We are highly trained in emergency procedures so that we can deal with evacuating an aircraft on land or water. We also have to be able to put out fires. Our first aid training includes everything from anaphylactic shock to delivering a baby. We also take courses in survival, security, self-defense, and much more.