There is always a disparity between how things seem to be, and how things actually are. Anais Nin said that, “We don’t see the world as it is, but as we are.” I have been surprised about what people believe The Flight Attendant Life to be like, what it is actually like. This post is here to clear up, in a humorous, not super serious way, the common misconceptions about the flight attendant career.
Common Misconceptions of The Flight Attendant Career
Photo Credit: OSM Aviation
Changing airlines means a pay increase:
False. Most often, any airline switch means a decrease in pay, regardless of previous experience. I recently switched from a domestic carrier, to an international airline, and was surprised by the common expectation from people that I just got a raise. I wish.
Flight Attendant’s get numbers ALL of the time:
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Nope. Not all the time, and when it happens, it’s usually the weirdos. True story. Most flight attendants don’t consider work, a bar, so getting numbers is not the end goal. It’s work.
Flight Attendant’s get accustomed to goodbyes:
Maybe some. I still haven’t. I protect my heart a little better, but goodbyes just hurt.
It’s always glamorous:
It’s rarely glamorous.
We travel free around the world:
We are lucky if we get a seat, to travel on discounted fares, some places, around the world. Most flight attendants actually have responsibilities like mortgages, boyfriends, husbands, kids, car payments, and/or a goldfish that prevents extensive traipsing. They also get tired of being gone all of the time.
Our purpose is serving passengers drinks, and picking up garbage:
Wrong. Flight Attendants are primarily there for your safety.
The layovers are always exotic:
Just talk to the flight attendant that has 8 hours in Fresno, California, or gets stuck in Plattsburgh, NY in negative 15 degrees fahrenheit. That’s not exotic, that’s just ridiculous.
The pilots are young, hot, and single:
I want so much for this myth to be true, because sign me up, I’ll give up my red leather gloves for that airline;) Yes, there are the good looking men, and women that fly, but generally they are married, with families.
All flight attendants are young, hot, and single:
Just ask anyone who travels. There are all types.
All flight attendants are dinosaurs.
I was visiting some friends in Phoenix this past week, and a gaggle of fairly junior stews came over to the house for Grill & Chill, all of which were under the age of 25 (pretty much), all of which, were gorgeous (definitely).
