Yes, flight attendants get days off, typically 12-18 per month, but their schedules are irregular, with long trips where they stay overnight in other cities and have breaks before returning, plus scheduled days off at home for rest, errands, or personal time. They work in "sequences" or "trips," staying away from home for several days, then getting blocks of days off, often managing their time with bidding for schedules to accommodate personal needs like family time or travel.
They often work long hours and spend several days at a time away from home. However, they also enjoy more days off in a month compared to the average office worker. On average, flight attendants get between 12 and 18 days off per month, adding up to around 156 days off per year.
Flight attendants are typically assigned a home base, which could be in a major city or airport hub. Those living close to their base may be able to return home more frequently. However, if their home is far from the base, they may need to commute and stay at a hotel or crew house during their working days.
With experience, senior flight attendants may make around $80,287 annually, and some can earn as much as $115,000 or more per year. Pay is typically hourly and starts when the aircraft door closes, meaning preflight work (like boarding and prep) is often unpaid.
One of the main downsides of being a flight attendant is the unpredictable schedule. You might find yourself working nights, weekends, or holidays, which makes it hard to plan time with your partner, family, or friends. You are always keeping an eye on your roster and ready to adjust to last-minute changes.
The 35/7 rule for flight attendants limits Reserve Flight Attendants to a maximum of 35 flight hours in any seven consecutive days, primarily for scheduling purposes to manage fatigue and ensure safety, although actual operations can sometimes exceed this if waivers are used and regulations are met. While Lineholders often work to a 30/7 (30 hours in 7 days) limit, they can also complete trips exceeding 35 hours if they waive the rule. This rule, alongside recent FAA mandates for longer rest periods (like 10 hours after 14-hour shifts), aims to provide adequate recovery for cabin crews.
The last words of 9/11 flight attendants revealed incredible bravery, with Betty Ann Ong of American Airlines Flight 11 telling ground control, "Pray for us," after relaying vital information about the hijacking. On the same flight, Madeline Amy Sweeney's final words were, "I see water. I see buildings. We're flying low, we're flying way too low," moments before crashing into the World Trade Center. These courageous acts provided crucial details that helped ground personnel understand the attacks.
This is not a healthy mindset. It is possible to live on this minimum wage pay, but it requires discipline, and awareness. It's not always fun, but if you are able to find a balance for yourself between spending, and saving, living independently on what a flight attendant makes, you will give yourself a gift.
We have flight attendants who are 30 years old and have to move back in with their parents because they can't afford to live with this job. “Most of our passengers have no idea that we are only paid from the time the door closes until the door opens.”
Working Hours
A flight attendant can expect to work 30–40 hours a week, but they can do more or fewer hours depending on the airline, the length of the flights they work on, e.g. short, medium or long haul and whether any problems arise. There are typically more regular hours on short-haul flights.
10 Things Passengers Do That Annoy Flight Attendants the Most
First, the co-pilot takes over the aircraft and contacts local air traffic control to notify them of the situation and declare an emergency. Air traffic control then works directly with the pilot in charge to develop a plan of action.
Marriage and Flight Attendant Career
Basically, Flight attendants are allowed to marry. Some airlines may have certain regulations regarding the marital status of their flight attendants, but most do not prohibit flight attendants from getting married.
Line Holder Flight Attendants: More experienced flight attendants work line holder schedules, which allows them to have more preference over the shifts they work. Line holders can choose the shifts they want based on days, hours, or destinations, and can swap or drop shifts, too.
They can expect to spend 65-90 hours in the air, and an additional 50 hours preparing the airplane, processing passengers during boarding and performing post-flight procedures. Typically, flight attendants work 12-14 days and log 65-85 flight hours each month, not including overtime.
YES, BEING A FLIGHT ATTENDANT IS A LONG-TERM CAREER Many cabin crew members have worked in their roles for over 30 years. Throughout their careers, they have been able to provide well for their families and achieve both their personal and professional goals.
Known informally among crew as a modified "brace position," this method helps flight attendants reduce the risk of harm if the aircraft experiences a sudden impact.
Red Flag Pay. At any time prior to departure, Crew Schedule may red flag a sequence/position in open time. Red flagged sequences shall be paid at the rate of one hundred and fifty percent (150%), and credited at one hundred percent (100%).
Since flight attendants frequently travel for work, they often stay overnight in various locations before returning home. The good news is that airlines cover hotel stays for crew members, providing free accommodations during layovers.
(13) Each certificate holder conducting domestic, flag, or supplemental operations must relieve each flight attendant engaged in air transportation and each commercial operator must relieve each flight attendant engaged in air commerce from all further duty for at least 24 consecutive hours during any 7 consecutive ...
PERMANENT DISQUALIFYING CRIMINAL OFFENSES
Treason or conspiracy to commit treason. A federal crime of terrorism as defined in 18 U.S.C. 2332b(g), or comparable State law, or conspiracy to commit such crime. A crime involving a TSI (transportation security incident).
In most countries, the cabin crew retirement age aligns with general retirement laws. In Europe: The retirement age is typically between 65 and 67 years, depending on the regulations of each country. In the United States: Cabin crew members can work until the age of 65, though some choose to retire earlier.
The 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center complex killed 2,753 people, according to the city's official count. Yet 40% of those victims — 1,100 people — have not had any of their remains identified by authorities.
Victims of commercial airline crashes may receive anywhere from $250,000 to several million dollars, depending on the extent of injuries and liability. In cases involving wrongful death, settlement values often increase due to loss of future earnings and emotional trauma to surviving family members.
[and] insensitive," actor Mark Wahlberg has now apologized for saying he would have stopped 9/11 hijackers if he had been on one of the planes, Reuters reports. Mark Wahlberg.