I’m A 22 Year-Old Female Air Stewardess, This Is What I Hate About My Job

1. You miss important events

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The job of an air stewardess is often depicted as one of luxury and opportunity, but contrary to popular belief, there are a lot of negative aspects of the job. One of the main cons about being an air stewardess, is the fact that you will (often) miss important events, due to your scheduling. This means that you will miss birthdays, weddings, funerals and other celebratory occasions.

2. You spend a lot of time commuting

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Another key part of your job, includes a lot of commuting. This commuting is inclusive of the time you take to get to work, the time you spend within the air, the travelling you do in different countries, and the traveling you do when you get home. The amount of time spent commuting, makes up at least 95% of your job description, and is often the most tiring aspect of your career.

3. You're always tired

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Linking back to the last point, you will find that you feel tired. All. The. Time! You will be in constant state of fatigue, and there is very little you can do to combat it. This is often an element of the job that is brushed over, and flight companies don't exactly provide any decent services to help alleviate this. If you're looking to enter into this world of work, you should be prepared for the lack of decent sleep.

4. You get into bad sleeping habits

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Staying on the topic of sleep, or lack thereof, you will inevitably fall into a terrible form of sleep pattern/general sleeping habits. For the majority of flight crews, this will entail having to sleep during the day, and essentially becoming nocturnal. Another terrible sleeping habit you may find yourself falling into, is having to use some form of medication, in order to relax e.g. NyQuil.

5. Pay is low when you first start

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Another misguided aspect of this career, is your expected salary. Flight companies will often draw you in by promising a 'competitive' salary, which is 'higher than the industry standard'. What they fail to tell you, is the fact that this salary will only be a reality if you become a 'senior' member of staff and/or you stay with said company for a certain duration of time.

6. You're often on standby (on-call)

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Perhaps one of the lesser-known aspects of this career, is the fact that you will be on stand-by 80% of your time. This means that you won't be actively flying/working until you get called into work, usually via a paging system. So, you should be prepared for 'empty' time whilst working, and be ready to drop everything you're doing if you're called into work.

7. It's hard to have relationships

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Due to the scheduling and commitment of this career, it can be extremely difficult to maintain relationships (both platonic and romantic, but mainly romantic). Internal stress from the role can seep into your personal life, and has the ability to affect any/all of your relationships. You should ensure that any relationships you have, have a strong foundation of trust and understanding, before committing to this role.

8. It's stressful

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Stress is something the majority of people experience in their day-to-day life, especially within their job. And being an air stewardess, is no exception. If anything, it may be one of the most stressful careers to enter into. This is due to the mental and physical toll it can have on an individual's body, and the lack of support there seems to be for said people.

9. Time away from home

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Being an air stewardess is definitely not the role for someone that is something of a homebody, and/or prefers spending the majority of their time within the comfort of their own home. This is due to the amount of travelling you would be doing, and the fact that the majority of your time (working), will be away from home. If you're uncomfortable with the idea of travelling for prolonged periods, this probably isn't the job for you.

10. Weekend and holiday work

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Going back to the topic of scheduling, you will be expected to work during holiday seasons and weekends. The need for people to work during these periods increases, due to overall demand and influx of people travelling to-and-from countries for holiday celebrations e.g. Christmas, Hanukkah, Easter etc. These hours are often described as 'unsociable hours', and you should be willing to accept them.

11. Frequent time-zone changes

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One of the contributing factors of flight staff fatigue, is the occurrence of frequent time-zone changes. Adapting to time-zone changes can take up to a week, and will often negatively affect an individual's sleep pattern. This is increasingly occurrent, during long-haul flights that require a 'layover' e.g. flights to New Zealand/Australia and flights to Asian and/or European countries.

12. Passenger conflicts

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Another foundational element of this particular career, is the ability to provide quality customer service and care. As with any customer-focused jobs, there is always the possibility of having to deal with customer conflict(s). These conflicts can happen between passengers on a flight, and/or between yourself and a passenger. It is down to you, to have the skills to diffuse a hostile situation, and ensure every passenger has a safe and pleasant flight.

13. Limited growth opportunities

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If you're looking to enter a career that you can progress within, becoming a flight attendant may not be the best choice. This is due to the lack of growth opportunities within this role, and the inability to 'climb the ladder' as it were. The role of a flight attendant requires set skills and knowledge, that aren't necessarily transferable to other roles and career paths.

14. In-person work

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As mentioned previously, the role of a flight attendant is very much customer focused. This means that this job is solely in-person, and cannot include any form of working from home (WFH). This means that you should be a sociable person, with an extroverted personality, as this will really help you excel with your customer service and overall support.

15. Travel delays

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Travelling can be a stressful experience, for both passengers and flight crew. One of the leading causes of travel-related stress, is the occurrence of travel delays. This can range from flight delays, problems with checking-in, security checks and baggage claim. When these situations occur, you need to be able to think on your feet, and provide suitable support for passengers.

16. Your training isn't always classed as employment

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Yet another element of this job that often doesn't garner enough attention, is the fact that your training may not be classed as employment. This means, that even though you are undergoing training for the role, it doesn't automatically secure your placement with a flight company. Every company is different, so it is best to ask about this area of your application for verification.

17. May not have the option to take a sick-day

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As this job can be demanding and require you to work long hours etc. you may not get the option of taking a sick day/absence. This means that you may be expected to come into work, even if you're ill! The choice of having a sick day/absence can change, dependant on the time of year, and whether there would be enough staff to cover your potential absence.

18. Changes to manage whilst flying

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As mentioned previously, flying/travelling can be unpredictable and you need to be able to think on your toes. This doesn't disappear once everyone is on a flight, as you will often have to deal with changes whilst in the air. This can range from, a change in flight route/deviation in route, turbulence and restless passengers. You need to be able to remain calm, and continue to provide top-quality customer service.

19. Threat of terrorism

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Probably one of the biggest cons of being an air stewardess, is the threat of terrorism whilst working. Of course, this is can be a terrifying concept to come to terms with, and potentially have to deal with during your professional life. Security measures are constantly being improved, and kept up-to-date with modern counter-terrorism. Of course, you will be provided suitable training, in the event that you have to deal with a terrorist act.

20. Poor health

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Due to stress and other contributing factors within this role, it is possible that you will experience a sudden or steady decline in your health. This could be your mental and/or physical health, and you should always prioritize your health when working. If you feel as though you're suffering, you should notify your manager/boss, and contact your doctor (as they may be able to prescribe you suitable medication).

21. Turbulence

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One common situation you will deal with whilst flying, is the occurrence of turbulence. Turbulence can range in severity and duration, and is often the main source of passengers becoming restless and reluctant to fly. You will be provided with the relevant training for dealing with turbulence, and how to remain composed during potentially uncomfortable flights.

22. Substance abuse

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One of the darker sides of being an air stewardess, is the possibility of peer pressure, and subsequent substance abuse. It is quite common for flight crews to drink whilst at work (usually after reaching their travel destination), and unfortunately, this can develop into severe addiction. Some crew members may turn to drugs and/or alcohol, in order to deal with the stress and strain of flying.

23. Working during the night

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Unsociable work hours are common within this job role, and you need to be willing to work any night-shifts you're given. Working night-shifts can be detrimental to your sleeping pattern and habits, if you don't efficiently monitor your sleep. You should always be prepared to be called onto a flight, even if it is scheduled in the middle of the night!

24. Have to be flexible with work hours

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Staying on the topic of scheduling, you need to be flexible with your shift patterns. You will often have a mixture of shift patterns and durations, so it is perfect for people that have amazing organization and time-management. When you first enter this role, it is advised that you set up an effective system for logging your work rota, as this will improve your overall organization.

25. Placement issues

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Another big con of this job role, is the issue with placement. This refers to your initial placement, after completing your training/vetting processes. There is often a lack of available/suitable placements, once you exit training, and you may be left waiting for months at a time to be placed somewhere. It is best to check role availability for you local area, as you can plan your application around this factor.

26. Huge safety responsibilities

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You've probably gathered by now, that an air stewardess has a large range of safety responsibilities. This can be quite an overwhelming aspect of the role, and is definitely not for the faint-of-heart. Not only are your responsible for your own safety, you're also responsible for every single passenger you greet onto a flight! You need to be able to communicate safety measures clearly and concisely, to all of your passengers.

27. Strict company guidelines

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The majority of flight companies, will have strict guidelines when it comes to their staff and operations. Guidelines will often refer to staff uniform, and how staff present themselves. In some extreme cases, this can extend to attendants' bodies e.g. weight, hair color and height. You should always check company guidelines before applying for a job role, as this will allow you to prepare yourself accordingly.

28. Cliquey work environment

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This next con, refers to the potential work environment you're going to enter into. You can often find that there are certain cliques within a flight crew, and they can be overly judgemental of new recruits. If you feel as though you're being harassed/bullied within the workplace, you should notify your manager and/or superior. By notifying them of unprofessional behaviour, they will be able to deal with the situation accordingly.

29. Lack of quality time with family

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You should be prepared to have a lack of quality time with your family, if you're looking to a pursue a career within aviation. Due to work scheduling, general schedule clashes and time away from home, you may find it increasingly difficult to find time for your family. It is advised that you notify your family of this prior to applying for a role, so they can plan ahead for certain events etc.

30. Solitary lifestyle

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Finally, and perhaps one of the most negative aspects of being an air stewardess, is the concept of solitary living. If you thrive by being surrounded with loved ones, this career path may not be the best choice for you (unless you are in a committed relationship and/or live within close proximity to your family). You should be able to adapt to the concept of solitary living, and be comfortable with the fact, that the majority of your time away from work will be spent alone.