The Flight Attendant Career
Venice, Italy layover
Flight Attendant Job Overview
This is a job unlike any other! Airlines pay their Flight Attendants to travel the world, put them up in hotels and even pay for their expenses.
You will start out your trip assignment, also called a rotation or a pairing, in your domicile/base. A typical rotation may last anywhere from 1 - 3 days, though there are sometimes longer assignments.
If you fly a domestic route your trip assignment may have you fly anywhere from l - 4 legs, or destinations, in a day. If you fly an international route you may fly only 1 or 2 legs.
At the end of your work day you are met by a car/van that has been prearranged to take you to your layover hotel. Domestic layovers typically last anywhere from 9 hours - 24 hours. International layovers are usually at least 24 hours. Your time is yours while on your layover, though you must be reachable should any changes to your rotation occur - as you are still on duty.
Reserve vs. Line of Time
A new hire Flight Attendant generally must work a reserve schedule, anywhere from a few months to several years depending on where you are based. Reserve lines are plotted duty days that you are required to be on-call.
As your seniority builds you will be able to hold a line of time, which is a monthly schedule of trip assignments plotted in the month according to your bidding preferences and seniority. You will not be on-call, but are considered a trip holder and have access to all the flexibility a line holder's schedule can benefit from including:
Compensation and Benefits
Most airlines offer medical, dental, 401k's, travel benefits and myriad of other similar benefits. You may also be eligible for "airline discounts" at hotels, car rentals, airport eating establishments, etc.
As a Flight Attendant you will be paid a base salary as well as an hourly wage for actual flight hours flown. You may get raises each year and can be paid through several means:
This is a job unlike any other! Airlines pay their Flight Attendants to travel the world, put them up in hotels and even pay for their expenses.
You will start out your trip assignment, also called a rotation or a pairing, in your domicile/base. A typical rotation may last anywhere from 1 - 3 days, though there are sometimes longer assignments.
If you fly a domestic route your trip assignment may have you fly anywhere from l - 4 legs, or destinations, in a day. If you fly an international route you may fly only 1 or 2 legs.
At the end of your work day you are met by a car/van that has been prearranged to take you to your layover hotel. Domestic layovers typically last anywhere from 9 hours - 24 hours. International layovers are usually at least 24 hours. Your time is yours while on your layover, though you must be reachable should any changes to your rotation occur - as you are still on duty.
Reserve vs. Line of Time
A new hire Flight Attendant generally must work a reserve schedule, anywhere from a few months to several years depending on where you are based. Reserve lines are plotted duty days that you are required to be on-call.
As your seniority builds you will be able to hold a line of time, which is a monthly schedule of trip assignments plotted in the month according to your bidding preferences and seniority. You will not be on-call, but are considered a trip holder and have access to all the flexibility a line holder's schedule can benefit from including:
- Trip drops
- Pick-ups
- Swaps
Compensation and Benefits
Most airlines offer medical, dental, 401k's, travel benefits and myriad of other similar benefits. You may also be eligible for "airline discounts" at hotels, car rentals, airport eating establishments, etc.
As a Flight Attendant you will be paid a base salary as well as an hourly wage for actual flight hours flown. You may get raises each year and can be paid through several means:
- Position you Fly
- Language Pay
- Night Pay
- Holiday Pay
- Delay Pay
- Per Diem
- International Pay
- Holding Pay
- Vacation Pay
- Longevity Pay
