How many hours a week do most flight attendants work?

Flight attendants typically work around 30-40 hours a week, often logging 65-90 flight hours monthly, but this varies greatly with seniority, airline, and route, involving irregular shifts (days/nights/weekends) and "reserve" on-call duties, with pay often based on actual flight time, not total duty hours.

How many hours do flight attendants work a week?

Flight attendants generally work around 75-100 flight hours monthly, often totaling 30-40 actual work hours weekly, but can be less or more, with schedules varying greatly by airline, seniority (reserve vs. line holder), and domestic/international routes, involving 2-4 day trips and irregular shifts including nights, weekends, and holidays, while being paid for flight time (doors closed) and ground duties, not just time in the air. 

What is the 35 7 rule for flight attendants?

The 35-in-7 rule applies only to Reserve Flight Attendants and provides that a Reserve may not be scheduled to exceed 35 flight hours in any seven (7) consecutive 24-hour periods.

What is the 24 7 rule for flight attendants?

(d) Each certificate holder conducting domestic operations shall relieve each flight crewmember engaged in scheduled air transportation from all further duty for at least 24 consecutive hours during any 7 consecutive days.

Do flight attendants get paid well?

Yes, flight attendants can get paid well, especially with experience, with the median US salary around $67k-$68k, but it varies significantly by airline, seniority, and hours flown, with top earners potentially exceeding $100k annually, though starting pay is much lower and based on flight hours (often unpaid for ground time). 

FLIGHT ATTENDANT SCHEDULE EXPLAINED - FLIGHT ATTENDANT LIFE

Do flight attendants only get paid when the door is closed?

Yes, traditionally, most U.S. airline flight attendants only start getting paid their hourly rate once the aircraft doors close, meaning significant time spent preparing the plane, boarding passengers, and during delays on the ground often goes uncompensated, though this is a major point of contention in recent contract negotiations, with some airlines like Delta starting to offer boarding pay. This long-standing practice means flight attendants might work several hours for little or no pay before the flight officially begins, leading to demands for paid ground time.
 

Which airline pays flight attendants the most?

While pay varies, Delta Air Lines consistently ranks at or near the top for total compensation, including hourly rates and profit sharing, followed closely by American Airlines and United, with recent contracts boosting pay significantly across the major carriers, though specialized or cargo airlines like Everts Air can offer higher annual figures, and Emirates provides tax-free income and benefits for international roles. 

What will disqualify you from being a flight attendant?

Disqualifications for flight attendants include major criminal offenses (felonies, security breaches), significant health issues (uncontrolled conditions, severe vision/hearing loss, substance abuse), failure to pass drug/alcohol tests, lack of essential skills (swimming), and potentially certain appearance issues or inability to travel (e.g., for Canadian entry). Requirements also cover age, education (HS Diploma/GED), language fluency (English), and passing background/security checks.
 

What are the 5 C's of flight?

That's why flight instructors teach a timeless checklist known as the “Five C's” — a set of actions to help pilots remain calm, regain situational awareness, and navigate back to safety. The 5 C's are: Climb, Conserve, Call, Confess, and Comply.

What were the last words of the 9 11 flight attendant?

After reporting valuable information for about 20 minutes, her final words to Woodward were, “I see water. I see buildings. We're flying low, we're flying way too low.” Moments later, the aircraft crashed through the North Tower, killing all aboard.

Can flight attendants make $100,000 a year?

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.

Why do flight attendants have to be 5'2"?

Most airlines have height requirements, typically ranging from around 5'2" to 6'2" (158 cm to 188 cm), though these can vary. Here's why height is important: Safety Protocols: Cabin crew need to access overhead compartments and emergency equipment quickly and efficiently.

Do flight attendants stay away from home a lot?

Yes, flight attendants are away from home a lot, often spending several nights a week or month in hotels, working nights, weekends, and holidays, with time away depending heavily on flight routes (long-haul means longer trips) and seniority, though they also get significant days off monthly. 

Can I live off being a flight attendant?

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.

What does a typical flight attendant schedule look like?

A flight attendant's schedule is irregular, featuring long shifts (often 12+ hours), working nights, weekends, and holidays, with monthly hours around 65-90 in the air, broken up by layovers in different cities for multi-day trips. New hires typically work "reserve," meaning they're on-call for last-minute trips, while seniors can "bid" for preferred routes, leading to more control over their demanding, yet potentially flexible, lifestyle.
 

What is the age limit for flight attendants?

There's generally no upper age limit for flight attendants, but airlines set minimum age requirements, usually between 18 and 21, with many requiring 20 or 21 at training completion, plus significant customer service experience and physical ability to meet safety standards. Airlines value life experience, so older applicants with relevant backgrounds (like hospitality) are often sought after, with no federal cap on how old you can be to work as one, notes AARP. 

What does it mean if a plane is squawking 7700?

In aviation, "squawking 7700" means a pilot has set their transponder to this universal four-digit code to signal a general emergency, alerting Air Traffic Control (ATC) to a critical situation needing immediate help, like an engine failure, fire, medical issue, or depressurization, making the aircraft a high priority for assistance. This code overrides all other transponder codes and tells controllers the crew needs urgent help, potentially for priority landing and standby emergency services.
 

Why do pilots say 5x5?

The phrase "five by five" can be used informally to mean "good signal strength" or "loud and clear".

What are the 4 laws of flight?

What Are The 4 Principles of Flight? Flight comes down to four fundamental forces: lift, weight, thrust, and drag. Each force has its own direction, opposing force, and factors that affect its strength.

Is there a weight limit to be a flight attendant?

No, most major U.S. airlines don't have strict, specific weight limits for flight attendants anymore, focusing instead on fitness, ability to perform safety duties, and fitting into the uniform and jump seat, though some international carriers might still have stricter appearance rules, emphasizing proportionate height/weight for a neat look and safe operation. The key is being able to reach overhead bins, operate emergency equipment, and fit in the jump seat with the harness fastened. 

Is 55 too old to be a flight attendant?

As long as you are in good physical shape, you will never be too old to be a flight attendant. Airlines hire flight attendants in their 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s and 70+ years of age.

Do I have to be beautiful to be a flight attendant?

No, you don't have to be "pretty" like a model to be a flight attendant, but you must meet specific grooming and professional appearance standards, focusing on cleanliness, good health (skin, teeth, hair), and fitting the uniform properly, as airlines prioritize safety, professionalism, and customer service skills over conventional beauty. While some Asian airlines might have stricter looks-based criteria, U.S. carriers focus more on overall presentation, competence, and the ability to handle emergencies. 

What is the lowest paid airline flight attendant?

Flight Attendants made a median salary of $68,370 in 2023. The best-paid 25% made $86,610 that year, while the lowest-paid 25% made $49,690.

Which airlines have the happiest employees?

According to Simple Flying, Southwest Airlines has been "the top 20 best employers in Forbes" for a really long time, so this is one of the airlines with the highest employee satisfaction. Cheat Sheet says Southwest hasn't fired anyone in its entire run, which is definitely impressive to hear.