Flight attendants, how the hell do you do it?!

[Coffeetree]

Just got back from a long-haul flight. Most people lovely and polite but some passengers absolute nightmares. The attendants were so polite and efficient. I just thought God how do they manage? And such long shifts? I

Oops posted too soon!

Just curious about the job: is there a high burnout rate? Or is it fun travelling around the world?

I did it for 4 years. 2 years with a low cost, short haul airline and then another 2 years with doing mostly long haul with another.

i very quickly learnt to grow a thick skin, and that not every interaction with a customer has to be nice and sweet, you do sometime have to be a bit of a dick be an in order for the message to get across. It was exhausting, both emotionally and physically but I got to travel the world and met some amazing colleagues.

you quickly realise that people are arseholes - especially on planes. I think it’s a lack of control thing. People hate being told to put the window blind up or that their meal choice is unavailable.

I had meals thrown at me, been called every word under the sun, had my bum grabbed by men old enough to be my dad (when I was 18) but just got on with it. The thought of doing it now feels me with dread though.

My favourite passengers were always first class, they’re really low maintenance. Premium economy customers were the worst in my experience.

My family member does it in her mid 40s. She started when younger then had a break of 8yrs and now back at it. She loves it. She has an outgoing personality and quick to laugh but will also stand up for herself and isn’t afraid to put pax in their place. She’s doing a special assignment next month as she’s so well thought of at her airline.