This person might be a first-time or infrequent flyer or simply someone for whom flying is stressful, nerve wracking, and scary.

Flying can be an anxiety-inducing experience for many.

Whether it’s the unfamiliar environment, the lack of control, or the fear of turbulence, nervous flyers often find air travel stressful.

Here are a few tips for nervous flyers – from a flight attendant.

Tips For Nervous Flyers

Tell the Flight Attendants that Flying Makes You Nervous!

It is perfectly fine for you to let a flight attendant know that you are a nervous passenger!

We will do everything we can to help you feel more comfortable. We are actually trained to give you reassurance and support.

Say Hello to the Captain

Greet the captain or co-captain as you pass by. Look them in the eye. Remember that they are incredibly well-trained, competent, and that they also want to arrive safely.

Educate Yourself about Flying and Remind Yourself of the Facts

Many people find it helpful to remind themselves of just how safe airplane travel actually is!

Taking a look at some statistics before you fly and having a very basic understanding of the mechanics of flying can significantly reduce fear.

Read a Few Helpful Books Before You Go

Here are some books that will not only help you to understand the mechanics of flight but might also help you to deal with your fear of flying.

All three of these are great but I especially enjoyed Cockpit Confidential!

• Cockpit Confidential
• Soar: The Breakthrough Treatment for Fear of Flying
• The Easy Way to Enjoy Flying

Choose Your Seat Wisely

One of the best tips for nervous flyers is to select the right seat for you! Selecting a seat that makes you feel the most comfortable can make a big difference.

For nervous flyers a seat over or just behind the wings is often a good choice because passengers seated here feel less motion when the plane makes turns.

Some nervous travelers prefer a seat near the window where they have some control over the window shade and can decide whether or not to look out.

For other nervous passengers claustrophobia is an issue and they need to opt for an aisle seat in order to feel less confined.

Pay extra if you must in order to select a seat that makes you feel the most comfortable!

You might also be interested in: Tips for Avoiding Airsickness

Arrive at the Airport in Plenty of Time

Arrive in time to get checked in and through the pre-check lanes without having the added stress of worrying about missing your flight! No need to add additional stress to something that you already find stressful.

Also, if you have a layover it will be helpful to budget enough time between flights.

Get Global Entry or TSA pre-check

To go along with the tip above, it would probably be helpful for nervous flyers to get either Global Entry or TSA Pre-check.

This will almost always get you through lines more easily and with less stress.

Stay Hydrated and Avoid Caffeine (and DON’T drink too much alcohol)

Dehydration and caffeine can exacerbate anxiety. Drink plenty of water before and during the flight to stay hydrated. Avoid caffeinated beverages, which can increase jitteriness and anxiety.

I’m not going to tell you that having an alcoholic drink doesn’t help at all. For some people it does. However, too much alcohol almost always makes things worse.

Believe me, as a flight attendant I have seen the way too much alcohol can have unintended consequences!

Look Into Deep-Breathing, Meditation, and Visualization

Deep breathing can help calm your nerves. Research and implement some deep breathing exercises before you fly and practice them on the plane. This can help reduce anxiety and keep you relaxed.

There are some meditation apps that some people find helpful in calming their nerves while flying.

Visualization techniques can be powerful in reducing anxiety. Imagine yourself arriving safely at your destination and enjoying your trip. Visualizing positive outcomes can shift your focus away from fear.

Keep Your Seat Belt Fastened

Turbulence is one of the things that nervous flyers fear most. The truth is that airplanes are built to withstand turbulence the way cars withstand potholes.

The airplane itself is not in danger from turbulence and you do not have to fear that turbulence is a danger to the plane itself.

However turbulence can jostle passengers and their belongings. It is always a good idea to keep your seat belt fastened when you are seated even if the seat belt sign is off.

Knowing that they are buckled in may make a nervous flyer feel more secure.

Consider Professional Help

If your fear of flying is severe, seeking professional help can be very beneficial.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy has been shown to be effective in treating phobias, including the fear of flying. You can also look into hypnotherapy, counseling, and support groups.

Overcoming the fear of flying is a journey, and it’s important to be patient with yourself. However, implementing these tips for nervous flyers can help make your flying experience more manageable and even enjoyable.

Safe travels!

Feel free to share your own tips for easing flight anxiety and thanks for stopping by!

The post Tips for Nervous Flyers – From a Flight Attendant appeared first on Wear I Wandered.

Honestly, I was shocked to find myself being queasy because I had flown many times before without ever having motion sickness.

The senior flight attendants assured me that this was normal and common for new flight attendants and that my body would eventually adjust.

They were right, but I assure you that during my first few months as a flight attendant I learned a lot about how to avoid getting airsick!

First of All, What Causes Airsicknesses

Basically motion sickness (called airsickness when you are on a plane) is a problem caused by conflicting signals between your brain, your inner ear, and your senses.

Your body and your inner ear are detecting movement that your eyes aren’t registering. These mixed signals confuse your brain and can cause you to feel sick.

What Are the Symptoms of Airsickness?

If you don’t know the symptoms of airsickness consider yourself lucky! Nausea, cold sweats, dizziness, turning pale, fatigue…at its very worse airsickness can cause you to throw up.

By the way…if you start to feel nauseated do your flight attendant a favor and make sure you have your airsick bag ready to go.

It should be in the seat pocket in front of you! If not, feel free to ask for one!

Please.

Best Ways to Avoid Getting Airsick

So, now that you know what airsickness is and how it makes you feel…here are some of my best tips for how to NOT to get motion sick when flying.

Some of these tips will also you feel better if despite your best efforts you DO start to feel airsick.

Choose your seat carefully

If you are prone to motion sickness this is a very important tip.

I was so surprised as a new flight attendant to discover just how much smoother the ride is near the front of the plane than it is in the back.

I have been on flights where the attendants in the back of the plane could barely complete the service due to turbulence while those in the front were blissfully unaware.

Of course, not all of us can enjoy flying WAY in the front of the plane in first class, but even if you are flying coach I suggest that you try to get a seat over or in front of the wing.

It really makes a difference in the amount of movement you will feel!

Don’t Eat Too Much or Too Little Before Your Flight

Many people like to take an early morning flight not only because they are usually cheaper, but also because early flights are not as likely to be running late.

However, I have seen many passengers start to feel sick on these flights because they have gotten up before dawn and rushed around to get to the airport in time without eating breakfast.

It is a BAD idea to fly on an empty stomach. I speak from experience here!!!

Try to have something light to eat before you get on the plane even if it is just a bagel or a piece of toast.

You can even pack a snack the night before to bring with you on your early morning flight.

On the other side of the spectrum are the red eye or late night flights when people may have had too much to eat before boarding. This can cause you to feel sick if you encounter any turbulence.

Basically, just eat a light meal before you fly and don’t eat anything that has potential to upset your stomach.

Don’t Drink Alcohol and Do Stay Hydrated

If you tend to get airsick then avoid drinking alcohol before or during air travel.

Drinking alcohol tends to make airsickness worse. In part because it can increase dizziness and also because it can cause dehydration which ALSO can make your airsickness worse.

So stay hydrated and don’t drink alcohol if you tend to get sick while flying.

Dress in Layers So That You Can Regulate Your Body Temperature

Getting too warm on a flight might not cause airsickness, but it can definitely exacerbate it!

Dress in layers so that you can remove some to keep yourself from getting too warm on a flight.

Use Your Fresh Air Vent

Having some fresh air blowing on you can help to prevent you from becoming airsick so be sure and use your air vent!

As an added bonus Business Insider says that using the air vent is a healthy choice on a plane.

Avoid Reading a Book or Looking at Screens

When you read or look at screens your visual field stays still, however your body and inner ear are aware of the motion of the plane which confuses your brain.

Whoops. There goes that disconnect that will make you feel sick.

It is better to be bored than sick!

Try to Sleep

I know that sleep is hard to come by on a plane under the best of circumstances. However, one of the side effects of motion sickness can be tiredness so perhaps you will be able to nap that terrible feeling away.

It helps to bring a few things to make yourself more comfortable. An eye mask and a neck travel pillow are must haves.

If You Are Seated By the Window Try Looking Out at the Horizon

Finding the horizon can be difficult on a plane, but if you do happen to be seated near a window you can try opening your shade and looking out. This can help to coordinate and stabilize the eyes and the inner ear.

Ginger or Peppermint

It might sound like an old wives tale, but some studies show that ginger really does help to alleviate nausea.

I honestly found ginger to work well for me when I was struggling with airsickness, maybe it will for you, too!

When you are flying you can try sipping on ginger ale.

In fact, you might even want to pick up a can right after you get through security so that you can sip before the cart service even begins.

If you prefer not to drink ginger ale try these ginger drops. I used these because obviously I couldn’t drink ginger ale while I was working.

Do note that these drops are strong and spicy! However, I really found them to be helpful.

Some people swear by peppermint to ease their airsickness. It never did much for me, but your mileage might vary. it wouldn’t hurt to throw some peppermints in your carryon bag!

Try Acupressure

There is a pressure point on your wrist, called the PC6, that is known to help some people with their motion sickness. Check this post here to see how to find this pressure point.

You can even try wearing a seasick wristband when you fly.

Talk to Your Doctor About Medication

If you find that you’ve tried everything and simply can’t fly without getting airsick then talk to your doctor before your next trip about some of the medications that are available.

Dramamine is available over the counter but, of course, you will want to speak to your doctor before you try anything new.

I hope that these tips for how to avoid getting airsick help you on your next flight!

Thanks for stopping by!

The post How to Avoid Getting Airsick: Secrets From a Flight Attendant appeared first on Wear I Wandered.

As a flight attendant myself, I assure you that there are some gifts that we all would love to have. Here is a list of great gifts for flight attendants!

Gifts For Flight Attendants

Some of these links are affiliate links. If you buy through our link we make a few cents at no extra charge to you. Thanks!

Body Scrub

Your favorite flight attendant sometimes needs to scrub the cares of the day away. I use this Tree Hut Moroccan Rose scrub all the time! It makes my skin so soft and it smells amazing!

They also have a Moroccan Rose Shea Butter which is so nice and light.

This is seriously one of my favorite bath products and I think that other flight attendants would appreciate this gift as well.

Airplane Mode Sweatshirt

Most of the time when flying I am a “slam-clicker.” Haha.

A slam-clicker is a flight attendant who gets to her hotel room, slams the door, clicks the lock and isn’t seen again until time for the next flight.

I like nothing better than to put on something cozy to wear at the end of a long day serving passengers. This airplane mode sweatshirt tells the world that the flight attendant is off-duty!

Power Bank

Flight Attendants rarely have the time or a place to charge their gadgets when they are flying all day.

However, when we arrive at our destination we need a phone to be able to call an Uber or a shuttle to get to our hotel or to just let our loved ones know that we have arrived.

A power bank would be a great gift to keep your flight attendant connected. This Anker Nano portable charger is small and lightweight. Perfect to keep in a flight bag.

Water Bottle

Flying is super dehydrating so most flight attendants try to sip on water all day long as they work. I know I do.

This Takeya stainless steel water bottle is top rated.

It has a spout lid that is easy to drink from but will still keep it from splashing in case of a bumpy flight. It comes in a ton a great colors. Best of all it keeps us from reaching for another plastic water bottle!

Facial Mist Spray

A great facial mist spray would be a perfect gift for your favorite flight attendant.

Sometimes we have a day of short flights with lots of loading and unloading. It would be nice to take a minute to refresh ourselves between flights and prepare to smile happily at the next load of passengers.

This Mario Bedescu facial mist set would be an ideal gift.

Passport Holder

A combination wallet and passport holder would be great for those long-haul international flights.

This passport holder is classic and stylish. It comes in a myriad of colors with just a simple airplane emblem on the front.

It also holds credit cards and is Rfid blocking!

Airplane necklace

I think that this pretty and feminine sterling silver choker necklace would be a nice for either a Christmas present or a flight attendant graduation gift!

Flight Attendant “Stuff”

It might seem crazy but most of us really do like airplanes and other flight attendant gift “stuff.”

Our jobs might drive us crazy, but we mostly think it is the best job in the world and can’t imagine doing anything else!

This “what day is it” mug is hilariously true. I also like this makeup bag. Here is an adorable T-shirt, and a cute little airplane Christmas ornament.

Apple Watch Band

Flight attendants are required to wear a watch and many of them choose to wear an apple watch. An apple watch band or two or three would be a wonderful way for them to personalize their watch.

These Marge bands are nice and slim and come in a bunch of colors. Or if you want to go all out you can just gift them a new Apple watch!

Hand and Body Lotions

I have always had oily skin so it was shocking to me to discover how dry I get when I’m flying a lot. I use a lot more lotion than I used to!

I also wash my hands constantly when working so I need to re-moisturize my hands often.

Because we don’t want to overpower the passengers with lots of scents most of us use unscented lotions when flying.

Mostly I just use plain old Cetaphil lotion. But if you want to give a flight attendant a splurge lotion then I suggest June Jacobs Rapid Repair Lotion. I love this stuff!

They also make this formulation for men.

World Wall Map

My home has become so much more important to me since I became a flight attendant! I want it to feel like a sanctuary and still give me a reminder of how much I love my job and traveling the world.

I have this wooden wall map and I LOVE it. I think that this is a great gift idea for a flight attendant or anyone who loves to travel the world.

Also for the home this “bon boyage” pillow cover is adorable.

Comfortable Shoes

Female flight attendants have to wear heels when they greet passengers. We can change into flats when we start doing cabin service. As you can imagine comfortable shoes are a MUST.

I wear this Mary Jane style from Sofft and they are perfect for work. These shoes by LifeStride have a slightly lower heel and are also super comfortable.

It might seem weird to give a pair of shoes as a flight attendant gift, but I assure you your flight attendant will LOVE it.

This job is hard on the feet, y’all!

Travel Shawl

A soft and cozy travel wrap or shawl is a perfect gift for a flight attendant or a frequent traveler.

Flight attendants often leave somewhere warm, like Houston, and end up somewhere freezing like New York, or vice-versa.

It is perfect to have something easy and soft to throw around your shoulders while you wait for the shuttle.

Cute Pajamas

After spending my days in a uniform and pantyhose and heels nothing is better than putting on a cute and comfortable pajama set and settling in for a night of binge watching and browsing Instagram.

I think that cute pajamas or baggy, comfy pajama bottoms would be a great idea for a gift for your favorite flight attendant.

Gift Cards

Gift cards are never a bad idea! If you are looking for some stocking stuffers you can throw in a Starbucks gift cards. Many airports have a Starbucks coffeeshop and you know that a flight attendant has to have their coffee or chai for those early morning flights.

A Sephora gift card or even an Amazon gift card are also good gift ideas.

Thanks everybody for stopping by. Be kind to your flight attendants when you travel! They are working hard to serve you and to keep you safe!

I hope that you enjoyed this list of gifts for the flight attendants in your life. I promise that they will enjoy any of these flight attendant gift ideas!

We love it when you pin!

The post Great Gifts For Flight Attendants appeared first on Wear I Wandered.

I am going to show you exactly what to do!

How I decided to apply for a flight attendant position

A few years ago, I was in a total rut in my life. I was in a job I didn’t love and dreaded going to, I had a college degree I wasn’t putting to use, I had just moved back home…overall I was in a place in my life where I was wondering, “where in the world do I go from here?”

Instead of doing anything about it though, I really just ran away from my problems and tried to fill my void with other, very practical, things like napping and eating large quantities of cheese dip.

When even those two incredible things weren’t making me feel much better so I knew a change was in order. 

Pursuing a career as a flight attendant was never on my radar before that fateful day Facebook popped up an ad telling me I should apply to become one.

And when Facebook tells you to do something you do it, right? Right.

Sometimes I think the internet knows me better than I know myself and I can’t decide if that’s creepy or cool.

Anyway, I went home and couldn’t stop thinking about the “join the friendly skies, become a flight attendant” ad I had seen. 

I was friendly. I loved to travel. I thought their scarves were cute. Most importantly, I was ready to get the heck outta dodge. Seemed like a perfect fit. 

How to Become a Flight Attendant

The first thing you need to do is to find out which airlines are hiring.

At the time I began to apply all three major airlines were taking applications.

Most airlines take applications once or twice a year. There are lists that you can put your name on to be informed of when airlines begin to hire.

Also, if you know someone who is a flight attendant ask them to let you know if they hear that there airline is going to be hiring.

I decided to apply to United Airlines, American Airlines, and Delta Airlines. Southwest is also an important airlines but at that time they mostly flew within the US and I wanted more opportunities to fly overseas. (Since I became a flight attendant Southwest has started doing a few more international flights.)

Before you actually fill out your application the most important thing you need to know about how to become a flight attendant is that you need an awesome resume for a flight attendant position!

Prepare your flight attendant resume

I’ll never forget the day I pushed “submit” on my application because that day honestly changed my life forever.

But before I could do that I had to work on and update one very important thing…my resume. I needed a new resume that was specifically written for a flight attendant position.

Even if the airlines aren’t hiring you can start preparing your flight attendant resume!

I google searched and tried to find YouTube videos with sample resumes for flight attendants, but I had a hard time finding anything.

One thing I did learn was that having a good cover letter was very important, and that it was okay to show some personality and spunk in your resume, so I took those two things and went from there.

Now that I have trapped you into reading this far, I will give you some knowledge that I think can help you make a great resume to get you through to the next application round, the video interview.

I am also going to include the cover letter that I sent to Delta, United, and American Airlines in case you want to use it as a template!

This cover letter along with my resume got me to the second step of the interview process with every one of those airlines!

Tips for a great resume that will get the attention of the airlines!

Include a cover letter.

This is where you get to brag on yourself a little and show some personality.

Tell why you would be an amazing flight attendant.

Perhaps you would be a great candidate for this job because of prior work experience or your friendly and helpful personality. In addition to talking about yourself tell what you can do for their company!

In order to help I am including my cover letter. Obviously you will want to write your own cover letter that represents YOU and what you can offer the airline that you are applying for!

Don’t forget to personalize your cover letter for the particular airline that you are applying for. I rewrote this for United and American as I applied to all three.

Include background in customer service on your flight attendant resume and cover letter

The most important thing that the airlines are looking for when they scan your resume is experience in customer service.

In fact, this is so important that if you truly want to become a flight attendant you should work in customer service for a year or so before you apply.

Airlines are looking for candidates who can handle an array of passengers and situations that may occur in flight. Be sure and include everything and anything that you might have done that involved working with the public.

Be specific with ways that you have helped people in your previous jobs.

Include anything that you have done that is safety related

Did you know that when you go to flight attendant training you spend approximately 6 weeks on safety and one day on service? It’s crazy, but true.

If you are first aid certified, or CPR certified, or have any emergency health response training definitely include that. If you have any previous experience in any job that has to do with health and safety – you want to highlight this.

If you are fluent in a second language stress this on your resume

The ability to speak a second language – any second language – will give you a huge advantage when applying to be a flight attendant.

They will test your language skills so don’t claim that you are fluent if you really aren’t!

Show who you are as a person

Allow the human being who will be looking at your resume be able to see a bit of your personality. For example instead of saying, “I was a manager for a retail store,” say something along the lines of “High energy leader at…”

You want to give the facts of previous employment while also letting them see your great personality.

Stand out by showing that you will reflect the company values and goals

It is very important that you show in your resume that you know a bit about the company for which you are applying.

Tell why you would love to work for that specific airline.

Include something you know about them as a company to show you did your research and that you are specifically interested in them.

You will want to customize your application slightly for each individual airline for which you apply so that they will know that you are able to represent their brand.

Stand out by going with a slightly non-traditional resume format

I am not sure if this helped in getting the job or not, but I decided to go with a non- traditional resume format. I think it is never a bad idea to do something to set you apart from the rest.

I went to Etsy and typed in “blush colored resume template.” I spent about $10 on a template and I think it was totally worth not having to do it all myself. 

But don’t be too non-traditional in your flight attendant resume

As much as I’ve talked about standing out you probably won’t want to take it TOO far.

You can be both personal and professional! Make sure you walk that line well.

Don’t use a resume that you have previously used for other types of jobs.

If you already have an old resume you have been using for jobs, make sure to redo it so that it is a resume specifically to fit the flight attendant position.

Everything I put into my resume I made sure would be applicable to what they were looking for. 

Add a personal signature

This is something very small, but adds a nice personal touch to your resume. It helps you to seem more like a real person beyond just the words on a page! 

After you have prepared your flight attendant resume

If the airlines are hiring you will also fill out an online application.

This will include some general questions that they ask as well as a personality test.

Then finally, you will be given an opportunity to upload your revamped resume to become a flight attendant!

Then you wait…

This can be a long process y’all. You could hear back quickly or it could be weeks. Be patient and don’t quit your day job.

If you make it through the application process you will be asked to do an online interview.

If you don’t make it through to the online interview the first time after applying…try, try, again.

I know people who applied multiple times before they got through to the second and subsequent rounds of hiring! When you want to become a flight attendant persistence does pay off!

If you have a flight attendant in your life and would like to get a gift for them here is a list of perfect gifts for flight attendants.

Xoxo, 

Emily 

The post How to Write a Flight Attendant Resume appeared first on Wear I Wandered.

Here are 13 misconceptions about flight attendants that I am going to debunk for you.

Misconceptions About Flight Attendants

Flight Attendants are Servers

This is partly true.

We definitely do serve the needs of the passengers. In fact, I love taking care of people and giving them snacks and drinks.

That is definitely part of our job, however, our most important role is to keep you safe when you fly!

Flight attendants spend weeks in training learning about the various aircraft and all their safety features.

We learn how to handle an emergency, what to do in the case of an attempted hi-jacking, what to do if a plane loses pressure or has to ditch in the water, how to handle a belligerent passenger, how to administer basic first aid…

…we also spent a few hours learning how to serve you your coffee.

It Is Easy to Become a Flight Attendant

It is actually quite difficult to become a flight attendant.

First you have to apply and write a killer resume which you will submit along with tens of thousands of other applicants.

Then you have to do an online interview, and if you make it past that you will then attend an in person interview.

If you get through all of that you will then have to go to flight attendant training, which is typically 7 weeks of training 6 days a week.

While there you have to pass all your tests including a comprehensive final to become a flight attendant.

It’s definitely NOT easy.

Most Flight Attendants are Young, Single Women

Sure, some of the newer flight attendants are young, single women, but more and more flight attendants are male, and all ages are represented.

In fact, the longer you are a flight attendant the better the job becomes so you will find many older flight attendants AKA Senior Mamas and Papas.

Flight Attendants Aren’t Educated

Not true at all! It is true that no college degree is required to become a flight attendant, but many of us have a college degree and quite a few flight attendants have their masters.

Most flight attendants come from other careers and many speak multiple languages. What we all have in common is our love of people, travel, flexibility, and adventure.

Flight Attendants are Supposed to Help You With Your Bags

Nope! In fact, we are NOT supposed to help you with your bags and if we are injured while helping you put your heavy bag into the overhead bin, the airline will not cover our medical expenses.

That said, many flight attendants will still help you put your bag in the overhead bin, however, if they are injured and can’t continue the flight it could cause a delay while the airline gets another flight attendant.

It’s Just a Job

Being a flight attendant is more than just a job, it’s an entire lifestyle. Many people who resign from flying end up returning to the the air after only a short while.

Once you have been a flight attendant and then try a grounded job, you miss the freedom, the flexibility, the feeling of being able to come and go as you please.

Um…the flight benefits!

Flying is like an addiction we can’t shake.

The flight attendant lifestyle may not be an ordinary one, but it gets in your veins and most people have trouble returning to a different job after experiencing this lifestyle.

We Take This Job in Order to Meet a Rich Pilot

This one makes me laugh.

If you do happen to be a young flight attendant with one of the major airlines the pilots will tend to be much older than you. If you are an older flight attendant you probably either already have a significant other or are too jaded to be interested in a pilot.

I’m sure there have been some love matches, but usually there isn’t that much interaction between the pilots and the flight attendants. That is until they want their coffee, of course.

Plus, we all saw the train wreck that was Pilot Pete’s season of the bachelor.

We think it is cute when you mention the “Mile High Club”

This is a big no. Please do not try to flirt with your flight attendant in this way. First of all, if you are on our flight then that means that we are working.

Secondly, we have heard it all before and not only are you not being funny, you aren’t even being original.

P.S. Don’t ask to buy our panty hose either. Unless you’re willing to pay the big bucks. I kid, I kid.

Flight Attendants Always Fly the Same Route

This is really rare and reserved only for flight attendants with very high seniority.

Most of us don’t know from one month to another where we will be going or what our schedule will be. All a part of the fun and mystery of this job right?

Being a Flight Attendant is Glamorous

We spend the day dealing with travelers, most of whom are wonderful, but some who are grumpy, rude, condescending, drunk, hangry, tired, or stressed.

We do our best to keep a smile on our faces through it all.

We are busy pushing heavy carts up and down the aisles. We get hot coffee sloshed on us during intense bouts of turbulence. We have short turn arounds or layovers that barely allow us enough time to sleep. We throw away your stinky trash. We have to be at airports at 4:00AM.

No, it is typically NOT a glamorous job.

Ok, I can’t lie, getting paid to lay on the beach during a Cabo San Lucas layover can feel a little bit glamourous.

Layovers Are Always Lots of Fun

Sure they can be incredible!

My roommate got a 48 hour layover in Tahiti her very first trip as a flight attendant. I’ve had amazing layovers in Hawaii, Mexico, and Canada.

But not all layovers are pictures of perfection.

Most layovers are short with no time to see the town that you are in. By the end of the day, many of us are just ready to get to our hotel room, shut and lock the door, kick off our shoes, eat some snacks, and settle in for some Netflix before we have to wake up and head back to the airport.

Who can complain about snacks, Netflix, and a hotel bathrobe though?

It is Easy for Flight Attendants to Fly Anywhere in the World

I can’t deny that being able to fly for free is an amazing perk and is one of the very best things about the job. I have gotten to go to some wonderful places.

What flight attendants don’t usually talk about is how difficult it can be to fly standby.

It is an adrenaline rush like no other waiting at the gate to see if you will make it on the plane or not.

Flights are often full and often you will spend your whole day at the airport, hoping and praying you get on your flight. We get around this by being very, very flexible.

You won’t find many flight attendants who actually plan their vacations. Instead they wait to see what locations have open flights and just go there, where ever there may be!

I have definitely shed a tear (or a hundred) over not making my flight home, but it’s all worth it in the end when you reach your final destination.

Flight Attendants Have Control Over Whether You Make Your Connection or Not

Surely, y’all know that this is totally out of our control, right?

However the way some people act when their plane is late you would think it was totally the fault of the flight attendant. They fuss, they complain, they yell, they order us to tell the pilot to get this plane off of the ground.

We can’t control the weather, the pilots, or the schedules. We also can’t hold your connecting flight!

Did you know that flight attendants are only paid from wheels up to wheels down? We hate sitting on the tarmac as much as you do because we aren’t getting paid!

Hope I have dispelled some of the misconceptions about flight attendants!

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily

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