It was the most unpleasant thing: a flight attendant with 25 years of experience talked about the downsides of his job

By Tychyna TetianaFeb 14, 2024 05:05 AMNews
Share:
An airplane passenger. Source: Pixabay

A flight attendant for a major US airline shared his opinion on various aspects of his profession. He discussed it in the Ask Me Anything subreddit on Reddit.

The steward, who has been working in the aviation industry for about 25 years, shared the nuances, discussing the pros and cons. DailyMail reported on the most daring questions and answers.

In his view, the main advantages include travel opportunities and the availability of medical insurance. He also enjoys the opportunity to experience something new in his work every day.

However, he mentioned the work schedule and lack of compensation for certain aspects of the job as disadvantages. Additionally, he found it very uncomfortable to deal with disruptive passengers.

"I prefer working on morning flights. Typically, I have to be at the airport around 5-6 am and finish by 2 or 3 pm," he explained.

He mentioned that on some flights, his workday ends by 11 a.m., while on other days, it may extend until 5 p.m.

The flight attendant explained that he chose to work on domestic flights in the United States because he prefers not dealing with time zone changes.

Regarding flight attendants' salary levels, he stated that they were "terrible" for the first two years, averaging about $25 per hour, excluding per diem. Some airlines pay more if the flights are full or nearly full.

"The maximum pay rate is reached after 13 years and is close to $80 per flight hour," he said.

Discussing incidents during turbulence, he mentioned onboard injuries.

"It was so severe that I hit my head on the door handle and got injured," he admitted.

He even shared some risky aspects of his job, such as navigating relationships with crew members or other passengers. He also noted that heterosexual pilots sometimes date homosexual flight attendants.

Lastly, he mentioned the most challenging aspects of his career.

According to him, these include altercations, passengers defecating or urinating in their seats.

"But [the worst] for me is dealing with used condoms, soiled underwear (both male and female), used tampons, and these are just a few examples," the flight attendant recalled.

He believes that COVID has affected passengers' behavior, leading to more frequent instances of foolish and unfriendly conduct.

The flight attendant also pointed out that individuals of all ages can pursue this profession.

"We have people aged 50 to 60 who get hired. Pay special attention to Southwest, Delta, Alaska, and Jet Blue," the steward noted.

He mentioned "View from the Top" as his favorite movie about air travel.

"It's... a humorous movie," he said.

Top Articles

Top 10 reasons for flight cancelation by airlines: a clear algorithm of actions to get compensation

Oct 16, 2025 16:22 PM

Where to Buy eSIM at the Best Price: A Full Review of Tariffs and Options

Aug 8, 2025 10:54 AM

No More SIM Swaps: The eSIM Travel Solution You’ll Actually Use

Aug 4, 2025 16:51 PM

Not Just a Suitcase: My Personal Checklist for Smart Travelers in 2025

Mar 3, 2025 18:00 PM
More News

Ryanair Expands Apulia Network With 82 Summer Routes

Mar 5, 2026 00:37 AM

Irish Court Orders eDreams to Stop Accessing Ryanair Booking System

Mar 5, 2026 00:12 AM

Flights Begin Returning as Middle East Airspace Disruptions Continue

Mar 5, 2026 00:04 AM

Cyprus Flights Cancelled After Akrotiri Incident

Mar 4, 2026 21:18 PM

Duggee Moves Into Alton Towers With First Themed Hotel Rooms

Mar 4, 2026 21:01 PM

Turkey Holidays Continue Despite Regional Tensions

Mar 4, 2026 20:55 PM

Strasbourg Adds Three UK Links As Jet2 Enters Alsace

Mar 4, 2026 04:29 AM

Salzburg Airport Urges Early Checks As New Entry Rules Tighten

Mar 4, 2026 04:13 AM

Middle East Airspace Closure Ripples Across Global Holiday Routes

Mar 3, 2026 22:56 PM

Train Refund Cut-Off Tightened Under New April Rule In Britain

Mar 3, 2026 21:47 PM

Qatar Extends Visas As Airspace Closure Leaves Travellers Waiting

Mar 3, 2026 21:22 PM

Ryanair Adds Extra Newcastle–Barcelona Flights For Champions League Tie

Mar 3, 2026 21:14 PM

Direct Oslo and Bergen Flights to Gdańsk Go on Sale

Mar 3, 2026 20:58 PM

Limited UAE Departures Resume As Gulf Airspace Crisis Continues

Mar 3, 2026 01:31 AM

Qatar Airways Pauses Flights As Airspace Closure Continues

Mar 3, 2026 01:25 AM

Philippine Airlines Marks 85 Years With Global Fare Sale

Mar 2, 2026 21:49 PM

Cyprus Flights Disrupted After Drone Strike Near RAF Base

Mar 2, 2026 21:33 PM

Cruise Holidays Halted as Gulf Conflict Traps Tourists at Sea

Mar 2, 2026 21:26 PM

Europeans Urged To Register With Embassies After Middle East Strikes

Mar 2, 2026 21:17 PM

Philippine Airlines Suspends Several Middle East Flights

Mar 2, 2026 21:02 PM

Airspace Tensions Force KLM To Halt Gulf And Israel Flights

Mar 1, 2026 23:54 PM

Aegean Suspends Middle East Flights Amid Regional Tensions

Mar 1, 2026 23:48 PM

Jet2 Adds Early Summer 2027 Routes From Bournemouth And Edinburgh

Feb 28, 2026 18:41 PM

Middle East Airspace Closures Disrupt Flights As UK Updates Travel Advice

Feb 28, 2026 18:35 PM

Spain Prepares Brit-Only Airport Queues Ahead Of Summer Rush

Feb 28, 2026 18:29 PM

Barcelona Stay Gets Pricier As Tourist Tax Doubles

Feb 28, 2026 18:13 PM