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

Birmingham Airport Gets More Lounge Choice

May 13, 2026 12:18 PM

Nantes Adds Brussels and Essaouira Flights

May 13, 2026 12:05 PM

JetBlue Lands Its First Italy Route

May 13, 2026 11:52 AM

Cheap Lumo Trains Head for Stirling

May 13, 2026 11:49 AM

Uber Adds Boats to Its European App

May 13, 2026 11:36 AM

United Brings Back Its Caracas Route

May 13, 2026 11:23 AM

Paderborn Keeps Its Alicante Winter Flights

May 13, 2026 11:17 AM

Download Festival Traffic Warning for East Midlands Flyers

May 13, 2026 11:04 AM

Tel Aviv Flights Return to Salzburg

May 12, 2026 14:51 PM

Edinburgh Airport Drop-Off Fees Rise Again

May 12, 2026 14:48 PM

Cambridge South Finally Gets Its Opening Date

May 12, 2026 14:35 PM

Belgium Strike Grounds Charleroi Flights

May 11, 2026 22:52 PM

Norwich Gets a Direct Jersey Summer Link

May 11, 2026 22:29 PM

Glasgow Gets Its New York Link Back

May 10, 2026 23:46 PM

Africa Steps Into the Tourism Spotlight

May 10, 2026 23:33 PM

Berlin Gets Two New Southern Escapes

May 10, 2026 11:47 AM

Ryanair Warns Spain Over Summer Passport Queues

May 10, 2026 11:34 AM

Madrid Lands on Singapore Airlines’ Europe Map

May 9, 2026 22:41 PM

Paderborn Gets More Greek Island Flights

May 9, 2026 22:38 PM

Bath’s Fashion Museum Gets a Second Act

May 9, 2026 22:25 PM

Dublin-Belfast Rail Trips Set to Get Faster

May 9, 2026 22:12 PM

Greek Winter Flights Face a Ryanair Cutback

May 9, 2026 16:49 PM

Munich Gets More Singapore Flights

May 9, 2026 16:36 PM

Nuremberg Airport Eases Security Rules

May 9, 2026 16:23 PM

Virgin Drops Dubai and Seattle for Winter

May 8, 2026 16:27 PM

Sunbed Wars Reach the Holiday Courts

May 8, 2026 16:14 PM