Comments on: A Day in the Life: Flight Attendant Trips http://upupandagay.com/2009/12/26/a-day-in-the-life-trip/ By: Bobby Laurie, Travel Expert Thu, 17 May 2012 06:41:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: cedarglen http://upupandagay.com/2009/12/26/a-day-in-the-life-trip/#comment-2303 cedarglen Sun, 04 Sep 2011 13:05:00 +0000 http://upupandagay.com/?p=561#comment-2303 I know this is an old post, but I have to chime in a bit.  Of course those schedules are brutal and even 'abusive' at times. In fairness, perhaps the next breath, you should also remind readers (or keep in y our own mind) that you 'work' only nine or ten days a month and have about twenty days off.  For folks who work more conventional schedules, the numbers are almost exactly reversed.  In the end, it is about personal choice and the lifestyle that FAs choose.  The working days may be brutal, but their numbers are relatively small.  If the overall package did not fit well with your personal lifestyle, you would not keep the job.  Duh?  When you complain about the brutal trips (and they can be, to be sure) you ought to mention that you also enjoy twenty or twenty-one days off each month.  If you 'lose'  a few hours or a day commuting to your base, that sounds much like a personal, life-style problem to me. In the end, as a basic, self-support function, most wage earners end up working about the same number of hours each month.  If one concentrates those hours into a very few days, of course the schedule is brutal!  The off-set is large blocks of off time.  A FA's schedule is great for some folks and serious misery for others.  If the basic schedule did not work well for you, you would be doing something else.  You could, for example, work 0800-1700 five days a week and enjoy a few odd holidays, as most folks do.  Personally, I just retired from a long career build around equally brutal, 36-hour weekends, often night shifts. It worked for me and allowed me to pursue advanced degrees in subjects that I love, dense periods of time with family and friends and an appropriate income. In short, why so much bitching?  Enjoy the schedule benefit if it suits you - and offer some praise.  If it does not suit you, do something else.   As many others have noted repeatedly, most of the blogs written by pilots and ancillary workers in the airline industry are typically happy, informative and often educational blogs. The reading experience with *most* FA blogs is just the opposite: Bitching and moaning about working conditions, schedules and especially encounters with PAX.  If enough FAs acquire a similar, mostly negative attitude toward your customers, there will be far few of same and far less need for FAs.  From L1 to the rear, it really IS a service industry, including the safety aspects of the job.  If you truly don't like the work, get out and make room for someone who does.  After reading too many FA posts, I sense that a few too many keep their jobs for the convenient schedules and unusual benefits, but truly do not give a twit about doing the job properly and with a smile.  You've been ranting for months (years) and this PAX just ranted back.  See you on my next flight, maybe, but I think I'll do a little better...  Cg I know this is an old post, but I have to chime in a bit.  Of course those schedules are brutal and even ‘abusive’ at times. In fairness, perhaps the next breath, you should also remind readers (or keep in y our own mind) that you ‘work’ only nine or ten days a month and have about twenty days off.  For folks who work more conventional schedules, the numbers are almost exactly reversed.  In the end, it is about personal choice and the lifestyle that FAs choose.  The working days may be brutal, but their numbers are relatively small.  If the overall package did not fit well with your personal lifestyle, you would not keep the job.  Duh?  When you complain about the brutal trips (and they can be, to be sure) you ought to mention that you also enjoy twenty or twenty-one days off each month.  If you ‘lose’  a few hours or a day commuting to your base, that sounds much like a personal, life-style problem to me. In the end, as a basic, self-support function, most wage earners end up working about the same number of hours each month.  If one concentrates those hours into a very few days, of course the schedule is brutal!  The off-set is large blocks of off time.  A FA’s schedule is great for some folks and serious misery for others.  If the basic schedule did not work well for you, you would be doing something else.  You could, for example, work 0800-1700 five days a week and enjoy a few odd holidays, as most folks do.  Personally, I just retired from a long career build around equally brutal, 36-hour weekends, often night shifts. It worked for me and allowed me to pursue advanced degrees in subjects that I love, dense periods of time with family and friends and an appropriate income. In short, why so much bitching?  Enjoy the schedule benefit if it suits you – and offer some praise.  If it does not suit you, do something else.  
As many others have noted repeatedly, most of the blogs written by pilots and ancillary workers in the airline industry are typically happy, informative and often educational blogs. The reading experience with *most* FA blogs is just the opposite: Bitching and moaning about working conditions, schedules and especially encounters with PAX.  If enough FAs acquire a similar, mostly negative attitude toward your customers, there will be far few of same and far less need for FAs.  From L1 to the rear, it really IS a service industry, including the safety aspects of the job.  If you truly don’t like the work, get out and make room for someone who does.  After reading too many FA posts, I sense that a few too many keep their jobs for the convenient schedules and unusual benefits, but truly do not give a twit about doing the job properly and with a smile.  You’ve been ranting for months (years) and this PAX just ranted back.  See you on my next flight, maybe, but I think I’ll do a little better…  Cg

]]> By: hjt84 http://upupandagay.com/2009/12/26/a-day-in-the-life-trip/#comment-366 hjt84 Wed, 24 Feb 2010 18:01:22 +0000 http://upupandagay.com/?p=561#comment-366 ALL the time, normally the "bucket n spade" brigade going to the Caribbean. Sometimes i'd just say "Yes, yes we do. They work us til breaking point." ALL the time, normally the “bucket n spade” brigade going to the Caribbean. Sometimes i’d just say “Yes, yes we do. They work us til breaking point.”

]]> By: Bobby http://upupandagay.com/2009/12/26/a-day-in-the-life-trip/#comment-365 Bobby Wed, 24 Feb 2010 06:50:33 +0000 http://upupandagay.com/?p=561#comment-365 LOL! I can't believe anyone would ask that after an international flight! LOL! I can’t believe anyone would ask that after an international flight!

]]> By: hjt84 http://upupandagay.com/2009/12/26/a-day-in-the-life-trip/#comment-364 hjt84 Wed, 24 Feb 2010 03:47:01 +0000 http://upupandagay.com/?p=561#comment-364 I used to love it when doing doing say a LGW - LAS or LHR - HKG pax would ask, "So do you go straight back now?" Er,...... we're not a short haul airline love and definately not charter....besides doing a 15hr duty period then having 90mins on the ground and flying home again?!?! Think about it..... I used to love it when doing doing say a LGW – LAS or LHR – HKG pax would ask, “So do you go straight back now?” Er,…… we’re not a short haul airline love and definately not charter….besides doing a 15hr duty period then having 90mins on the ground and flying home again?!?! Think about it…..

]]> By: Middle Man http://upupandagay.com/2009/12/26/a-day-in-the-life-trip/#comment-363 Middle Man Tue, 12 Jan 2010 10:09:32 +0000 http://upupandagay.com/?p=561#comment-363 Very nice and informative post and, as a frequent flier, much appreciated. You might also enjoy this: http://caughtinthemiddleman.wordpress.com/2007/03/09/planes-trains-automobiles-part-2/ Very nice and informative post and, as a frequent flier, much appreciated. You might also enjoy this:

http://caughtinthemiddleman.wordpress.com/2007/03/09/planes-trains-automobiles-part-2/

]]> By: Aviatrix http://upupandagay.com/2009/12/26/a-day-in-the-life-trip/#comment-362 Aviatrix Tue, 29 Dec 2009 07:56:56 +0000 http://upupandagay.com/?p=561#comment-362 Pilots aren't supposed to call them trips. Ask yours if they're allowed to talk about trips with ATC. Pilots aren’t supposed to call them trips. Ask yours if they’re allowed to talk about trips with ATC.

]]> By: Bobby http://upupandagay.com/2009/12/26/a-day-in-the-life-trip/#comment-361 Bobby Sun, 27 Dec 2009 18:42:11 +0000 http://upupandagay.com/?p=561#comment-361 Thanks Bethany! :) Our lifestyle is a weird one.. but I don't think I could ever have less than 15 days off a month, ever again. Thanks Bethany! :) Our lifestyle is a weird one.. but I don’t think I could ever have less than 15 days off a month, ever again.

]]> By: BethanyinFl http://upupandagay.com/2009/12/26/a-day-in-the-life-trip/#comment-360 BethanyinFl Sun, 27 Dec 2009 05:41:15 +0000 http://upupandagay.com/?p=561#comment-360 Fantastic explanation of the ins and outs of the job and the commuting aspect. It IS difficult for non airline people to get their head around our lifestyle! Fantastic explanation of the ins and outs of the job and the commuting aspect. It IS difficult for non airline people to get their head around our lifestyle!

]]> By: Brad http://upupandagay.com/2009/12/26/a-day-in-the-life-trip/#comment-359 Brad Sat, 26 Dec 2009 15:58:25 +0000 http://upupandagay.com/?p=561#comment-359 Great job explaining this to everybody! Very detailed and well organized! I like the new banner too! Great job explaining this to everybody! Very detailed and well organized! I like the new banner too!

]]> By: A Day in the Life: Flight Attendant Trips « Up Up & A Gay – A … XV China http://upupandagay.com/2009/12/26/a-day-in-the-life-trip/#comment-358 A Day in the Life: Flight Attendant Trips « Up Up & A Gay – A … XV China Sat, 26 Dec 2009 08:27:05 +0000 http://upupandagay.com/?p=561#comment-358 [...] is the original post: A Day in the Life: Flight Attendant Trips « Up Up & A Gay – A … By admin | category: las vegas, las vegas flight | tags: angeles, francisco, las vegas, [...] [...] is the original post: A Day in the Life: Flight Attendant Trips « Up Up & A Gay – A … By admin | category: las vegas, las vegas flight | tags: angeles, francisco, las vegas, [...]

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