Misconceptions of Careers: Flight Attendant

Author: Alessia Selis

This is my last year of high school and I have very clear ideas about what I want to do in the future. After graduating in languages I am going to do a course to become a flight attendant; but I realize this job isn’t as everyone thinks. There are many professions that get stereotyped and there is no exception when it comes to the aviation industry. Many people, in fact, regard the job of a flight attendant as luxurious, because of the lifestyle. The first stereotype is that a flight attendant’s principal duty is to serve meals and beverages; however, they also instruct passengers on safety procedures and they make sure that all the necessary supplies are on board. Another misconception is that every airline gives free flights to the cabin crew. To be a flight attendant is so stressful, in fact, that after a flight they can’t immediately go home because they have to first clean the aircraft. This is very different from the movies where it seems like they have a lover in every city. A flight attendant’s job can be very tiring. Sometimes you have to work 12 hours a day, but it can be very rewarding if you do it with passion. Being part of the cabin crew is more than just a job; spending a lot of time with the same people, particularly during long journeys that force you to stay away from home for days, makes you feel like part of a real family.