10+ Facts that show that the life of flight attendants goes beyond safety instructions

Perhaps, few girls have never dreamed of working at heights. The sky, the clouds, the trips and, of course, the beautiful employees — these are just some of the reasons that help create this romantic image of the profession. Moreover, the representation of these professionals in the cinema only reaffirms the stereotype. However, in real life, the day to day of flight attendants is more multifaceted than we imagine.

We, from incredible.club, we find out what the daily life of a flight attendant really is like. And we think it’s time to debunk cinematic myths about the profession. on the bonus, let’s share real stories with strange customers, which certain flight attendants had to go through. Follow!

This was once true: flight attendants were rigorously chosen according to their weight and height. Even in movies, we often see employees with ideal proportions, like runway models. Of course, there are certain requirements nowadays regarding appearance, but they are not so categorical.

The main condition: the stewardess must be able to reach the upper compartment of the plane, and her weight must be in proportion to her height. The appearance, in general, should be harmonic, but extra kilos do not cause any problems. It is only important that its weight does not interfere with movement inside the cabin and that, in an emergency, there is the possibility of passing through the emergency exit.

In movies, flight attendants are usually very beautiful women with an almost angelic appearance. We can remember Margot Robbie as a stewardess: her smooth skin and white Hollywood smile are like a business card for representatives of the profession. Because of this, many believe that only women “from the covers of magazines” can work on board.

But this is not always the case. In many companies, one of the main conditions for getting a job is just having a nice appearance, nothing more. It is also essential that the person has no face piercings or tattoos in visible areas. This means that women with visible moles or moles, braces and freckles may very well qualify for the flight attendant position.

In film, there is a tendency to present flight attendants wearing tight pencil skirts or a tight little dress. Comedy film directors, then, can go further and present women in short dresses with plunging cleavage. However, in real life, the dress code must first be executive and well-groomed.

However, that doesn’t mean that flight attendants have to wear only tight skirts and dresses all the time. On many airlines, women’s pants and shorts are allowed. In certain companies, high heels have been completely abolished and are being replaced by classic and comfortable sneakers.

Let’s now debunk another cinematic stereotype. Age does not matter for work “at heights”, but the state of health does. If a candidate for the post passes the medical examination, then she is able to work at 40, 50 or even 60.

Ronwyn Ingraham has managed to fulfill her dream of becoming a stewardess. After retiring at age 64, she started working for United Airlines. The famous story of Bette Nash, 85 years old, many already know: the oldest flight attendant in the history of aviation, who continues to work for American Airlines.

What do movie stewardesses do? There is the impression that they only show passengers where to sit, serve food and drinks, and sometimes flirt with colleagues or the pilots. Only in some productions could we really see the complexity of the profession deeper. After all, a flight attendant’s primary responsibility is to ensure safety during the flight.

In order for employees to know how to react in every emergency situation, they need to undergo extensive training. For this, they must have good psychological stability, know how to provide first aid, and even how to give birth to a baby, if necessary. In addition, they must know how to handle safety equipment and even know self-defense techniques. These are just some of the activities a flight attendant needs to master.

Indeed, many filmmakers boldly show flight attendants wearing a variety of jewelry, colorful earrings and chains around their necks. In most companies, however, flight attendants can only wear small earrings with dark stones, but not more than one pair. Bracelets and pendants will likely need to be removed as this is one of the requirements on most airlines.

Some companies allow their female employees to wear earrings and rings as long as they are the diameter of a coin.

You’ve probably seen those adorable flight attendants in the movies with long, glossy, well-groomed locks, haven’t you? Well, the fact is that most airlines have strict rules about female employees’ hairstyles. Therefore, girls with long hair will most likely need to make a bun. Shorter hair can be worn in a ponytail. Women with very short locks can leave them loose.

Men also have their own rules. They should keep a short, neat cut. In addition, men are often not allowed to work with a beard, depending on the airline in question.

There seems to be the impression, also on account of the films, that an official “from the heights” visits every city and every country in the world during his career. But this is not the case: it all depends on the qualifications of the professional. More experienced and well qualified flight attendants are sent on international and diversified trips, while others can spend a lifetime working on the same route.

Furthermore, airline employees do not always have the opportunity to visit local attractions in new countries. Often, there isn’t even enough time between flights to sleep well, let alone walk around town.

In several films, even people who have no academic qualifications beyond high school can become flight attendants. In real life, things are not that simple.

Technically, individuals who only hold a high school graduation certificate can apply for the vacancy. But most companies will not accept them, and preference will be given to candidates with better qualifications and higher education.

At first glance, it might seem that working in the clouds is the most romantic of all possible occupations. In reality, however, flight attendants experience physical and mental exhaustion as much as many professionals in other areas. Calculated schedules and high demands on appearance and lifestyle also contribute to this.

What’s more, traveling frequently can interfere with getting a new education or family life as well. Flight attendants with children complain that they don’t have time to stay at home and that they don’t see their families often. However, since many are still working, we can draw a conclusion: the profession really has something seductive, which stays with you for a long time.

I worked on Malaysia Airlines flights. During a flight, I noticed an elderly lady who lowered and raised the window curtain, repeatedly. I asked if everything was ok, and she seemed to be lost. Then she said: “Daughter, help me to open the window. I’m short of breath, I need fresh air. I don’t know how to open it.” Hearing this, the passengers burst out laughing. The guy next to me explained that he couldn’t open the window on the plane, like on the buses. They exist only so that people can see the outside. This lady was flying for the first time in her life. © Nuralia Mazlan / QuoraOnce, on a flight, a guy decided to take a nap and put what looked like a mask on his face. But when I looked at him more closely, I couldn’t believe my eyes. His nose and mouth were covered with a large sanitary napkin. © Darla Meston / Quora

What do you most admire about the job of a flight attendant? What funny travel experiences have you had? Share with us!