Are flight attendants paid by the hour?

Whether the flight attendant is paid hourly or salaried is based on the particular contract with the airline. Some flight attendants start out at $15 per hour, others at $19 – or higher. When the airlines are scrambling to add flight crews, starting pay can be $21 to $27 per hour.



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Flight attendants get paid per flight hour but have other pay mechanisms in place that guarantee they will receive a minimum pay for each trip. These mechanisms referred to as “RIGS” track the flight attendants total duty day and total time away from their base.

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Typically, flight attendants work 12 to 14 days and log 65 to 85 flight hours on average each month, not including overtime. Flight attendants are only paid once the boarding doors are closed.

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New flight attendants typically work a reserve schedule and must be close to the airport, or sometimes wait at the airport for a call to duty. Senior flight attendants enjoy more flexibility in their schedule and choice of destinations. Both roles enjoy the same travel benefits with about 12 days off per month.

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They often work nights, weekends, and holidays because airlines operate every day and have overnight flights. They may spend several nights per week or per month away from home. In most cases, a contract between the airline and the flight attendant union determines the total daily and monthly workable hours.

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In most cases, a contract between the airline and the flight attendant union determines the total daily and monthly workable hours. On-duty shifts per day may vary from 4 to 18 hours or longer, such as for international flights.

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Q: Will I be paid during training? A: No. However, within five working days after your Flight Attendant graduation, you will receive $1,200 Initial Training Pay minus applicable taxes and benefit deductions. During training, you will also receive a $425 meal stipend in the form of a pre-paid Visa card.

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Two-day trip: For these flights, attendants complete one leg, or flight, in one day, have a layover, then return the following day. Most airlines complete three flights per day with layovers anywhere from 10 to 24 hours long, though longer layovers may extend into a three-day stay.

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In addition to complimentary hotel stays, flight attendants may also receive per diem (per day) allowance from their airlines. This is a daily payment that covers the cost of food and other related expenses during their layover. Per diem allowance varies depending on the country or city of destination.

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The Top 30 Benefits and Perks of being a Flight Attendant
  • Get Paid to Travel the World. ...
  • Spend Your Days off Flying for Free. ...
  • Your Family and Friends Can Fly for Free too. ...
  • Earn a Very Respectable Salary. ...
  • Big Generous Package of Employee Benefits. ...
  • Your work schedule is flexible. ...
  • Pickup Extra Flights. ...
  • Trade Trips or Schedules.


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Can you make a living as a flight attendant? Yes, you can make a decent living as a flight attendant. The median salary is $61,640 per year and there are many opportunities to make more than that based on your experience level, the airline you work for and even your geographic location.

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Regardless of where you're flying from or to, the safest option is not to tip. If you'd like to show appreciation to a flight attendant who provided excellent service, a non-cash gift is acceptable and will certainly be cherished (though we suggest any chocolates or treats be properly sealed).

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For seasoned flight attendants looking for earning potential, JetBlue, $103,000, and Alaskan Airlines, $113,000, are the highest paying airlines. Being a flight attendant can be a great long term career path.

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The training process for flight attendants can be quite rigorous and time-intensive. New hires typically need to complete somewhere between three to six weeks of initial training, where they learn on-the-job skills such as safety procedures and emergency drills.

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The fact that training goes unpaid is historical and is partly based on the fact that the offer of employment is conditional. Trainees must pass all their assessments throughout the course and trainers can flag flight attendants who might not be a great fit for the airline even after passing the recruitment process.

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Since they have some choice in the matter, that is the general answer. Of course there are exceptions such as certain flight attendants may like to stay close to home. The longer flights provide quite a bit of down time. With short flights require that they are working most of the time.

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The pros of being a flight attendant are getting to see the world and flight benefits, while the cons are missing important life events and having difficulty sustaining relationships. Pros: Perhaps one of the biggest (and most obvious) pros of being a flight attendant is that you are basically paid to travel the world.

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Upon landing, flight attendants must remain stationed at exits and monitor the airplane and cabin as passengers disembark the plane.

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They can design their schedule: Senior flight attendants often can choose or create their schedules. Though they may not get every request, senior flight attendants have scheduling priority and flexibility, and some may choose to work the same line to maintain a routine.

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Crew members are required to have a 10-hour rest period within each 24-hour cycle. The maximum duty day is 14 hours and must be followed by a 10-hour rest period at their hotel. When scheduling a flight, operators usually account for 12 hours of rest instead of 10.

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How many flights can I expect to fly on a typical day? The number of flights will vary based on the trip assigned. However, as an Endeavor flight attendant, you can expect to fly from one to six flights in a day.

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