They can expect to spend 65-90 hours in the air, and an additional 50 hours preparing the airplane, processing passengers during boarding and performing post-flight procedures. Typically, flight attendants work 12-14 days and log 65-85 flight hours each month, not including overtime.

In 2026, the average cabin crew member typically works between 12 and 18 days per month, depending on their seniority and whether they fly short-haul or long-haul routes. While that might sound like a light schedule, it doesn't account for "standby" days or the grueling nature of long shifts. A "full-time" flight attendant usually logs between 75 and 100 "block hours" (time the plane is moving) per month. However, their actual "duty time"—which includes check-in, boarding, delays, and post-flight duties—can be double that. For example, a long-haul crew might fly just four "trips" a month, but each trip involves three days away from home and a 12-hour flight. Senior crew members often have more control over their "bidding" for schedules, allowing them to stack flights to get longer blocks of time off. Conversely, new "reserve" crew members must be on call for a set number of days, often required to be at the airport within two hours of a phone call, making their schedule much less predictable.