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.

A flight attendant's shift is rarely a "9-to-5" and is measured in "duty periods" and "block time." A typical shift begins 60 to 90 minutes before a flight's departure for the crew briefing and security checks. On a "short-haul" day, an attendant might fly 3 to 4 individual legs (e.g., Chicago to Dallas to Denver to Phoenix), totaling a 12-to-14 hour duty day. On "long-haul" international routes, they may work a single 10-to-15 hour flight, followed by a mandatory "layover" rest period of 24 to 48 hours in a hotel. Flight attendants are generally only paid for "block time"—the time the aircraft's doors are closed and the engines are running—meaning they are not paid for the hours spent boarding, deplaning, or waiting during delays. Their schedules are often "bid" on a monthly basis, with seniority determining who gets the best routes and holidays off. A "reserve" flight attendant has even less predictability; they must be ready to head to the airport within 2 hours of a call to cover for sick or delayed crew members, making the lifestyle one of constant adaptation and flexibility across various time zones and cities.