Flight attendants greet passengers, serve food and beverages, and provide any other services required to ensure the safety and comfort of passengers during an aeroplane or helicopter flight. They are employed by airline companies.
Though your role as a flight attendant is service-oriented, safety precautions are of primary concern. Prior to each flight, you check all emergency equipment, confirm that all the necessary supplies are stocked in the service area and on food carts, survey the cabin of the aircraft for any problems and conduct a pre-flight briefing with the rest of the crew.
Once passengers have been boarded, you are responsible for demonstrating emergency procedures before take-off. Once in the air, you serve food and beverages to passengers and provide other in-flight services, such as offering blankets, earphones, and movies to ensure the passengers' comfort. Upon reaching the destination, you help passengers disembark.
Pay for this position is based on an hourly rate. You work a minimum number of hours a month and there is usually a maximum number of hours beyond which you are not allowed to work for safety reasons; these limits are set by the airline. You also receive a benefits package with your job.
Training for this position is demanding and the standards are exacting. Airlines provide their own formal training period lasting approximately six weeks during which you will learn everything about the job. Most of the training period is dedicated to safety issues. You learn how to conduct emergency procedures, use emergency equipment, and administer aviation medical procedures. You are required to achieve high standards on any testing offered during this period. Emergency training is an ongoing element in a flight attendant's job and it is expected that you will keep up with any changes in standards.
Also taught during this period are first-aid courses, customs and immigration procedures, and how to address the public. As well, you become familiar with the food-service aspect of the job and with other elements of customer service.
For most air carriers in Canada, bilingualism is a distinct advantage. With experience, you may be given a choice of which routes you want to fly and which times you prefer to work. If you are successful in the job, you may even move into a supervisory role.
More than anything, you have to get along with all types of people. Serving passengers in an environment such as an aeroplane can be demanding work. You must be able to cater to all needs with patience and efficiency. Working in conjunction with other flight attendants, you need a team-oriented approach. On the other hand, you still need the initiative to work independently and the organizational skills to complete your work in a timely fashion. Being presentable is a must.
It is important for you to show confidence in your work. In an emergency, passengers will look to you for help and guidance. At such times, you have to be able to respond promptly and communicate clearly.