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This weeks question comes from Joe:
Just recently discovered your blog and, as a very frequent flier for business, I am enjoying the behind-the-scenes look at the airline world.
Had a quick question, though. It may just be my perception, but it has sure seemed like certain carriers’ crews have been getting older and older and older, while others’ crews seem to get younger and younger and younger. Is that your experience/perception as well? Do FAs often change carriers? Given how important seniority seems to be in your job, I would think there would be a huge downside to switching, but the only explanation I can figure for the age trend is that there are “starter airlines,” where young FAs get their first jobs but that are less desirable for some reasons (because of routes, pay, etc), and then there are “career airlines,” that are more desirable that FAs jump to & stay at once they can. Is that right? Just curious.
Thanks so much for writing your blog, and good luck with everything!
Joe
San Diego, California
Thank you so much for reading my blog, I am flattered that you are enjoying it! I know as a frequent business traveler you experience a lot of the same frustrations that we do. I’ve mentioned in previous posts that business travelers are my favorite travelers because you understand the ins and outs of traveling and don’t usually take it out on the crew when there are weather, ATC, or mechanical delays!
To answer your question, yes we are older, older, older at the majors because seniority is everything.(which is not a bad thing, think, U.S Air 1549…average age of the crew? 54.4 years) Flight Attendants and Pilots alike will stay at an airline once they are hired because it doesn’t make much sense to keep starting from the bottom. I have 16 years at my airline and my seniority number is 3,878 out of 9,450 Flight Attendants. We have a lot of 25-40 year FAs.(not their age…their seniority) There really isn’t a lot incentive to quit, as a FA at my airline you can work as much or as little as you want. Why quit?
And, yes the younger, younger ,younger FAs seem to be at the new low cost carriers. We haven’t hired too much since 911. For a while there weren’t that many FAs under 30. Now we have a handful of FAs in their twenties again, I just recently flew with a woman who is 26 and her Mom is a FA with us and she has 39 years! I should also mention that the airlines, at least mine, likes to hire people with experience! Life experience that is…the oldest person in my FA training class was 63! A retired teacher…great FA!
As far as desirability, yes, I am happy with the big boys! I like longer flights and I’m not a fan of the small planes: )For me, the majors was a better choice but I think it’s a matter of personal preference.
Please send in your questions, you can leave them in the comments section or e-mail me at [email protected]!
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I think you have it exactly right. Most "younger" FAs are with the regionals because mainline carriers just haven't hired since 9/11… I was a FA for a regional airline a few years ago and our training classes were dominated by young college graduates as an "in between" college and career job…which, as can be expected, the company had a ridiculous turnover rate. Like you said, once you are a FA on a mainline carrier… there is no reason to quit. And if they ever start hiring again, I will be SO tempted to apply. 🙂
I agree as well. I'm at a regional and while I love my job I would jump at the chance to work longer flights on longer planes!
However, my airline has a high age group and seniority… And most of our crews rock! I'm in my twenties and am one of the youngest company wide. We do have a lot of FAs on furlough as well.
A follow question to your answer: do you, FAs, have mandatory age retirements like the pilots do? Or can you continue flying as long as you and your body tolerates it?
interesting question. definately scared me to think about all of the crashes and inexperience lately. what i REALLY want to know this week is how i'm going to fly on passes during the beginning of summer travel with a 16 mo old to iowa and back for my grandma's funeral:-( i hate pass travel now. boo! too bad they want $1000 per person to buy full fair.
p.s. my mom said she took a quiz about knowing the cultural food or culture or something like that in a country you are visiting and she got the highest score. they were in thailand on vacation and loved it. so much fun:-) first class there and back too, she was VERY happy.
Hi FlyingPinto, thanks for visiting for Joanna's interview. I have only flown once, just once on a Fokker; way back in the 70's, the trip took less than 1 hour. Hopefully I will get to fly again one day on something bigger and further afar. I have visited the airport on numerous occasions and I get quite excited seeing that huge aircraft and being in awe at their ability to fly so high and so far carrying all those people and all that luggage. Wow.
My airline is based out of Denver, and has been around for about 14 years. I've been with the airline (my first) for 21 months now and am approximately #832 out of 850 flight attendants – the average age is 47. My training class had several women right out of college (most of whom have since quit and gotten married), on up to a 72 year old flight attendant who retired from an international airline.
I enjoy working with all ages and seniority levels! As long as they follow procedure and have a great attitude, it's a real joy!
I always wanted to do what you are doing 🙂 that was about 31 years ago ~ ended up with a surprise pregnancy, a husband that was happy I was pregnant and not following the dream. Now? Totally in love with the daughter, husband is history, and I'm a retired school teacher 🙂 Life is good, but oh, the dreams I still have 🙂
Adding you to my blog list of favorites~