Airline hostess...glamour job or glorified skivvy?
Discussion
At the dawn of the jet age in the early 1960's if you were an airline hostess it was seen as a real glamour job.
However, thinking about it, the hours are absolute st, 3am take offs etc, and they are basically glorified waitresses serving food in an extremely confined space, plus they will have to put up with some pretty obnoxious/lairy characters.
Yes, they might go to some amazing places, but one airport or hotel is the same as another.
This is no reflection on the ladies concerned, they all do a great job. (Male staff as well)
Thoughts....
(My cousin's daughter works for Virgin Atlantic btw)
However, thinking about it, the hours are absolute st, 3am take offs etc, and they are basically glorified waitresses serving food in an extremely confined space, plus they will have to put up with some pretty obnoxious/lairy characters.
Yes, they might go to some amazing places, but one airport or hotel is the same as another.
This is no reflection on the ladies concerned, they all do a great job. (Male staff as well)
Thoughts....
(My cousin's daughter works for Virgin Atlantic btw)
I've often thought about how Glamorous it was but in 50's-80's but nowadays the reality of early late shifts soon ruin that.
Same goes for a long haul pilot I suspect that is the dream of a newly qualified officer, but surely getting up at 3am to spend 12+ hours flying further from home must grate, I suspect many would eventually settle for short-haul and be home the same day.
Same goes for a long haul pilot I suspect that is the dream of a newly qualified officer, but surely getting up at 3am to spend 12+ hours flying further from home must grate, I suspect many would eventually settle for short-haul and be home the same day.
Edited by souper on Thursday 26th May 19:53
souper said:
I've often thought about how Glamorous is was but in 50's-80's but nowadays the reality of early late shifts soon ruin that.
Same goes for a long haul pilot I suspect that is the dream of a newly qualified officer, but surely getting up at 3am to spend 12+ hours flying further from home must grate, I suspect many would eventually settle for short-haul and be home the same day.
Long haul is still greatSame goes for a long haul pilot I suspect that is the dream of a newly qualified officer, but surely getting up at 3am to spend 12+ hours flying further from home must grate, I suspect many would eventually settle for short-haul and be home the same day.
3 trips per month, a week at either end - expensed, nice hotel etc etc
My brother in law is a pilot for Virgin. He moans they all stay in the hotel and don't want to go out for dinner or drinks because they get paid bugger all and even though they get an expenses allowance there's some incentive for them to not spend it as they get it regardless. Plus he does maybe two or three flights in a busy month whereas they just don't see anything like the same time off.
Travelling the world on a noisy plane and seeing little of it sounds a bit miserable, but I imagine there's worse jobs.
Travelling the world on a noisy plane and seeing little of it sounds a bit miserable, but I imagine there's worse jobs.
jonah35 said:
souper said:
I've often thought about how Glamorous is was but in 50's-80's but nowadays the reality of early late shifts soon ruin that.
Same goes for a long haul pilot I suspect that is the dream of a newly qualified officer, but surely getting up at 3am to spend 12+ hours flying further from home must grate, I suspect many would eventually settle for short-haul and be home the same day.
Long haul is still greatSame goes for a long haul pilot I suspect that is the dream of a newly qualified officer, but surely getting up at 3am to spend 12+ hours flying further from home must grate, I suspect many would eventually settle for short-haul and be home the same day.
3 trips per month, a week at either end - expensed, nice hotel etc etc
It strikes me as a pretty stty job if I'm honest.
Having lived with and dated a few crew in the past, long haul is the only thing that retains any resemblance of 'glamour', however, even for a decent carrier it's eye-opening what awfulness they have to put up with on certain routes, LGW to Mumbai was pretty awful - people going for a crap in the toilet (with the seat lid cover down), kids squatting in the aisle, and being handed a soiled nappy seem to happen on a semi-regular occurrence (and once a passenger dying mid-flight).
However on the flip-side and working a decent route, they got to spend a few days on layover when flying to StLucia/US etc (plus partners/named friends got to accompany them for basically taxes only). And rostas meant they only worked half the month, but pay was only 20K-ish (when you added in all the extras for a junior main-cabin crew).
Working as crew in the gulf/middle east was a whole different kettle of fish, and rather seedy all round...
However on the flip-side and working a decent route, they got to spend a few days on layover when flying to StLucia/US etc (plus partners/named friends got to accompany them for basically taxes only). And rostas meant they only worked half the month, but pay was only 20K-ish (when you added in all the extras for a junior main-cabin crew).
Working as crew in the gulf/middle east was a whole different kettle of fish, and rather seedy all round...
ChocolateFrog said:
jonah35 said:
souper said:
I've often thought about how Glamorous is was but in 50's-80's but nowadays the reality of early late shifts soon ruin that.
Same goes for a long haul pilot I suspect that is the dream of a newly qualified officer, but surely getting up at 3am to spend 12+ hours flying further from home must grate, I suspect many would eventually settle for short-haul and be home the same day.
Long haul is still greatSame goes for a long haul pilot I suspect that is the dream of a newly qualified officer, but surely getting up at 3am to spend 12+ hours flying further from home must grate, I suspect many would eventually settle for short-haul and be home the same day.
3 trips per month, a week at either end - expensed, nice hotel etc etc
It strikes me as a pretty stty job if I'm honest.
The novelty lasted about 2 weeks until I realised my home is way nicer. Everything I want/ own is in my house, so why would living in 1 room hundreds of miles away be a benefit?
Wacky Racer said:
At the dawn of the jet age in the early 1960's if you were an airline hostess it was seen as a real glamour job.
However, thinking about it, the hours are absolute st, 3am take offs etc, and they are basically glorified waitresses serving food in an extremely confined space, plus they will have to put up with some pretty obnoxious/lairy characters.
Yes, they might go to some amazing places, but one airport or hotel is the same as another.
This is no reflection on the ladies concerned, they all do a great job. (Male staff as well)
Thoughts....
(My cousin's daughter works for Virgin Atlantic btw)
Isn't it much the same for pilots? Glorified bus drivers.However, thinking about it, the hours are absolute st, 3am take offs etc, and they are basically glorified waitresses serving food in an extremely confined space, plus they will have to put up with some pretty obnoxious/lairy characters.
Yes, they might go to some amazing places, but one airport or hotel is the same as another.
This is no reflection on the ladies concerned, they all do a great job. (Male staff as well)
Thoughts....
(My cousin's daughter works for Virgin Atlantic btw)
ChocolateFrog said:
I imagine that's nice for maybe the first 10 times or so but not when it's the 100th.
It strikes me as a pretty stty job if I'm honest.
Nah it's a great job, I get away during the winter for a few days each month, I don't work very hard and really enjoy it when I do go in. I can live anywhere in the UK or even commute from Europe if I wanted. I see my family loads and have more quality time with my kids than any of the other dads at school. Cheap holidays and flights. Great salary and final salary pension plenty of time off. Great life work balance. It strikes me as a pretty stty job if I'm honest.
What's stty about thaT?
Edited by el stovey on Thursday 26th May 21:36
0000 said:
My brother in law is a pilot for Virgin. He moans they all stay in the hotel and don't want to go out for dinner or drinks because they get paid bugger all and even though they get an expenses allowance there's some incentive for them to not spend it as they get it regardless. Plus he does maybe two or three flights in a busy month whereas they just don't see anything like the same time off.
Travelling the world on a noisy plane and seeing little of it sounds a bit miserable, but I imagine there's worse jobs.
Your brother in law does two flights in a busy month?Travelling the world on a noisy plane and seeing little of it sounds a bit miserable, but I imagine there's worse jobs.
Do elaborate.
ChocolateFrog said:
I imagine that's nice for maybe the first 10 times or so but not when it's the 100th.
It strikes me as a pretty stty job if I'm honest.
Erm.... you get to fly an incredible piece of engineering into the sky - I can't imagine that ever gets boring especially the start and end bits (even the bit in the middle you have the best office view ever). Even the oldest most jaded pilots must get a twinge of excitment on take off and landing. I'm not sure Joe Bloggs has the same feelings coming into the office in Slough for the day to look at a PC screen for 8 hours. It strikes me as a pretty stty job if I'm honest.
ChocolateFrog said:
jonah35 said:
souper said:
I've often thought about how Glamorous is was but in 50's-80's but nowadays the reality of early late shifts soon ruin that.
Same goes for a long haul pilot I suspect that is the dream of a newly qualified officer, but surely getting up at 3am to spend 12+ hours flying further from home must grate, I suspect many would eventually settle for short-haul and be home the same day.
Long haul is still greatSame goes for a long haul pilot I suspect that is the dream of a newly qualified officer, but surely getting up at 3am to spend 12+ hours flying further from home must grate, I suspect many would eventually settle for short-haul and be home the same day.
3 trips per month, a week at either end - expensed, nice hotel etc etc
It strikes me as a pretty stty job if I'm honest.
FFS.
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