How Are Flight Attendants Paid?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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They are paid what is deemed as “

hourly rate

,” which is below minimum wage. Until the door is closed and the brakes are lifted flight attendants are paid on average $2.00/hour. Even though they are required by their company and the FAA to be there and perform crucial job-related safety and customer service duties.

Why do flight attendants not get paid boarding?

The notion that “flight attendants aren’t paid for boarding time” (or aren’t paid at their normal rate) is technically true, but mostly misleading.

The amount of work time multiplied by their hourly rate is calculated on flight time, but the hourly rate is higher than it otherwise would be

.

Why do flight attendants only get paid while in the air?

We also only get paid for the time we’re in the air. So

all the time we spend going through customs, waiting by the gate, and managing delays on the ground is unpaid

. For example, flying from New York to Chicago is a two-hour flight, so the flight attendants only get paid for two hours.

Which airline has the highest paid flight attendants?

Average Annual Pay Additional Annual Pay
American Airlines

$43,460 $2,825
Delta Airlines $40,236 $6,400 Southwest Airlines $42,000 $4,800 United Airlines $44,219 $5,200

Do flight attendants make good money?

How Much Do Flight Attendants Make per Year? The median annual salary for a flight attendant as of March 2022 was $79,472.

The top 90% of flight attendants make over $115,000 per year, and the lowest 10% makes about $49,497 per year

.

Are flight attendants paid during delays?


Flight attendants only get paid when the door closes

Here’s what the petition says: Flight Attendants are currently not paid for boarding. They are paid what is deemed as “hourly rate,” which is below minimum wage. Until the door is closed and the brakes are lifted flight attendants are paid on average $2.00/hour.

Do flight attendants get free hotels?

Although

hotel accommodations are free for flight attendants

, they do not get to pick their hotel of choice. Most airlines already have partner hotels in each destination or city. There is usually a hotel committee of pilots, corporate security, marketing, and senior flight attendants.

Do flight attendants get paid to deadhead?

Most flight attendants would rather deadhead than work a flight. After all,

a deadhead relaxing in a passenger seat is paid the same as a working crew member

.

Do flight attendants get paid biweekly?

Flight Attendants are paid based on the flights they work each month.

They can choose to be paid monthly, or bi-weekly

.

How often do flight attendants get paid?

1 answer. Flight Attendants get paid

monthly

. Usually you will make around $1,600 a month.

Are pilots paid hourly?


Airline pilots are hourly employees and are paid by flight hour

. Due to the constraints placed on pilots by the FAA, most fly about 85 hours per month. There are more work hours involved, such as preflight planning, but time in the cockpit, and thus the pay, is usually about 85 hours monthly.

How long does it take to become a flight attendant?

Once a flight attendant is hired, airlines provide their initial training, ranging from

3 to 6 weeks

. The training usually takes place at the airline’s flight training center and is required for FAA certification.

What is the highest paying airline?

  • United airlines: …
  • American Airways: …
  • Jet blue Airways: …
  • Southwest Airline: …
  • Spirit Airlines: …
  • Frontier Airlines: …
  • Sun Country Airline: The headquarters of this company is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. …
  • Hawaiin Airline: The Headquarters is located in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Is flight attendant a good job?

Conclusion. Being a flight attendant is

one of the most worthwhile career decisions a person can make

. It’s a rewarding career that gives you access to a lifestyle most people would love to have. It has adventure, great pay, human interaction, and provides you with amazing memories.

Who is the best airline to work for?

  1. Virgin America. 4.1 stars. …
  2. Allegiant. 4.0 stars. …
  3. Air Methods. 3.7 stars. …
  4. Southwest Airlines. 3.7 stars. …
  5. Delta. 3.5 stars. …
  6. United Airlines. 3.5 stars. …
  7. Spirit Airlines. 3.4 stars. …
  8. GE Aviation. 3.3 stars.

What are the pros and cons of being a flight attendant?

Pros Cons You gain people and social skills The pay when you first start out is low, super low There’s no routine, so you’ll never get bored You are often on standby (on-call) You live wherever you want to (sort of) It’s hard to have relationships

Do flight attendants go home every night?


Flight attendants may be away from home for several days in a row including weekends and holidays

and therefore must be flexible. The maximum number of flying hours per day is set by union agreement, and on-duty time is usually limited to 12 hours per day, with a daily maximum of 14 hours.

Do flight attendants get paid during reserve?


Yes, typically flight attendants are paid while scheduled to be on reserve

. The amount they are paid depends on the airline they work for and the contract they’ve agreed to. Some airline will pay you a reduced set rate for the hours you’re on reserve. Others have a specific ratio to pay you.

What is flight attendant per diem?

Per diem flight attendant pay. On top of their wages, flight attendants can receive a per diem — or, pay per hour —

to help compensate for expenses on the job

. At SkyWest, a regional airline, flight attendants make $1.95 per diem for every hour they are on duty.

Do flight attendants sleep around?

Flight attendants and pilots use the crew rests in shifts on intercontinental flights that now routinely run 14-18 hours. After the main meal service on a transoceanic flight,

half of the flight attendants will catch some Zzzs

while the others staff the galleys. The two teams trade off halfway through the flight.

Do flight attendants get free family flights?

As a flight attendant,

you’ll be eligible for free flights – sometimes for your friends or family, too!

– and maximum time off to enjoy the destinations of your choice during your free time. You’ll also get discounts on hotels, car rentals, other airlines’ flights, and vacation packages.

Can flight attendants have tattoos?


There are no tattoos permitted on the face, hands, or neck for United Airlines flight attendants

. You can have one adjacent area of tattoos, no larger than a credit card (or your United badge which is the same size), visible on each arm/wrist and leg/foot.

What is a salary of pilot?

The average salary of pilots may range from

INR 1.21 Lakhs per annum to INR 90 Lakhs per annum

. The bonus ranges from around INR 10,000 to INR 9.86 Lakhs per annum. A pilot employed in the Indian Army and Indian Navy can earn between INR 5 Lakhs per annum to INR 8 Lakhs per annum.

Can flight attendants make six figures?

Legacy airlines like America, Alaska, Delta, and United pay best, with

the most senior flight attendants earning six-figure salaries even before potential overtime

. Budget carriers are able to offer lower fares by paying flight attendants less.

What’s the maximum age to be a flight attendant?

After all, it does seems like most flight attendants are young.

There is no maximum age

to become a flight attendant. If you’re in your 40’s or 50’s and want to be a flight attendant, go ahead and apply! As long as you meet the other requirements, your age won’t be a problem.

Ahmed Ali
Author
Ahmed Ali
Ahmed Ali is a financial analyst with over 15 years of experience in the finance industry. He has worked for major banks and investment firms, and has a wealth of knowledge on investing, real estate, and tax planning. Ahmed is also an advocate for financial literacy and education.