Wages
Two happy accidents are responsible for FA wages:the floating of the Australian Dollar and the (Forced) introduction of the Bid System in 1988.Prior to these two events being a steward or stewardess meant having a second job to make ends meet.An FA does not on average earn $70k.Superannuable salary is around $43k.Very few CSM's earn over $100k...not if they want to have a wife and a homelife.Spend 7 months a year in an aluminium can,jetlagged off your scone for the other five.......worry about the long term effects of accumulated exposure to radiation and a dozen other detrimental aspects of flying and you are essentially being compensated for the 15 years of your life that you will miss when you die early.
Being vomitted on,abused,cleaning excrement off toilet floors(etc.etc) is not my idea of a glamourous overpaid life.Cabin Crew are not machines.
Next time someone has a medical problem on board a QF aircraft remember it will be a Cabin Crew member who saves your butt...and you won't read about that.
Last edited by DEFCON4; 13th Jan 2005 at 03:42.