AAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGHHHRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!
Rainboe -
It takes 2 weeks to train a cabin crew member.
Correct. - If you train them for 24 hours a day, seven days a week and cut out some of the important drills required by JAR.
Petitfromage -
What germs, bacteria and viruses......that is a complete old wives tale. In modern jets the cabin air is completely replaced every 3-5mins. Any air that is recirculated is through Hepa filters. Aircraft cabin air is statistically much better quality than office aircon.
Air conditioning is not the problem. Cabin crew members can come within a metre of up to 800 individuals per day! I've lost count of the amount of passengers with viruses, colds and coldsores who've boarded an aircraft, yet most airlines forbid crew operating with colds, flu, coldsores, rashes, within 24 hours of vomiting, diarrhoea, etc. They get an infection then can't fly if affected by the antibiotics prescribed. Its also a physical job and injuries often occur meaning they cannot fly, but can work in the office. All the above is perfectly fine if you're brave enough to struggle into an office, on the ground you dont know when youve got blocked ears!
Crew need to be physically fit, be legally fit to handle food under health and safety regulations, carry out medical procedures and not sniff all over pasengers, in their drinks, their food, etc.
Flying effects your body more at altitude too.
Flight crew are likely to go through some of these problems, but with respect dont have to face the passengers or handle food.
Also if a BA Shorthaul LHR cabin crew member goes sick on the last day of a working block, then has three days off, and phones in fit the day before they are due back, thats FOUR days off sick.
Days off are counted as sick days, 'weekends' off in offices arent.