American Flight Attendants

[interested123]

I can't help but notice that every time i fly with a US Airline the age range of the cabin crew seems to be huge whereas with every other airline i've flown with the crew have mainly been young. eg.

USA = 21-60
Rest = 18-40 tops

does anyone know why this is?

[GriffinPT]

interested, have you flown on BA???

On the crew I am with right now, we have the youngest crew member, around 25 to the oldest around 50. I have to say that the majority of the 15 crew members are over the 40ish mark:)

[Hass]

Old is gold!

[monkeybusiness2]

Old is depressing.

[737319320321]

Its quite sad the answer to the question, but American flight attendants are so old because their retirement schemes are so bad, and unfortunatly they have to carry on working well past their sell by dates. Thats what happens when big airlines decide to make cut backs. Also, basic pay for new entrant cabin crew is extremely low so not many people can afford to fly, AND with seniority, when you have crew who have been flying 60 years, to get onto any long haul flying will take decades!

[lbalad]

I believe some of the oldest flight attendants were/are still flying for some US airlines in their 80's.Anybody any idea who is currently the most senior crew member still flying?

[LHRSIB]

Iris Peterson born in 1921, recently retired, began her career in 1946 with UAL.

Northwest's number one is 84 now and has no intention of giving up.

[monkeybusiness2]

I should learn to read.

[landlady]

Actually, old isn't depressing at all...I used to think like that, but now that I'm the wrong side of fifty, I've changed my views! Just a few reasons why......
I like having a nice house with a small mortgage and it's nice to have a couple of cars in the household which are paid for, and even though they are quite sporty, they don't cost a fortune to insure. I like never paying interest on my credit cards. I like it now that my children are grown up and I can go out with my husband without having to worry about a baby-sitter. I like the fact that I can work as cabin-crew and night-stop without wondering if my nanny is caring for the children properly. I like being a grandmother and handing my baby granddaughter back to her parents when I've had my play and cuddle with her. I'm pleased not to be, as most young people seem to be, constantly attached to a mobile 'phone, and I'm pleased to have had the kind of education which left me with the ability to punctuate and spell correctly. (I'm afraid I abhor text-speak.)The same education ,(grammar school, free), which now allows me to be able to tot up my grocery bill in my head before I get to the check-out. I'm not botherered about which celebrity is divorcing whom, and I couldn't care less about big brother. I have never 'done' drugs, and I'm not tempted to try to be part of the 'in' crowd. I was a mini-skirt wearing teenager in the sixties when everyone seemed to know how far they could go to stay within the law, when ASBOs hadn't been invented and binge drinking was for the whinos in cardboard city at Waterloo Station.
I'm an elderly cabin crew member, it's a fact. Thank goodness!!

[Daisy1]

Here Here Landlady! I agree with everything you say and we don't panic onboard if anything happens, maybe because we've seen it all before....:D

[sillymoo]

Well said, Landlady! Even though I'm a young whippersnapper (38 years old, to be precise), I can certainly understand many of your sentiments.

:ok:

[World of Tweed]

Land Lady - by any chance do you live in Chiswick! :)

Cheers to the Old School. May aviation one day become Civil again.

[boredmaud]

Interesting article on the psychology involved in this business
http://www.counsellingatwork.org.uk/journal_pdf/acw_spring07_b.pdf (http://www.counsellingatwork.org.uk/journal_pdf/acw_spring07_b.pdf)

I'm not so good at 'big business' - when I did try out life in a business consultancy I was miserable and lived on my nerves and frayed patience - so went back to the planes a.s.a.p.
But I do know people, untuitively. I'm on the shady side of 40 so hot on the heals of LandLady who sounds to me like an airlines ideal choice...
I have every intention of succeeding in a new venture and plan to get involved as operational crew in the recruitment events.
I would like to see a revolutionary change in the way crew are selected and how the lifestyle is managed.

[landlady]

Not Chiswick, down in deepest 'ampshire!

When I re-read my post I thought of a hundred other reasons why I like being the age I am..... I think every new year brings it's advantages, and although I'm not one of those people who wishes to be young again, I do enjoy the company of younger people. Oh, and I still like to party ! (A lot!)

[IFLy4Free]

In the US a company (airline or other) cannot discriminate based on age and other factors. If a 60 year old is competitive in the interview process then they will get hired. Once you are over 50 you are protected against age discrimination by the EEOC. The older f/a's in the US can certainly teach the young new hires a lot. Average age on international at a major US carrier is probably 50!

[alpha99]

*Poof* DUST:} i can't see myself flying with someone who has amnesia and arthritis thats just dangerous half way through briefing she forgot everything:= !!! thats not good for safety specially if we need to make a speedy evacuation: No Granma Sue forgot how to operate the door oh she hasn't even made it to the door yet (she's 102):rolleyes:

[star84]

Landlady you are awesome :)

[deltayankee]

What is interesting about this whole debate is that you only realize how deeply age discrimination pervades your own culture when you go somewhere else and you are surprised to see older people working.

If you think about it there is no reason why a flight attendant should not carry on working as long as he/she wants provided they pass the medical (or whatever). They are not there for decoration or for marrying the passengers.

I am sure that if the airline lets someone carry on flying they are confident that they can carry out all the duties safely, whether that is remembering to close the door before takeoff, flinging a 100lb emergency door over the wing or hogtieing a drunk passenger.

But what beats me is how some of these people can get into their eighties on a diet of airplane food. I suppose they bring sandwiches.

[interested123]

some employers can be cruel, i must admit i have no problem working with older people as all the people i work with now are way older than me, i think you can learn a lot from old people and i get on with older people more

maybe some british airlines could take a leaf out of their books.

something i was wondering, i thought US cabin crew got far more than british crew did, or if they dont their money goes further,

and good old iris peterson, now thats someone who enjoys their job:)

[flyingazorian]

Iris Peterson - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iris_Peterson)

[jleorich]

I recently flew an A321 transcon (US) flight. The 4 F/As totalled 130 years experience. The "new girl" was hired in 1981. Ah, peace of mind. They were, however, fairly touchy re. the cabin temp and referred to the F/O and I (42 years experience between us) as "you boys".

[PTR 175]

As a fare paying member of SLF who cannot afford to fly at the front of the airframe.

I do not care how young or old the cabin crew are as long as they are polite and do their best to help me and my wife have a good and safe experience with the airline.

Please and thank you, still goes a long way. :)Remember, it goes both ways. Cabin crew are not slaves := and I wish people would stop treating them like they are !! Be polite and helpfull to them and they will reciprocate.

One last thing, if we all pick up our rubbish and dump it in the bags that come round the quicker the turnround will be for the next Pax. You could be the next Pax.

Rant over

[B747-800]

How are FAs in US retired? Are they fade away only or what? Is there no weight/weight proportion, no age limit etc?

Or are the qualifications: old, ugly, fat and arrogant?

Just asking, no offense!:ok:

[I Just Want To Fly]

Singapore Airlines kicks the girls out at about 25 I think, unless they make it to a senior rank before then.

BA certainly doesn't discriminate, and Virgin is trying! My training course there were two people over 45. Both were internal applicants however.

[merlinxx]

As a one time Chief Crew Controller (many moons ago before I tried to grow up) of CC, I agree with you 100%. Give me a bunch of 'so called' Golden Oldie birds to work with any day. Hey, and on night stops/room parties also:E:oh:.

How many 'young things' know how to get 6 half bottles through customs in their tights?:E

[keel beam]

Has any company designed a light weight Zimmer frame?

Will future aircraft designers include Zimmer frame stowages?

[Coppelia]

The oldest CCM in my Cy is, I think, 58. No doubt she passes the medical exam every year, but............

..... once on board, she doesn't even move a thumb anymore ! When you fly with her you know you'll have to work for two :bored:

[ExSp33db1rd]

Landlady - Shady side of 50 is OK, wait until you're shady side of 70 tho' !!! NZ has no age limit on pilots licences, and have just renewed my Class 1, so I'm legal to fly passengers for hire and reward - but nobody will hire me, so stick to voluntary flying for Coastguard. Good fun.

[indamiddle]

qantas l/h #2 in seniority is 65, always a pleasure to fly with and very professional. i have heard on the grapevine he is retiring in 2 months. he is the kind of guy who would have everybody out in a ditching without any problems and probably manage to take a couple of bottles of krug with him for the punters... he does work first class.

[flyingazorian]

In my Company older flight attendants work harder than most younger flight attendants...old habits die hard I suppose! They´re old school. At least the ones I´ve had the pleasure of working with. They pay attention to detail, which in pax eyes makes a world of difference.
Please show some respect to the people who´ve turned what was a job with a limited time span into a professional career. They fought long and hard for what we take for granted today. Those of us who wish to fly up to retirement age should be very grateful to them.
Some asian carriers and their age discrimination nonsense are an embarrassment to one of the most basic human rights. The right to work and provide for yourself and your family.
It scares me to read some of your posts. If you´re willing to age discriminate, what´s next? Flight Attendants shouldn´t be married? Shouldn´t be gay? Shouldn´t be black? Shouldn´t be religious? Shouldn´t have any children of their own?

now, back to my cave:}

p.s. edited: spelling

[BelArgUSA]

As a pilot about to retire from airline flying, here is my point of view.
xxx
No need to say, I have positioned numerous times as SLF myself, on my own airline and other air carriers, worldwide, and come to have opinions as well. Obviously, the typical 23 years old "Singapore Girls" or "Cathay Ladies" smiles have a tremendous commercial value to their respective airlines. And yes, it is true that US air carriers, nowadays have rather "senior" (by age) F/As.
xxx
Male SLFs discriminate by gender, maybe. They do object to a 50 years old female F/A, but if the F/A is a male of 50, there is no criticism. What is being said about salaries and retirement pay, in particular for US air carriers is absolutely true. These days, their salaries are peanuts, and their retirement is close to zero, with almost no benefits.
xxx
In the old days (I started airline flying with PanAm in 1969), F/As were highly educated and well qualified to be selected for a rather long training of very high standards. I remember many were with, say, nurse training, bilingual at least, if not multilingual if the airline operated overseas. They knew what the local time was at your destination, and that German is the language in Zurich. They were trained to serve first class meals and wines (in suitable glasses) and knew how to present cutlery and fine china to your seat. They knew what to suggest as cognac or whiskies.
xxx
They were discriminated (yes) for their public appearance. Female F/As were not supposed to be married. There was a limit to their age of forced retirement (if females). Male F/A (then called "stewards") were generally on galley duty, while females (often called "hostesses") served in the cabin with a pleasant smile.
xxx
Then, all that changed, in the the 1970s...
The FAA minimum F/A training became soon observed, if I recall, some airlines could train new F/As after a mere 2 weeks, of which 40 hrs of classroom training (with numerous coffee breaks) and a couple of flights for practice. Since English was the "aviation language", it became unnecessary for them to know anything but Brooklynese or Ebonics.
xxx
Older (senior) flight attendants in the US are still the ones who will know best how to get you out of the plane in an emergency. They are on board to save your ass, not to kiss it. I regret that US airlines have such a low standard of selection, but what do you expect to get with such salaries. It is the same for pilots... peanuts.
xxx
As a pilot, I rather have senior F/As to work with. They know how to handle the passengers, and what to tell them. Some of the seniors even have a list of their pilots with the way they drink coffee, black, or with cream, one or two sugars... I hate to be babysitter when on layover, to tell them that the voltage at hotel is 220V, that you look to the right first to cross a street in Capetown, and that you need an ID to prove your age for a beer in a Chicago bar.
xxx
The trend is about the same in Europe, than it is in the USA... although F/As there are often able to speak 2 or 3 languages (except if from UK, then it is often English only). As I live in South America, we still have above average cabin service. Often used to take the 50 minutes long flight "shuttle" from Rio to Sao Paulo, and these excellent F/As manage top class service (in Y class) with a full meal, a before dinner drink, a meal, coffee and after dinner drink and all that with a smile. This with Portuguese, or English, or Spanish as a minimum, some even in Japanese, Italian or German language.
xxx
In the US and Europe, the public wanted to pay less, so they got LCC...
Now they have LCC level F/As...
US airlines, no thanks for me, except maybe Southwest Airlines, they are my choice when in the USA.
I do not care. I retire in November, and my little car is all I need to travel in Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay.
xxx
:)
Happy contrails

[ExSp33db1rd]

BelArgUSA .......... Aaaahh PanAm. BOAC used to share the PanAm resthouse in Trinidad before the UpsideDown Hilton was built. My old Captain ( considerably younger than I am now, but he looked old to me - then ) started to chat up the very classy PanAm Stewardess at the bar, offered to buy her a drink, she demurred, he insisted and said " my treat, I earn more than you " " do you, she said " ? in the end he did - just.

Them were the days, enjoy retirement - it sucks ! I don't miss the 14 hr. night sectors and the stroppy hotel clerk at the end of them, but the flying was fun, none of this button pressing stuff, real stick and rudder with the first 747's

[Matt101]

nice to look back I'm sure chaps not all us younglings are that bad though and many of us would love to see a return to the glory days but then it seems to be getting worse alsas.

Regards,

Stuck in a galley like a bloke should be ;-)