Cabin Crew Pay
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Adelaide, South Australia
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Cabin Crew Pay
I couldn't help but make a few observations from my frequent flying that cabin crew seem to have a pretty relaxed sort of occupation.
I stand to be corrected. I'm curious to know if anyone knows what the airlines pay for this service.
I stand to be corrected. I'm curious to know if anyone knows what the airlines pay for this service.
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Brisbane Australia
Posts: 525
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Depends on the airline. It might look relaxed but in an emergency that's where they come into their own. They have to know the emergency drills down pat along with first aid and get tested a couple of times a year including two days spent in the classroom.A number of lives have been saved over the years by flight attendants (heart attacks etc.) Not only that, they have to put up with incredibly rude people sometimes too. Fortunately, they're in the minority. My better half has been assaulted twice by passengers, caught a couple of young blokes having a tug, been vomited on and the list goes on.
Medicinal Moderatreuse
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Adelaide, Australia
Posts: 149
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
ok..I suspect I'm opening myself up to mountains of criticism here, but I'm going to have just a teensy whinge (I think I must be in a tired, grumpy mood tonight)....I'm a nurse, and the starting salary for a nurse is less than for cabin crew. That fact amazes me, since I had to do a 3 year degree to become a nurse. I'm then assessed regularly for CPR skills, and am expected to keep up to date with all the specialities we have on my ward. I have to deal with some of the things you mention and more - finding a mother shooting up heroin in the bathroom (child was a patient); looking after a child with broken bones and black eyes from an assault, and having to be civil to the parents until it can be worked out just who did what to whom come to mind. The ward I'm on has the most code blues for the hospital ...I get a maximum of 8 hours off between a late and an early, but coz we never get out on time, and I've got to get home, I'm lucky to get 5 hours sleep before I'm back to do it all over again...
I don't dispute that cabin crew work hard for their money...I just think maybe I'm worth a little more than I get...!
Ok..enough of the whinge..esp since it has NOTHING to do with aviation
)
M.
I don't dispute that cabin crew work hard for their money...I just think maybe I'm worth a little more than I get...!
Ok..enough of the whinge..esp since it has NOTHING to do with aviation
)M.
Join Date: May 2000
Location: SYD - AU
Posts: 84
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
What is the fact you get paid so little (join a real union mate) got to do with what cabin crew get paid? It's like comparing cabin crew pay to tech crew pay - pointless .... they are two different jobs.
Considering youre a nurse, not even in the aviation industry, what makes you think you are in any position to comment on what cabin crew duties are , let alone what the remuneration should be for the position ? !!
Considering youre a nurse, not even in the aviation industry, what makes you think you are in any position to comment on what cabin crew duties are , let alone what the remuneration should be for the position ? !!
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: In a box, ready for shipping...
Posts: 717
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Don't agree with you Evacu8!
I so empathise with you min - nurses are very underpaid and their conditions are terrible. min, I only hope your union does the same hard yards as the FAAA does (the cabin crew union)...
Now then, Evacu8, cabin crew and nursing are definitely two different professions, both of them dealing with people. True in an emergency, when everything goes pear shaped, f/a's are the ones risking life and limb to get the punters out of a burning wreck. However, Nurses deal with MEDICAL emergencies everyday - and for what? Not her fault if her union isn't as strong as ours.
Evacu8, how would you feel having studied 3 years for a degree (and with that, a HECS debt) to do something that fulfils you, only to find out someone with a Senior First Aid certificate is living the high life for more money and better conditions? Like Min said, he/she was grumpy, etc...so would I be if I were in their shoes!!
Let's not forget that the flight attendants today started off with a United Airlines 'stewardess' (name escapes me) who was a former nurse - THEY all had to be former nurses back then, and up until the mid 70's to a point. Even today, they still count nursing experience as a MAJOR plus in recruitment. Nothing like experienced medical help when you need to perform CPR, etc.
Give Min a break Evacu8 - sure our job is important and they aren't in the same industry - but they're very alike in many areas...and we're earning more with better conditions!
I only hope one day min, you're part of my crew. I'm sure you'd bring on board a wealth of welcome experience!
I so empathise with you min - nurses are very underpaid and their conditions are terrible. min, I only hope your union does the same hard yards as the FAAA does (the cabin crew union)...
Now then, Evacu8, cabin crew and nursing are definitely two different professions, both of them dealing with people. True in an emergency, when everything goes pear shaped, f/a's are the ones risking life and limb to get the punters out of a burning wreck. However, Nurses deal with MEDICAL emergencies everyday - and for what? Not her fault if her union isn't as strong as ours.
Evacu8, how would you feel having studied 3 years for a degree (and with that, a HECS debt) to do something that fulfils you, only to find out someone with a Senior First Aid certificate is living the high life for more money and better conditions? Like Min said, he/she was grumpy, etc...so would I be if I were in their shoes!!
Let's not forget that the flight attendants today started off with a United Airlines 'stewardess' (name escapes me) who was a former nurse - THEY all had to be former nurses back then, and up until the mid 70's to a point. Even today, they still count nursing experience as a MAJOR plus in recruitment. Nothing like experienced medical help when you need to perform CPR, etc.
Give Min a break Evacu8 - sure our job is important and they aren't in the same industry - but they're very alike in many areas...and we're earning more with better conditions!
I only hope one day min, you're part of my crew. I'm sure you'd bring on board a wealth of welcome experience!
PPRuNette
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: de nile...
Posts: 458
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Likewise.
I actually thought it was a pretty good comparison, but that's my opinion
Cept Min, you left out one thing...nurses generally have a good dispostition with their patients.....
Regards
GG
I actually thought it was a pretty good comparison, but that's my opinion
Cept Min, you left out one thing...nurses generally have a good dispostition with their patients.....
Regards
GG
Join Date: May 2000
Location: SYD - AU
Posts: 84
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
No offence to Min was meant (please accept my appologies !!)..... however, I also have a degree, and just in the midst of my M.B.A. .... I choose to work in this job, even though it doesnt totally correspond with my degree. But hey, I'm not the one whinging about other industries' job conditions , or unrealistically comparing them ... unlike Min I have no interest in what other people earn, just what I do 
Min can I suggest you move to Victoria, the nurses there just had some great wins against the state government
Min can I suggest you move to Victoria, the nurses there just had some great wins against the state government
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: mid east
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
So long as there are JEALOUS people who are out there that may have a tinge of REGRET for not giving cabin crew a try, or made the wrong career move when they were younger.
There will always be "their view" of how easy a Flight Attendant's job is.
I know of a has been former Fairstar entertainment person who is now leading a very Average Suburban life and had the audacity to say that "they just serve coffee all day".
Running someones job down is always a sure sign of some sort of mild jealousy that they will always have in their closet
Domestic bliss is a bitch sometimes.
Whats worse she still lives in the 80's.
Before you ask, NO ,I'm not a Flight Attendant,I work in the pointy end and know of how these crew work and what most of them have done to get there.
YES I love not having MONDAYITIS and think that I have the Best job that I could have ever wanted.
I feel sorry for the 9-5ers.
Hang out for those sacred weekends!
No thanks.
So long as I'm classified as Air Crew
the critics can kiss my arse.
There will always be "their view" of how easy a Flight Attendant's job is.
I know of a has been former Fairstar entertainment person who is now leading a very Average Suburban life and had the audacity to say that "they just serve coffee all day".
Running someones job down is always a sure sign of some sort of mild jealousy that they will always have in their closet
Domestic bliss is a bitch sometimes.
Whats worse she still lives in the 80's.
Before you ask, NO ,I'm not a Flight Attendant,I work in the pointy end and know of how these crew work and what most of them have done to get there.
YES I love not having MONDAYITIS and think that I have the Best job that I could have ever wanted.
I feel sorry for the 9-5ers.
Hang out for those sacred weekends!
No thanks.
So long as I'm classified as Air Crew
the critics can kiss my arse.
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: hotel rooms
Posts: 68
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Min,
All you guys and girls do a great job and I think the two reason you folks get crap pay and conditions is that your employed by the government and your union is weak as p$*@ !!
As for why hosties get payed what they do, your guess is as good as mine.
In some regional the girls and guys get paid more than the F/O's..
All you guys and girls do a great job and I think the two reason you folks get crap pay and conditions is that your employed by the government and your union is weak as p$*@ !!
As for why hosties get payed what they do, your guess is as good as mine.
In some regional the girls and guys get paid more than the F/O's..
Medicinal Moderatreuse
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Adelaide, Australia
Posts: 149
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks for the support guys ) I really appreciated it!!
Firstly, I was involved in the aviation industry for awhile, and have some close friends who are still in it, which explains what I'm doing here in the first place - I'm not totally ignorant about what it involves.
The reason for the post was that someone made the initial comment re pay/work. That got me thinking about what is fair remuneration etc etc. Please don't confuse my comments for a)jealousy, or b)longing for a different career. I am a nurse because I love what I do. It's one job where you can't do it well unless you feel that way, and that's why, I suspect, nurses figured up there with pilots and fireman for ppl you could trust in that Readers Digest Survey (ok, so I'm not sure that it's much of a recommendation!!)......I am certainly NOT jealous of cabin crew. I think you have to work very hard for not a lot more than what I get, and I'm not sure you'd get the same job satisfaction as I do. Could be wrong, of course....Job satisfaction more than money alone is the driving force for what I do. I know, at the end of the day, that I can have a positive impact re a patient's outcomes..and if I'm not careful, a very negative impact too! If I was to have a change of career, it would be to flight nursing, something that does interest me greatly.
Yes, we need a decent union (could you hire out the FAAA, do you think??), but the reality is that the health budget is stretched soooooo tightly that there isn't much room for movement. Or maybe that's just what the pollies would have us believe...
I was definitely a little grumpy when I wrote that, but I do think, Evacu8, that you are a little touchy!! I don't think anywhere did I question your professional worth...I was questioning the comparative lack of it in my own with reference to yours.
And no way am I moving BACK to Victoria...took me long enough to escape the first time!! Although this week, the weather here reminds me a lot of Melbourne....
Think we should all shake hands and agree to disagree
M.
) I really appreciated it!!Firstly, I was involved in the aviation industry for awhile, and have some close friends who are still in it, which explains what I'm doing here in the first place - I'm not totally ignorant about what it involves.
The reason for the post was that someone made the initial comment re pay/work. That got me thinking about what is fair remuneration etc etc. Please don't confuse my comments for a)jealousy, or b)longing for a different career. I am a nurse because I love what I do. It's one job where you can't do it well unless you feel that way, and that's why, I suspect, nurses figured up there with pilots and fireman for ppl you could trust in that Readers Digest Survey (ok, so I'm not sure that it's much of a recommendation!!)......I am certainly NOT jealous of cabin crew. I think you have to work very hard for not a lot more than what I get, and I'm not sure you'd get the same job satisfaction as I do. Could be wrong, of course....Job satisfaction more than money alone is the driving force for what I do. I know, at the end of the day, that I can have a positive impact re a patient's outcomes..and if I'm not careful, a very negative impact too! If I was to have a change of career, it would be to flight nursing, something that does interest me greatly.
Yes, we need a decent union (could you hire out the FAAA, do you think??), but the reality is that the health budget is stretched soooooo tightly that there isn't much room for movement. Or maybe that's just what the pollies would have us believe...
I was definitely a little grumpy when I wrote that, but I do think, Evacu8, that you are a little touchy!! I don't think anywhere did I question your professional worth...I was questioning the comparative lack of it in my own with reference to yours.
And no way am I moving BACK to Victoria...took me long enough to escape the first time!! Although this week, the weather here reminds me a lot of Melbourne....
Think we should all shake hands and agree to disagree
M.
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Australia
Posts: 105
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Heard quite a few grumbles about the rate of pay for FAs vs FOs. Doesn't mean the FO is jealous of the FA, simply means FO can't understand why the difference in pay isn't greater. Or is the level of training/skills needed to deal with passengers in an emergency situation comparable with those needed by a pilot to deal with an aircraft in an emergency situation?
Join Date: Sep 2000
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
No offence people, but I think this whole post is pointless - it's a brutal fact of life that there will always be disparity and inequity with the wages that various professions attract - nurses are underpaid, yes, but they're not the only ones. I sold my soul to the almighty $$$ a long time ago and work in IT - a profession that is highly overpaid in my eyes. Not that I'm complaining mind you. I don't have a degree, I have the freedom of working from home, very little stress and can pick and choose my hours with very little supervision.
My better half is a pilot and I bring home more than twice what he does - and for his troubles he has to work weekends/holidays, is subject to the most intense scrutiny of any profession, not to mention the tens of thousands of dollars he's spent to get where he is. Unfortunately folks, that's life!!
My better half is a pilot and I bring home more than twice what he does - and for his troubles he has to work weekends/holidays, is subject to the most intense scrutiny of any profession, not to mention the tens of thousands of dollars he's spent to get where he is. Unfortunately folks, that's life!!
Guest
Posts: n/a
I too very much support what Min has had to say.
Although we are talking about two very different professions (FA and Nurse), my belief is that the Nurse would handle more life threatening situations than an FA in the course of a career.
Your articulate comments Min, invoke the admiration of most of us with an aviation background.
Although we are talking about two very different professions (FA and Nurse), my belief is that the Nurse would handle more life threatening situations than an FA in the course of a career.
Your articulate comments Min, invoke the admiration of most of us with an aviation background.
Medicinal Moderatreuse
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Adelaide, Australia
Posts: 149
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I didn't really expect my comments to polarise opinions as they have! The reality I understand, is that the economics of supply and demand will always determine remuneration, and therefore, probably bears no relation to real worth in the sense of the duties performed. I mean.....look at lawyers!! (and that was a joke, guys - please don't crucify me again!). So much as I think I'm probably worth more, the marketplace doesn't see it that way. And that observation is applicable to many other industries/professions. Tis the nature of capitalism. I have no idea what flight nurses with the RFDS are paid (just so this is aviation related...I'd like to end up there one day) but I suspect it's not much different to what I'm paid. Nice to see that the work nurses do is still appreciated regardless, and I shall make sure I won't use the really big guage needles if ever I'm looking after any of you...!
Join Date: May 2000
Location: SYD - AU
Posts: 84
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yes Min, I understand that you were commenting on the comparative lack of perceived professional worth of nursing as apposed to cabin crew, but by doing so, you appeared to be making a bit of a derogatory comparison. Sorry if I misunderstood
Guest
Posts: n/a
JUST CURIOUS, agree with you 100%.
I love my job, why on earth would anyone want be a Flight Attendant, or a Nurse, or a FO, or a GP, for the money - WHAT MONEY??
I have a Business degree and MBA, which I got on scholarship studying full time. Hell, that must mean I could be out there making mega $$$.
In theory it could but in relaity - NOT.
I'm a Flight Attendant.
I make the lowest wage in the industry in Australasia.
Leaving uni and discovering that being 'qualified' and smart doesn't get you a 'good job' was a rude but necessary wake up call. Its made me a better person. There's nothing so rewarding as knowing I'm smarter than some dribbling pratt from North Sydney with a faux New Zealand accent on the flight deck. Or some stuck up bimbo running the cabin. Thankfully, those types are few and far between.
If you're looking to measure your worth by the dollars you earn, you're using the wrong yard stick.
You take what you can get, and you get paid what the employer will give you, not what you're worth. Fact of life, like it or not.
Folks who don't like fires should leave the kitchen, which is why I'm now a Flight Attendant, and a bloody good one.
I love my job, why on earth would anyone want be a Flight Attendant, or a Nurse, or a FO, or a GP, for the money - WHAT MONEY??
I have a Business degree and MBA, which I got on scholarship studying full time. Hell, that must mean I could be out there making mega $$$.
In theory it could but in relaity - NOT.
I'm a Flight Attendant.
I make the lowest wage in the industry in Australasia.
Leaving uni and discovering that being 'qualified' and smart doesn't get you a 'good job' was a rude but necessary wake up call. Its made me a better person. There's nothing so rewarding as knowing I'm smarter than some dribbling pratt from North Sydney with a faux New Zealand accent on the flight deck. Or some stuck up bimbo running the cabin. Thankfully, those types are few and far between.
If you're looking to measure your worth by the dollars you earn, you're using the wrong yard stick.
You take what you can get, and you get paid what the employer will give you, not what you're worth. Fact of life, like it or not.
Folks who don't like fires should leave the kitchen, which is why I'm now a Flight Attendant, and a bloody good one.
