9 Myths About Flight Attendants That Are “Just Plain Insulting,” According To Them

From Instagram snapshots of tropical beaches to tales of international adventures, it’s easy to imagine flight attendants as modern-day jet-setters. But those working the job say the reality is often far less glamorous.

“This myth partly stems from the golden age of air travel, when airline crew would jet off to exotic destinations and spend days, even weeks, on what looked like a paid vacation,” Robert said. “Today, only a lucky few with high seniority or those working for holiday charter airlines get that kind of treatment.”

Instead of strolling through Paris or lounging on a beach in Bali, many flight attendants are just grinding through packed schedules and trying to figure out a good time to shower and rest. 

“Many crew are flying four to six sectors a day, seeing little more than the inside of jetways before collapsing into bed back at home or at an airport hotel,” Robert said. “Others are working 20-hour duty days with layovers that barely allow time to eat and sleep. And if you want to squeeze in a bit of sightseeing, it usually means sacrificing something important like sleep or other basic survival tasks.”

Heather Poole, a commercial flight attendant and the author of Cruising Attitude: Tales of Crashpads, Crew Drama, and Crazy Passengers at 35,000 Feet, noted that just because you work for an airline doesn’t mean you’re gallivanting around the world. 

“Sure, the job can be glamorous, especially when you have enough seniority to hold international trips, but most flight attendants with less than 20 years are working domestic routes with eight to 10-hour layovers,” she said. 

Adams recalled moving nonstop to try to make the most of her international layovers, high on adrenaline and running on minimal sleep. 

“It may look glamorous on social media, but behind every beach photo is a red-eye, jet lag, and a tight turnaround,” she said. “We do get travel benefits, yes, but we sometimes fly standby ― meaning we get bumped if the plane’s full.”