Flight attendant decodes the real torment of jet‑set life: battling unruly passengers, low morale, and beauty pressures
Contrary to popular belief, being a flight attendant is not a bed of roses. Airline employees grapple with the stressors of their job every day. One might presume that a solid paycheck would make up for bearing such taxing conditions. However, even this aspect can often lead to disappointment.
The most daunting aspect of being a flight attendant is handling difficult passengers
Destanie Armstrong, a 25-year-old flight attendant based in Philadelphia, elaborates about the challenges of her role in a video she shared on TikTok. One major issue is dealing with disruptive passengers.
People often make our jobs harder for no clear reason. They will bicker about the slightest things. Some refuse to sit in the allocated seat while others expect flight attendants to stow their suitcase—something we aren't even supposed to do, she says in the now-viral video. No matter how often we ask for cooperation, it seems no one listens to us – she adds.
Among the drawbacks, Destanie also notes the difficulty of working alongside strong personalities and highlights the low morale frequently observed among airline industry employees in the USA. All flight attendants work longer than they'd like, which fuels frustration and negative sentiments. Many should consider moving on, but they're accustomed to the lifestyle the aviation industry affords them – she explains.
Flight attendants suffer from constant fatigue
Destanie also talks about the lack of understanding, chronic feelings of solitude among airline employees, and the stigmatization and idealization of her vocation in the industry. However, she believes the biggest downside to her job centers on the pay.
It feels like a slap in the face. Even working essentially every day, I can't earn more than $3,000 - she discloses in the shared clip.
The arduous work setting inevitably takes a toll on the flight attendants' health and physical appearance. When I'm at work, I notice an increase in fine lines and under-eye bags. I feel like flying magnifies these flaws – she opines.
Many flight attendants feel compelled to maintain certain beauty standards and wear extremely form-fitting dresses. But being in the air causes bloating and makes your body size fluctuate constantly – she reveals.
