Do flight attendants get paid for duty hours?


Do flight attendants get paid for duty hours? Flight attendants get paid per flight hour but have other pay mechanisms in place that guarantee they will receive a minimum pay for each trip. These mechanisms referred to as “RIGS” track the flight attendants total duty day and total time away from their base.


Do flight attendants only get paid when the doors are closed?

Flight attendants only get paid when the door closes Essentially flight attendants are only paid their full hourly rate once the aircraft door closes, even though they work hard during boarding (and arguably boarding is the most stressful phase of the flight).


Do flight attendants get to go home at the end of the day?

They don't go home until the end of the entire work sequence which can be anywhere from one day up until four days (more or less but varies depending on the airline) and always ends at their base airport. During the work sequence, hotel vans transport them to their nightly accommodation.


How do flight attendants not get tired?

They are there to do a job, presumably well rested and ready to go. Sitting still is surprisingly tiring. Flight attendants are up and moving around for most of the flight, and that physical activity helps keep them awake.


How do flight attendants make a living?

Flight attendants get paid per flight hour but have other pay mechanisms in place that guarantee they will receive a minimum pay for each trip. These mechanisms referred to as “RIGS” track the flight attendants total duty day and total time away from their base.


What are the downsides of being a flight attendant?

8 cons of being a flight attendant
  • On-call scheduling. Flight attendants might work on an on-call or reserve basis. ...
  • Time away from home. ...
  • Weekend and holiday work. ...
  • Frequent time zone changes. ...
  • Passenger conflicts. ...
  • Limited growth opportunities. ...
  • In-person work. ...
  • Travel delays.


How many breaks do flight attendants get?

In most cases, if you have a scheduled duty period of 14 hours or less, you must have at least nine consecutive hours of scheduled rest after your duty period before you have another duty period.


Can flight attendants choose their base?

Flight attendants can typically choose the home base airport they report to, so you might consider researching which cities offer the highest flight attendant salaries on average.


What is the highest paying airline for flight attendants?

Top companies for Flight Attendants in United States
  • Delta Air Lines. 4.2 $36.56per hour. 4,716 reviews24 salaries reported.
  • American Airlines. 3.9 $34.70per hour. 5,248 reviews206 salaries reported.
  • Delta Air Lines. 4.2 $34.29per hour. ...
  • United Airlines. 4.0 $34.04per hour. ...
  • Alaska Airlines. 3.8 $31.11per hour. ...
  • Show more companies.


How long do flight attendants rest between flights?

Crew members are required to have a 10-hour rest period within each 24-hour cycle. The maximum duty day is 14 hours and must be followed by a 10-hour rest period at their hotel. When scheduling a flight, operators usually account for 12 hours of rest instead of 10.


Can flight attendants sleep on long flights?

Flight attendants on long-haul flights are provided with spaces to rest. Here's a photo of the crew rest area on a Boeing 787. Crew rest areas exist on all airplanes, but what these rest areas look like depends on the airline, aircraft and the length of the flight.


Do flight attendants ever get days off?

New flight attendants typically work a reserve schedule and must be close to the airport, or sometimes wait at the airport for a call to duty. Senior flight attendants enjoy more flexibility in their schedule and choice of destinations. Both roles enjoy the same travel benefits with about 12 days off per month.


How much do Delta flight attendants get paid?

The Flight Attendant salary at Delta is slightly higher than most of the other large airlines in the US. What is this? Within Delta Air Lines, the annual salary for Flight Attendants varies vastly – from around $33,000 for new Flight Attendants, to over $110,000 for the most experienced Flight Attendants!


Do flight attendants get 40 hours a week?

Typically, flight attendants work 12-14 days and log 65-85 flight hours each month, not including overtime. Flight attendant schedules can change month-to-month and some attendants may work more weeks than others.


What is a flight attendants schedule like?

Work Schedules
Flight attendants may have variable schedules, and part-time work is common. They often work nights, weekends, and holidays because airlines operate every day and have overnight flights. They may spend several nights per week or per month away from home.


How hard is it to become a flight attendant?

It's difficult and can take a long time. Airlines can take 3-6 months to get through the hiring process, that's if your resume makes it through the first cut. Intense Competition. We estimate there are 1 – 1.5 million flight attendant applications for 5,000 – 10,000 jobs.


What is the 10 hour rule for flight attendants?

Under the rule, flight attendants are entitled to a minimum rest period of at least 10 consecutive hours when they're scheduled to work for 14 hours or less. The law allows for no reduction of the rest period under any circumstances.


Do flight attendants get paid during training?

Q: Will I be paid during training? A: No. However, within five working days after your Flight Attendant graduation, you will receive $1,200 Initial Training Pay minus applicable taxes and benefit deductions. During training, you will also receive a $425 meal stipend in the form of a pre-paid Visa card.


What benefits do flight attendants get?

Here are 10 common advantages of the flight attendant career path:
  • Free flights and travel opportunities. ...
  • Flight benefits for family and friends. ...
  • Flexible schedule. ...
  • Opportunities to meet new people. ...
  • Food expense reimbursement. ...
  • Overnight hotel stays. ...
  • Ability to self-direct. ...
  • Health insurance.