MattK
06-08-2005, 04:47 PM
Started by DSlapo on June 1, 2005:
Dear FA's:
I sent this email to someone who was requesting some information on how much should she pay a contract flight attendant. I thouhgt I would share it with you and get your opinion on this subject. My writing is not the best but I hope I got my thoughts across in a positive manner.
I look towards your response also. So here is the email I sent.
Dear ##@#@:
I am responding to your request on information on contract flight attendant rates. As a flight attendant myself, I am a little disappointed at your question. Pay should not be based on what type of aircraft but based on training. In this industry everyone is trying to save the bottom line and a TRAINED flight attendant is least paid but the most important person on any aircraft.
If I paid for my training based on the type of aircraft I fly your question would be valid but my training is not. Flight Safety, FACTs, and others do not charge me based on my aircraft type but they charge me based on my OVER ALL training (This is different for pilots though as their training cost is based on the type of aircraft they fly). As you know, a flight attendant training does not matter if it is a Falcon, Gulfstream, or any other aircraft, it is based on skills to remain calm in an emergency and get everyone off the plane in the safest manner.
So that is where you need to base your inquiry first. "HOW MUCH IS A TRAINED FLIGHT ATTENDANT WORTH!" As to answer your questions on Dom/Intl, Differential pay after 11pm or return after midnight, standby and trip cancellation polices you also need to go back and asked yourself, "How much is a flight attendant worth?"
Lets me expand on what I mean. Domestic Vs International travel: A flight attendant in most situations is required to do more International travel then Domestic travel. They, just like the pilots, have to plan, execute, and follow up to insure what is needed to get the flight done and this takes a bit more time then it would in the US (For the MOST part).
For rate differential for departure or landing time it should not matter. It should be based on the calendar day not departure or landing time! How can you insure that a published trip is going to depart or land on time? How can you say a flight attendant does less work for a trip that leaves at 1155pm or lands at 1205am? The flight attendant still has to show up about 2 hours early plus should get their rest 8 hour prior or they still has to spend an hour or so to insure the plane is show ready for the next trip. It still requires them to book that day for your job requirements for changes.
Standby rate is the same as a daily rate. The flight attendant has to be ready to fly at any given moment. This means they give you 100% of their time that day to be ready to work. Lets look at it in a different manner. What if your company based your salary on ONLY the time you flew? If you did not fly that day your salary would be cut by 2/3rds. They are not paying any of your benefits such as health, dental, 401K and other things you would get as a full time person. Would you consider it fair? So, there should not be any difference as that flight attendant is still providing you the same quality of service that you are expecting, ready to go at that moments notice.
Trip cancellation policy should be looked like this. If the trip canceled within 24 hours they should get one day of pay. They have blocked out their schedule for the whole trip for you and most likely have turned down a few other trips. If the trip canceled before then there should not be any compensation. If the trip changes on the back end by two days then the flight attendant should be compensated for a minimum of a half day of pay.
Now comes the hard part, "What is a flight attendant worth for a day?" Pay should be based on training, where the FA is based and not what the lowest man is paying. I live in the NY area and the general pay range $400-500 per day. I fly Falcons, Gulfstream’s, and Bombardier aircraft.
I am sure you were not looking for some lecture but this is my opinion. I have been a flight attendant for over 12 years and I have seen so many companies trying to save a dollar on a flight attendant but spend hundreds of dollars on crew hotels. This industry needs to push harder to show the CEOs that the flight attendant is a TRAINED PROFESSIONAL and not some person who just has a great smile!
Daniel C. Slapo
Flight Attendant
Safety, Comfort, Reliability
Reply From flygirl2000 on June 3, 2005:
Hi! I can't believe no one has given you props on a well thought out and succinct answer to that annoying "pay" question!!
I think your reply reflects well on this community. WELCOME!
Dear FA's:
I sent this email to someone who was requesting some information on how much should she pay a contract flight attendant. I thouhgt I would share it with you and get your opinion on this subject. My writing is not the best but I hope I got my thoughts across in a positive manner.
I look towards your response also. So here is the email I sent.
Dear ##@#@:
I am responding to your request on information on contract flight attendant rates. As a flight attendant myself, I am a little disappointed at your question. Pay should not be based on what type of aircraft but based on training. In this industry everyone is trying to save the bottom line and a TRAINED flight attendant is least paid but the most important person on any aircraft.
If I paid for my training based on the type of aircraft I fly your question would be valid but my training is not. Flight Safety, FACTs, and others do not charge me based on my aircraft type but they charge me based on my OVER ALL training (This is different for pilots though as their training cost is based on the type of aircraft they fly). As you know, a flight attendant training does not matter if it is a Falcon, Gulfstream, or any other aircraft, it is based on skills to remain calm in an emergency and get everyone off the plane in the safest manner.
So that is where you need to base your inquiry first. "HOW MUCH IS A TRAINED FLIGHT ATTENDANT WORTH!" As to answer your questions on Dom/Intl, Differential pay after 11pm or return after midnight, standby and trip cancellation polices you also need to go back and asked yourself, "How much is a flight attendant worth?"
Lets me expand on what I mean. Domestic Vs International travel: A flight attendant in most situations is required to do more International travel then Domestic travel. They, just like the pilots, have to plan, execute, and follow up to insure what is needed to get the flight done and this takes a bit more time then it would in the US (For the MOST part).
For rate differential for departure or landing time it should not matter. It should be based on the calendar day not departure or landing time! How can you insure that a published trip is going to depart or land on time? How can you say a flight attendant does less work for a trip that leaves at 1155pm or lands at 1205am? The flight attendant still has to show up about 2 hours early plus should get their rest 8 hour prior or they still has to spend an hour or so to insure the plane is show ready for the next trip. It still requires them to book that day for your job requirements for changes.
Standby rate is the same as a daily rate. The flight attendant has to be ready to fly at any given moment. This means they give you 100% of their time that day to be ready to work. Lets look at it in a different manner. What if your company based your salary on ONLY the time you flew? If you did not fly that day your salary would be cut by 2/3rds. They are not paying any of your benefits such as health, dental, 401K and other things you would get as a full time person. Would you consider it fair? So, there should not be any difference as that flight attendant is still providing you the same quality of service that you are expecting, ready to go at that moments notice.
Trip cancellation policy should be looked like this. If the trip canceled within 24 hours they should get one day of pay. They have blocked out their schedule for the whole trip for you and most likely have turned down a few other trips. If the trip canceled before then there should not be any compensation. If the trip changes on the back end by two days then the flight attendant should be compensated for a minimum of a half day of pay.
Now comes the hard part, "What is a flight attendant worth for a day?" Pay should be based on training, where the FA is based and not what the lowest man is paying. I live in the NY area and the general pay range $400-500 per day. I fly Falcons, Gulfstream’s, and Bombardier aircraft.
I am sure you were not looking for some lecture but this is my opinion. I have been a flight attendant for over 12 years and I have seen so many companies trying to save a dollar on a flight attendant but spend hundreds of dollars on crew hotels. This industry needs to push harder to show the CEOs that the flight attendant is a TRAINED PROFESSIONAL and not some person who just has a great smile!
Daniel C. Slapo
Flight Attendant
Safety, Comfort, Reliability
Reply From flygirl2000 on June 3, 2005:
Hi! I can't believe no one has given you props on a well thought out and succinct answer to that annoying "pay" question!!
I think your reply reflects well on this community. WELCOME!