From shows like “Pan Am” and “The Flight Attendant” to the many popular influencers who work in the skies, the job of flight attendant certainly captures the public imagination. But along with that allure comes a long list of myths about what the job really entails.
“There’s something about the sky that carries a kind of mystic appeal, so it’s no surprise that unconventional jobs above the clouds come wrapped in myths and misconceptions, particularly from those watching from the ground,” Jay Robert, a former flight attendant and the founder of A Fly Guy Travels, told HuffPost. “Some of those myths make us laugh, while others are just plain insulting to the role we play in keeping millions of travelers safe and sound, often at the expense of our health and well-being.”
From assumptions about glamorous layovers to the persistent idea that flight attendants are simply “waitresses in the sky,” here’s a look at the most common misconceptions about the profession ― and what flight attendants want you to know instead.
Myth: Their main role is food and drink service.
When travelers think of flight attendants, they often picture drink carts and snack service. But those who work the aisles say that perception barely scratches the surface of their actual responsibilities.
