Flight Attendants: The Need For Enhanced Life Insurance Coverage

Flight attendants are responsible for ensuring the safety and comfort of passengers during air travel. They are often on their feet, boarding planes, checking on passengers, and enforcing safety rules. While the job comes with benefits such as flexible scheduling, travel opportunities, and flight benefits, it also has its challenges, including time away from home and frequent time zone changes. Given the nature of their work, flight attendants may wonder if they should have more life insurance. In most cases, life insurance will cover flight attendants if they get into a plane crash, but there are some exceptions. For instance, if a flight attendant is an inexperienced recreational pilot or uses non-standard, risky aircraft, their insurance company may issue an aviation rider, which could raise premiums or even result in denial of coverage. Ultimately, it is essential for flight attendants to carefully review their insurance policies and make informed decisions about their coverage.

Pros and cons of the role

Pros and Cons of Being a Flight Attendant

Being a flight attendant has its advantages and disadvantages. Here are some of the most notable pros and cons of pursuing a career as a flight attendant:

Pros:

• Travel Opportunities: Flight attendants get to travel frequently as part of their job, and they often have time between flights to explore new destinations. They also usually receive flight benefits, such as discounted or free flights, which can be extended to their families and friends.
• Flexible Scheduling: Flight attendants often have flexible work schedules and may work any day of the week due to the variable nature of flight times. Many airlines allow attendants to trade flights based on seniority, accommodating personal preferences and schedules.
• Meeting People: Flight attendants interact with a diverse range of people from various backgrounds, both passengers and colleagues. This aspect of the job can be enjoyable for those who thrive on social connections and developing interpersonal communication skills.
• Job Security: With the high demand for air travel, flight attendants benefit from long-term employment security.
• Indoor Work Environment: Flight attendants work primarily in climate-controlled aircraft and airports, avoiding exposure to extreme weather conditions.
• Employee Benefits: Many airlines offer comprehensive employee benefits, including health insurance (medical, vision, dental, and life insurance), retirement plans, and competitive salaries.

Cons:

• On-Call Scheduling: Flight attendants may work on an on-call basis, requiring them to be available to work within a short notice period.
• Time Away from Home: The nature of the job involves spending a significant amount of time away from home, which can be challenging for those with strong family ties or those who prefer a more stable routine.
• Weekend and Holiday Work: Flight attendants often have to work on weekends and holidays, especially when they are new to the job.
• Frequent Time Zone Changes: Constant travel across time zones can lead to jet lag, causing fatigue and other physical discomforts.
• Limited Growth Opportunities: Advancement opportunities within the role may be limited, and flight attendants may find themselves in the same position for many years.
• In-Person Work: There are no remote work options for flight attendants, and unexpected situations, such as sickness or family emergencies, can impact their ability to work and affect their pay.

Life insurance as a benefit

Life insurance is a benefit that many airlines offer to their flight attendants. For example, United Airlines offers its employees various life insurance options, including term and group universal life.

Life insurance is often included in a wider benefits package for flight attendants, which may also include medical, vision, dental, and health savings account policies. These benefits are usually extended to the flight attendant's dependents.

Some airlines also offer retirement benefits or saving plans, helping employees plan and budget for the future.

Other benefits

Life insurance is just one of the many benefits of being a flight attendant. Here are some other advantages of the job:

Free Flights and Travel Opportunities

Flight attendants can often fly for free, either on their company airline or on standby with other airlines. This allows them to explore new locations and travel the world on their days off. Some airlines also allow flight attendants to earn additional mileage or flight benefits.

Flexible Schedule

Flight attendants often have flexible schedules and work fewer days per week than other professions. This allows them to have more time for travel, family, or personal interests. Many airlines also allow flight attendants to choose their flights in order of seniority, so they can build a schedule that works well for them.

Meeting New People

Flight attendants meet new, interesting people every day, including celebrities, athletes, and families going on vacation. They also get to work with new colleagues and meet coworkers from different locations. This can help them develop their interpersonal communication skills, which are highly transferable to other career fields.

Food Expense Reimbursement

Flight attendants receive free in-flight meals and snacks, and many companies also reimburse crew members for outside food expenses during travel. This means they can explore local restaurants and try new foods for free when they have time between flights.

Overnight Hotel Stays

Flight attendants often receive free overnight hotel stays when travelling for work. This benefit allows them to rest before the return journey and also gives them the opportunity to explore new cities without paying expensive hotel fees.

Health Insurance and Retirement Plans

Most airlines offer comprehensive health insurance packages, including medical, vision, dental, and life insurance for flight attendants and their dependents. Many airlines also provide retirement benefits or saving plans to help employees plan and budget for the future.

Competitive Compensation

Flight attendants receive a competitive salary, with the average flight attendant making $61,640 per year. Some airlines also include profit-sharing packages and employee discounts as part of their compensation plan.

Self-Direction

Flight attendants manage their own responsibilities without a manager on board, allowing them to self-direct their daily tasks within the guidelines provided by the airline.

Physical Fitness

The job keeps flight attendants on their feet and physically active, as they spend much of their time boarding planes, walking the aisles, and moving through airports. This level of activity can contribute to a healthy lifestyle.

Employee Benefits

In addition to health insurance, many airlines offer various other benefits to flight attendants, such as complimentary meals, flight discounts for family and friends, and paid time off.

Salary and compensation

The salary of a flight attendant varies depending on location and level of experience. In the United States, the average salary for a flight attendant is $28.07 per hour, with the average yearly salary being $63,760. The best-paid 25% of flight attendants make $82,410 per year, while the lowest-paid 25% make $47,760. The average yearly salary for a senior flight attendant is $94,749. The average salary for flight attendants in the United Kingdom is £20,000.

The salary of a flight attendant can also vary depending on the airline and the city in which they are based. In the US, the highest-paying cities for flight attendants are Kansas City, Boston, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and San Francisco. The states that pay flight attendants the highest salaries are Connecticut ($108,310), Hawaii ($104,110), Massachusetts ($74,780), Arizona ($73,900), and California ($73,570). In the UK, flight attendants based in London tend to earn more than those based in other cities.

In addition to their salary, flight attendants often receive additional benefits as part of their compensation package. These benefits can include retirement plans, health insurance, and extra pay for holiday, weekend, and night shifts. Flight attendants also often receive discounted rates for personal travel, which may also extend to their families and dependents. Many airlines also offer their flight attendants various other benefits, such as medical, dental, vision, and life insurance.

Growth opportunities

Flight attendants have limited growth opportunities in the sense that they often have the same role for many years. However, there are still several avenues for career progression and development within the role and the wider industry.

Firstly, flight attendants can receive regular pay raises throughout their time in the role. They can also gain seniority, which comes with additional benefits, such as increased flexibility in scheduling and choosing flights.

Secondly, flight attendants can develop their interpersonal communication skills through daily interactions with people from all backgrounds. This includes passengers and colleagues, as airlines often rotate crews and schedules. These transferable skills can help flight attendants succeed in a variety of other career fields if they decide to move on from working as a flight attendant.

Thirdly, flight attendants can take advantage of the free and discounted flights offered by airlines to explore new locations and experience different cultures. This can broaden their horizons and provide new perspectives, which may open up new career paths or opportunities for personal growth and development.

Additionally, some airlines offer flight attendants access to free or discounted college and university courses. For example, one airline offers a free college benefit, allowing flight attendants to pursue a bachelor's degree for free. This can provide an opportunity for flight attendants to gain new knowledge and skills, which could lead to promotions or career changes in the future.

Finally, flight attendants can use their unique work environment and experiences to develop their leadership and self-motivation skills. As they work without a manager onboard, flight attendants must self-direct their daily tasks and responsibilities while following airline guidelines and working with a crew team. These skills can be beneficial for future roles that require independence, initiative, and the ability to work effectively within a team.

While the role of a flight attendant may not have many obvious growth opportunities, there are still several ways for individuals to develop personally and professionally within the role. By taking advantage of these opportunities, flight attendants can enhance their skills, knowledge, and experiences, which can open up new career paths and possibilities for the future.

Frequently asked questions