Basic Responsibilities as a Flight Attendant

The most visible aspects of a flight attendant's job may be safety demonstrations and serving refreshments to passengers, but the position actually carries a considerable amount of responsibility. A flight attendant acts as an ambassador between the airline and its customers by making passengers feel comfortable during the flight. Flight attendants are also effectively the administrative staff on board the aircraft, responsible for the reporting and inventory work that keeps a flight running smoothly. Their most important duty, however, is seeing to the safety of everyone on board.

Passenger Comfort

To better impart a pleasant flying experience, flight attendants spend much of their in-flight time seeing to the comfort and needs of passengers. Pre-flight, flight attendants ease frustration and wait time by helping passengers to their seats and assisting with the stowing of carry-on luggage. They see to passengers' comfort by distributing sleep masks or blankets, and some airlines provide headsets or magazines if requested. Depending on the flight length, flight attendants may serve beverages and food as many as three times to passengers and to cockpit crews. Throughout the flight, flight attendants respond to passenger requests and fulfill them as much as possible. At the end of the flight, the attendants help passengers with their carry-on luggage and exiting the plane. These duties keep an attendant busy, but they also help build a relationship between passengers and the airline.

Administrative Duties

* The less visible responsibilities of a flight attendant are nonetheless vital to the daily functions of airline flights. They must attend flight briefings to be apprised of any special passenger considerations and what to expect in-flight; no flight is exactly the same. Once on board, the attendant takes inventory of refreshments and first aid equipment and alerts appropriate personnel in case of shortages. During flight, it is the flight attendant's responsibility to keep track of money earned from purchased beverages or headset use and record the sales. At the end of the flight, attendants submit reports to the airline with flight details, including any medical issues encountered and the cabin's condition.

* The first priority for flight attendants is seeing to the safety of every passenger on board. They are the ones providing safety demonstrations or setting up a video with safety directions to inform passengers of how to use the lifesaving devices aboard the plane. Attendants are responsible for securing the aircraft's doors and making sure emergency equipment and exits are functioning properly. Attendants secure any loose items around the cabin and check passengers for correct observance of safety procedures to prevent hazards mid-flight. Should any passenger engage in unsafe behavior during the flight, attendants respond by informing the passenger of the infraction and enforcing safety procedures if necessary.

Emergency Assistance

In emergencies, flight attendants take the lead in aiding passengers. This may be as simple as providing reassurance during episodes of turbulence or as serious as administering first aid or evacuating passengers from the plane. Flight attendants must be prepared to provide direction and instruction for emergency landings and to assist passengers out of emergency exits and with emergency equipment. Should a medical emergency occur during flight, an attendant assesses the condition of the passenger, performs first aid if needed and, upon landing, informs the cockpit crew of the situation. The flight attendants also report any malfunctions encountered so they may be tended to after landing.