10 Secrets Flight Attendants Rarely Share and Expert Tips for a More Comfortable Flight

8. Payment to flight attendants is withheld until the aircraft door is closed.

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Many airlines pay attendants by the hour, but only after the aircraft door is closed. This means time spent on pre-flight tasks or after landing often goes unpaid. As a result, pre-takeoff delays can be especially frustrating, since crew members are not earning during that period.

This pay model is unique to aviation, where ground time is not counted as flight time. Attendants must juggle job demands with the realities of their pay. Delays can mean long hours without wages, adding stress to an already demanding role.