Jumpseating on a Colgan Saab not too long ago, the flight attendant stood with her back to us, staring through the flight-deck peep-hole (which is ginormous on the Saab, by the way) the entire 45 minute flight.

Not to incite a flame war, but if it was a Colgan flight, was the FA trying to monitor the flight crew out of fear of something? Especially a newer FA I think would be all whipped up just like John Q. Public.

LoL naw I think she just wants be a Pilot! ;)

Well considering that the FA's at my airline still have jobs and I'm on the street, I'd say they do indeed have a better quality of life.

I shared a crashpad with a bunch of FA's who worked international flights out of JFK. Their first year pay was right around 2X what I made as a first year FO. They didn't have to put up with the nightmares of being on reserve all month and, best of all, were all hired with no prior experience whatsoever.

My fiance' is an FA (for now, until she can quit). She has been there 2 years and brings home around 1700 a month. Deduct the $275 for a crash pad in NYC, food, expenses while away from home, and they are not paid well at all. Now as for QOL, it sucks just as much as any crewmember on reserve. She has 11 days off per month and was only able to come home 7 of those in May. They also constantly change her schedule. Example: she was on ready reserve yesterday and was given a 4 day trip. That trip has changed 3 times just today! I know pilots are under paid, but I feel FA's are too. They have to deal with all those folks in the back, I would hate that. Plus, even though we often think of them as sky waitresses, they are responsible for much more. Look at the FA's on the US Air flight in the Hudson.

If they are doing international, they must have some seniority?? And, they aren't regional FA's either. At Comair, we have FA's with 6 years seniority that are still on reserve.

My girlfriend lives in base, and even while on reserve was crediting 90+ hours monthly with no student-loans. Nearly every penny (minus a reasonable rent) is disposable...she spends her off-time traveling with her parents, so this is really a great gig for her. But she's a smart cookie -- doing this for a couple of years total, and only for the flight benefits. She swears that the mindless nature of her work has dumbed her down for good (and I'd have to agree, since she's still with me) LoL

In some states, unemployment pays more than some airlines pay their F/As.

You'd think so, but a couple of them had less than a year with their company, were primarily working European turns, spoke only English, and only had to sit reserve one week per month... so they claimed anyway.

Must be nice...

Sounds fishy...