- United Airlines flight attendant Jodye Beard-Brown has worked in the industry for 31 years.
- She says that seniority impacts flight schedules, perks, and flexibility in the airline industry.
- The union contract negotiations happening now aim for better pay and work conditions.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Jodye Beard-Brown, a 58-year-old United Airlines flight attendant in Houston. It has been edited for length and clarity.
In 1994, I had just returned to Houston after living and modeling in France. I missed my family and wasn't sure what I wanted to do next. I just knew that I loved traveling.
I heard that Continental Airlines (which merged with United Airlines in 2012) was hiring, so I submitted my résumé. I conducted a series of interviews and was subsequently hired and sent to do six weeks of training.
When I got married, my husband was in the Navy, and the job was terrific because I could move and not have to start over. It's been a great career.
You would think I'm very senior, but I'm not
I'm in my 31st year, which is amazing, but there are flight attendants who've been here for 50 years. It's easy to stay around.
You can choose how much or how little you want to fly. There's also the travel perk, which is why most of us got into the industry to begin with. Another bonus is the flexibility. You can trade trips with other flight attendants and fly more or less as needed.
Seniority determines everything from bidding for flight destinations to vacation time, to whether you take the first break on shift.
I still can't fly to the most desirable European cities, such as London, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Munich, or Sydney and Narita, because I'm not senior enough.
I fly to São Paulo this month
Those flights depart in the evening, which is convenient. I have my regular day, and then I head to the airport and check in at the gate around 6:30 p.m. That flight is about nine hours.
We serve dinner, and then people settle in to rest. We serve breakfast before arrival. São Paulo is only a two-to-three-hour time change for me.
In contrast, Paris — one of my favorite places in the world — is a seven-hour time change on a 24-hour layover. I have to hit the ground running to experience the city.
I also work on domestic flights, which is one of the perks of my job. I can fly domestic, international, or both in the same month. Each month, around the 15th, we bid a line, or request a certain schedule, for the following month.
The job may seem glamorous, but it's incredibly physical
By the time you're on the airplane, you might've walked a mile already. Physically, we need to be able to push a 70- to 80-pound bar cart up the aisle.
I've had many friends who've been hurt while lifting luggage into the overhead compartment; this can easily happen.
If you have young kids, being away from home can be tough. Having a solid support system helps. You might miss events or holidays, especially early on when you're not senior enough to get Christmas off.
If you live alone, having a pet can be tricky, but you make the best of it. It's all part of the journey.
Times have changed since when I started
People were much more polite back then — now we're seeing more physical altercations on airplanes. I especially noticed that shift after the pandemic.
Where we previously enforced safety with seat belts and recently with face masks, it can feel like you're policing people — or like they feel threatened by you — when you're simply asking them to follow the airline's rules.
My motto has always been to kill them with kindness. It's always a lot easier if you respond with a smile.
Our union recently reached a tentative deal for a new contract
I've only seen highlights of the contract and haven't seen the entire contract yet.
If the contract were signed, voted on, and passed, this would be my first raise. However, it's not just the raise. We also want to get the work rules right, like how long we can work without sleep, etc. We deserve that.
As for pay, I'm at my top out, which is $67 an hour, compared to American Airlines, which is at $82. Most major airlines have renewed their contracts within the last year or two. We're in our fourth year without a contract, so it's about time.
Half pay during boarding is much better than no pay, so there's that.
I'd recommend this job to anyone who enjoys being part of a team and thrives on working with people
My advice to those starting out is to see this job not just as a paycheck, but as a chance to explore every layover destination. Everyone gets tired, but it still surprises me how many people don't take advantage of the biggest perk of this job.
If you're a people person who loves a change of scenery, this role is a great fit. While the job itself is consistent, your crew and the passengers you serve are always changing.
I don't have retirement plans at the moment. I've told friends that I need a code word because I'll keep working as long as I can. I'll only stop if I can't pick up bags or if I forget where things go.
I'm also an artist and love to use traveling as inspiration. There are still so many places on my bucket list.
