| Pay. You know that business aviation pays more than | | | | experience. Much of what I've heard as the quoted |
| commercial, in most cases a lot better, but you aren't | | | | salary is in the low to mid-50s range. Indeed, the |
| sure what the going rate is for a corporate flight | | | | NBAA supports this data with a recent survey |
| attendant. It might surprise you to learn that pay | | | | showing that the average corporate flight attendant |
| rates vary widely depending on the type of account | | | | is paid just over 53K per year.Owner Operators: 25K |
| you are flying for, your location, your responsibilities, | | | | to 100K+. Let's not kid ourselves. There are |
| experience, and more.Over the years I have | | | | companies that will expect you to jump through |
| discovered that the pay range is not set in stone. | | | | hoops to fly on their aircraft and for peanuts [and |
| Typically, fractional operators [i.e., Netjets, Flight | | | | you know they don't serve peanuts to their |
| Options, Flexjet] pay less than charter operators | | | | passengers!] On the other hand, if you are a chief |
| [Part 135] who pay less than owner operators [Part | | | | flight attendant your salary will probably start at 75K |
| 91]. Are there exceptions to this rule? Yes, of course. | | | | and can easily exceed 90K. The higher salary can be |
| Other factors as mentioned above can play a | | | | expected when you have a "VP" title and are in |
| significant role in determining what you will make. | | | | charge of several flight attendants. Oh, by the way, |
| These factors include:Location. Business flight | | | | don't forget that you will be flying in addition to your |
| attendants based closer to major metropolitan areas | | | | office duties... guess who has to cover for sick |
| command the highest salaries. New York and Los | | | | employees when no one else can be found?100K+?! |
| Angeles are the two most trafficked areas for | | | | Let's just say that this amount is unusual, but I did |
| private flying. Between corporate tycoons and | | | | confirm 110K for one flight attendant flying |
| Hollywood stars, these two metropolitan areas | | | | internationally some time back. Generally, never |
| produce some of the most significant amounts of | | | | expect anyone to reveal their salary to you... why |
| flying in business aviation. If you are located in | | | | should they?What about flying contract? Wow... you |
| Pocatello, Idaho or in Burlington, VT, the chances of | | | | had to ask. If I told you that you can expect an |
| you finding work in the first place are remote, unless | | | | average of $300. - $350. per day plus per diem would |
| a fractional operator hires you and allows you to | | | | that suit you? The amounts being paid for |
| airline to reposition for your flights.Responsibilities. So, | | | | contractors vary just as widely as they do for full |
| what are you? Will you be treated as a passenger | | | | time flight attendants. I have heard of flight |
| who serves other passengers or will you be | | | | attendants flying for $0 just to get the experience |
| expected to manage the entire cabin from the | | | | and hours [how could a company conscientiously |
| cockpit door on back? Is there a difference in | | | | allow that to happen? Okay, stupid question!] I've |
| service? Yes, but in the perception of the company | | | | also heard of a flight attendant making $600 per day |
| doing the hiring there may not be. The written job | | | | flying internationally. Contract rates vary widely and |
| description may differ from what the job actually | | | | depend, again, on your location, responsibilities, |
| requires. It may take several interviews for you to | | | | experience, etc.Questions to ask yourself:What am I |
| find out if the company places value on your culinary | | | | worth? If you think that the job merits 60K per |
| expertise, your safety and security training, your | | | | year, then you need to make a case for earning 60K |
| related job experience, etc. Generally, those | | | | per year. If the company insists on paying 35K, guess |
| companies looking for someone with "no experience | | | | what? You won't make anything near 60K, you'll be |
| necessary, will train" will pay less than those who | | | | crossed off their list and the person settling for 35K |
| state they want an employee who is up to date with | | | | will get the job.What will I settle for? Can I justify |
| their training and who has flown for a number of | | | | the lower salary just to get some work? If I have |
| years.Other questions to keep in mind:How often will | | | | flown for years and are willing to take a 20-25K pay |
| you be flying?Will you be flying between set cities or | | | | cut, will I be able to live on the lower salary? Can I |
| traveling internationally?How may days per | | | | expect to renegotiate my salary once hired [don't |
| month?How many soft days v. hard days will you | | | | make me laugh...]?What benefits can I expect? |
| have per month?Will you be on call?Will you be | | | | 401(k), medical, dental, vacation, sick/personal days, |
| expected to work in the office on days off?Will you | | | | and the like are some of the expected benefits |
| be expected to "look after" children a/k/a play the | | | | when working full time.Other considerations:Do they |
| nanny role when not flying?Will you be supervising | | | | pay for uniforms?Is there a uniform allowance?What |
| other flight attendants?Experience The more | | | | about salary reviews/job performance reviews?Is |
| experience flying corporate, the better. Companies | | | | there room for promotion?Can I ever transfer to |
| should reward you based on your business flying | | | | another corporate account?Will they pay for my |
| background, safety and security training, culinary | | | | training?What is their policy on job termination |
| expertise, world language skills [if flying | | | | severance?Is this a family friendly environment?The |
| internationally], management skills, people skills, etc. | | | | more you know about your needs, wants, and |
| Some companies require that you act as a personal | | | | desires before you are interviewed, the better |
| assistant to the CEO. Extra compensation should be | | | | opportunity you will have to be adequately |
| commanded for these additional responsibilities.So, | | | | compensated. Find out what is important to you: i.e., |
| what is the pay range? These figures are not | | | | lower salary v. living where I want; job security v. |
| absolute, but the U.S. salaries that I know being | | | | higher pay; public visibility v. anonymity, etc. Stick with |
| earned by corporate flight attendants falls into three | | | | your principles and act upon them while negotiating |
| general categories. These are some generalized salary | | | | your next position.One final question to ask yourself |
| ranges:Fractional Operators: 33K to 45K, corporate | | | | once a job offer has been tendered: Can I live with |
| experience not always required. These companies will | | | | myself if I accept this position?Matthew Keegan is |
| train you to their specifications. One of the big pluses | | | | the owner of a successful article writing, web design, |
| for fractionals is that you can live mostly anywhere; | | | | and marketing business based in North Carolina, USA. |
| at least one company will allow you to airline to meet | | | | He manages several sites including the Corporate |
| up with the aircraft [they also let you accumulate and | | | | Flight Attendant Community and the Aviation |
| keep your airliner miles].Charter Operators: 45K to | | | | Employment Board. Please visit The Article Writer to |
| 80K, depending on location of aircraft and your | | | | review selections from his portfolio. |