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