"Cosmic Radiation Affects Our Organs" – Flight Attendants Share Their Stories

What no one talks about but I believe is the most important is loneliness. As an introvert, it didn’t bother me at first—I enjoyed the solitude. But lately, I really feel it. It’s no longer fun to explore a city alone or to fall asleep solo in yet another hotel room.

Throw-up on seats, dirty bathrooms—these come with the territory. But what I hate most is when passengers clip their nails on the plane. Sometimes even their toenails! It’s disgusting and, sadly, not uncommon.

When I travel off-duty, I don’t mention I’m a flight attendant to get special treatment (despite what a "friendly" fellow passenger once implied). I do it so colleagues know they can count on me as extra help in an emergency.

Aircraft maintenance is costly, so planes don’t go to the hangar for every little issue. No plane is perfect. Before takeoff, we get a briefing on what’s broken or not working and adjust our duties accordingly.

After especially long flights, some of my colleagues and I have experienced mild hallucinations during late-night landings from sleep deprivation. Don’t worry, it’s never dangerous, but it has happened.

We don’t earn as much as people think. The hourly rate is good, but we only get paid for time spent in the air. Getting to the airport, waiting on the ground, or delays aren’t paid—and that happens often.

I work for a large international airline, and the atmosphere isn’t as close-knit as back home. We usually meet our colleagues only an hour before takeoff, so it’s tough to build strong work relationships or friendships. It’s not like working with a familiar team.

Most people see us as flight waitstaff, but our main job is passenger safety. Turbulence is tough enough without someone caring more about their coffee or drink. Few know we have the right to decide if a passenger is fit to fly. If someone is drunk or disruptive and won’t follow instructions, we can remove them. It’s always challenging to handle, then smile through a long flight.

It’s well known our legs swell and skin dries out due to zero humidity on planes. But few realize that after a few years of flying, a flight attendant can’t be an organ donor or give blood because cosmic radiation and pressure changes affect our organs. Irregular sleep and crossing time zones also harm our hearts. And of course, we catch every contagious illness from sick passengers.

I flew for 15 years and still feel a sleep debt I’ll never repay. While working, I rarely relaxed because I was often called in last minute to cover for sick colleagues—no time to hesitate, just get ready.

Photos: istockphoto.com