Flight Attendant Friday: Fuel Costs
July 25, 2008 by Mary Jo Manzanares
Filed under Air Travel, Flight Attendant Friday
Here’s a question that I hoped never to have to address.
Q. Are you worried about your job security in light of the rising fuel costs?
A. Worry probably isn’t the right word. Since I can’t control any piece of this, worrying is probably the wrong term. But I am definitely concerned.
My seniority is such that my airline would have to go through a major reduction before I would be in danger of being furloughed (laid off). I’m talking about a reduction in excess of 50-60%.
However, rising fuel costs without corresponding rise fares, means that airlines will continue to lose money. Continued financial losses will mean decreases in service, which will involve furloughs. Furloughs will mean that the quality of my schedule, the type of flying I do, my days off, etc., will likely be adversely impacted.
Hopefully, any reductions in force can be managed through a variety of voluntary leaves (most airlines have these types of programs), but my quality of life will definitely change.
Have a question you’d like answered? I’m open to nearly any topic from questions about the job of a Flight Attendant to travel in general. Just email me!
___________________________________
I can only imagine that this is a stressful time for many people in the airline industry. My heart goes out to you!
I would also think that in-flight staff must be highly coveted employees by /other/ industries, because you exercise such high levels of professionalism, customer service, and crisis management in your jobs.
Do you find that you and your colleagues are often targeted by headhunters / recruiters filling jobs in other industries?