Flight attendants, also referred to as stewardesses or stewards, play a vital role in providing in-flight services to passengers. These terms are used to describe the same responsibilities: ensuring a pleasant and safe experience for passengers during their air travel. The profession of flight attendants is often associated with the luxury of air travel. However, their role goes beyond serving meals and beverages. Flight attendants are also responsible for overseeing flight safety, passenger comfort, and customer satisfaction throughout the journey.

From a time management perspective, flight attendants often face limited free time due to their demanding schedules and intensive work patterns. These factors make it challenging for them to consistently spend time on social activities outside of work or attend family gatherings.

While the job may appear relatively straightforward, becoming a flight attendant is far from easy. They undergo rigorous training that includes a basic course lasting 2–6 months, followed by internal airline training for an additional 6–12 weeks. This job demands both physical and mental fitness. Flight attendants must maintain their health to perform their duties effectively, even when frequently exposed to changing time zones and environments.

Training covers a wide range of skills, such as first aid, aircraft evacuation procedures, and handling equipment malfunctions. Their work hours are often irregular, involving night flights, weekends, and holidays, which can impact their personal lives. Additionally, flight attendants are required to learn protocols related to aviation regulations.

Despite its challenges, being a flight attendant offers unique benefits. They have the opportunity to interact with passengers from various countries and cultures, enriching their experiences and enhancing their multilingual communication skills. Flight attendants also got the advantage to travel around the world while building extensive social networks. These experiences contribute to long-term personal and professional growth.

This discussion aligns with Universitas Dian Nusantara’s (UNDIRA) vision of integrity and professionalism, emphasizing that work should be performed with dedication and ethical conduct. By relating this article to the experiences and aspirations of UNDIRA students, it highlights the importance of professionalism in any field.

UNDIRA’s field practice and internship programs could explore partnerships with airlines to offer students valuable industry exposure. This article serves as motivation for students to seize such opportunities and gain firsthand experience in meeting passenger needs.

This article can be a reference point for students aiming to develop critical customer service skills. UNDIRA students can draw lessons from the flight attendant profession about the importance of dedication, communication, empathy, and problem-solving in diverse social contexts, particularly in the aviation industry.

By understanding the role of flight attendants, students can appreciate the elegance and professionalism required to support passengers effectively, preparing them to meet challenges with competence and integrity.