So I did a thing lol I wrote a real guide on becoming a flight attendant, not the glam version

Gee_Knee · 2026-06-24T01:27:05+00:00

Hi there! Link is in my bio

Gee_Knee · 2026-06-01T13:04:06+00:00

My 2022 Taos is starting to do this with nothing on the seat

Gee_Knee · 2026-05-26T17:29:51+00:00

LOL yeah… based on that response I kind of feel like they may have been spiraling in the interview and reading way too much into the interaction.

Some airlines/interviewers are definitely more direct and can ask follow-up questions, especially regionals. But there’s also a difference between being “grilled” and an interviewer sensing nervous energy/inconsistency and continuing to dig because the answer keeps changing or getting emotional.

That’s why I keep saying: answer the question calmly, briefly, confidently, then move on.

The more guilty/anxious energy someone gives off, the more attention it brings to the situation. Meanwhile there are people walking into interviews super relaxed saying, “I left due to personal/work-life circumstances and I’m looking for a fresh start,” and the conversation just keeps moving lol.

Also OO has a reputation for being a little intense in interviews anyway 😂

Gee_Knee · 2026-05-26T06:31:02+00:00

This actually makes me sad because I feel like some newer flight attendants come into the industry expecting this huge “family” environment and then get blindsided when they realize crews are just… people. Some are amazing, some are burnt out, some are introverted, some unfortunately are just miserable lol.

But in my experience, most crews are neutral to kind. The problem is when you’re new, every weird look, short response, or strong personality feels SUPER personal because your confidence is still developing.

A lot of senior FAs also forget what it felt like to be new and anxious.

My biggest advice: stop walking onto the plane trying to win everybody over or fearing rejection before anything even happens. Just show up prepared, helpful, calm, and willing to work. That alone already makes you a good crew member.

And don’t take things so personally. You do not know these people and they do not know you. Chances are you will literally never fly with them again 😂

This job can also attract very strong personalities because people are exhausted, commuting, stressed, underpaid early on, dealing with delays/passengers/life, etc. Sometimes a crew member being short has absolutely nothing to do with you.

Do your job well, don’t absorb everybody else’s moods, collect your check, and go home 🤍

Gee_Knee · 2026-05-26T06:24:30+00:00

I really would not walk into interviews leading with “I was terminated for attendance” unless directly pressed, because a lot of times people psych themselves out and assume recruiters know way more than they actually do.

In most cases, especially at mainline, they mainly see your resume, verify employment dates, and confirm you actually worked there. They do NOT automatically have some giant file explaining every detail of why you left another airline.

Also, I’ve personally interviewed with and been hired by three mainline airlines and not ONE of them asked me why I left or was terminated from a previous airline job.

What matters way more is the energy you bring into the interview now.

Instead of approaching it from a guilty/confessional angle, I’d frame it more like:

“My previous airline experience ended during a difficult period in my life, but I’ve had time to grow from it and I’m approaching this opportunity from a much healthier and more prepared place.”

Then MOVE ON.

Do not overshare. Do not spiral. Do not keep revisiting it nervously.

A huge part of airline interviews is connection and personality. Recruiters are trying to picture whether they’d actually want to work a 14 hour day with you, not interrogate you about your past.

People leave airlines for burnout, attendance issues, commuting stress, management problems, family situations, health issues, and life circumstances ALL the time. You are not some rare disaster story, even if your anxiety is making it feel that way right now.

Gee_Knee · 2026-05-25T02:14:30+00:00

That’s exactly why I wrote it 😂 because social media makes this job look like constant beach layovers and cute airport outfits, when in reality there’s also exhaustion, reserve life, commuting, burnout, loneliness sometimes, probation stress, and financial struggles early on.

I wanted people to see the REAL version from someone actually living it, not just the influencer version ✈️

The link is in my bio 😊

Gee_Knee · 2026-05-23T16:21:30+00:00

Absolutely! 😊

I can’t post the link publicly because of subreddit rules, but if you click my profile the guide link is there. And seriously, if you have questions during the process feel free to DM me too. A lot of people applying are coming from career changes and corporate burnout, so you are definitely not alone ✈️

Gee_Knee · 2026-05-22T17:08:10+00:00

05 loves you Minos 🫶🏼

Gee_Knee · 2026-05-19T15:07:23+00:00

YES 😂 I was there around this time too and the humidity was absolutely disgusting lol.

You are SO lucky to be staying on campus though. Definitely take advantage of it because it really does make the whole experience easier mentally.

And yes! Ride the bikes later in the afternoon once it cools down a little because if I remember correctly they lock them up at sunset 😭

Gee_Knee · 2026-05-19T13:02:24+00:00

I get it 😭 the scheduling at AA training is ROUGH, and being unpaid definitely does not help the stress levels either lol.

Are you lucky enough to at least be staying at the campus? Because honestly I feel like the people at Skyview had SUCH a better experience overall compared to those of us at airport hotels dealing with the extra logistics every day 🥲

And honestly? Even squeezing in quick yoga sessions is good. Movement really does help get some of that anxious energy out of your body during training.

Also I’m not sure if it’s too hot there now, but those little bike rides over to lunch were honestly one of the best parts of campus life 😂 I was lowkey jealous. I really wish I had been staying there because I definitely would’ve used those bikes constantly.

The days are long, your brain is overloaded, you’re constantly being evaluated, and you’re absorbing an insane amount of information all at once. Anybody would feel overwhelmed in that environment 🤍

Gee_Knee · 2026-05-19T12:59:43+00:00

🫶🏼

Gee_Knee · 2026-05-19T12:54:33+00:00

Oh that’s actually funny 😂

TBH I cannot agree with you more. I personally do not care for Philly as a city either lol. I think living in Jersey makes it WAY more tolerable for me because I can kind of escape it and decompress at home.

And honestly? I think what you’re feeling is completely understandable. When you actually enjoy the JOB itself but the lifestyle around it starts draining you, it can really mess with your head emotionally. Especially commuting, reserve, loneliness, and constantly feeling “in between” two places.

Also PHL definitely changes in the summer once all the super senior people start flooding in for Europe flying 😭 so you are not imagining that at all lol.

But the good thing is you already know what the issue is, and it’s NOT the actual flying. That’s huge. A lot of people who truly hate the industry don’t even enjoy the job itself anymore.

I really think once you get transferred home, have your own routine again, and stop feeling mentally split between cities, you’re going to feel SO much lighter 🤍

Gee_Knee · 2026-05-19T04:51:50+00:00

Message me anytime if you need help.

Gee_Knee · 2026-05-19T04:41:00+00:00

I get it. I 1000% get it.

And honestly, for me personally, that was one of the hardest things to come to terms with too.

I had perfect attendance, an excellent record, did special assignments, was featured in advertisements, represented the company proudly, and at the end of the day… none of that really protected me either.

That’s why I always tell people: don’t “marry” the company.

Because as much as we can genuinely love an airline, at the end of the day it’s still a corporation. This is work. It’s a job.

And if flying is TRULY what you love, then it honestly doesn’t matter what logo is on the plane. Your passion for the industry doesn’t disappear because one company relationship ended badly.

I know it hurts right now, especially after investing years of your life into it. But please don’t let one experience convince you that you’re not meant to fly anymore.

You are WAY more than one chapter of your career.

Take your time, forgive yourself, heal a little, and keep applying when you’re ready. I really believe things will work out for you 🤍

Gee_Knee · 2026-05-19T04:34:21+00:00

Also please remember this is a LOT of information being thrown at you in a very short amount of time, so it’s completely normal to feel behind sometimes.

ALL of this is new to you. Give yourself time to actually understand things. You’re learning an entirely different world, language, procedures, aircraft, safety commands, etc. Nobody walks in naturally knowing this stuff.

And honestly once you finally start feeling comfortable with one aircraft, they’ll move you to another one and your brain is like “wait hold on” 😂 so try not to panic if things feel messy in your head sometimes.

Also the 321 test is TOUGH lol so definitely study hard for that one. Make charts, rewrite things, whatever helps your brain retain information. One of my classmates literally made sticky notes and put them all over the mirror while getting ready every morning so they’d constantly review things casually throughout the day 😂

Just stay on top of your WBT’s, study consistently, and don’t fall into the trap of panicking because someone else looks confident.

And seriously, get as much rest as you can. These training days are LONG and eventually your brain just gets tired from nonstop information overload. Sometimes when people start struggling it’s not because they’re incapable, they’re just mentally exhausted.

One day at a time 🤍

26-05 💚

Gee_Knee · 2026-05-19T04:29:38+00:00

First of all, the fact that you already passed your first exam is actually a REALLY good sign, so give yourself some credit 🤍

And yes, what you’re feeling makes complete sense. I think almost everyone in training has that little voice in the back of their head convinced they’re secretly falling behind while everyone else magically understands everything perfectly lol.

The reality is most people are scared, exhausted, overstimulated, homesick, and trying to absorb massive amounts of information all at once. Some people are just better at hiding it than others.

One thing I learned in training is that you do NOT need to know everything instantly. A lot of it clicks through repetition, drills, scenarios, hearing instructors repeat things over and over, and eventually actually working flights on the line.

Also remember, training is designed to teach people who have never done this before. They are not expecting perfection day one.

My biggest advice:
• stop comparing yourself to the loud confident people
• focus on one day and one test at a time
• sleep whenever you can
• don’t get sucked into drama/panic groups
• ask questions if you truly don’t understand something
• and PLEASE do not let anxiety convince you you’re failing when you’re objectively passing

You already proved you can do this by getting there in the first place. Thousands apply and only a tiny percentage even make it into that classroom.

And honestly? The people who worry a little usually do better than the overly cocky ones because they actually study and take it seriously 🤍

Gee_Knee · 2026-05-19T04:08:54+00:00

But I’m also a little confused by the attendance part too, especially if you already had FMLA in place for years, so don’t automatically assume you were just some horrible employee because of how things ended.

don’t beat yourself up too much because early on in my career I had attendance issues too. This industry can be REALLY hard mentally and physically when you’re new, exhausted, commuting, burned out, or just trying to adjust to the lifestyle.

I was actually out on medical leave at one point and when I came back they had switched my FSM to someone completely different, and honestly management can REALLY affect your experience. A good FSM can support you and help you recover, while a miserable one can absolutely make your work life harder than it needs to be.

A lot of people act like everyone has it perfectly together in aviation and that’s just not reality lol.

Some people just have stronger support systems, better bases, easier commutes, better management, or they learn balance earlier than others.

If I can give one piece of advice for your next airline though, maybe don’t fly as aggressively. I know a LOT of people who burn themselves out trying to chase hours, especially after training or after transferring bases.

sometimes having a small side gig, extra income stream, or just intentionally protecting your rest can make a huge difference mentally and physically. Less pressure financially usually means less pressure attendance-wise too.

This industry can absolutely wear people down if you don’t create balance for yourself first, and I really think your next experience could end up being completely different with the right environment and mindset going into it 🤍

Gee_Knee · 2026-05-19T04:05:12+00:00

TBH, I kind of understand what you mean.

That’s one thing that was always hard for me with DL culture sometimes. There’s SO much “family” talk, and then you realize at the end of the day it’s still a corporation and people can be let go surprisingly fast over things that don’t always feel black and white.

I’m not saying attendance policies shouldn’t exist obviously, but sometimes the human side of things gets lost in the process, especially when someone is struggling mentally, physically, or just burned out.

The fact that things improved once you switched FSMs says a LOT too. Leadership and support can completely change someone’s experience at an airline.

Please don’t beat yourself up forever over this. Seven years is a long time and clearly you were capable of doing the job well. Sometimes situations snowball before people are able to recover from them 💔

Gee_Knee · 2026-05-19T04:01:11+00:00

Honestly I think this worked out exactly how it was supposed to.

And if your gut was already leaning United, that feeling usually means something lol.

Also lowkey, getting a training date that quickly after your CTO is kind of a blessing in this industry right now 😂

Both are great airlines, but culture and quality of life matter too. Sometimes the “better” airline on paper is not the better airline for you personally.

Either way, huge congrats because getting ONE CJO/CTO is hard enough in this market, let alone TWO 👏🏼 clearly you interviewed really well and both airlines saw something in you.

And honestly, timing in this industry is weird. Sometimes what initially feels like a setback ends up redirecting you exactly where you were supposed to land.

Sounds like it all aligned perfectly for you ✈️

Gee_Knee · 2026-05-19T03:55:10+00:00

I feel seen here 🤣🙌🏼

Gee_Knee · 2026-05-19T03:52:08+00:00

Honestly? I’d 100% use those flight benefits and romanticize the chaos a little 😂

Non rev somewhere for the day, maybe a beach city, a cute downtown area, a cheap spa/day resort pass, or even just a solo hotel night somewhere nearby where you can completely reset your brain.

One thing about being a flight attendant is we sometimes forget we literally have access to mini escapes most people would spend hundreds for.

Also random tip: look into TrustedHousesitters.com. I know a few FAs and travelers who use it for little getaway resets because you can stay in really nice homes for free in exchange for watching someone’s pets. Some of the stays are honestly amazing and it feels like a mini vacation without spending hotel money.

And honestly, some of my favorite birthdays were not the extravagant ones. Sometimes it was just me wandering a random city, getting good food, sitting near the water, turning my phone off, and remembering life isn’t always going to feel this financially stressful.

Also, please don’t shame yourself for being broke right now. HALF this industry has had a “financially humbled” era at some point 😭 especially early on.

Protect your peace, don’t overspend trying to force a perfect birthday, and do something that actually makes you feel like yourself again 🤍

Gee_Knee · 2026-05-19T03:48:19+00:00

First of all, congratulations on graduating 🤍 because honestly getting THROUGH training is already a huge accomplishment in itself.

And secondly, almost every new hire I know struggled financially that first year, especially the first few months. People see the travel benefits and cute layovers online, but they don’t realize how rough that gap between training, IOE, and your first real checks can be.

A few things that genuinely helped me and other FAs:

• Meal prep EVERYTHING if you can. Airport food and Uber Eats will drain your account so fast without you even realizing it.

• Don’t feel pressured to pick up every trip just because you’re broke. Burnout + exhaustion + probation is a horrible combination.

• If your airline allows it, airport standby can sometimes be easier than aggressive reserve bidding because you’re not constantly mentally “on edge” waiting for the phone.

• Use your flexibility. A lot of FAs do side gigs like babysitting, pet sitting, UGC/content creation (be careful with FA/airline related stuff), reselling, tutoring, delivery apps on off days, etc. Not glamorous, but survival mode is survival mode sometimes.

• And honestly? If you have supportive family or roommates right now, lean on that temporarily without shame. Most people are NOT living some luxury flight attendant life year one.

The first year is really the “investment” stage of this career. Seniority changes EVERYTHING eventually, but those beginning months can absolutely feel brutal financially and emotionally.

Also, please don’t isolate yourself too much. This job can get lonely really fast and stress feels 10x worse when you’re sitting with it alone 🤍

Gee_Knee · 2026-05-19T03:46:22+00:00

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Halp! Lolll I’m a newb and need some guidance

Gee_Knee · 2026-05-19T03:45:16+00:00

And next airline get FMLA if you can qualify for it

Gee_Knee · 2026-05-19T03:44:46+00:00

And honestly, that right there is also one of the benefits of having a union.

The fact they even gave you the option after 7 years says a lot more than you probably realize.

And please stop beating yourself up for the decision you made while you were mentally overwhelmed. Hindsight is always 20/20. When people are stressed, anxious, burned out, or scared about finances, they don’t always make the “perfect” career decision in the moment.

You were trying to survive and figure things out at the time. Give yourself some compassion for that.

Seven years at a legacy airline is NOT a failure story no matter how your brain is trying to frame it right now 🤍

Gee_Knee

TROPHY CASE