Extras · 1 of 4

A typical shift

Sign in an hour before departure for a crew briefing on the aircraft, the passenger count and anything unusual. Check every piece of emergency equipment, then board. Safety demo, doors armed, service, then do it again on the next leg. A domestic day can be four short flights and 12 hours on duty. Long-haul is one flight, a rest break in a crew bunk, then a day or two in another city. You are on your feet in a dry, noisy cabin the whole time.