While no longer as prestigious as it was perceived to be in the 1950s and 60s, being part of a 'sky crew' is still considered a pretty cool job for both guys and girls.
Pilots and flight attendants are often portrayed as well-groomed, glamorous and incredibly skilful to be able do their jobs at 30,000 feet above the ground. But Japanese film Happy Flight shows an unexpectedly hilarious side to the high-flying careers.
Ever-optimistic, hard-working flight attendant Etsuko Saito (Haruka Ayase) has been waiting for years for the chance to work an international flight. She is excited and stunned to meet the pretty, professional flight attendants she'll be working with, and is ready to offer the very best sky service she can.
But the image of her neat, chic colleagues soon falls apart when she walks into the galley to take a break. She finds some of her elegant colleagues shoeless and giving each other foot massages, while others take bites from the meals meant for first class passengers.
To add insult to injury, she learns that, behind the cockpit door, pilots are seldom as calm and collected as they appear to passengers. In fact, they can often get a little panicky.
But both attendants and pilots put on a brave face in front of passengers, no matter what problems they're facing.
Far from criticising the industry and its members, Happy Flight is a comedy which reminds us of the importance of staying calm and cheerful in the face of unexpected or unpleasant situations.