Why Hong Kong passengers are a flight attendant’s nightmare, and other cabin crew gripes
It might seem a dream job to many, but, as three Hong Kong flight attendants explain, along with the good comes the bad – long shifts, jet lag, constant tiredness, ill health ... and us, the pesky passengers
With the summer holidays in full swing, and airlines booked to capacity, this is one of the most stressful times of the year for flight attendants. Yet few travellers will be aware of the strain behind their professional smiles.
Long shifts, jet lag and irregular meals can take their toll – and then there are the passengers. Last month, a 29-year-old Cathay Pacific air hostess was hit and kicked by a Hong Kong resident on an inbound flight from Bangkok. She was frustrated at having to wait too long for her empty food tray to be collected. The passenger was arrested on arrival.
Flight attendant was ranked 174th out of 200 in an annual best-and-worst jobs reports last year by Careercast, a website for jobseekers, based on salary, environment, outlook and a number of stress factors.
Hongkongers were rated the most frustrating passengers to deal with in interviews with three Hong Kong-based flight attendants, themselves Hongkongers. All three feel that Hong Kong travellers treat them like serfs.
“Ask 10 crew members this question [who the most annoying passengers are] and seven would probably pick Hongkongers,” says male flight attendant Drew, who, like others we spoke to, is based in the city but could not reveal his real name, or that of his employer, for reasons of confidentiality.