Geography in the Canadian North
My ideal career path would be me being employed as a flight attendant with Air Canada. Employment for my intended career as a flight attendant is available in the Canadian North, specifically in Calgary and Edmonton, Alberta, where there are positions available. In the north, a Canadian flight attendants salary would be approximately $24,451 to $73, 406 annually. Flight attendants in Canada are represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees, or the Canadian Flight Attendants Union.
An ideal airline to work for in the Canadian North would be one that shows up top in employee and customer satisfaction surveys, one that ranks high on work and life balance career choices, one that pays on average $30.00 Canadian per hour. Also, it would be ideal to work for an airline which allows employees to have growth and movement within the organization, one that provides full benefits and insurance options, and an airline which allows their employees to have a say in scheduling.
A flight attendant in the north must be a Canadian citizen, or landed immigrant and must be able to meet Transport Canada. They must also show a clean criminal record check and be at least a minimum 18 years of age in order to be able to serve alcohol. A grade 12 or equivalent such as university degree or college diploma is required, along with the need or being able to meet medical aviation standards. A Canadian flight attendant must be fluent in both English and French, and other language fluencies are definite assets.
Customer service experience and strong interpersonal skills are important, along with sensitivity to a unique environment, cultural needs and knowledge of diverse northern communities and heritages. Also, strong computer skills are essential. All potential flight attendants must provide completion of certification from the Inflight Institute prior to applying for a position in the Canadian North.
The program is an on-line based program but also requires the candidate to spend time in a classroom setting, and is a pre-requisite to the Initial Ground School Training program which is also essential. This course must also be completed on the potential candidate’s personal time.
The program is three weeks in length for a daily eight hours in a classroom environment. Canadian North will provide transportation to any mandatory training sessions. Written examinations must show a passing mark of at least 85% and any candidate has the option to one rewrite. It is important to note that once a candidate is hired that their salary will begin on the very first day of training and the salary dollar amount increases after six months and will continue to increase annually. Canadian flight attendants are also entitled to per-diem for every hour they spend flying.
Canadian flight attendants spend at least two full days training in order to familiarize line and flight indoctrination. Candidates spend this time with well-qualified flight attendants where they will be able to use the knowledge they gained from the Ground School Training into real-life situations. Line indoctrination refers to how flight attendants familiarize themselves with flights and this serves as a way to test a candidate’s comprehension of responsibility and duties.
Uniforms and grooming are important aspects of a flight attendants role. All Canadian flight attendants are required to wear the company’s uniform and are also expected to wear the uniform as intended. Flight attendants have access to receive monthly maintenance and service on any damaged uniforms. Also, hair styles, shoes, stockings, accessories, jewelry and cosmetics must complement the uniform and be regarded under the company’s standards.
Health and physical health is also essential for flight attendants since they will be working long, varied hours and will be performing demanding tasks physically. Therefore, flight attendants must ensure to keep a well-balanced diet and also be active on a regular basis in order to maintain optimal health. It is important for a flight attendant to present themselves in a pleasant manner and to also be self-confident because they are dealing with passengers in unique environments.
The job of a flight attendant can be a frustrating and stressful one at times, so it is essential for candidates to remain patient and calm. Flight attendants working in Canada may also be asked to pick up shifts, be prepared to be on-call, change time zones frequently and also be away from their own loved ones for extended periods of time.
Special skills and considerations must are needed for this career path in the north, such as participation in the CT301 on-line training program and the Inflight Institute programs. Upon being hired in the north as a flight attendant, one must attend the Initial Ground School Training Program and may also be asked to relocate for employment.
A Canadian flight attendant must attend crew briefings, conduct pre-flight checks of the plane and also ensure safety and catering are prepared for travelling. Flight attendants must also welcome passengers, ensure all carry-on items are secured, check boarding passed and ensure passengers have fastened their seatbelts correctly. Flight attendants are also responsible for executing pre-flight announcements, initiate services such as beverages and meals and execute safety demonstrations.
This position in the north would differ in the south because there are differences in environments such as weather patterns. A flight attendant in Canada must adapt their skills and knowledge to a career in the north. Flight attendants are responsible for handling stressful situations in efficient and calm manner. They must also prepare and groom the cabin, pre-flight and post-flight paperwork along with other various assigned duties.
A flight attendants most important responsibility is the safety of the cabin and the passengers on board. These employees are required to comply with any aviation regulations, along with performing any other additional duties. Flight attendants in Canada must also be trained and prepared for possible unexpected circumstances and able to shift their focus from passenger service to critical safety at any time.
Working as a flight attendant in the Canadian North also differs from working as a flight attendant in the south for various reasons. One differing aspect is the pay and salary. Flight attendants working in the U.S. on average take home at least $20.45 per hour. Also, flight attendants in the U.S. are eligible to receive bonuses and profit sharing of approximately $3K each. In total incomes, flight attendant salaries in the south can range anywhere from $23,000 to $79,000 annually, which is significantly higher than in Canada. This salary range does; however, depend on the performance of the individual flight attendant. For example, experience level is a driving factor of salary ranges. A Canadian flight attendant, on average, earns of $21.90 Canadian per hour.
Most people with this job move on to other positions after 10 years in this career. Many flight attendants working in the United States are eligible for various medical benefits such as dental. Also, in the United States about 75% of all flight attendants are female, whereas in Canada it is about 76% female and only 24% male. Attendants working in the states have rated high levels of job satisfaction, and in Canada attendants have reported being extremely satisfied with their positions.
In the United States, 36% of flight attendants have one to four years of experience, whereas in Canada 48% of flight attendants have between one to four years of experience. Also, in the U.S. 85% of medical is covered, 75% of dental and 58% have vision coverage. On the other hand, in Canada 81% have medical coverage, 74% have dental and 61% has vision coverage compared to the United States counterparts. In New York City, the pay rate for a flight attendant is at least 9% more than in other parts of the country, and in Toronto, Canada, the pay rate is at least 5% higher than in other parts of Canada.
Flight attendants working in the bustling Newark area receive a higher-than-average pay rate at 79% above the national average. They also find higher salaries in New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Houston, Texas. However, salaries for flight attendants working in Miami are around 12% below the national average, and in turn is the lowest paying market in this industry.
Although it would be ideal to work for an airline company in the Canadian North, one must understand that no airline is better than another. There is no concrete way to determine which airline is better than the other because one person can work at one airline and have a positive experience, while another person can have an awful time at the same airline. While contemplating where to work and which airlines to apply to, a candidate must decide what they want out of this career choice as a flight attendant or crew member. They must also take into consideration whether or not they have more important duties to fulfill in their home lives or whether they have time to spend away from their families.
Also, a candidate must consider whether they prefer to work on a small, medium or larger airline or plane. Another important aspect of this career is whether or not the candidate enjoys travelling on their own time. A candidate would be wise to apply to companies who have clearly flexible hours and that have flight benefits. Finally, a candidate must decide if being a flight attendant will be a short-term, temporary position or if it will be their lifetime career.
In the current era of airline mergers, low-cost carriers and the price of fuel, it is important to ask oneself whether or not a career as a flight attendant is the right choice. Some airlines in today’s society struggle to keep up with market demands during economic turmoil, therefore some flight attendant wages have also struggled to maintain exceptional rates. However, despite such challenging pressures some flight attendants in Canada continue to earn salaries ranging from $75,000 to $90,000 depending on their experience level.
Another aspect to consider while applying for flight attendant jobs in the Canadian North has to do with how short haul flights have less per diems than long haul flights. Also, a candidate must consider whether they would like to work regionally on mainline. This means that if a candidate is hired, working for a mainline carrier or a regional commuter airline will impact their career, working conditions and even salary rates. Generally, regional wages are lower than wages of flight attendants who work for major mainline carriers. Therefore, commuter attendants get paid slightly less but generally have less jet-lag since they do not commute overseas.
In conclusion, my ideal career path would be me being employed as a flight attendant with Air Canada. Employment for my intended career as a flight attendant is available in the Canadian North, specifically in Calgary and Edmonton, Alberta, where there are currently positions available. In the north, a Canadian flight attendants salary would be approximately $24,451 to $73, 406 annually. An ideal airline to work for in the Canadian North would be one that shows up top in employee and customer satisfaction surveys, one that ranks high on work and life balance career choices, one that pays on average $30.00 Canadian per hour. Also, it would be ideal to work for an airline which allows employees to have growth and movement within the organization, one that provides full benefits and insurance options, and an airline which allows their employees to have a say in scheduling.
