I was a long-haul flight attendant for almost a decade. Here are 10 things people get wrong about the job.

​I spent nearly 10 years as a flight attendant for the now-grounded Ukraine International Airlines, flying up to 12 hours to destinations across Europe, Asia, and North America.

The job gave me a firsthand look at nearly everything that goes on behind the scenes in commercial air travel.

Passengers often see the glamorous side of the job — sightseeing during overnights and traveling for free anytime I want.

And while these are certainly some of the best perks, they don’t always reflect what life as a flight attendant is actually like.

There were less ritzy realities: constant jet lag, hours on my feet, sharing hotel rooms, and strict beauty standards governing everything from my makeup and hair to my nails and body size.

While my airline shut down operations shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, I left the role in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic and have since moved to Canada, where I work as a journalist.

Now, on the other side of the industry, I still think about what I wish people knew about being a flight attendant.

Here are 10 things passengers frequently misunderstand about the job.