While airlines typically do not directly purchase or provide all meals for their flight attendants, these professionals are compensated for their food expenses through a specific allowance. This system ensures flight attendants can cover their meal costs, particularly when away from their home base.
Understanding the Meal Allowance System
Flight attendants receive an hourly meal allowance, commonly referred to as a per diem. This term, derived from Latin meaning “per day,” signifies a daily allowance for expenses.
Here’s how the per diem system generally works for flight attendants:
- Purpose: The per diem is provided specifically to cover the cost of meals and other incidental expenses incurred while flight attendants are working and away from their home base. It is not a direct payment for specific meals but rather a lump sum intended to compensate for these costs.
- When It Applies: This allowance is paid whenever flight attendants are working outside of their base location. This means that during layovers in different cities or on multi-day trips, they receive this allowance to manage their food expenses.
- Variability: The exact per diem rate can vary depending on the airline, the location, and the duration of the trip. It is typically calculated on an hourly basis, summing up for the entire period a flight attendant is on duty away from their base.
- Financial Management: It is up to the flight attendant to manage their per diem to cover their meals, snacks, and non-reimbursed personal expenses during their duty period away from base.
This system ensures that flight attendants are financially supported for their necessary expenses while performing their duties, allowing them to focus on providing service and managing their demanding schedules.
