She’s flying the skies — and footing a runway-worthy bill to do it.
For a flight attendant named Hannah with over seven years in the air, looking like she stepped off a catwalk at 35,000 feet isn’t just part of the job — it is the job.
And keeping that flawless face in formation costs her a first-class fare every month — almost $500 to be exact.
“Getting ready for work is honestly a highlight of my day,” she told Fashion Journal in a recent interview.
And Hannah insists beauty is baked into the gig.
“When I first started flight training, they did a whole day on grooming: makeup, hair, fragrance. And then from there, you just watch what the other women are doing,” she said.
“We do have specific grooming standards that we must meet. This includes certain hairstyles, [wearing] lipstick or lip gloss, acceptable nail shades, and makeup guidelines.”
Touching up in turbulence? Totally normal.
“This includes touching up your hair and makeup as needed, if you’re doing a long day or night of flying,” Hannah explained.
The regimen doesn’t stop when the wheels touch down.
When she’s not working, she’s still focused on her look.
“Seeing my hairdresser is something I look forward to. I normally go for a colour and blow wave (blowout) every eight to 10 weeks.”
The flight attendant also budgets for regular facials, brow shaping, a monthly pedi, and nails every two to three weeks.
“They’re non-negotiable, but they can feel like a bit of a chore,” she admitted.
“Brows especially – I can’t go without getting them threaded or waxed every fortnight, but it’s not something I get excited about or particularly enjoy.”
Her monthly maintenance tab? A sky-high $450, not including cosmetic treatments.
Botox? Routine. Fillers? Already scheduled.
“I started getting filler only a few months into flying. I guess it was just so common and a part of the ‘flight attendant look,’” she explained.
“Now, Botox is part of the routine. I get it on my forehead and frown lines every six months. I’d never go back.”
And no, she’s not reimbursed for this beauty labor.
“We don’t get any extra payments for the time it takes to get ready and [look] presentable, this is just part of the role which you accept when you become a flight attendant,” Hannah said.
“However, we do have a grooming allowance that is incorporated into our salary. We also have the luxury of going through Duty Free weekly, so I mostly buy my skin care and makeup from [there] which works out a lot cheaper.”
And when she’s off the clock? The beauty routine scales back, but just barely.
“I still like to look put-together, but it’s more for me than anyone else,” she said.
In the end, it’s not about vanity — it’s about identity.
“I haven’t changed anything I do… What I get done just feels like routine to me. And I do these things to feel like me,” she said.
“If I hadn’t become a flight attendant, I would’ve become a makeup artist. I love looking glam. I love having a nice, shiny lip gloss.”
