As I know, the flight attendants can change to ground positions or even change to catering after 45. (In fact, within the past 10 to 15 years only, they have changed the retirement age from 40 to 45 already. One of the reasons why they don't plan to increase it is that if they did so, the newer staff wouldn't have much room for promotion and development of career, which, according to them, would be bad for the company (the morale, the quality of services and staff, etc.))

Of course, for Dragonair, not many alternatives then......
I asked an ex-flight attendant of a Japanese Airline (the biggest one, you know, right?), she told me that they could work until 60 (of course I doubt), then the problem is more likely the flight attendants would have to retire earlier than that because of physical conditions and family pressure, etc. At the end of the day, they have to retire early, so the 'retirement benefits' can't be enjoyed. I personally felt that it was worse.

She told me that many FA's are leaving this year, because it is too tiring. But of course, not for her, as being an FA had been her dream for LONG LONG time......

'不同年代入職的空服員待遇差異極大。同工不同酬', she told me also. That should be a big problem, I believe, but pretty much not in CX alone. Nearly all companies are trying to 'kill' the more experienced employees and hire somebody who are cheaper. Fortunately, it seems to me that this situation has been changing these couple of months, as HK people have finally earned a bit of their dignity back. They are not afraid to ask for a bit more now, maybe not yet the level which they deserve, but at least a more reasonable salary. For FA, the problem is more complicated, as being an FA has been the dreams of too many girls (in fact, I would love to work as an FA also, haha.). Just go and see how many people got up SO early simply for an opportunity of interview whenever CX or KA hire FA's......

文匯報 曾淵滄
2006-04-04
政經多面體
制定反年齡歧視法宜慎重

　一群國泰空姐發起示威行動，抗議國泰要求空姐45歲退休。她們也同時要求特區政府制定反年齡歧視法。

限制空姐年齡是航空業競爭結果

　香港的確沒有反年齡歧視法，不單是國泰空姐，實際上許多行業也出現着年齡大的人找不到工作的現象。香港是不是需要制定反年齡歧視法？保障年齡大的工人的就業機會？

　從道德、人權的角度來看，我們的確不該有年齡歧視。不少西方國家也有制定反年齡歧視法。

　但是，從競爭的角度來看，年齡歧視又的的確確是競爭條件之一。

　年青力壯的小伙子肯定比年紀大的人更有力氣，一些需要體力勞動的工作也因此一定歧視年齡大的人。

　為什麼空姐必須年輕？這肯定是航空公司的競爭所造成的。你聘用50歲的空姐，我聘用20歲的空姐，你說誰的生意會更好？

　是的，職工盟為了支持國泰空姐的反年齡歧視示威而做了一些所謂的乘客意見調查，發現人們選擇航空公司時更注重空中安全、航班的準時多過空姐的年齡。但是，這不等於空姐的年齡不重要。

　香港是個彈丸小地，沒有內陸市場可言。國泰所有的航機都屬於國際航，得面對全球的競爭。國泰空中安全記錄良好，但安全記錄同樣良好的航空公司多的是。國泰的航班準時，而同樣航班準時的航空公司也不少。國泰有的，別的航空公司也有。如果別的航空公司的空中小姐平均只有25歲，最高年齡35歲，國泰若聘用50歲的空中小姐，如何有競爭能力？

取消年齡限制國泰或現生存危機

　過去幾年，我們不斷地聽到西方的航空公司面臨破產。為什麼？競爭力不夠。今日，西方的航空公司的競爭力在國際航上可以說全面失利，敗在東方公司如國泰、星航、泰航等手上。為什麼？其中一個原因就是西方國家有反年齡歧視法，航空公司不得不聘用50歲以上的「空中婆婆」。如何競爭？今日，西方航空公司幾乎全靠內陸航維持運作，而內陸航是壟斷的，是不開放給海外的國際航空公司。香港沒有內陸航，國泰的每一個航班都得面對國際競爭，如果為了聘用年齡大的空中小姐而失去競爭力，最後的結果是什麼？

　是倒閉。倒閉的結果是全體空姐失業，還連累了機師及許多其他人一起失業。

　國泰要求空姐45歲退休，已算不錯。日航空姐的退休年齡僅35歲，星航在廣告中更經常強調其年輕貌美的空姐。如果允許國泰空姐工作到65歲，如何與星航競爭？如何與日航競爭？還有泰航……

　國泰聘用空姐時，已預先告訴應聘者她們必須在45歲退休，這是公平的，是願者上釣。沒人迫你當空姐，國泰的每一次空姐招聘會都人山人海，這說明了空姐的退休年齡雖然低，但仍很有吸引力。

　實際上，空姐的待遇，收入是遠比同樣學歷的女孩高許多，這已經是一種針對退休年齡的補償。年輕的空姐更應珍惜青春，好好地儲蓄以備將來退休之用。

EOC has told us (truly spoken by a spokesperson, who obviously wouldn't know that I was going to publicise his speech then, two, three years ago......) that the greatest (and major) resistance of establishing the anti-discrimination regulation on age was from the big companies. He has named Bank of _hina (Hong Kong) as one of the clearest example.

Now, such 'bull-shiters' help these big companies while they totally ignore the needs of the public and unfair situations we employees face. Of course, the Government only cares about the big enterprises, I know it.

I really don't agree with this.

In fact, most of the new FA's are U graduates, and they are required to have VERY GOOD language abilities, which can give them nice salary in a lot of businesses. They don't earn a lot more, as FA's, compared with other candidates with same qualities.
Even worse, some friends told me that being degree holders, they were more or less discriminated against within the industry (within the company, mainly). The more experienced colleagues would despise them, as they were thought to be 'fighting for their rice bowls' with such qualifications.

So '空姐的待遇，收入是遠比同樣學歷的女孩高許多' is totally wrong! They are treated not well, much worse-paid than the more experienced colleagues, and not earning much regarding their qualifications and qualities.

As stated in a comment of a current FA above, they can't easily study for any other skills because of their tough and irregular schedules. So, their comparatively high wages come from some reasons.

However, I agree with one point (and ONLY that one point). When most FA's are hired, they have been well informed of the prospective age of retirement. So, it seems that it is not that reasonable to claim that they didn't know it when they chose to take the job.

如題

In fact, this 'teacher' is already so sick that he has neither got the ability to teach students nor to be a rational human being. Just no bad words can be bad enough to describe him......

However, what I want to discuss about is the following quote: '「願者上釣」論若成立，則麥當勞員工不用爭取加人工，保安員不用爭取減工時矣，因他們簽約時都是「願者上釣」的。'
Call me names, or whatever. I just think that it is quite right. The action I ALWAYS urge people do is to massively reject such working conditions and salaries. That is EXACTLY THE SAME thing why I told all my U grad. friends that I would despise them if they EVER accept a job with salary below 10k (HKD) per month (those non-civil servant positions with standard ratings are exceptions).

If EVERYBODY can refuse to work for them TOGETHER, they can hire NOBODY, the next month they have to change their policy, like to raise the wage and to improve the workng condition. That is how the BBA students are trained, and how bosses behave. If you, on one hand, accept their offer, and on the other hand, complain about that, there is no result. Why should those employers listen to you???
二字記之若'爭氣'......

Thanks for your further information! Anyway, I just heard from some FA's, so there is not any direct way for me to see the true picture. However, thanks for your information so I can get a more balanced image......

航空公司顧意隱去作為機艙服務員的克服種種問題, 例如:
1,高空空氣濕度與氣壓為人體僅僅可以承受的程度
2,航空公司減低成本: 餐車、餐酒、焗爐、汽水及果汁各頪重物由機艙服務員搬運
3,每一個在高空做的動作,都是在地面上所花氣力的兩倍
4,航機不斷升降,絕少被大清潔,廁所和地氈含菌量超標
5,航機空氣清新劑含致癌物
航空公司對於時差及高幅射對空服員記憶力及健康構成的長遠影響，空服員的職業病:肌肉勞損,腰傷,皮膚病,腸胃病．．．等隻字不提。

相反,與電視台拍攝「衝上雲霄」,不斷建構機艙服務員環遊世界、多姿多采、華衣美服等形象, 令到大眾純真地稱呼我們為空中「小姐少爺」,工作簡單,收入高,假期多。
機艙服務員要爭取權利,就顯得貪得無厭－－「空姐的待遇，收入是遠比同樣學歷的女孩高許多，這已經是一種針對退休年齡的補償。年輕的空姐更應珍惜青春，好好地儲蓄以備將來退休之用。」

要打破迷信年青的力量，在航空業來說，還必須打破「空中小姐」這個純真想像。我們是機艙服務員，不是空中小姐／少爺。

作為共產黨黨報，竟完全背離工人立場，背離頂起半邊天的女性，背離用人唯才此社會主義理想。

曾的文章刊於大公報也非偶然，而是刊登了不短時日。也許大公報要想想改名問題，例如改名 “小資報” 也許更為貼切！

坐那些乜都冇的航空公司﹐話之佢得個阿伯奶師做空中務服員﹐最緊要張機票夠平﹐腳位夠寬﹐當然梗係要安全喇。不過可惜國泰不走這個市場路線﹐懶高檔﹐連倒茶送餐也要請靚女。

搭飛機的性質﹐應該和搭長途巴士火車一樣﹐
攪到好似坐遊船咁﹐是歷史留下來的錯誤﹐
在市場的壓力下遲早一定會改正過來。

西方的航空公司﹐不就己經給新進的廉價航空殺到片甲不留嗎﹖
這股風氣已開始吹到亞洲了。到時國泰空姐不用再擔心退休的問題﹐未到退休年紀己經可能冇工做了。

航空公司是半國營企業﹐才可以開天殺價。
國泰機票咁貴﹐梗係要有靚空姐才值回票值。
不如果有有得揀﹐我寧可俾半價要空中飛婆仲實際。

日藉同事說日航的日藉空服退休年齡為55歲
不過
日航的非日藉空服, 例如香港人, 就是35歲

樓上指國泰行高檔老線, 請空姐都要靚?==>搞錯了!
老實說, 國泰對空服外表要求不高, 所以我和同事們都常常被取笑能夠成為國泰空服, 是因為國泰不要靚女。

國泰日前推出的國泰肥雞餐,
換走38歲起的「老」人之後, 揚言一口氣請800個新同事,
請想想一下子又怎會有八百個又漂亮又說中英文又可以受氣的新人?這班新人還要接受超低時薪, 到時能夠負擔美容及化粧各項花費嗎?