A particularly grueling trip might include a ten-hour flight, a twenty-four-hour layover, another ten-hour flight, and so on. In addition to base pay, flight attendants also receive a "per diem" from under $2 to $3 per hour depending upon domestic or international assignments, to cover meals and incidental expenses while they are away from their base - even when on a layover and not working.
Thus, a flight attendant with a per diem of $3 per, receives an additional $72 for each day spent away from the base.
