As a consultant to the Passenger Vessel Industry (Ferries, Dinner Boats, Gambling Boats, Etc.) There are many comparisons to the F/A's job, to members of our deck department. I am not trying to dimish the importance of a F/A, because like them members of the deck department are usually there for passenmger safety as well.
In my thirty plus years in the industry, I have numerious drunks try to enter the piolt house, One drunk jump off the stern into our life size blender (props). Two passenger have died, Many required CPR, and on a daily basis many sea sick., assisted firefighters on shore of an island. Operaters in NYC were very comforting to many in evacuationg the lower city on 9/11.
Depanding on the company they work for or route they may work on they may be a union operation or not. some go home every night, or only work night, or others work a week on, week off, and sleep in a bunk on the vessel, some times in a crew bunk room.
Again depending on the size of the vessel, there are various certifications they must pass before taking the job or even be licensed for the position. They all must know, CPR, and advanced first aid. Be trained in fire fighting.
They are subject to goverment requlations, and subject to random drug testing. And since 9/11 they are also part of the Ports Safety program for our country.
There pay varries, but is probably on average less than an average F/A. And the small operators probably pay less than the express carriers.
Is working in the deck department the hardest job in the world, and requires many sacrafices from the employee? NO!! But neither is being a F/A.
Both professions required smart dedicated people to fill those positions. But as many posts have stated, each job is unique and you should know what they are before taking the job.
I look at my job as a industry consultant as a "cake walk" comparied to what I did before. I don't need to make a run if it's blowing a 1/2 a gale, or it is pea soup fog. I can stay in the office. But I am still on the road 200+ days a year, stay in hotels, suffer some flight delays, and put up with a few F/As that have a bad attitude. But overall I love my job, and I respect the people I meet in the course of me doing my job