The real challenge of being a flight attendant is getting people out. The training requires that they demonstrate they can evacuate an aircraft within 90 seconds, but of course, a lot of stuff that is easy to do in training turns out to be tough in practice.
That said, the Baby Boomers are beginning to retire. Employers can't afford to exclude people who are qualified to work.
Travels with Samantha isn't about self-exposure; it comes from the same motivation that leads people to open-source software: the desire to help people build on what one has learned or done.
Most people who are rich chose their parents wisely.