I was a flight attendant for 2 years. Here are the answers to 10 questions passengers always ask.

• I was a flight attendant for 2 years, and I heard the same kind of questions every shift.
• The crew gets to take breaks on international flights, but our layovers are usually pretty quick.

I spent the last two years working as a flight attendant for a major US airline, and I heard every question you can think of.

I started my career in San Francisco and a year later transferred to New York. I flew domestic and international flights, but I never knew where I was going the next day, so it was always an adventure.

Read on for some of the common questions people always wanted to ask me on flights.

Do you have to wear high heels all the time?

Heels are part of the uniform requirements for my airline, and I had to wear them at the airport, during boarding, and while welcoming passengers on the plane.

But as soon as the plane took off, we could change into flats.

Do flight attendants get to take a break during flights?

This depends on the length of the flight.

On domestic flights, we don't take breaks. In my experience, flight attendants are only allowed to take time to eat when the food/drink service is done.

On international flights, everything is different. We legally must take a sleep break, which we do in a special compartment of the plane located above economy seats. It's a room only flight attendants know how to access.

We switch out — while some flights attendants are working, others are resting.

Where are you flying tomorrow?

This is the most common question I got, and I never knew the answer.

Flight attendants are often working on reserve, which essentially means they're on call every day.

I'd only find out about my next trip the night before the flight. Sometimes I'd even get the call a couple of hours before the trip.

How much do flight attendants get paid?

Flight attendants generally receive hourly pay. Everybody's pay is different depending on seniority, and our salary grows a little every year.

We also only get paid for the time we're in the air. So all the time we spend going through customs, waiting by the gate, and managing delays on the ground is unpaid.

For example, flying from New York to Chicago is a two-hour flight, so the flight attendants only get paid for two hours.

How long are your layovers?

I've seen a lot of beautiful countries, but a lot of times I only arrived to sleep at the hotel for 12 hours and fly back early in the morning.

Sometimes I had a nice, long 24-hour layover in Los Angeles or Hawaii, but most of the time, it was a quick nap at a hotel by the airport.

Luckily, in my experience, layovers for international flights were a minimum of 24 hours.

What's your favorite destination?

I was based in two cities on different US coasts, so I had a chance to fly to Asia and Europe a lot.

The country that stole my heart was Japan. It was the experience of a lifetime.

I was lucky enough to arrive right on time for the cherry-blossom season. My layover was only 24 hours, but I had a chance to visit a temple, try delicious street food, and check out a local grocery store to buy snacks I could never find back home.

Is it safe to drink airplane coffee? I heard they use the same water as the toilet.

This is complete nonsense. We have different tanks for the toilet and the galley (kitchen).

Passengers are sometimes concerned about the quality of the water because they don't know how often the water tanks are cleaned. But how often do your water tanks and pipes get cleaned at home?

Everyone has their own standards, so do what you feel comfortable with. But I drink airplane coffee all the time, and I've never had a problem.

How do you become a flight attendant?

Sending in your resume is simple. You just need to go to the airline's website and apply through the careers section.

But flight-attendant positions are very competitive. A lot of people send their resumes, and not everybody gets feedback, so it can be disheartening to keep applying.

Know that the initial application process can sometimes take up to six months, so just be patient.

Does the flight crew clean the plane?

Although it varies from airline to airline, most of the major US airlines have a special cleaning company that's responsible for cleaning the plane after each flight.

Flight attendants can clean the plane as well. But to provide a quick and smooth boarding process without delays, it's better if a specially equipped staff helps between flights.

There are also cleaning products on board in case something happens in the middle of the flight.

How can I overcome a fear of flying?

If you're afraid of flying, you can tell your flight attendant as soon as you get on the plane. Just knowing that someone is aware and there to help can give you more confidence.

Some passengers ask to look flight attendants in the eyes during takeoff. Eye contact helps to understand that everything happening in the cabin is normal and there's nothing to worry about. Learning more about the mechanics of the aircraft can also help to prepare scared flyers for all the noises.

Never hesitate to tell your crew if you feel anxious. We hear this all the time, and we're always willing to help.