Flying isn't much fun anymore for anyone -- but flying for a living has gone from glamour to grim, stressful duty for some airline workers.

With the bankruptcy reorganizations of Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines announced last week, workers' worries may rise like a 747 taking off.

Flight attendants these days sometimes gather in the galley to discuss their fates -- and those of their employers. They are distracted by news and rumors. They are bothered by long commutes and declining paychecks. What a way to make $24,000 to $49,000 a year.

"We're experts at the stress.... We're working much harder with fewer things on planes to make passengers happy," said Sara Dela Cruz, a United Airlines flight attendant who helps the Association of Flight Attendants union with communications.

United Airlines, US Airways and ATA Airlines have cut thousands of jobs since seeking Chapter 11 protection. Those left can end up with less pay, fewer holidays and no pensions. Or they may switch careers, glad for the lesser stresses of office politics, projects and deadlines.