What is the duration referred to as 'duty period' for flight attendants?

The term 'duty period' for flight attendants refers to the elapsed time from when they report for duty until they are officially debriefed after completing their responsibilities. This duration encompasses all tasks associated with the flight, including pre-flight briefings, boarding procedures, in-flight service, and post-flight activities.

Understanding this context is crucial, as the duty period is strictly regulated to ensure that flight attendants are not overworked and can perform their duties safely and effectively. It reflects the entire work commitment of the flight attendant, rather than just the time spent on specific tasks related to flights.

In contrast, the other options refer to specific aspects of a flight operation or the overall service but do not capture the comprehensive nature of what constitutes a duty period for flight attendants. For instance, the time from landing to aircraft cleaning pertains solely to ground operations, while the total flight time only accounts for the flight duration itself. The time spent on breaks is just a portion of the overall duty period and does not encompass the entire scope of tasks undertaken during a flight shift.