Social Life Of Cabin Crew

[RoyBoy20]

HI THERE

IM 18 AND AM GOING TO APPLY TO CABIN CREW POSITONS SHORTLY. I HAVE CHOSEN NOT TO GO TO UNIVERSITY. HOWEVER I FEEL THAT NOT GOING TO UNIVERSITY I WILL NOT DEVELOP MY SOCIAL LIFE AND THAT BECOMING CABIN CREW BY THE AGE OF 20 I WILL NOT HAVE A GREAT SOCIAL STANDING.

I JUST WANT TO KNOW. HOW EASY IS IT MAKING FREINDS IN THE INDUSTRTY AS CABIN CREW? DO YOU CREATE FREINDS FOR LIFE OR JUST THE ODD PUB VISIT ON THE NIGHTSTOP?

ALSO JUST CURIOUS, ARE THERE MANY CABIN CREW BELOW THE AGE OF 25?

[+'ve ROC]

You want to be a pilot AND cabin crew?

So who will get the coffee on your aircraft?

[cart_elevator]

Judging by the girls we hired locally in london,Qantas doesnt hire any crew in the UK over the age of 25, so you would be ok at Qantas :} I am still under thirty,and I feel like an old boiler :{

[Kestrel_909]

Shouting at them when you first meet them is never a good move;)

[TightSlot]

RoyBoy20 - typing in upper case is frowned upon in internet formums. As Kestrel_909 correctly points out, it is known as SHOUTING, AND IS VERY IRRITATING TO OTHERS! TRY NOT TO SHOUT! We are a quiet forum, and you will usually get more answers that way:O

[crewboi83]

RoyBoy20..
I'm still a baby at only 22 and I've been flying now for 3 years. I find that a lot of crew I work with are under 30 however dont let the age thing worry ya, all the crew I have met over 30 still like to party and drink as much as the younger ones! I think this job keeps you young (so i like to believe) Ive made many friends who I socialise with on a regular basis from the ages of 18 all the way up to 39 and I count all of them as close friends!!
Hope you enjoy flying!!!

[ChewyTheWookie]

Depending on the airline, joining too young can cause problems. I've found that I sometimes work with people who talk down to me because I'm only 23. A lot of people where I work (BA) started so long ago when people were very different that they don't understand how things work now.

I've been called over-confident and cocky several times now and I know a lot of new, young recruits who get this as well. In the past it was normal for the new/young crew to "be seen and not heard" so some older crew have a real problem with younger people, especially if they can show initiative and get things done. A lot of crew think that the job is the most important thing in the world and think that your experience with the company is the only thing that counts. Before I joined I was an engineer, I spent 3 years at university and before that I was a chef but to some people that doesn't count and they show they don't like it. Maybe this is only a problem in BA, I really don't know about other airlines.

I warn you that an airline is not a great place to meet lots of life-long friends, just thousands of acquaintances. In the year I've been flying I've met one person who I see outside of work, but everytime I report for duty I stop for a coffee with someone I've met around the building.

The good news is that things are changing (they are at BA anyway), the companies are recruiting a lot of younger people and some of the older crew are being forced to accept that times have changed and it's not only the "old hands" who can do the job well.

Best of luck with everything, BA are currently recruiting so give them a shot, but I also hear that Virgin are a lot of fun to work for (although I may be wrong, anyone from VS here to comment?).

Feel free to PM if you'd like to talk about it further.

[Rabid Dog]

I flew for 6+ years. Had thousands of acquaintances. Keep in touch with only 2 or 3 now, although when i bump into someone i know, you can always rely on a drink and a chat. My lifelong friends were made at school or university. Maybe you might want to do a course first, then go into flying later, if you're still interested.
RD.

[fastjet2k]

Royboy20 - Check your PM's

Cheers, FJ2k

[euromanxdude]

Hiya dude!

Well im only 20 worked for 3 different airlines, and flown for 1. Needless to say you meet alot of interesting people along the way.
I never went to uni either and the same thought went through my head. But luckily there were some girls n guys my age on my shift when i was a psa- who never went to uni either and we had a ball. We have all moved on to A.T.C or flying for different airlines. But we all still keep in touch, and regulary meet up when we not working.

When I started flying over a year ago - in my opinion social life improved, not only out with cabin crew ymy age but also some of younger pilots -who only few years older than me.

So mate it can be done,
happy flying!:cool:

[Turroncin]

I went to university about 14 years ago (but I'm not that old!) and to be honest I only see 1 best friend today from those days. We all went our seperate ways including myself - I left the UK the day I graduated. I'm now waiting my training date for BA - so at the ripe old age of 33 I'm doing what some consider at 18 :D I always wanted to do it, never did it, and now I've done what I thought I was supposed to do (be a solicitor), do what I thought I wanted to do (live abroad) I have now entered my second young adulthood and done what I wanted to do 15 years ago!

I wouldn't worry too much. If you decide to go to college, well you can do that later. Or go to college now and be a dolly later :)

[Middle Seat]

Turroncin:
Congratulations to you for doing what you want, or at least giving it a shot. I feel constrained at my job (which I am beginning to loathe), but the $alary would not be met by anything the airlines could offer me. Maybe if I win the lottery....
:bored:

[jasonbowers]

I am a flight attendant based in London (LHR) and I have to say that I have met lifelong friends while flying. In fact, my roomate in training is the godfather of my son.

When dealing with the public all the time I think you naturally bond with you fellow crew members in a way you might not in other jobs.

If you are lucky enough to get long layovers you will have a blast with co-workers on them too.

Good luck. If you have a good attitude you will have a rich social life in this job.;)

[Flying_Sarah747]

Hey,

Well I came to the UK from Australia not knowing anybody, and went straight into my job and BA. I've not had the same problem as ChewyTheWookie. I've found everybody, especially a lot of the older women and definately the older men to be absoloutely lovely, and I'm only 21. (Only had a problem with one lady CSD on my 6th flight)

In my almost 2 years at BA, I've made a great bunch of friends at the airline too, who I see regularly outside of work. As I didn't know anybody else in the UK, all my friends are from the airline. I won't say it was easy...you have to put in the effort and call people first and suggest you swap numbers etc, but it does happen if you want it to.

I suggest that you try and move in with a few crew members who are in the same situation as you, and then you'll make friends with them and meet their friends etc etc. That's how it happened for me.

Good luck and go for it, it's the BEST fun!!!!

[AIRWAY]

Hi Sarah,

Still planning to make a move to the front of the plane, or remain where you are? ;)

Regards

[missali]

rob i went to uni and whilst yes the social life is very good, people do forget you are actually going to get a degree which is damn hard work!! in fact i socialised a little too much at uni and as a result i ended up scraping through!! plus i dont think getting a degree gives you much advantage these days, good old experience is what employers are after!!

you can still have a great social life whatever you do if you put in some effort!!

[RoyBoy20]

Thanks Guys for all your replys. i really appreciate it and you guys have put my mind at ease.

Also one more thing.

Do pilots have the same relationship with cabin crew as cabincrew have with each other?

Thanks for all your replys!

[Flying_Sarah747]

Hey,

Yes, still thinking about making the move to the front end...Gotta find money though, and lots of it!!!!! There's a few options I've looked into that seem hopeful though...

People always have a go about the flight crew and cabin crew relations at BA, but again I've had no problems. Of course you do find the odd crew memeber totally against the flight crew and vice versa, but usually, in my experience we all get on really well.

It just depends on you as a person. Just be friendly, when you get on the aircraft duck in and say hello to the guys/girls at the front. I find I go out a lot with the flight crew cause some of the time they're the only ones up for going out when we reach our final destination, and I always have a laugh...I see some of them socially out of work too. (No, not in that way!!!)

Again, it's what you make it. If you're friendly and put in the effort, people will be friendly back. There's heaps of great people at BA, and I'm sure at other airlines too, so go for it!!!!!!

[tiggerific_69]

hey im 19 and theres a lot of girls at bacx under 25.theres a lot over 25 also!!!some flight crew we have good relationships with,others we dont,its juts the way it works out and depends on the individual to be honest