Flight Attendants - General Q & A
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: London
Age: 49
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im sorry to say that there are not many permanant jobs as Cabin Crew in the UK - maybe flybe? - (EasyJet is now 6 months, Ryan Air may as well be a temp contract....see below for info). If you are lucky you may get a temp 6 month contract, however even those jobs are difficult to come by at present.
Be careful you dont fall into the Ryan Air trap of having to pay for your training (I think there are a couple more airlines starting to charge or considering it, 'flybe' I heard are next to introduce this, based on the success of Ryan Air's model no doubt -), if you are tempted by Ryan Air, please google the pitfalls of becoming Cabin Crew with them (there was a recent undercover doc made by C4).
You may be lucky with the Middle Eastern airlines. However even QATAR have said today that they are making massive cutbacks (they even had a recent recruitment drive for CC last week, shows you how quickly things are changing).
Also bear in mind that if a company puts crew / pilots out of work (as many are doing), they should not be 'legally' employing new recruits for at least 6 months.
There are also hold pools for all the major airlines. To give you an idea BA have 100's swimming, some have been there for nearly 18 months. Also many of the charter companies (who only offer temp contracts anyway) have hold pools, which are just as bad. in some cases.
Good lucky and im sorry you find yourself in this position.
Be careful you dont fall into the Ryan Air trap of having to pay for your training (I think there are a couple more airlines starting to charge or considering it, 'flybe' I heard are next to introduce this, based on the success of Ryan Air's model no doubt -), if you are tempted by Ryan Air, please google the pitfalls of becoming Cabin Crew with them (there was a recent undercover doc made by C4).
You may be lucky with the Middle Eastern airlines. However even QATAR have said today that they are making massive cutbacks (they even had a recent recruitment drive for CC last week, shows you how quickly things are changing).
Also bear in mind that if a company puts crew / pilots out of work (as many are doing), they should not be 'legally' employing new recruits for at least 6 months.
There are also hold pools for all the major airlines. To give you an idea BA have 100's swimming, some have been there for nearly 18 months. Also many of the charter companies (who only offer temp contracts anyway) have hold pools, which are just as bad. in some cases.
Good lucky and im sorry you find yourself in this position.
Last edited by noneatall; 24th Nov 2009 at 21:16.
Join Date: Aug 2008
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generally cabin crew vacancies are directly proportionate to pilot vacancies, ie. no one's hiring, but plenty of firing.
Ryanair are always hiring, or the middle eastern ones are your best bet.
Ryanair are always hiring, or the middle eastern ones are your best bet.
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Nigeria
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What should I do?
Hello everyone, I'm new to the house, but I've learnt a lot already from reading the posts from various members on PPRuNe. I have a question though... I would really love to be a flight attendant on Qatar Airline, but all the Open Days are far from my country. I have applied online though, but does anyone in the house know how effective that will be? They did send a reply to my inbox after I had applied online, that they would contact me, if I have been shortlisted. Has anyone in the house ever been in my kind of situation? I really would just like to know, what I should do, cos I can't afford the travelling costs to any of the nearer countries.
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Poland
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Help please - Scoliosis - cabin crew !
Scoliosis - cabin crew
Hi everyone!
I have a scoliosis and I am wondering how many degrees is allowed to have.
I know that in Qatar Airways is allowed to have maximum 15 degrees.
What about other airline like Etihad or Emirates?
Does anyone know?
Please help!
Hi everyone!
I have a scoliosis and I am wondering how many degrees is allowed to have.
I know that in Qatar Airways is allowed to have maximum 15 degrees.
What about other airline like Etihad or Emirates?
Does anyone know?
Please help!
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: UK
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Vacancies - typically any in June?
Hi there,
I know typically Airlines will advertise for Cabin Crew jobs before the summer season, but are there normally many chances to apply for a position for any airline June onwards?
Thanks!
bmi
I know typically Airlines will advertise for Cabin Crew jobs before the summer season, but are there normally many chances to apply for a position for any airline June onwards?
Thanks!
bmi
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: New Zealand
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Examples of cover letters
I have searched everywhere for examples of covering letters.
I'm applying for Etihad and although they don't ask for a cover letter, I'm assuming one would be an advantage??
Could someone please point me in the right direction for an example of a covering letter for cabin crew that doesn't cost the sky?
Thanks so much
I'm applying for Etihad and although they don't ask for a cover letter, I'm assuming one would be an advantage?? Could someone please point me in the right direction for an example of a covering letter for cabin crew that doesn't cost the sky?
Thanks so much
Join Date: Aug 2006
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Air Hostess's do sleep on the job.
IN my 20s I was a flight attendant for Northwest Airlines, and I remember the holiday season as the most exhausting of the year. But I loved my job. From the first day Northwest hired me in Minneapolis in 1969, I tried to be a model flight attendant, to develop the qualities my operations manual demanded: poise, good judgment, initiative, adaptability and a spotless appearance.
But one time I slipped up: I fell asleep. It happened one dreary morning around Thanksgiving. We’d just landed in Washington and I was dog-tired. The crew had disembarked for breakfast; the new passengers wouldn’t board for two hours. For some reason, my eye drifted toward the overhead racks. Back then, the racks in Boeing 727’s had no doors and were used only for storing pillows, blankets and passengers’ coats and hats. I looked at all the little pillows up there, snuggled next to the blankets. And then I climbed up.
This was not easy in a pencil skirt and regulation red half-slip. But I did it. And it was heaven. I lay back on the mountain of pillows and pulled a blanket up over my head. Just before I drifted off, the thought crossed my mind that I ought to set my portable alarm clock — but it was too late.
I certainly wasn’t worrying about our operations manual, though I knew, of course, that flight attendants caught sleeping on duty could lose their wings. But I wasn’t on duty, not in the strict sense. What’s more, I was exhibiting initiative and adaptability, some of those attributes most cherished by Northwest Airlines.
It was a sound sleep. Suddenly I woke to a voice on the public address system: “Morning, folks. This is your captain speaking. We’re No. 4 for takeoff, up near the end of the runway. So if you’ll just sit back and relax, we’ll be taking off in a few minutes. The flight attendants will do the best they can for you this morning, even though they are one short in the second cabin.”
I opened my eyes and gasped. The passengers and crew had boarded, and no one had checked my overhead bunk. If only someone had tried to store a coat up there or grab a blanket! I should have been down on the cabin floor, on duty and with my one-inch grosgrain ribbon tying my hair in place, my gold logo centered on the front of my hat. Instead, I was up on that rack, breaking into a cold sweat.
If I ever needed that Northwest Airlines initiative, it was then. I poked my head out and down. The cabin was packed with businessmen reading the financial papers. I hitched up my skirt — hemmed precisely one and three-quarter inches above the knee — and lowered a leg. This snagged the attention of the last 10 rows, as well as my pantyhose. Then I lowered my other leg. By this time, the rows in front had turned around and were watching too. Luckily, no one laughed.
I swung down and planted my navy blue pump half on a passenger’s arm rest and half on his pinstriped leg. My hat was in the overhead rack, I told him, and I had been digging around for a long time trying to find it. I pointed out that I had to wear my hat, or I would be fired.
He cleared his throat but didn’t say anything. I thanked him for his understanding and walked up the aisle toward my two fellow flight attendants, who were howling with laughter. We were sobered only by the realization that somebody had to notify the captain.
As the plane rose to cruising altitude, the senior flight attendant went to the cockpit and explained that I was back in the cabin. Meanwhile, I put on my smock and began pouring coffee, trying to avoid the rows near my overhead bunk. As I headed back to the galley to refill my coffeepot, I found the captain waiting for me with a stern and unforgiving look. I was getting ready to try to explain when he snapped the galley curtain closed and doubled over with laughter. “All’s well that ends well,” he said with a wink.
By Elizabeth Fuller
IN my 20s I was a flight attendant for Northwest Airlines, and I remember the holiday season as the most exhausting of the year. But I loved my job. From the first day Northwest hired me in Minneapolis in 1969, I tried to be a model flight attendant, to develop the qualities my operations manual demanded: poise, good judgment, initiative, adaptability and a spotless appearance.
But one time I slipped up: I fell asleep. It happened one dreary morning around Thanksgiving. We’d just landed in Washington and I was dog-tired. The crew had disembarked for breakfast; the new passengers wouldn’t board for two hours. For some reason, my eye drifted toward the overhead racks. Back then, the racks in Boeing 727’s had no doors and were used only for storing pillows, blankets and passengers’ coats and hats. I looked at all the little pillows up there, snuggled next to the blankets. And then I climbed up.
This was not easy in a pencil skirt and regulation red half-slip. But I did it. And it was heaven. I lay back on the mountain of pillows and pulled a blanket up over my head. Just before I drifted off, the thought crossed my mind that I ought to set my portable alarm clock — but it was too late.
I certainly wasn’t worrying about our operations manual, though I knew, of course, that flight attendants caught sleeping on duty could lose their wings. But I wasn’t on duty, not in the strict sense. What’s more, I was exhibiting initiative and adaptability, some of those attributes most cherished by Northwest Airlines.
It was a sound sleep. Suddenly I woke to a voice on the public address system: “Morning, folks. This is your captain speaking. We’re No. 4 for takeoff, up near the end of the runway. So if you’ll just sit back and relax, we’ll be taking off in a few minutes. The flight attendants will do the best they can for you this morning, even though they are one short in the second cabin.”
I opened my eyes and gasped. The passengers and crew had boarded, and no one had checked my overhead bunk. If only someone had tried to store a coat up there or grab a blanket! I should have been down on the cabin floor, on duty and with my one-inch grosgrain ribbon tying my hair in place, my gold logo centered on the front of my hat. Instead, I was up on that rack, breaking into a cold sweat.
If I ever needed that Northwest Airlines initiative, it was then. I poked my head out and down. The cabin was packed with businessmen reading the financial papers. I hitched up my skirt — hemmed precisely one and three-quarter inches above the knee — and lowered a leg. This snagged the attention of the last 10 rows, as well as my pantyhose. Then I lowered my other leg. By this time, the rows in front had turned around and were watching too. Luckily, no one laughed.
I swung down and planted my navy blue pump half on a passenger’s arm rest and half on his pinstriped leg. My hat was in the overhead rack, I told him, and I had been digging around for a long time trying to find it. I pointed out that I had to wear my hat, or I would be fired.
He cleared his throat but didn’t say anything. I thanked him for his understanding and walked up the aisle toward my two fellow flight attendants, who were howling with laughter. We were sobered only by the realization that somebody had to notify the captain.
As the plane rose to cruising altitude, the senior flight attendant went to the cockpit and explained that I was back in the cabin. Meanwhile, I put on my smock and began pouring coffee, trying to avoid the rows near my overhead bunk. As I headed back to the galley to refill my coffeepot, I found the captain waiting for me with a stern and unforgiving look. I was getting ready to try to explain when he snapped the galley curtain closed and doubled over with laughter. “All’s well that ends well,” he said with a wink.
By Elizabeth Fuller
Join Date: Oct 2009
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Old bird seeks flying job - Any advice, please?!
Hi all,
I'd be very grateful for any help anyone can offer. What are the chances of getting a cabin crew job with no previous experience at the grand old age of 46?
On the plus side, I have a wealth of previous career experience in customer relations, communications and team play, and I still scrub up fairly well - on the minus side - well, it speaks for itself.
Please would anyone be kind enough to offer any insights?
Many thanks!
I'd be very grateful for any help anyone can offer. What are the chances of getting a cabin crew job with no previous experience at the grand old age of 46?
On the plus side, I have a wealth of previous career experience in customer relations, communications and team play, and I still scrub up fairly well - on the minus side - well, it speaks for itself.
Please would anyone be kind enough to offer any insights?
Many thanks!
Join Date: Jan 2007
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Try easyjet, they have no age limit, the only requirement is previous customer service experience and educated to at least GCSE level. They are recuruiting for many of their bases at the moment though only offering seasonal contract but it'll be a good way to start.
Join Date: Dec 2009
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Flybe
Flybe are recruiting for EDI / GTW / ABZ / INV / SOU / GCI...
Training is paid for and accomodation, the contract is 6 months with a view to being made perm all depending on buisness needs.
Training is paid for and accomodation, the contract is 6 months with a view to being made perm all depending on buisness needs.
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: UK
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Where to buy a crew trolley bag
Hello,
Starting CC training with easyJet soon, and was just wondering where might be a good place to buy a suitable crew trolley bag, as I thought the £30 one offered was a bit steep... especially as it has to be given back when I eventually leave.
Any suggestions welcome.
CS
Starting CC training with easyJet soon, and was just wondering where might be a good place to buy a suitable crew trolley bag, as I thought the £30 one offered was a bit steep... especially as it has to be given back when I eventually leave.
Any suggestions welcome.
CS
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: corrupted place :(
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Airlines anywhere except middle east
Does anybody know any airlines that accept cabin crew applications from all nationalities? E.g. JAL, etc. Pls. list them here. Thanks. I'm discouraged to apply for middle east airlines because of the GAMCA medical requirement. 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Near Gatwick
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@ab33t
Your story of being 'asleep on the job' really made me smile. I'm glad it had a happy ending and you didn't get into bother over it.
It did make me wonder what would have happened if you hadn't have woken up until you were thundering down the runway ?!
Your story of being 'asleep on the job' really made me smile. I'm glad it had a happy ending and you didn't get into bother over it.
It did make me wonder what would have happened if you hadn't have woken up until you were thundering down the runway ?!
Join Date: Feb 2008
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Re: Cover Letters
If the airline is not asking for a cover letter do not provide one. It's not an advantage it only shows that you cannot read and follow instructions
Join Date: Oct 2009
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ola
What do you answer if the interviewer asks :
1. What do you say to or handle a passenger who is terrified of flying?
2. Tell us about a time your customer service could have been better.
Much thanks!
1. What do you say to or handle a passenger who is terrified of flying?
2. Tell us about a time your customer service could have been better.
Much thanks
!