Cabin Fever (Virgin Blue)
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Townsville,Nth Queensland
Posts: 2,717
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Cabin Fever (Virgin Blue)
Wed "Melbourne Age"
Cabin fever
By David Adams
May 17, 2006
MELBOURNE to Sydney. Sydney to Perth. Perth to Adelaide. Adelaide to Melbourne.
So goes the life of Dimi Stavrou, a member of cabin crew with Virgin Blue airline.
Ms Stavrou, who lives in Melbourne but spends eight to 10 nights away each month, worked for three years at an international airline before joining Virgin Blue when it started six years ago.
The 32-year-old says it's the lifestyle - "every day is different" - and the constant contact with people that she most enjoys about the job. Not to mention the travel.
"Travelling and getting paid for it, basically."
Virgin Blue employs more than 1300 cabin crew who fly across the country on about 2000 flights a week.
David Rundle, recruitment and learning manager, says people applying to become a member of cabin crew need to have a customer service background, enjoy serving people and working in a team, and have an "eye for detail", particularly when it comes to learning safety procedures.
Mr Rundle, who is about to take up a new role as manager of cabin crew, says Virgin Blue also looks for people who "are quite comfortable with who they are and they interact with people openly and readily".
Virgin Blue holds four to six cabin crew schools a year with about 26 students in each school. The schools run for five weeks and cover everything a prospective cabin crew member needs to know with three weeks focused on emergency and standard operating procedures.
While many cabin crew applicants are fresh out of high school, others are changing careers and often come from a hospitality and service background, although Virgin Blue has also employed former nurses and teachers as cabin crew. About a quarter of Virgin Blue's cabin crew are men.
Mr Rundle says many people manage to balance the job with a family life but adds that it can be a physically tough career.
"It's a physical job where they've got early mornings, they've got late nights, they're working under pressure serving people . . . so it's physically a demanding job," he says. "But it's also very rewarding from a travel perspective and if you like people, you're with them all the time."
Cabin crew need to be at least 18 years old and some airlines have height requirements. They may require certification in first aid and the service of alcohol.
While many people apply directly to the airlines for cabin crew positions without any experience, there are training organisations which aim to help applicants get a competitive edge in the application process.
Brisbane-based Aviation Australia launched a 10-week cabin crew training course in February and had its first eight students graduate recently.
Pauline Caulley, cabin crew training manager, says the course - which covers everything from aircraft systems, first aid and galley service to interview techniques - was launched in the belief that there will be a growing demand for cabin crew qualifications within the aviation industry.
"There's been no entry level for cabin crew," she says. "So we developed a Certificate II in Transport and Distribution Aviation Flight Operations - Cabin Crew . . ."
Ms Caulley, a former flight purser with Emirates airline, says the course is aimed at increasing the professionalism of cabin crew and lifting the level of training.
"If you look at any initial training program for an airline, it can be anywhere from four to six weeks," she says. "We're giving these students 10 weeks and we're giving them everything that would be optimally required for an airline, so these students are as well trained as what you would get with an airline."
Ms Caulley says that, for her, the attraction of the job was the variety of people she encountered. "I was working with over 90 different nationalities, learning about different cultures, flying all over the world," she says. "I don't think there's one more place that I even need to visit - I've seen the world."
Contacts
aviationaustralia.net.au
virginblue.com.au
======================================================
Cabin fever
By David Adams
May 17, 2006
MELBOURNE to Sydney. Sydney to Perth. Perth to Adelaide. Adelaide to Melbourne.
So goes the life of Dimi Stavrou, a member of cabin crew with Virgin Blue airline.
Ms Stavrou, who lives in Melbourne but spends eight to 10 nights away each month, worked for three years at an international airline before joining Virgin Blue when it started six years ago.
The 32-year-old says it's the lifestyle - "every day is different" - and the constant contact with people that she most enjoys about the job. Not to mention the travel.
"Travelling and getting paid for it, basically."
Virgin Blue employs more than 1300 cabin crew who fly across the country on about 2000 flights a week.
David Rundle, recruitment and learning manager, says people applying to become a member of cabin crew need to have a customer service background, enjoy serving people and working in a team, and have an "eye for detail", particularly when it comes to learning safety procedures.
Mr Rundle, who is about to take up a new role as manager of cabin crew, says Virgin Blue also looks for people who "are quite comfortable with who they are and they interact with people openly and readily".
Virgin Blue holds four to six cabin crew schools a year with about 26 students in each school. The schools run for five weeks and cover everything a prospective cabin crew member needs to know with three weeks focused on emergency and standard operating procedures.
While many cabin crew applicants are fresh out of high school, others are changing careers and often come from a hospitality and service background, although Virgin Blue has also employed former nurses and teachers as cabin crew. About a quarter of Virgin Blue's cabin crew are men.
Mr Rundle says many people manage to balance the job with a family life but adds that it can be a physically tough career.
"It's a physical job where they've got early mornings, they've got late nights, they're working under pressure serving people . . . so it's physically a demanding job," he says. "But it's also very rewarding from a travel perspective and if you like people, you're with them all the time."
Cabin crew need to be at least 18 years old and some airlines have height requirements. They may require certification in first aid and the service of alcohol.
While many people apply directly to the airlines for cabin crew positions without any experience, there are training organisations which aim to help applicants get a competitive edge in the application process.
Brisbane-based Aviation Australia launched a 10-week cabin crew training course in February and had its first eight students graduate recently.
Pauline Caulley, cabin crew training manager, says the course - which covers everything from aircraft systems, first aid and galley service to interview techniques - was launched in the belief that there will be a growing demand for cabin crew qualifications within the aviation industry.
"There's been no entry level for cabin crew," she says. "So we developed a Certificate II in Transport and Distribution Aviation Flight Operations - Cabin Crew . . ."
Ms Caulley, a former flight purser with Emirates airline, says the course is aimed at increasing the professionalism of cabin crew and lifting the level of training.
"If you look at any initial training program for an airline, it can be anywhere from four to six weeks," she says. "We're giving these students 10 weeks and we're giving them everything that would be optimally required for an airline, so these students are as well trained as what you would get with an airline."
Ms Caulley says that, for her, the attraction of the job was the variety of people she encountered. "I was working with over 90 different nationalities, learning about different cultures, flying all over the world," she says. "I don't think there's one more place that I even need to visit - I've seen the world."
Contacts
aviationaustralia.net.au
virginblue.com.au
======================================================
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: East of Runway 21
Posts: 1,157
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The AA course is all well and good, but any airline is still going to want to train their crew THEIR way, so what's the point??
Has anyone here done it, or know of people who have? It seems a bit like doing the Results Centre ones... not quite sure if it's worth it or not...
Has anyone here done it, or know of people who have? It seems a bit like doing the Results Centre ones... not quite sure if it's worth it or not...
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: here there and everywhere
Posts: 898
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I don't know how things work in Australia, but in the UK most airlines do not really care if you've been to "cabin crew college" or not. To be honest, I remember at an interview with a major UK charter airline, there were a few girls who had done similar courses and they thought they knew it all, and none of them were asked to return for the two-to-one interview!!
I believe that good customer service skills, the will to "please" the customers, the understanding of good teamwork, flexibility, good attitude towards people in general and a good sense of humour are the essential things required by most airlines. They then will train you to their standards, including SEP procedures which can be totally different from airline to airline and are also confidential.
I also remember my salaries at the beginning of my flying career and how much I was struggling. Imagine if I had spent £££'s on pre-interview training courses..... Something to consider I think! Your flying hours will (most likely) be paid one month in arrear, so first two months will; be only basic pay....that money might be useful to live in the meantime!!!
Anyway....just my 2 cents!
FBW
I believe that good customer service skills, the will to "please" the customers, the understanding of good teamwork, flexibility, good attitude towards people in general and a good sense of humour are the essential things required by most airlines. They then will train you to their standards, including SEP procedures which can be totally different from airline to airline and are also confidential.
I also remember my salaries at the beginning of my flying career and how much I was struggling. Imagine if I had spent £££'s on pre-interview training courses..... Something to consider I think! Your flying hours will (most likely) be paid one month in arrear, so first two months will; be only basic pay....that money might be useful to live in the meantime!!!
Anyway....just my 2 cents!
FBW
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: London
Posts: 350
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I worked for a company many years ago in the UK that did one day courses for folk wanting to join the airline industry as cabin crew.
I personally think the course is a waste of time and money. The only people that are going to benefit are those that are clueless about the aviation industry and want an insight into the role of cabin crew.
I think everything we taught in the one day course candidates could learn from someone already employed in the industry i.e. a friend or relative employed as cabin crew.
I personally think the course is a waste of time and money. The only people that are going to benefit are those that are clueless about the aviation industry and want an insight into the role of cabin crew.
I think everything we taught in the one day course candidates could learn from someone already employed in the industry i.e. a friend or relative employed as cabin crew.
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 125
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Was this page one of the newspaper ?!! Must have been slow news day ?
Is this Virgin Blue blowing it's own trumpet again ? Or is it a paid advertisement from Aviation Australia trying to get people to pay the $$ to enrol in a useless course ?
Is this Virgin Blue blowing it's own trumpet again ? Or is it a paid advertisement from Aviation Australia trying to get people to pay the $$ to enrol in a useless course ?
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: here there and everywhere
Posts: 898
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
that's true Ozzie!!!
If somebody wanted an insight on the lifestyle and role of cabin crew the best way to go is to talk to a crew member and ask for info, and maybe read this forum!!!!!!!
If somebody wanted an insight on the lifestyle and role of cabin crew the best way to go is to talk to a crew member and ask for info, and maybe read this forum!!!!!!!
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Star Trekking Across The Universe
Posts: 93
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hmmn, I am in two minds about the pre-employment aviation courses.
I absolutely believe that the one day courses, or the ones held over a few weeks are most likely a waste of money.
However, I studied an International Tourism and Aviation deg at Uni with an International Flight Attendant elective and I found it extremely helpful. However, this was two years long and taught us everything from t he ins and outs of Visas, customs and immigration laws and even papers on contractual law and senior CC management. As well as things like the ins and outs of a variety of different aircraft etc. So it was very extensive and well worth the hefty student loan. It's also held me in good steed for the interviews I have had (and positions I've been offered in the biz). The interviewers have always asked questions about it and looked suitably impressed.
So, my point is, unless you are going to fully dedicate yourself to an actual Dip or Deg, I'd say don't worry about it. Other people that I work with that have down F/A short courses have said it's been a waste of time. Although one girl I worked with did the Air NZ pre-emp course, and ended up landing a job with one of their small subsidiaries. So maybe it works after all??
I absolutely believe that the one day courses, or the ones held over a few weeks are most likely a waste of money.
However, I studied an International Tourism and Aviation deg at Uni with an International Flight Attendant elective and I found it extremely helpful. However, this was two years long and taught us everything from t he ins and outs of Visas, customs and immigration laws and even papers on contractual law and senior CC management. As well as things like the ins and outs of a variety of different aircraft etc. So it was very extensive and well worth the hefty student loan. It's also held me in good steed for the interviews I have had (and positions I've been offered in the biz). The interviewers have always asked questions about it and looked suitably impressed.
So, my point is, unless you are going to fully dedicate yourself to an actual Dip or Deg, I'd say don't worry about it. Other people that I work with that have down F/A short courses have said it's been a waste of time. Although one girl I worked with did the Air NZ pre-emp course, and ended up landing a job with one of their small subsidiaries. So maybe it works after all??
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 305
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ms Stavrou, who lives in Melbourne but spends eight to 10 nights away each month, worked for three years at an international airline before joining Virgin Blue when it started six years ago.
sorry to go off the topic but I am currently very tired from a "hellish" four day trip
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: here there and everywhere
Posts: 898
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
CC courses
Originally Posted by GorgeousKiwiGal
Hmmn, I am in two minds about the pre-employment aviation courses.
I absolutely believe that the one day courses, or the ones held over a few weeks are most likely a waste of money.
However, I studied an International Tourism and Aviation deg at Uni with an International Flight Attendant elective and I found it extremely helpful. However, this was two years long and taught us everything from t he ins and outs of Visas, customs and immigration laws and even papers on contractual law and senior CC management. As well as things like the ins and outs of a variety of different aircraft etc. So it was very extensive and well worth the hefty student loan. It's also held me in good steed for the interviews I have had (and positions I've been offered in the biz). The interviewers have always asked questions about it and looked suitably impressed.
So, my point is, unless you are going to fully dedicate yourself to an actual Dip or Deg, I'd say don't worry about it. Other people that I work with that have down F/A short courses have said it's been a waste of time. Although one girl I worked with did the Air NZ pre-emp course, and ended up landing a job with one of their small subsidiaries. So maybe it works after all??
I absolutely believe that the one day courses, or the ones held over a few weeks are most likely a waste of money.
However, I studied an International Tourism and Aviation deg at Uni with an International Flight Attendant elective and I found it extremely helpful. However, this was two years long and taught us everything from t he ins and outs of Visas, customs and immigration laws and even papers on contractual law and senior CC management. As well as things like the ins and outs of a variety of different aircraft etc. So it was very extensive and well worth the hefty student loan. It's also held me in good steed for the interviews I have had (and positions I've been offered in the biz). The interviewers have always asked questions about it and looked suitably impressed.
So, my point is, unless you are going to fully dedicate yourself to an actual Dip or Deg, I'd say don't worry about it. Other people that I work with that have down F/A short courses have said it's been a waste of time. Although one girl I worked with did the Air NZ pre-emp course, and ended up landing a job with one of their small subsidiaries. So maybe it works after all??
However, the courses that you can find in the UK (apart from those you take in Uni like Business Management for Travel&Tourism) are completely different and usually have that kind of feel that they sell dreams and illusions of getting a job as CC.
I think that this job is one that you learn by going onboard and getting on with it. Of course you need some important qualities that will help you face the challenges that only this job can give you.
It may be that your friend had all the right qualities and might have got a job with that airline anyway!!!
Just my humble opinion......I just don't know any CC in BA who have done any of those courses and yet are flying for a big airline!!!
However guys if you have time and money to spare....why not?
I have to agree with most of the other posts. Long courses that claim to train you to be a qualified flight attendant are not necessary. I've worked with and got to know hundreds of flight attendants over the last 7 years and I don't think I can recall any of them doing one of these long training courses. We all know airlines look for work experience, general experiences and personality types when employing.
Having said that, I did do one of those interview skill/preparation courses which was only for 1 day and I have to say the information I got from that was very, very helpful. Since doing that course (back in 1999!) I have flown for 2 airlines and been successful in 3 recruitment drives. The one day course was a great kick start and you get better each time you have an interview.
Having said that, I did do one of those interview skill/preparation courses which was only for 1 day and I have to say the information I got from that was very, very helpful. Since doing that course (back in 1999!) I have flown for 2 airlines and been successful in 3 recruitment drives. The one day course was a great kick start and you get better each time you have an interview.
