Cabin Crew a Good Career Choice?

[rachelsmith]

They kinda did, i have a student loan and i get some money a month from family and dad pays rent (so i dont end up in to much debt!) I just think i will never know if i dont try it, does it get boring after a while?
Do recruitment people still fly? is it a lot better pay?
dea why do you have to leave?
Star84 where the ear problems due to flying?

Sorry for all the questions!

Rachel

[skylite]

Hi Rachel. It might not directly help you but this was my experience. I'm half way through my degree at the moment and almost left to go into flying but decided to get my degree then do it. At the end of the day I would still have my degree if I didn't enjoy the job although I hope I will one day. When I told my family I was going to apply to be cabin crew after uni I got mixed reactions. My dad wasn't impressed and my mum thought it was great that I would travel and see places.

The bottom line though at the end of the day is that you will still have that degree, done the job and if you enjoy it, great. If not, you tried it and won't ever look back and think, if only! While its not easy doing something that you think your parents won't agree with its your decision and life here and I'm sure they will still be there for you.

[star84]

hey rachel,

I had problems with my ears when I was little and had grommets for a while, but nothing while I was a teenager, then as soon as I started flying BOOM, I got 2 ear infections a month and almost burst my eardrum a few times. The doctor told me that if I kept putting the pressure on my ears every day, I would eventually either go temporarily deaf or do dammage that could last the rest of my life. It was a really hard decision, but I just couldnt keep flying. But it was a dream I had for a long time, and Im glad that i got to do it so young!!

[hawaiianhosty]

I flew for qatar airways 5 years ago..I miss the whole lifestyle..meeting new crew daily, visiting new countries etc. It's never boring and can be exciting, challenging, hard work and tiring. I loved every minute of it. I was like you, in that I would apply for cabin crew jobs, get to the final stage and get rejected. I was so dispondent that my friend forced me to apply for qatar airways. I reluctantly went to the interview thinking that i wouldn't get it as i'd never got any of the others, maybe it was cos i was so relaxed, confident and not sweating with desperation that made me get the job. Even if you try it for a year at least you can say you did it before it's too late like me, a wife and mother now!!!!!!!!!

[Nicola1]

Hi

Just read your message and thought i'd add my points.

Since the age of 9, when i took my first trip on an aeroplane (Virgin) to Florida, i have wanted to work for them. No other airline but them? I am now 24 and in August, i decided to apply, I wanted to apply many years before but certain things had stopped me from doing it. I applyed online, and was invited to an an interview 2 weeks later. I went to the interview and passed and start my training with them on the 14th January 2007.

I am currently a Supervisor in a customer service office and have been for the past 5 years. I am currently earning around 19.000 pa and know that i will be taking a big pay cut working for Virgin. However, this is something that was once a dream i thought would never come true so the money isn't an issue seeing as i have wanted this for such a long time. The places i will see and the people i will meet will more than make up for the money cut plus i cannot see that i will be spening as much as i do now.

If this is something you really really want, i would say to go for it. Follow your heart and make your dreams come true as i have. As i have found in the past, if i have had money troubles, something has always come round and sorted me out?!

I would 110% say to go for it.

Good Luck

x

[vodkaholic]

I finished uni early to start my job as cabin crew. I still graduated with a 2:1 degree, and everyone at work always asks me when I'm going to leave to pursue a career that is degree-related. But I want to be cabin crew for a living. I have always wanted to do it and it makes me happy!! If i went into a career in media, i would be miserable. Uni is never a waste of money if you don't use your degree because you learn so much about life and being responsible at uni. Sure, you will have a loan to pay off but I'm only in my second season as cabin crew (as a senior) and earning enough to start paying it back! do it!!!

[cee]

Hi!just found this interesting site and I am so glad to actually start a new thread.

I am just wondering on how nice it is to work as a Cabin Crew. I have been in the hospitality for quite some time and mostly hotels. I am trying to make a move though as a Cabin Crew as I find the hotel thing a little bit boring.

Can you tell me on how it is to be a Cabin Crew? I mean how is the work, the life, benefit (perks attached)?

Hope you provide us with a very good information about this.

Thank you and looking forward for it.

[boeing boeing.. gone]

http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=298815

You might want to try searching prior to starting a new thread. good luck

[Virginia]

There are far worse jobs out there than being crew! You never know till you try.

[monkeybusiness2]

And far better ones.

[BlueTui]

hmm working five days a month (I am in December) and will end up with about 1800 after tax....

Show me a legal job where you can earn that for that amount of work...

[monkeybusiness2]

Well it depends what your priorities are. If its time off and money then sure flying may be for you.

If its job satisfaction then you're probably not going to find that giving out chicken and beef for a living.

[Glamgirl]

This job is suitable for some and for some people, their worst nightmare.

Only you can decide about what to do. I would say though, that forget what your family might say. I was told at a young age when I announced that I wanted to become a hostie - "to get an education and a proper job". ()

So I went off to school, college and uni, and guess what? I've been flying for nearly 10 years and I'm still loving it! I did it because I wanted to fly and travel and a little part of me wanted to prove that side of the family wrong.

Depending which company you decide to go for, you can get promotion to purser, sccm, cabin service director, cabin manager, whatever you decide to call them. Some companies actively recruit office staff from their flying staff as well, such as performance managers.

The world is your oyster. You decide what to do with your life. Good luck with your decision and applications if you decide to go for it.

Best wishes,
Gg

[sinala1]

Originally Posted by monkeybusiness2

If its job satisfaction then you're probably not going to find that giving out chicken and beef for a living

Thats a very sweeping generalisation to make, one that sounds like its made based on your own personal job dissatisfaction!

Each person looks for something different in their jobs, and each job is what you make of it. For example, a friend of mine gets great job satisfaction from being an auditor for an accounting firm. She works her ar$e off, but earns great money. Personally, I can't think of anything more mind-numbingly, fist-eatingly boring!

Its each to their own. I have been flying 6 years so far, which at this stage doesnt constitute a "career", but I will re-open this thread in 20 years time - when I expect, and hope, to still be flying - and talk about the Job Satisfaction my career has given me then.

[kip_smyth]

First of all I want to say thanks for all the useful info people have been putting on this thread, it's really helping me to come to a decision about my career path!

I was having doubts about applying to be Cabin Crew because of my age, I know 24 isn't old but I was into thinking that it would all be younger, fresher people applying for jobs.
I wanted to be part of a cabin crew when I was a bit younger but dismissed it as just a fantasy as I went to quite a prestigous girls school and there was a lot of pressure on us to go to University. So i went to University, had a blast, got my degree and ended up working a number of menial jobs, in sales, admin and more recently web development. Since I graduated 2 years as well as working odd office jobs I also did 2 ski seasons which gave me an amazing opportunity to work in face to face customer service with guests and its got me thinking again about applying to do cabin crew.

At first I thought my family would be against it but I was surprised at how keen they are for me to do it. I have an inkling theyre after cheap flights but they also could see how I wasn't enjoying IT.

Im really looking forward to start applying, i know there'll be a few knock backs but iv been rejected from plenty of job interviews so know how to pick myself up again!

I'm jsut wondering if anyone has done a cabin crew diploma course and if it's worthwhile doing? I've seen a number advertised at various prices so if anyone has done one they could recommend I'd appreciate you letting me know!!

sorry for the super long thread, good luck to everyone applying for jobs!

[easynick]

cabin crew dipoloma course

I'm cabin crew at the moment, and not one of my colleagues has ever taken one of these courses... in fact i have never met anyone who has been on one. So no i don't think they are beneficial.

Secondly, whats all this talk about low pay and low salaries? I have been crew for 1 year now, and in that first year i earned £24,000... i dunno what some of you think is good or bad salaries but i think thats good! added on top that you pay much less tax on your earnings, get great travel benefits, and only work on average 80 hours a month and get 30 days annual leave. I think thats a great package, you would have to work double that in an office job, and probably come out with less.

as for job satisfaction, i get buckets every day that i fly, just can't beat it! never again will i go back to 9-5 mundane jobs!

[flapsforty]

Kip, well done for doing some research and finding & adding to this thread.

Flying with a degree.
In our mob (large European lecagy carrier) we have many people with a Uni degree. Friend of mine works 50% as an FA and 50% as an ER doctor. She loves both with a passion.
The job of an FA is very much what you make of it, and suitable for both those who 'just want tohave a lark' and those who wish to put their mind to it and have a career. A career being going through the grades and becoming a Flight Services Director/CSD/Senior Purser. Meaning 'boss' of a cabin crew onboard a wide body aircraft, responsible for the smooth & safe running of the cabin and all that entails, always with the Captain as the final authority of everything tht happens on the aircraft. A career like that is easier to find with a legacy carrier like BA, Air France, Lufthansa and SAS than with charter airlines or Virgin. Again, broadly speaking.

Cabin crew diploma course.
Like easynick I do not know anybody in our outfit who has come from such a course. I would rather use my time to find out what kind of experience your airline(s) of choice are looking for, and finding out what type of interview techniques they use. Think of things like role play, criteria based interviewing, group sessions & dynamics etc etc.
There is an enormous amount you can do to prepare for succes if you are willing to devote the time to it and have the brains (you obviously do ) to process the information and make and follow a plan of action.

Do let us know how you get on.

[samjc84]

Hey easynick, just wondering what airline you work for? I presume easy jet from your name?? I'm currently thinking about leaving my degree in brighton and apply for BA LGW... but the money is my main worry at the moment?? The basic of £10,000 wouldnt cover my rent!... (well it would, but only just).. however if what you say is correct, £24,000 is definitely do-able... I'd feel comfortable with anything above £18,000 really

[1flighty1]

Kip_smyth, the thing about those cabin crew diploma courses is that they dont actually guarantee you a job. No-one in my company has done a course. at the end of the day, airlines are going to hire the person with the best personality, customer service experience etc than the person who has done an airline course.
Im glad youve decided to apply for airlines though, thats fantastic! Its great that you are preparing yourself for some knock-backs too...so many people give up after their first knock-back. just stay positive! And you never know, this time could be it!
Goodluck x

[AirborneSoon]

I gave up an $80,000 package as an office worker and have never regretted a moment of that. I even had the chance to go back this year and decided no thanks. What are you really giving up? Life under flourescent lights, a grey cubicle with a view of the kitchen and every visitor to your department asking silly questions like "do you know where the sugar is?"

Oh wait! You won't have to give any of that up at all...

What are you waiting for?