Cabin Crew - What's it really like?
 

Looking for some advice please ...

In the back of my mind I've always wanted to be a member of cabin crew. Tried with a major airline years ago, 4 years runnning, each year getting through all the stages of interview but unfortunately receiving that awful letter of rejection :*

I currently have a very good office job, with great salary and benefits.
Have a place on an assessment day with a major airline very soon.
My family are all saying go for the interview but you won't like it, constantly flying, it will be boring, vast salary drop, body clock being constantly messed up, etc, etc, Plus I've had a DVT.

The reasons I want to fly are because it's not the daily 9-5 routine, you work with lots of different people, and every day is different. I know I can call the airline before my assessment day and ask what the chances are of being accepted, if I am successful on the day, and then go on to have a medical, and they find out about my DVT. Obviously DVTs are from sitting without moving, which I wouldn't be doing.

For those of you that are cabin crew, I guess what I'm asking is, is it a job you really love? Do you have any regrets? I know only I can decide, but would just be good to know from some of you that may have had good office jobs with good salaries and have made the move.
Many thanks.

Flying is like a disease with no cure (in a good way!) - for those of who catch it Properly, there is no cure except flying for a career. I love it - every single day. Of course, like any job, there are days when you think "will this ever end" but there is never a day when I genuinely dislike my job. It will be a massive salary drop for you, but compare that to lifestyle and then decide if its right for you. I was always that kid who would press his face against the window at the airports watching aircraft land & takeoff, face full of excitement - and I have apparently had 'itchy feet' since I was able to walk - so its a perfect match for me!

No regrets, after 6 years I still love it - have done both Short Haul and Long Haul - and will be flying for many many years yet.

Go for it :ok:

I completely agree. Cabin crew is not just a job its a way of life and once in your system its hard to get it out! Sure, you will have bad days but you will get that in any job. You may get nasty passengers once in a while, but hey you will probably never see them again. Once your day is over that's it, your feet might hurt and your make up has slid to your chin, but you can go home safe in the knowledge there is no pile of paperwork waiting for you the next day.

My advice is go for it, loads of airlines are recruiting so don't limit yourself to one, try the charters and low cost also, its all great experience. I have been flying for 8 years, took a break and now hoping to get back to the life I love!!

Life Style !!
 

Yes, I joined for a couple years to have a bit of fun and then return to the "real world" !

After 28 years, I'm still here .... It's really just an interim thing!!

Daughter asked me: "When did you decide on what career path to choose?"
My answer: "When I work it out, I'll let you know".

In other words, go for it, you won't regret it.

Thank you, I really want to do it :)

I'm thinking I'd prefer long haul over short haul. Obviously there are various different options with airlines. Would you go for Qantas UK who just go to Bangkok, Sinapore and Hong Kong, or would you go for someone like Virgin who offer more variety?

Both Virgin and QFUK have their good points. Personally, I think you're better off at Virgin purely for the variety however being dual based can be a bit of a chore.

Have you considered a charter airline? You get to do both long and short haul, with some pretty good trips that you wouldn't get on a scheduled carrier. Money is generally better too.

Go for it
 

Oh guys your making me think now...

After 8 years as cabin crew i decided i'd had enough and wanted my feet back on the ground, so i've just got myself a nice little job and resigned from my airline a few days ago and leave in 3 weeks.

I had always wanted to be an "air hostess" from a very young age and NEVER regreted making that move, even though it meant moving houndreds of miles away from family and friends. You will meet so many people and i have made the closest of friends from flying.

I think my flying "bug" just gradually flew away and i really started to hate it, but who knows, i may be back!!

My advice is go for it, otherwise you may regret it when you get to old and past it :}:eek:

PB, I left flying after XX years. It took me about 3 months before I was applying again to airlines, I missed it so much but then when I did start flying again, I remembered what it was about flying that got to me in the first place. For me, it was the limitations that come with the job. You can't really progress beyond SCCM. Once you've done that, that's it, at least at my airline. I've dabbled in recruitment and training but again, they are pretty much limited positions, especially when it comes to earnings.

Personally, I needed more, so I'm now doing a degree and working in management for a legacy carrier but everyday, when I see our aircraft, I kinda wish I was flying somewhere.

I flew for about 5 years.

I did enjoy it while I was doing it, but now, I don't bother looking back.

I remember after I had handed in my resignation I had to do a red-eye starting at about 10pm and going through about 6am. I remember thinking that if I ever thought I missed doing this job after I left, I would remember back to that time and how horrible I felt. I would have done anything to not get on that flight, the only reason I didn't call in sicj was because the flight was taking me directly home!

Also, a couple of weeks ago I got on a flight with the carrier I used to work for. Caught up with some old friends during the flight and was thinking "Man, this was a lot of fun" which it was. But then, about 10 mins before landing, mid-descent, some kid projectile vomits all-over the 2 rows infront.:eek:

I don't miss it. The social side, yes, but the reality of the job, definatley not!

Not trying to talk you out of it, it's a good job. I'm just being objective.

Have fun, if you do end-up getting in, it will be a cool experience if nothing more. :ok:

Go for it! You won't regret it.
And when the long haul gets to much after a decade, try charter flying, also GREAT fun.
Enjoy.
Zabian

I would agree with everyone's advice - just go for it and try it. You might love it to bits, you might decide it's not for you. But the best thing about it will be that you tried it, and you will have learned someone about yourself (hopefully). I flew for 10 years, and now am an academic researching aspects of cabin crew communication and social identity construction. I learned that I loved the freedom, but that after a while, it was isolating, and time for me to settle down. Also, my former employer was changing work rules, and cutting salary and benefits, which contributed to me deciding the job was not worth it for me. Ultimately, you will come to your own conclusions, but will have hopefully seen a lot of the world and made some good friends along the way. Best of luck!

Hey Sinala- I think I may have found the cure.......;)

:ok: - Forget the money think NIKE (Just do it!)

Born to fly - fly to shop!

Yes Smile, but no matter how much I practice - I just don't have the god given ability to give birth to one of those cures! :}

Graduate
 

Hi,
I am due to graduate this summer and i was thinking about applying to be cabin crew after that. I know my family will not be happy if i even apply as they will consider it a waste of my degree and not a very settled life. What i wnt to know is has anyone that has graduated gone into the cabin crew industry?
Also is the low pay worth it?

Thanks

Rachel

Rachel
 

There is definitly nothing wrong with going down the cabin crew route after completing your degree. Infact thats exactly what the recruitment officers who I met at EK did, finished their degree and joined EK and are now Recruitment officers for the company. It is all up to you at the end of the day, if it's what you want to do then thats all that matters surely. Exactly what I am doing....finished my degree this summer and now getting ready to fly out to join EK as cabin crew in January!

Working for an airline surely beats working 9-5 at Tesco's...

;)

It's really up to you and where you interests lie. I can see where your folks are coming from, especially if THEY paid for you education. Perhaps you could fly for a while and get it out of your system and then move on. If you decide you like being crew, you will need your degree to move beyond being senior crew, so in that respect, your studies wouldn't be wasted.

in answer to your question, i left uni 14 years ago and went flying 'just for a couple of years'. still have not left as I love the lifestyle! there is no doubt the money isn't great to begin with but then it really depends on the airline you join. as a junior you can expect to take home anywhere from £1000 to £1800, dependant on the airline. charter airlines tend to do longer trips than the main carriers (ba and virgin) but you are not guaranteed to get them. with a charter airline you will generally operate lots of shorthaul before getting longhaul flights. for example, my friend has been with a well known charter airline for 6 years and gets 1 longhaul a month mixed with lots of shorthaul. when she gets a couple of trips she earns £1900/month, on shorthaul only she earns £1200. that said, as a senior crew member I normally take home £2300, not a fortune but ok money. hope that helps x

I have to echo what others have said: it gets into your blood. After all these years, I still enjoy most of it. Sure, there's bad days but I have more good times than bad. And it's not for everyone. Flexibility and the ability to maintain a sense of humor at the worst of times is mandatory!

It's nice to not work with the same people in the same place all the time. Sometimes it's hard being away from home at special times. But that's when crew bonding really sets in. I remember one Thanksgiving when I was far away from home in some hateful hotel and the whole crew got together and made the best of it. We laughed so hard over dry turkey sandwiches and had the best time in spite of it all.

Cabin crew are a special breed, I think. Most of my "normal" friends just don't understand it. There's nothing like a good jumpseat confession to solve the world's problems.

I know I will have to leave soon and it fills me with sorrow. I don't know if I'll fit in so well in another job.

Dea

Flying
 

I was a flighty from the age of 20 and flew for 2 years. I left at the start of this year due to ear problems that prevented me from flying anymore. I miss the people very much, and also the job, but I think back to getting up at 0400 and I dont miss that part!!

I did like how every day is different, and also the team work. I am working in a hotel now and alot of the time I am by myself at the desk, and I miss having someone to chat to.

I would say go for it, the job isnt for everyone, and it does take a toll on your body, so you do have to look after yourself. I had a great time while I flew, and the past month or so I have really missed it!!!

Star84