What made you want to fly as Cabin Crew?
Nice-but-dim
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Rural Yorkshire
Posts: 636
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
What made you want to fly as Cabin Crew?
Well, just wondered what it was made you choose this as a career - or indeed what keeps you motivated to do the job.
Particularly on short haul flights I've been on, it looks to be very hard work in cramped conditions, often unsociable hours and, by all accounts pretty poor pay. On the odd long haul I've experienced the FA's seem to have brief bursts of frenetic activity followed by long periods of boredom.
Does whatever attracted you to the job quickly wear off, or does the perceived 'glamour' remain throughout your career?
Particularly on short haul flights I've been on, it looks to be very hard work in cramped conditions, often unsociable hours and, by all accounts pretty poor pay. On the odd long haul I've experienced the FA's seem to have brief bursts of frenetic activity followed by long periods of boredom.
Does whatever attracted you to the job quickly wear off, or does the perceived 'glamour' remain throughout your career?
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: LGW
Posts: 107
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well there is no "glamour" as you put it, the most glamrous bit of the day is when we board and disembark!
(At LGW we dont get to walk through the terminal so no pax see us!)
I started Cabin Crew because I thought it would be something I would enjoy, and I still do.
It is poor pay, and you do work your arse off on short haul, and then on long haul it can get quite boring sometimes.
I dont know why it is so addictive really, I think its the sensations of flight rather than the actual job itself. I mean pushinga cart about is not really a life ambition!
Apart form the safety aspect of our job (paramount) its not really demanding, (although the training is)
I just see it a s nice job, with a nice lifestyle, where I get paid to have a mince about with my friends.
It dosent suit people who come into it with all these minsconeptions though, it really is mainly tea, trolly's and toilets, although when an emergency happens we have to be a nurse/doctor/counsellor/policeman!
(At LGW we dont get to walk through the terminal so no pax see us!)
I started Cabin Crew because I thought it would be something I would enjoy, and I still do.
It is poor pay, and you do work your arse off on short haul, and then on long haul it can get quite boring sometimes.
I dont know why it is so addictive really, I think its the sensations of flight rather than the actual job itself. I mean pushinga cart about is not really a life ambition!
Apart form the safety aspect of our job (paramount) its not really demanding, (although the training is)
I just see it a s nice job, with a nice lifestyle, where I get paid to have a mince about with my friends.
It dosent suit people who come into it with all these minsconeptions though, it really is mainly tea, trolly's and toilets, although when an emergency happens we have to be a nurse/doctor/counsellor/policeman!
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Perth, Western Australia
Posts: 82
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Lots of travel.
Perceived glamour.
Reasonably easy lifestyle.
Travel.
Public industry/hospitality.
Attractive colleagues (that was shallow, wasn't it!).
Chance to do something that I'd never before considered.
So, why did I leave? Something that I thought more attractive came up.
Perceived glamour.
Reasonably easy lifestyle.
Travel.
Public industry/hospitality.
Attractive colleagues (that was shallow, wasn't it!).
Chance to do something that I'd never before considered.
So, why did I leave? Something that I thought more attractive came up.
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: here there and everywhere
Posts: 898
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Why this job?
Because I have always loved aeroplanes, especially big noisy sexy jets. 
And also because I've always been scared of flying.....
YES believe it or not I decided to do this job to fight my fear of flying! Even after all this time, especially during very turbulent weather I still find it unsettling......I look very calm and confident (I have to for the poor passengers!
) but God only knows how my legs shake!!!
I know it's crazy, but it adds to the fun!!!
FBW
By the way, if I am on your flight be sure that you'll have bad turbulence. Even for just 30 seconds, but it will happen. I attract it like a magnet!!!
**ten minutes to landing**
And also because I've always been scared of flying.....
YES believe it or not I decided to do this job to fight my fear of flying! Even after all this time, especially during very turbulent weather I still find it unsettling......I look very calm and confident (I have to for the poor passengers!
) but God only knows how my legs shake!!!I know it's crazy, but it adds to the fun!!!
FBW
By the way, if I am on your flight be sure that you'll have bad turbulence. Even for just 30 seconds, but it will happen. I attract it like a magnet!!!
**ten minutes to landing**
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: england
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Got to agree with you Rabid Dog.....Lots of eye candy!!! 
The airline I work for is one of the big UK charters and we do a mix of long and short haul.
--This summer I have done no more than 3 flights in a row between pairs of days off.
--You get to spend a week at a time on the beach in Mombasa and The Maldives, not to mention other lovely destinations, sunning yourself in the winter when the weather is not too good at home.
--Very good travel perks.
--6 weeks leave a year.
--You don't take your work home with you. Once the day is over, no matter how bad it was, that's it. Tomorrow is a whole new day.
Who wouldn't want to fly!!!! Yes, there are down sides but the pros far outweigh the cons. Happy flying.
"See you on a Glamour Jet soon"
The airline I work for is one of the big UK charters and we do a mix of long and short haul.
--This summer I have done no more than 3 flights in a row between pairs of days off.
--You get to spend a week at a time on the beach in Mombasa and The Maldives, not to mention other lovely destinations, sunning yourself in the winter when the weather is not too good at home.
--Very good travel perks.
--6 weeks leave a year.
--You don't take your work home with you. Once the day is over, no matter how bad it was, that's it. Tomorrow is a whole new day.
Who wouldn't want to fly!!!! Yes, there are down sides but the pros far outweigh the cons. Happy flying.
"See you on a Glamour Jet soon"
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: London
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Having flown for four separate airlines in Canada I thought after many years of doing other things that I wanted to get back into it again.
I now live in London and so, applied to BA. Well, I got the job but after some serious consideration I turned it down. Why?
Unionized environments where promotion is based on seniority not merit.
Pay. If you're living at home with Mom and Dad, fine. If you're living with a handful of other crew, fine. If you're like me who live in the center of London in a beautiful home, my starting salary would barely cover my expenses.
Layovers. Who wants to be cabin crew without layovers? Not me. But as you get older, being away from home so often can be a lonely experience especially with a group of people you've only just met. Sometimes that's a good thing, other times it's CNN and a McDonald's ('cos you can't afford room service).
Passengers. After receiving my contracts I was fortunate enough to do some travelling. I really took a look at the **** crew were having to put up with on flights. I wouldn't talk to a dog in the way some pax were talking to crew. As a younger person I could abide it...but now, forget it. I'd be fired in a heartbeat!
I now live in London and so, applied to BA. Well, I got the job but after some serious consideration I turned it down. Why?
Unionized environments where promotion is based on seniority not merit.
Pay. If you're living at home with Mom and Dad, fine. If you're living with a handful of other crew, fine. If you're like me who live in the center of London in a beautiful home, my starting salary would barely cover my expenses.
Layovers. Who wants to be cabin crew without layovers? Not me. But as you get older, being away from home so often can be a lonely experience especially with a group of people you've only just met. Sometimes that's a good thing, other times it's CNN and a McDonald's ('cos you can't afford room service).
Passengers. After receiving my contracts I was fortunate enough to do some travelling. I really took a look at the **** crew were having to put up with on flights. I wouldn't talk to a dog in the way some pax were talking to crew. As a younger person I could abide it...but now, forget it. I'd be fired in a heartbeat!
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: here there and everywhere
Posts: 898
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
What is wrong????
justinsane, I think you misinterpreted the original post. It asked what made you decide to be a cabin crew, not why you didn't want to do this job.
You sounded so pessimistic, I have to say that I find pax hard at times but hey at the end of the day you're the host and they're your guests, if you don't like the way they talk to you there's always a way to get them to respect you without being fired!!!!
Good luck in your new career.
FBW.
You sounded so pessimistic, I have to say that I find pax hard at times but hey at the end of the day you're the host and they're your guests, if you don't like the way they talk to you there's always a way to get them to respect you without being fired!!!!
Good luck in your new career.
FBW.
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 361
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I wanted the job so much and tried so hard to get in and now i'm flying in the dream job i've always wanted. It's such a simple question and you'd think with all the focus and hard work i'd be able to answer this quesion easily...and it' just so damn hard so here are some scribbled reasons why...
Have the opportunity to make people smile
Grow and become more culturally aware
Be proud to represent my company/nation and community
Fly and ride a jet!!! Crazy plane Buff (i'm one of those weirdos who take photos of planes and run outside the house when i hear one)
Work with really friendly people in teams and feel that team spirit
Oh and of course shopping
Have the opportunity to make people smile
Grow and become more culturally aware
Be proud to represent my company/nation and community
Fly and ride a jet!!! Crazy plane Buff (i'm one of those weirdos who take photos of planes and run outside the house when i hear one)
Work with really friendly people in teams and feel that team spirit
Oh and of course shopping
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: East of Runway 21
Posts: 1,157
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Fly and ride a jet!!! Crazy plane Buff (i'm one of those weirdos who take photos of planes and run outside the house when i hear one)
I'm not CC (yet, anyway
) but the main reasons I would do the job are:a) I like people, and especially I like to help however I can
b) I like the idea of getting to travel and meet new people from different cultures
c) I LOVE LOVE LOVE everything about planes and flying
d) it's the only way I'll ever fly in anything bigger than a Titan without being pax.....
(damn these stupid eyes... I want LASIK for Christmas! 
)Though as my mother rightly points out, I'd probably make a crap CC because I'd want to be up the pointy end all the time, spend half the flight looking out the window, and take three hours to get from arrivals to crew bus (too busy looking at what planes are in particular port...)
Sky
PS - QFmike - I've been away from CC forum for awhile - glad to hear you're finally airborne with the rest of 'em!
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Far side of the moon left after the big crater
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Dudes !!! I love all types of A/C as the next person but there is a border of "Aerosexuality" and lads and ladies... your very close to that border..... Out with the Thermus flasks and Anoraks then.....
(all said in jest, please dont hate me)
(all said in jest, please dont hate me)
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: posts: 666
Posts: 165
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You don't take your work home with you. Once the day is over, no matter how bad it was, that's it. Tomorrow is a whole new day.
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 361
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
SKYSISTA
Skysister!
HEY BABE! ! I aint seen you in ages...begun to get worried about ya!
What have you been up to??? Have you done any interviews lately? I have got soooo many fantastic photos to show you!!!!
HEY BABE! ! I aint seen you in ages...begun to get worried about ya!
What have you been up to??? Have you done any interviews lately? I have got soooo many fantastic photos to show you!!!!
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: uk
Posts: 123
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
What's the appeal of being crew (flight or cabin) nowadays? In the 60s and 70s it was glamourous, but now the conditions are:-
a jumbo/plane full of moaning/demanding paxs, waiting on people with no gratification, a cramped, dirty galley, trays of juices to the ceiling, vile jet lag while sitting on a crew seat at 2am with hours to go, crew rest in an area that is cleaned once a year, cosmic radiation, minimum rest downroute (24hrs in SYD/MEL...).....all in the name of cheap standby travel (praying you'll get on!). Please enlighten me.
a jumbo/plane full of moaning/demanding paxs, waiting on people with no gratification, a cramped, dirty galley, trays of juices to the ceiling, vile jet lag while sitting on a crew seat at 2am with hours to go, crew rest in an area that is cleaned once a year, cosmic radiation, minimum rest downroute (24hrs in SYD/MEL...).....all in the name of cheap standby travel (praying you'll get on!). Please enlighten me.
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: London
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Good question Jerrystinger...please see my previous post above.
For youngsters it's great...for those who have been in the business for years it's also great as the pay can be substantial for not a lot of work.
For those people who are considering it as a third/fourth career move, think again for the points I've raised before.
For youngsters it's great...for those who have been in the business for years it's also great as the pay can be substantial for not a lot of work.
For those people who are considering it as a third/fourth career move, think again for the points I've raised before.
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: uk
Posts: 123
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
so yellow rocket....being at people's beck and call, serving chicken or beef x 1000/month, kissing a** in J class etc isn't working for a living? I sit back and you wait on me.......now that beats it!
Tea, please!
Tea, please!
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: mel
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi all ,I think what you are all forgetting is the reason you started to fly has long gone out the window(pardon the pun) I think most would agree with me ,that it was" first the travel & glam "that you liked about the job.After years of doing it it becomes a way of life fo a lot of us .Not only the good but the bad as well.