Ever wondered what a career in the skies is like? Flown on a flight and wondered what the glamorous flight attendants get up to once you reach your destination? I have the inside scoop on exactly what it’s like and if you’ve ever been interested in a career in flying, this post might just be handy!
Q. Hi Daisy – thank you so much for joining me for this Q&A about the exciting life you lead as an air hostess for one of the most prestigious airlines in the world. Firstly, was this a career that you had always worked towards?
A. Being cabin crew definitely wasn’t the career I was working towards. I actually have a degree in Fine Art. I have a few family members in the flying industry and as my degree was coming to an end I thought why not apply and see if I’m successful or not. I’ve always wanted to travel but of course you have to save money to do that so becoming cabin crew was a great opportunity to see the world for free and also get paid to do it.
Q. I’ve heard that the selection process to become cabin crew is very intense and strict – what exactly can you expect if you want to apply for the job?
A. There are many different stages within the selection process, mine was almost four years ago so I can imagine it could be a little different today. They really just want to see how you can handle situations and how you interact with customers. Working as a team is also critical within this job so it’s also important to show that during the process.
Q. Here’s the exciting stuff! You’ve obviously travelled to some amazing places over the years, is there a destination that has truly captured your heart and is your favourite place for a layover?
A. I have flown to a lot of places that are truly amazing however Cape Town, South Africa will always have my heart. Everything about it is incredible – the food, the views, the beaches and of course the wine. Theres always so much to do and it could never get boring. I’ve actually been three times and I’ve had the chance to take my partner and best friend along with me. If you’ve got a list of top destinations to visit, then Cape Town definitely needs to be on it!
Q. Spill the tea – is flying the skies as glamorous as everyone thinks? Does it have both its perks and downsides?
A. I think like every job it certainly has its perks and downsides, yes. Along with the great layovers we get there’s also the vomit we have to clean up, the used nappies parents think we want to dispose of and the nights where we are running on limited sleep that come with it. Those night flights never get easier by the way!
Q. As someone else who worked in the travel industry, I know how much of a pull this kind of career can have – do you see yourself doing this forever, or is there another part of the travel sector you’d like to put your hands to?
A. Being cabin crew is great but you do seem to catch that travel bug. Time really does fly when you are crew. You’re always looking at the months ahead to book leave or to bid for your next working month so it’s very easy to lose track of time. I don’t think flying will be forever for me as I eventually would like to start a family and have a little normality back in my life. Sometimes I forget what a weekend is.
Q. Travelling by air so often must play havoc with your skin – how do you prolong the effects of any skin damage and stay looking so fresh-faced all the time?
A. It is hard! But routine is definitely key. I swear by Nuskin products – I regularly use their mud mask along with the chemical peel. Also the godsend that is the Lumispa to keep on top of my skin routine. I actually run my own skincare business alongside flying – I couldn’t recommend them enough. You can enquire about these products here.
Q. What’s the best thing about working as a flight attendant?
A. There are a few things that are great about being an air hostess, one is definitely being able to take your friends and family away with you. My partner has pretty much travelled most places with me on my layovers so its amazing to experience them with your loved ones. Cheaper travel is also a great thing about being cabin crew, me and my partner were able to fly to India in business class. It was actually my first experience in business as a traveller and it was incredible.
Q. I see that you mention being “on standby” – what does this mean, and is this every air hostess’ nightmare?
A. So we get rostered two types of standby, there is airport standby where we have to patiently sit at our report centre waiting to see if we are called – we have to pack everthing from a bikini and flip-flops to boots and a wooly jacket. Some call it airport surprise as we never know where we might end up so it’s always good to be prepared. We also have home standby in which we get to stay in the comfort of our own home waiting to see if we need to be used. We are given about 90 minutes to get to the airport if we get called for a duty.
Q. Have you met anyone famous whilst travelling? And if so, who was it and what were they like?
A. This is a question I get asked a lot. I’ve actually had quite a few famous people on board my flights and have had the privilege to serve them. My best one to date has to be Olly Murs, he’s without a doubt the kindest person and super cool. He was so chilled out and was more than happy to pop in the galley with us and have and chat and take some pictures. Ive also served Lisa Snowdon on the way to the Caribbean, as well as Andrew Lloyd Webber, Heather Mills, Natalia Dyer and Charlie Heaton (Nancy & Jonathan from Stranger Things)
Q. I hear that you need to do extra training to be able to work in first class, is this true?
A. After about a year of flying we are trained to work in our First Class cabin, yes. We go through the service and how everything is presented. It’s bascially a fine dining restaurant in the sky. Its silver service so we are trained to lay a table correctly, serve the food the right way and we need so we have the correct knowledge on the products we are delivering. It’s a great cabin to work in so I take every opportunity I can get to work in there.
Q. Lastly, if there was one piece of advice you could give to someone who wanted to join cabin crew – what would it be?
A. My advice would be to just go for it! You’ve got nothing to lose. The process and training are intense but it’s so worth it once you’re online and flying around the world. One other thing I would suggest is to just be yourself, relax and enjoy it.
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