Jordan
Toronto, ON
Female, 28
Space Waitress, Trolley Dolly, Stewardess...everyone has their own term for us. We are the baby-sitters, life-savers, servers, cleaners and all-around problem solvers for any and every in-flight issue. Sometimes we get a bad rep for being apathetic and miserable despite having what looks like a glamorous job, so here's a peek into the gritty details beneath the shiny surface to explain why the job - though incredible in lots of ways - is more than just snappy uniforms and matching luggage.
Personally, I say NO. Of all the people I've flown with over the years, I can count the number who studied travel and tourism or went to FA school on one hand - and one of them had to wait years after her graduation before actually getting a job, so there are no guarantees!
If you have work experience that demonstrates your customer service skills that will get you a lot farther than a certificate from any school. Of course post-secondary education is an asset, but don't devote too much money or time on just studying how to be an FA.
All airlines will train you to be the Flight Attendant that they want you to be. Sometimes people tranferring from other airlines have it worse than those of us with no prior experience because they have to "unlearn what they have learned". Announcements and procedures that have been committed to memory suddenly have to be tweaked and adjusted for new verbage or standards. I can see the same thing happening with folks who have studied at a school.
In conclusion, I would say do yourself a favour and just get a job waiting tables - I work with countless servers, I was one myself, and when it comes down to it being a great flight attendant means having good people skills and knowing how to solve customer service issues on the spot. Don't worry about all the safety training because the airline that hires you will tell you all you need to know.
I hope that helps!
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Jumping Jehosephat, you've already graduated at 15?? Well, if you're sure you're not destined to become a medical prodigy or some kind of physics genius then yeah, why not become a flight attendant?
The schedule is the trickiest and best thing about the job. It can be nerve-wracking, like on Reserve which is essentially a drawn out period of perpetual suspense not knowing if or when you'll get called to work a flight, and the schedule can also be frustrating - oh it's the long weekend and you want to party? Too bad, you're working 5 flights between Toronto and New York instead.
But it can also be Tony the Tiger Grrrreat! For example, I have a whole week off just because. And that comes in handy since I have really cheap flight benefits that give me no excuse but to take a trip as often as I can afford it. Or I can stay local and catch up with friends and family, and go to the mall on a Wednesday morning when there are no line-ups for the change room!
I suppose I do live out of a suitcase, but it's not as bad as you think. The worst part of that sentiment to me is the idea of constantly packing and unpacking. But if you buy two of each toiletry you need, and pick an outfit you like but won't miss too much when you're at home, you just keep it in the suitcase and it takes all the thought out of it. Don't worry, you get enough days off to spend at home to make up for life on the road. :)
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Phew! Thank you for not publicly denouncing me :) I've been flying a fraction of that amount of time so it's encouraging to know I'm not totally off base with my answers! Try following the Contact link at the bottom of the page to send the Jobster admin your contact info and they can forward it to me. I'd appreciate getting a second opinion on things from time to time!
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Well I don't know anyone personally who has worked at Emirates, but I can share with you the tidbits I've picked up about them here and there since working in the industry. Obviously they have an impressive product - that's maybe what attracted you to them in the first place - they are among the top luxury airlines out there today, offering crazy amenities like onboard showers and probably 20 course meals! But what does that mean for the flight attendants?
Emirates openly recruits from other countries and, like many companies operating out of Dubai, lures employees over with the promise of lots of tax savings to pad your bank account. That said, I'm not sure how competitive their actual wages are, but you can be sure you'll enjoy the tax breaks of living overseas. I think they have a fairly high turnover rate, simply because living in Dubai isn't for everyone. Even people I know who have enjoyed working in Dubai didn't stay past two years. Depending on where you're from, it can be a big culture shock, and you'll be required to live in shared accommodations arranged by the airline, with fellow flight attendants - which could be fantastic, especially for young workers like yourself, or it could be a challenge.
Finally, what I've heard about the work is that it's extremely demanding because their high quality of service requires a high tolerance for their rules. The uniform standards are quite strict (down to the shade of lipstick), and the customer is always, always right, so you might have to bite your tongue a bit.
Now that all sounds like I'm not a fan, but believe me, they are world-renowned for a reason and they must be doing something right! I think 21 is the perfect time to give it a shot and go for an adventure! You'll be working and living alongside like-minded people and you'll be paid to see parts of the world so many people never get a chance to visit. I just had a co-worker leave our airline for a similar situation in Abu Dhabi and she's always posting lust-worthy photos of white sand beaches and fancy hotels and expensive clubs so I take from that that she's having a blast.
If nothing else, try it for a year or two... and let me know how it goes!
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Ooh boy is it ever hard! I've gotten better, learning to ask the right questions to someone who is upset; "what's the problem?", "is there anything I can do for you right here and now to solve it", "these are the options I can offer you, which works best for you?" etc., and usually people will come around.
But it's also important to know when someone is just being unreasonable. I try to listen, understand what they're saying, apologize, and then work on a solution, but if someone is being angry and just not accepting my help it comes to a point where I just tell them I have to get on with my job and care for a hundred other guests and if they aren't going to work with me they can call our Customer Care team on the ground.
I confess I have felt my blood start to boil more than once - it's impossible not to if someone is yelling in my face - and I've had to step back and ask another FA to take over before I say something unprofessional! If someone is pissed off and swearing though we can deny them boarding (the Captain will always support our decision) or, if it happens midflight, we will have local authorities meet the aircraft upon arrival.
We undergo training each year to learn how to deal with unruly and upset guests but unfortunately it's really something you have to experience firsthand multiple times before you become confident in how to respond. I still get wired up when it happens to me!
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If you are the type of person that enjoys routine and structure, becoming a flight attendant will be extremely challenging. There are no guarantees when it comes to an FA's schedule, and while it affords a lot of flexibility, it can also drive people crazy. You will get more time off than at an office job, but you will work some weekends and holidays. There is a lot of unpredictability - you may be scheduled a 24 hour layover in NYC and buy tickets to a show, only to have bad weather cancel your flight and leave you stranded in Toronto. It's beneficial to have a laid-back attitude towards your schedule, and to realize that sometimes it will work with you, and other times against you.
Flying a lot has also made me really identify with the phrase, "there's no place like home!" Being on the road can get tiresome, and when I do finish work and get back to my apartment, I'm usually physically and emotionally pooped (being around people all day can really suck the energy out of me!) Not every FA feels that way of course, but I have noticed an increase in my desire to just stay in on my night's off. Boring I know. I do aim to go on a little trip each month though, even just to visit familiy and friends, so that I take advantage of the flight benefits that had me interested in the job in the first place. Getting on a plane on my day off can be the last thing in the world I feel like doing, but it's always worth it!
I feel really lucky to have the job that I do, I have so much more free time as a result, and I have no problem working an early morning one day and an evening flight the next. A LOT of FAs have other jobs on the side, or go to school, or volunteer. Many raise kids, care for their parents, and have pets. Becoming a flight attendant doesn't mean you can't make outside commitments, you just have to be flexible and embrace the irregularity of the work schedule!
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If the restaurant where you waitress is ok with it, I would recommend holding onto that gig! It's so easy to pick up a shift here and there, around your flying schedule. I sometimes think I should have kept my serving job as well, but when push comes to shove I'll always pick days off over money!
I answered a similar question in a bit more detail above:
"I just got hired as a FA and i have not yet started training. I have been reading a lot of blogs and it looks like other FA aren't able to pick up as much hours as they want. My question is : what types of side jobs can we do to make ends meet?"
Check it out!
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