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.
Unfortunately, as of yet, I don't think you can wear a turban while on duty. I can only speak for the airline I work for, but I've also never seen an FA - or a pilot for that matter - wearing a turban during my travels in other corners of the world.
Airline uniform standards are strict at the best of times and any articles that deviate from the standard, whether they are representative of a faith or not, need to be removed or hidden from sight while at work. That means cross necklaces, tattoos, some piercings, and I'm afraid, turbans, to name a few. While on layovers all bets are off and you are welcome to wear whatever you please of course!
There's another factor at work here - safety regulations. One of the inflight safety tools is a smoke hood which is worn over the head to provide oxygen and protection if, heaven forbid, you need to fight a fire. While I'm grateful we have them onboard, it's in part because of them that we have such strict grooming standards; we need to be ready to pull one over our head at the drop of a hat, so for girls that means hair must be pinned back out of the face and earrings can't be too long. For guys, it means that facial hair must be limited and closely trimmed - a beard can interfere with the seal the smoke hood makes around your nose and mouth to supply oxygen. I'm sure my airline would cite that darn smoke hood as a reason to deny you your turban as well. They may also add that it presents a security problem since we aren't allowed to have anything covering our head or face when accessing the airline crew security bypass point.
Don't be discouraged! If becoming a flight attendant is something you're really passionate about I would suggest you investigate airlines worldwide to see if there are any exceptions that allow turbans. I don't take cultural and religious traditions lightly, so I hope you're able to find a great employer or else a comprimise that you're happy with. I will add that I have seen plenty of airport employees and government employees at the security checkpoints who wear turbans!
Good luck!
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Try www.crewgear.com or www.ebags.com. At work we use Travelpro and Samsonite, but there are so many other brands out there to choose from!
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Haha, oh man I have to do this alllll the time and I hate it! I used to get annoyed that people refuse to put their phones down because we're all so addicted to them but it happens too often to lose my cool over it.
So I say, "Sir, just make sure you have your phone off and stowed for take-off". I emphasize "stowed" because I'm so tired of arguing with people about Airplane Mode and whether or not it's ok (it is during the flight but for take-off and landing your electronics do need to be OFF), and that way the guest will usually just tuck it in the seat pocket or in their jacket so I don't have to see it. If people keep jabbering into their phone or texting I have no problem saying, "you're now holding up a hundred other people because we can't close the door until you put that away", and then smile and say "thank you!" as sweet as pie because sometimes it's fun to be nice when people are crabby!
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It is SO easy to get dehydrated on a plane, so I totally get it! I have no problem filling water bottles for guests provided we have enough water on board to complete service. What you can also do is bring an empty bottle through security and fill it up at a water fountain in the airport, or buy one in an airport store right before you board. We even sell bottles of water on the plane for people who know they'll want more than just one glass, but whatever you choose please don't feel bad for asking for water! If you ask politely for an extra glass, or to have your bottle filled, I can't see why the crew would say no.
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Flight Attendant
What's the scariest flight you've ever been on?
Mailman (City Letter Carrier)
Are postal workers more disgruntled than other workers?
Help Desk Technician
What's the closest you've come to "losing it" on someone you were helping?
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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Hey, sorry for the late response! I did some digging on this and I think it comes down to the fine line of dreadlocks vs braids. According to the dresscode at my workplace, dreadlocks are 100% not allowed, however I've worked with guys before who have had long hair in thin, tidy braids who just pulled it back for service. If you haven't already had your interview I would suggest pulling the dreadlocks away from your face with a simple elastic that matches your hair colour, to show that they can be professional and presentable. Perhaps AA isn't as strict - there is definitely a spectrum out there - so I would keep the dreads until you're told otherwise. I hope it's ok!
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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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