Should i fly high?!

[splish]

I want a career in which i can travel and not have to work a 9-5 job. I want to work on an airline as a member of the cabin crew. However, when telling people this they look at me as if i'm mad. I'm 26 and recently graduated with a 2.1 in English. I work in finance but i am bored of the 9-5 and want to do something exciting. I believe that job satisfaction is more important than pay. I don't, however, know how much is earnt in this chosen career. People tell me it wont be much. I am also told that it's a waitressing job. I believe there is much more work involved than this. If any AB-er works for an airline please can you help? I really want to pursue this as a career move but i want to know i'm not seeing a tinted view of the job. Thanks guys xxx

[Panic Button]

I did it for 18 years. It has its good points, but it is not the glamorous job it looks like. To sound like a snob, you don't carry the Jet Set any more!

When sensible people are tucked up in their beds you squeezed into an aluminium tube with the great British public, who can be pretty grumpy when delayed and starved of nicotine.

It is true there is a lot more to the training than just waitressing, and you have to be prepared for many eventualities. It is very annoying when people say you are a trolley dolly, or a glorified waiter in the sky. However as you walk out and say 'Tea or coffee?' for the millionth time you do begin to woder.

The fun reduced over the years for me as the airline managements tried to work out more and more ways to get the passengers to open their wallets and purses in flight. It started for me as a pleasure giving good service, but by the end I was trying to flog scratch cards, or attempting to convince people they really wanted a warm bucks fizz before their breakfast.

Also it is a young persons job with little job security. Airlines are constantly going out of business or being taken over. If you are made redundant it gets harder to find another airline to take you on. I had one redundancy followed by three major redundancy scares so finally got out when I turned forty. I couldn't take the stress with a wife, mortgage and kids to support by then.
I thought colleagues who got jobs with BA had more security, but even they shed 25% of their staff after 9/11.

Anyway my knees couldn't take the constant standing if I was still doing it, and working all night gets harder.

I don't regret doing it as I had good times, but I recommend you don't see it as a long term career.

Probably the best way to do it is to work for an Arab airline in the Gulf for a few years, such as Gulf Air or Emirates. Then come back and get a real job.

[funkymoped]

shame we cant give stars for questions that we dont ask...

cracking answer Panic...
:-)

[society]

I second that Funky. Excellent answer, and very helpful PanicB. Five stars for you :-)

[splish]

Thanks PanicButton. I was looking at applying to Thomas Cook, BA and Monarch. Who did you fly for?
However, you have opened my eyes a bit more... thanks!

[seare]

my mum used 2 be a flight attendant 4 virgin, she loved it, but it isnt just a waitress, the same woman who can searve you t and coffee can also save tour life with all her first aid knoledge and evacuate 455 peole from a boeing 747 in 70 seconds!!! think about that when she says t or coffeee!! she did it for 7 years, it helps to live close (30 minutes topps from the airport)

[gman150]

I worked for both BMI bab and British Airways.
Its not a glam job. You have to get up at 4 in the morning and look glam, your constantly changing your tights in tiny aircraft loos, you end up with food all over your shoes, you are that tired you feel sick and no matter how fit and healthy you are you will sweat in places you never knew existed.
It a great job and you can meet some wonderful characters, and i would go back in a heartbeat.
Air Hostess Job Description - Waitress, chef, barmaid, make-up artist, fire fighter, nurse, doctor, first aider, councillor, negotiator, hairdresser, engineer, cleaner, security cheif and many many more