Airline hostess...glamour job or glorified skivvy?
Discussion
TwigtheWonderkid said:
Why the apostrophes in the decades. It's just a plural. The 50s, 60s etc.
It's an old convention. Modern convention is to not use an apostrophe after the number, but with your example I suspect you should have one before ('50s) to show that you've abbreviated the number from XX50s.My youngest sister works as BA cabin crew. She's been doing it for little over a year and while it may not be glamorous she has been to places that in a different job with comparable salary she would never see. In June she's got St Lucia, Barbados, Antigua and Dominican Republic. She's taking her boyfriend with her to DR for a couple of hundred quid. That's a good month in my book even if you do have to spend 8-9 hours lecturing people about seatbelts and serving s
t food to your ungrateful and rude cargo. Fortunately she works at Gatwick so no India or Nigeria flights. They've started Peru, not sure she'd be keen on that but at least the passengers would be toilet trained.
My auntie was Virgin Atlantic cabin crew and actively encouraged my sister to apply so she must have loved it too. Not a job for eternity though I wouldn't have thought.
As for being a pilot, I did look into it on leaving university but ended up an air traffic controller. I don't get to see the sun set over the Sahara or enjoy the Caribbean for free but I do get to sleep in my own bed almost every night (exception being night shifts), I don't get jet lagged, my commute is 8-10 minutes and I know for certain when my shift finishes, oh and I'll die having never been to Lagos. If I wasn't doing what I am I would be flying though, fantastic job in a great industry.
t food to your ungrateful and rude cargo. Fortunately she works at Gatwick so no India or Nigeria flights. They've started Peru, not sure she'd be keen on that but at least the passengers would be toilet trained.My auntie was Virgin Atlantic cabin crew and actively encouraged my sister to apply so she must have loved it too. Not a job for eternity though I wouldn't have thought.
As for being a pilot, I did look into it on leaving university but ended up an air traffic controller. I don't get to see the sun set over the Sahara or enjoy the Caribbean for free but I do get to sleep in my own bed almost every night (exception being night shifts), I don't get jet lagged, my commute is 8-10 minutes and I know for certain when my shift finishes, oh and I'll die having never been to Lagos. If I wasn't doing what I am I would be flying though, fantastic job in a great industry.
Must admit Ive thought of retraining as a pilot quite often as I walk through the office doors. Especially as I work away from home anyway, so may as well be 5000 miles away as sat in a hotel in Lincolnshire every week! Just looks a little boring being sat at one chair for 12 hours though? Although if you're only doing 3 return flights a month it could work...
Cathay Pacific cabin crew said they had 5 complete days off between flights, or at least they do on the LHR- Hong Kong route. So if they landed at 5am on Saturday, that day didnt count, and their 5 days would start at midnight. First opportunity to work another shift would be Friday morning. He also said they got put on one route and just did that, so he knew London well, and knew HK well, but hadnt been many other places.
Cathay Pacific cabin crew said they had 5 complete days off between flights, or at least they do on the LHR- Hong Kong route. So if they landed at 5am on Saturday, that day didnt count, and their 5 days would start at midnight. First opportunity to work another shift would be Friday morning. He also said they got put on one route and just did that, so he knew London well, and knew HK well, but hadnt been many other places.
Condi said:
Must admit Ive thought of retraining as a pilot quite often as I walk through the office doors. Especially as I work away from home anyway, so may as well be 5000 miles away as sat in a hotel in Lincolnshire every week! Just looks a little boring being sat at one chair for 12 hours though? Although if you're only doing 3 return flights a month it could work...
Only a boring person could make it a boring job. Even on 12hr+ days on short haul you won't be sat in one chair for 12hrs. In fact, I'll stick my neck out here and say the longest you'll be sat in the chair with minimal stimulation is about 3-4 hours on either SH or LH. If you can't stimulate yourself for that amount of time then, again, the issues are yours.As for the boring time in hotels, I won't even try to list what you can do with a bit of motivation, but it ranges from jungle treks in Malaysia to safaris in South Africa via watching the Boston Celtics clinch the Atlantic Division in the USA. If it's a shorter trip or you're tired from home life you can have a meal and go to bed in a reasonably nice hotel. There's almost always a gym and, in the majority of destinations (80%+), you can head out and explore the local area.
If somebody tells you that boredom is a downside then the problem is theirs. The downsides from my perspective are:
1) Lack of sleep - most LH pickups down route are around midnight UK time and it's tough to sleep beforehand.
2) Being awake during the night.
3) Family life - if you have young kids etc.
4) Family events - you'll miss more than you attend
5) Relationships - you'll need a very secure partner; even then they still break down.
Most of the above can be mitigated by flying SH if that's your thing: it's not mine!
3 return trips per month is on the low side. I'd put that as the exception rather than the rule for a full-time worker. Depending on fleet and airline, I'd say that 4.5 trips per month is more the norm for a full-timer, in a productive airline, on a productive fleet. Any less is great and any more can get seriously tiring as the lack of sleep and changing time zones can turn you into a zombie; then your home life suffers more!
pushthebutton said:
Only a boring person could make it a boring job. Even on 12hr+ days on short haul you won't be sat in one chair for 12hrs. In fact, I'll stick my neck out here and say the longest you'll be sat in the chair with minimal stimulation is about 3-4 hours on either SH or LH. If you can't stimulate yourself for that amount of time then, again, the issues are yours.
That's not really true though. People are different, and thus different things are interesting to them. Just personal preference. For example I enjoy my job as it gets me to try and solve puzzles in 4D by putting lots of information and observations together to try and work out what the planet was doing a long time ago. Then at 4pm I'm off out and climbing a mountain and skiing down, or out kayaking for example. Thus for me as a person being stuck in a cabin for 10 hours would be pretty boring, even if you do have electronics to play on or books to read. It's not saying the job is bad, but just because it's not for someone doesn't mean they are boring.What kind of things do you do though? Talking to others, learn a new language, crosswords, learn a new subject, debate politics?
NRS said:
That's not really true though. People are different, and thus different things are interesting to them. Just personal preference. For example I enjoy my job as it gets me to try and solve puzzles in 4D by putting lots of information and observations together to try and work out what the planet was doing a long time ago.
How do you do that? Is it on a computer at a desk? Can I assume an 8hr shift? If, it's on a computer you can do it in you hotel room if that's what you wanted.NRS said:
Then at 4pm I'm off out and climbing a mountain and skiing down, or out kayaking for example. Thus for me as a person being stuck in a cabin for 10 hours would be pretty boring, even if you do have electronics to play on or books to read. It's not saying the job is bad, but just because it's not for someone doesn't mean they are boring.
I didn't say that if it's not for someone then they are boring. I said if you can't find something to stimulate yourself in the lulls then the issue lies with you rather than the job.Skiing: Yup, South Korea, Calgary, Vancouver, Los Angeles. Take your pick from a variety of mountains.
Climbing: Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, Mt Fuji, Yosemite.
Kayaking: As above
NRS said:
What kind of things do you do though? Talking to others, learn a new language, crosswords, learn a new subject, debate politics?
Yes, absolutely, all of that stuff. I'm only talking about stimulating yourself during the lulls and I've quantified how long those lulls last. All of the things you've listed as enjoying could be achieved on different ski slopes, on different rivers or on different mountains around the World; all for the price of a 3-4hr down period where you may need to provide your own stimulation. They aren't 10hr shifts of boredom, far from it. You're busy for the first 2-3hrs from report; you're busy for the last 1.5 to 2 hours before landing and, on longer flights, there is bunk rest and extra pilots to allow the longer flight times.
Just for clarity, once again, I said that only a boring person could not find sufficient motivation to stimulate themselves for the 3-4hr lulls. Funnily enough, to me, it sounds like you'd love it.
NeMiSiS said:
I have found the majority of flight attendants to be male, I don't often fly - twice a year in fact.
They tend to be 25 / 30 immaculately presented, polite , helpful and camp.
Like these guys?They tend to be 25 / 30 immaculately presented, polite , helpful and camp.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEXJ71eX1y0
el stovey said:
Despite what all the experts here tell you, I still love going into work and flying an aircraft, I love taking off and landing and the views from up in the sky. iI feel very proud when I take hundreds of people across the world safely and efficiently. I work with a great group of people I wouldn't dream of doing anything else. Regardless of how stty PHers always seem to think it is
The lads and lassies in engineering would sure appreciate it if you could mop up your spilt coffee and take away that banana you didn't eat rather than leaving it to turn into a squidgy black mess in a cubby hole.tty PHers always seem to think it is
Trabi601 said:
You only realise the value of the crew when things go badly wrong.
I know it's rare, but they're the ones who'll (hopefully) get you off the plane alive if there's a survivable incident.
If you are talking about flight crew I'd be happier if they left the computer to do the flying in a incidentI know it's rare, but they're the ones who'll (hopefully) get you off the plane alive if there's a survivable incident.
I'd imagine Air Hostess is a glamour job if it's want you want to do. A skivvy if not.....
Certainly we travelled to and from Vegas over the past week or so. The flight attendant's worked hard, not sure how much time they get off - I think it might be as short as 24 hours.
The team coming back were probably less 'attending' than those on the way over - but most passengers were partied out and needed nothing but sleep. They were straight on to the mum on her own with two very young children, one of whom was pretty upset. Obviously doing everything they could do to help, passing the baby around etc.
Like most jobs it will surely have it's ups and downs....
Certainly we travelled to and from Vegas over the past week or so. The flight attendant's worked hard, not sure how much time they get off - I think it might be as short as 24 hours.
The team coming back were probably less 'attending' than those on the way over - but most passengers were partied out and needed nothing but sleep. They were straight on to the mum on her own with two very young children, one of whom was pretty upset. Obviously doing everything they could do to help, passing the baby around etc.
Like most jobs it will surely have it's ups and downs....
julian64 said:
Trabi601 said:
You only realise the value of the crew when things go badly wrong.
I know it's rare, but they're the ones who'll (hopefully) get you off the plane alive if there's a survivable incident.
If you are talking about flight crew I'd be happier if they left the computer to do the flying in a incidentI know it's rare, but they're the ones who'll (hopefully) get you off the plane alive if there's a survivable incident.
julian64 said:
Trabi601 said:
You only realise the value of the crew when things go badly wrong.
I know it's rare, but they're the ones who'll (hopefully) get you off the plane alive if there's a survivable incident.
If you are talking about flight crew I'd be happier if they left the computer to do the flying in a incidentI know it's rare, but they're the ones who'll (hopefully) get you off the plane alive if there's a survivable incident.
Edited by el stovey on Wednesday 1st June 15:27
pushthebutton said:
julian64 said:
Trabi601 said:
You only realise the value of the crew when things go badly wrong.
I know it's rare, but they're the ones who'll (hopefully) get you off the plane alive if there's a survivable incident.
If you are talking about flight crew I'd be happier if they left the computer to do the flying in a incidentI know it's rare, but they're the ones who'll (hopefully) get you off the plane alive if there's a survivable incident.
julian64 said:
Still the computer. Not sure I trust 'pilots' nowadays of having much flying ability. Too many accident reports suggesting the pilot was mainly responsible either intentionally or unintentionally for a crash due to piloting skills inferior to the technology.
You don't " trust pilots nowadays of having much flying ability"? apologies if you're speaking from a position of knowledge but it sounds like you might be talking a load of old bks. You do know 'the computer' (whatever that is) is controlled by the pilots don't you? If the pilots die, the aircraft just flies along and then runs out of fuel. It won't actually start descending or land without the pilots telling it exactly what to do. Same in an emergency, as pointed out many emergencies tell you to switch off the autopilot and autothrottle because it's can't cope.
It's not as advanced as you apparently think.
el stovey said:
julian64 said:
Still the computer. Not sure I trust 'pilots' nowadays of having much flying ability. Too many accident reports suggesting the pilot was mainly responsible either intentionally or unintentionally for a crash due to piloting skills inferior to the technology.
You don't " trust pilots nowadays of having much flying ability"? apologies if you're speaking from a position of knowledge but it sounds like you might be talking a load of old bks. You do know 'the computer' (whatever that is) is controlled by the pilots don't you? If the pilots die, the aircraft just flies along and then runs out of fuel. It won't actually start descending or land without the pilots telling it exactly what to do. Same in an emergency, as pointed out many emergencies tell you to switch off the autopilot and autothrottle because it's can't cope.
It's not as advanced as you apparently think.
Flying fascinates me, but I realised this far too late in my career to do anything about this professionally. I've spoken to enough professional pilots to be thoroughly impressed by their mindset. Yes there will always be the odd one out, but it'l never ever be a bad pilot that gets you. It always takes the swiss cheese model of lot's of things going wrong. A bad pilot decision may feature in that or it may not.
We all know about the Air France A330 that crashed. Less people know that it was not the first time that unreliable flight data was served to the machine. Other pilots maintained a familiar pitch and power setting. Wait you say - so it's an Airbus thing? That would not be true either - Boeing pilots have had issues and Boeing also issued reminders as to pitch and power....
So to pilots of PH, I salute you!
I have nothing but huge respect for pilots. Whether that be a cargo pilot, private jet pilot, long haul, short haul or whatever. Ultimately, you are getting us in the air, keeping us there and getting us down safely.
I still marvel at the US Airways pilot who calmly dropped his plane on the Hudson not so long ago. Such a cool head under pressure.
Also, el stovey, puththebutton have either of you flown into Kai Tak or Sint Maarten or anywhere else that's deemed to us laymen as 'tricky'?
I still marvel at the US Airways pilot who calmly dropped his plane on the Hudson not so long ago. Such a cool head under pressure.
Also, el stovey, puththebutton have either of you flown into Kai Tak or Sint Maarten or anywhere else that's deemed to us laymen as 'tricky'?
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