Summary
- Cabin crew prioritize safety in both their work and personal lives, aiming for safe and efficient experiences.
- Layovers provide opportunities for rest, exploration, and bonding with fellow crew members.
- Cabin crew cherish the present moment and make the most of their travel experiences, appreciating every opportunity to see new places and enjoy life to the fullest.
Cabin crew are used to following rules; it is just part of working for an airline. For long-term cabin crew, it certainly becomes a way of life and the job is part of their lifestyle. So what rules do cabin crew live by in daily life?
1 Safe flight
Before every trip, we have a briefing for safety purposes, and it sets the tone for the whole trip – we always plan to ‘have a good day out.’ We are often working with people we don’t know, and we all want to get along and make life as easy as possible. By starting on the right note, we can set the right mood and enjoy our work. Every flight is a new start with new crew and new passengers. A different story will be written and no doubt the flight will have its challenges. Of course, safety is our first priority and we always aim for a safe, efficient and uneventful flight – and that’s just how we like to keep it.
These mantras carry through into our everyday lives, in that you’ll find most cabin crew to be ‘people persons’ with cheery demeanors and the ability to make friends wherever they go. While we don’t have a briefing before heading out to the bar with our friends, we certainly approach every day-to-day situation with a positive attitude and the hope for a ‘good day out.’
Photo: Azores Airlines
2 Enjoy the layover
A layover can be a blessing and a curse. Sometimes we will get a trip with minimum rest time, so there will be no time to explore or go out, but we will often get upgraded at the hotel, so we are still grateful. The next day or night, we will fly straight back, so sleep is important. There are some cities we might not want to venture into if they are dangerous or risky, and we take these layovers as an opportunity to rest or study.
The best scenario is to have a fantastic crew on a short trip and enjoy our ethic of ‘work hard, play hard’. We might go out together as a crew and have dinner and drinks in the evening to relax after a long flight. The next day, we may meet at breakfast and discuss our plans. We might have time for a short sightseeing trip into the city or for a short stroll to find a nice cafe. If you have new crew who haven’t visited a city before, it’s likely one of the crew has been there and will usually show them around. Some people go out alone, but most crew prefer to go out in small groups for safety.
Photo: Emirates
3 Living in the present
When going somewhere new, it’s important to take in what is around you as you might never go back there. The schedule forever changes, and it can be rare to return to the same city within six months on a large international fleet. You might have a fantastic trip to Tokyo and never go back. Or you might get two trips to Lagos, which is not so much fun. It is important to enjoy the small experiences and make the most of any trip and appreciate it.
Have a new adventure, taste the food, see the sights, and just appreciate the experience. Be present in that moment and record it in memory. Whether you are tasting street food in Bangkok, shopping at a market in Mumbai, or drinking at some swanky bar in Los Angeles, it is a moment in time not to be forgotten. Most people will never get that opportunity to travel. You might even write a book someday or tell your tales to friends and family. Make the most of every moment.
4 Enjoy life
Most cabin crew who have been flying for a while very much take their work to heart. If you didn’t love the job, you truly could not do it. It’s hard work and challenging, not to mention the low salary, but we try and make the most of it. Cabin crew do tend to be ‘young at heart’ and enjoy life to the full. They make the most of every opportunity and like to tell people about their experiences. They like people generally, but also need to have some downtime alone. Despite constant travel, they still need to find new places to explore and will plan their layover very carefully, even if it’s just a walk on the beach and a visit to the local supermarket.
5 Crew friends
When we have great crew on a trip, we tend to stay in touch. Whether we laughed our way through a flight or walked around Sydney Harbor together, we don’t forget those special moments. It’s not easy being away so much, and with challenges that friends and families often do not understand. We often miss family occasions due to our schedules, and holidays are often spent with a group of strangers on the other side of the world.
Cabin crew can rely on their crew friends. They understand those challenges and are always there for you. Whether you spoke to them on the last trip or if it was over ten years ago, they don’t forget you. Cabin crew have a unique bond and stay in touch with each other for many years. In general, they are talkative and will always have a story for you!
Photo: ANA
“When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward. For there you have been and there you will always long to return.”
