“Look after yourself honey, I know you’re young and keen but flying is not like other jobs. There really is a limit to how many hours you can do before it takes its toll”
One of the best about being a flight attendant is working with such a diverse group of fellow crew members of all different ages. Being a relatively new crew member (at least in the scheme of things) where there are several senior cabin crew that have flown for at least 30 years, there are many valuable lessons I’ve learned from the flights that have flown before me. While some may dismiss ‘seniors’ this is unfortunate. Just like an experienced captain, in the event of an emergency, they are often the ones you’d want operating your flight.
They’ve also seen so many situations on board before and have learned the hard way – and the best way – how to confront all that the job throws at us. Here’s some of the best pearls of wisdoms I’ve learned from those that were flying when I was still learning to walk and talk.
Your Body Is A Temple
You’re only good in this job if your body allows you to perform your duties. Senior crew seem to understand better than most that they only can rely on themselves to take care. That’s why they’ll tell stories of fellow colleagues or even themselves that have hurt themselves and been off work for weeks – or months, from doing things (like lifting bags) that they shouldn’t have. They also know how fatigue catches up with you, and how you can burn out if you take on too many extra shifts – even if you’re young and keen.
The fact that they’ve been in the job for so long and are still going strong means they are also a wealth of information for how to stay healthy on the job, how to fight jetlag and all other sorts of little titbits of info when it comes to looking after yourself.
Secrets, Tips and Hints For The Layover
I’ve learned so many handy little tips and tricks from seniors who know our destinations like the back of their hands. From the best places to eat, hikes, markets and also how to navigate public transport from one place to another they are an excellent resource to tap into. They’ve been going there for years after all, and they know things that a guidebook couldn’t possibly tell you.
From a perspective of crew, they know the things we like, our limitations, our budgets and also what to be careful of. Also if you’re really craving a taste of home, they probably know where to get that too.
How to Be Assertive With Passengers When Needed
I’ve found that experienced crewmembers tend to strike the balance of being firm but fair with passengers and knowing how to say no if needed. They aren’t afraid to play ‘bad cop’. This means situations are nipped in the bud before they escalate – for example a passenger who has had too much to drink. Whereas a newer crew member might not feel confident enough to say no, or simply want to be obliging because they are keen to provide ‘good service’, a senior crew will have no hesitation to slow them down, or cut them off if they’ve had too much.
If there’s a group of passengers congregating in the galley and we need the space to work or even just to get a moment to ourselves, they’ll be confident enough to tell them to go back to their seats. Seniors often aren’t seeking company or passenger approval or to climb the career ladder. This means as your fellow crew they’ll be more likely to support you and have your and realise that in many instances we come first.
Some of the best things to say to passengers if there is a missed connecting flight, or a seating issue I’ve learned from the veterans. They know exactly the best way to frame something, and how to respond to questions, complaints and other things such as seating issues in the best possible way.
Work Smarter, Not Harder and Pace Yourself
Efficiency is the name of the game when you’ve got full flights, and there are many little tricks that experienced crew have devised to make things easier for themselves. It might just be setting up the cart with another tray on top to avoid bending as often. Or arranging things in a way to fit more on it so you can avoid running backwards and forth. Even just handing out arrival documentation after takeoff. When it comes to our mature colleagues, you’ve got to give it to them – they often know the most efficient way of doing things!
New crew will learn very quickly the acronym MTO which stands for maximum time off. This basically means the sooner everyone is attended to, the sooner breaks can start and the longer they will be.
One of the best pieces of advice I received when I was about to begin international flying, was from a domestic flight attendant who had done a 10 year stint at long haul. She said to pace yourself. Compared to short flights where everything is a rush, longer flights you will be on your feet for greater periods and not to run yourself ragged trying to get every call bell and to do everything. “You’ve got more time, so remember it’s a marathon, not a sprint.”
There Will Be More Layovers
While newer crew often seize the moment and jam pack as much as possible into a short stay, older crew have seen it all before and they know these destinations aren’t going anywhere. When I first started flying I really had a sense of FOMO if I saw other crew were all doing something together. I felt that I had to say yes to every dinner, or do as much sightseeing as possible with the rest of them on each layover.
Now, I’ve taken the pressure off. If I don’t feel like going to dinner then I won’t and I listen to my body and how I’m feeling. There will be many more layovers and you don’t always have to – or need to be social and active on your layovers.
Some of these lessons I’ve learned quickly into the job, but after almost 3 years in the job, I’m still learning from veteran flight attendants and expect to do so for many years to come. It’s great to have them, and just like newer crew can learn from them, I’m sure they’ve picked up a thing or two from us too.
What have you learned from those that have been flying the skies since before you were born? Comment below!
