Cabin crew gossip

[KCPR]

I’m happy to answer all your questions about Emirates. I used to fly and now I am passenger flying around 3x a year. It’s very strict with each flight 100% monitored. The lipstick and nail varnish is called Emirates red and all salons in Dubai know the colours. Nails have to be naturally manicured, french or Emirates red. Hair has to be a “natural colour” balayage is not allowed. Skirt length is measured and personal hygiene is monitored. Drinking before a flight is forbidden and you have to stop drinking 12 hours before. If you get caught you are “dead headed” on a flight and sacked on the spot on return.
Some funny stories are that lots of passengers have never travelled such luxury and Indian passengers that have never been outside India in particular LOVE a freebie. There was one in particular that “wanted the gift bag you gave to that lady” I insisted he didn’t need it and he insisted he did. He flew with a sanitary towel over his eyes thinking it was an eye mask.

 

[bubbadabut]

I never made it as cabin crew, but I did have an interview with Virgin Atlantic at the Malmaison in Manchester. The selection process was so cringe. Had to write and perform a song and dance all about Virgin Atlantic/Richard Branson. Needless to say I didn't make it to judges houses.

 

[Pampas]

Haha yeah I don’t care if you’re hanging and you have to put on full make up and heels to pick up my rubbish, but pilots need to grow the fuck up right?

Wow! what an insult to a group of people who are there to look after you.
Are you aware that cabin crew are trained in firefighting, Childbirth, dealing with deaths on board, evacuating hundreds of people should the plane crash on land or water, disruptive passengers and so much more? Of course pilots are important...they're flying the plane, but they sure as hell ain't gonna leave the cockpit to come and perform mouth to mouth and CPR on you or your loved ones if they were to have a heart attack ( more common than you would think) during a flight.

 

[I am undercover]

I heard from a friend of a friend who worked for emirates and left after a year because they are so particular about your weight (apparently they do weigh ins!) the type of red lipstick you wear and the length your skirt is (she said they go round measuring it with a ruler distance from knee?!) how strange

I can confirm this is true or atleast used to be. My cousin works for them, I also applied many years ago and they insinuated on my 1st interview that I was too fat to work there. The guy interviewing me literally told me I'm "not really in the Emirate girl bracket" (whatever the fuck that means!) It ruined my confidence for years.

 

[Meangirl815]

I worked for BA at their customer service call centre.
I know of one 'celeb' who put in a written complaint re the quality of the toilet roll in first class

(it was Andi Peters)

 

[Aceofspades]

I am eternally grateful for cabin crew and will always defend them when I hear people refer to their jobs as trolley Dolly’s or similar. On my honeymoon flight my husband took seriously ill and their support and emergency training was legit second to none. Not only did they have to keep me and the random guy I was set next to calm (who was hysterical at how poorly my husband was), they had to administer emergency medical training to keep my hubby safe until we had an emergency landing. They were also dealing with abuse from other passengers who were complaining about their drinks/snacks being late due to said medical emergency it really just shows how much goes into their role, so far beyond the waitressing side.

ive always been tempted to pursue the role myself being multilingual and desperate to see the world, unfortunately personal circs meant it was never to be, but I’d say even if you’re floating with the idea, just go for it!!

 

[SamBamford]

A few years ago we were living in Abu Dhabi for my husbands job. His company messed up with my visa, I'd been there over 9 months and not heard anything from them. To sort it they had to pay a fine and I had to leave the country and return again. They booked me a flight to Oman and back again the same day. Going there was only a few on the plane. Coming back it was a stopover from Bangladesh, a plane full of young men going to Dubai for work so it was full. I had a middle seat. On one side the lad was ogling my breasts with his mouth open. The one in the window seat got his knob and and was having a wank while staring at me. All it took was one terrified look from me to cabin crew and it was dealt with swiftly but quietly. He was brilliant despite the passengers being excited, unruly and using phones, he was so pushed, he saw I needed help. He got me out of that seat so fast. Boy, was I grateful.

 

[FlyingGirl4]

Oh yes lack of respect and general bad attitude/abuse from passengers was one of my main reasons for quitting. Once I had woman say to her young daughter in front of me whilst I was collecting meal trays “see if you don’t work hard at school you’ll end up working here like her”. You try and not let it get to you, but a few years after and that comment still hurts! My friend unfortunately had to give CPR on a flight and someone attempted to step over the poor person in the aisle so they could get to loo (even though there were toilets behind them).

Hey @Dipdab a colleague of mine once told me he had some lady say this to him whilst he was serving in Economy and he politely told the kid sat next to her “and if you don’t work hard in school, you’ll end up in Economy like your mother”… I was in stitches I don’t know why people think they can speak down to those who serve them best job in the world, gutted I had to hang up my wings!! X

 

[DCICassieStuart]

Wow! what an insult to a group of people who are there to look after you.
Are you aware that cabin crew are trained in firefighting, Childbirth, dealing with deaths on board, evacuating hundreds of people should the plane crash on land or water, disruptive passengers and so much more? Of course pilots are important...they're flying the plane, but they sure as hell ain't gonna leave the cockpit to come and perform mouth to mouth and CPR on you or your loved ones if they were to have a heart attack ( more common than you would think) during a flight.

Thank you @Pampas . You've put it better than I ever could.
The nerve and condescending attitude of some people is absolutely unbelievable

 

[HoGi]

Haha yeah I don’t care if you’re hanging and you have to put on full make up and heels to pick up my rubbish, but pilots need to grow the fuck up right?

Cabin crew are soooo much more than picking up rubbish.

They are the ones looking after you if you fall ill or there is an emergency situation. I would rather they weren't breathing vodka breath over me and were at full capacity and not hanging thanks.

 

[ASAnigel]

I’ve worked for my airline as CC for 7 years now.
When I started and for a few years after, we had to step into a square marked on the floor and none of your body was allowed to stick out - this was claimed it’s so that in an evacuation you don’t impede an exit as our space to stand whilst pax get out is very small. We don’t do this anymore tho.
I absolutely love my job, but the thing that has always got to me is the complete lack of respect for what we do and what we’re trained to do. I’ve had someone tut and have a go at me twice whilst trying to save someone’s life (and we did thank you very much)
I’ve also had people complain their dinner is taking too long when we’ve been dealing with a very serious tech issue.
I’ve never come across a pilot that would risk their lives/pax lives or their jobs by turning up over the limit. I know it has happened tho, but this is usually a deeper problem with alcohol rather than just wanting to let their hair down.

I still think it’s the best job in the world and feel so lucky to go to the places I do. It’s def more fun when you’re single but I’m not and still love it

 

[Libbylulu]

I’ve flown with Singapore Airlines many times and whilst the attendants look good in their uniforms, I always wondered how they’d manage in an emergency. Their uniforms are so tight and long and they have tights and backless sandals. I’d rather someone in a jogging pants and t shirt if it meant they’d get me off in an emergency.

 

[mcfeez]

Cabin crew is one of those jobs to me that seems fun in theory but the more I think about it - it must be gruelling at times. They always seem to be in a good mood even constantly serving people in such a restricted setting, so far away from loved ones at times.

The stories above around the selection process and appearance are crazy! Though I do often see the cabin crew women in particular and always think they look so put together, good make up and hair, and how much I'd hate that.

 

[annanuttall]

Years and years ago there was a story of a girl who was too short to be a flight attendant so she had her bother leg broken and then stretch so she could be tall enough. Does anyone remember that story, it was in the press? I wondered what happen and did she actually get into her dream job.

Edit:// just found the story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/1147874.stm

 

[Lovegin]

I never use kettles in hotels nr airports after reading that stewardesses use them to wash their knickers, is this true?

 

[To cat lady]

I have a few tales on this!

someone I know (pilot) was dating a cabin crew member. When the captain found out he said “well what’s the point in dating the crew if you can’t take full advantage, I’m going to the bathroom for 15 mins” and the girl came in and gave him a blow job on the flight deck they only didn’t shag because she was on her period

 

[CheshireTea]

I heard from a friend of a friend who worked for emirates and left after a year because they are so particular about your weight (apparently they do weigh ins!) the type of red lipstick you wear and the length your skirt is (she said they go round measuring it with a ruler distance from knee?!) how strange

 

[LyraBalaqua]

I can confirm this is true or atleast used to be. My cousin works for them, I also applied many years ago and they insinuated on my 1st interview that I was too fat to work there. The guy interviewing me literally told me I'm "not really in the Emirate girl bracket" (whatever the fuck that means!) It ruined my confidence for years.

I love airline threads but your experience is shocking , the man who interviewed you was a twat!

 

[Nannycaff54]

I worked at Gatwick cleaning the planes, we prepared the Virgin 747 that was doing the inaugural flight from Gatwick to Vegas. Richard Branson was coming to fly on it. We asked if we could hang around and see him and were told no,anyway after finishing we were called back to the stand and Richard was waiting for us to personally thank each one of us for doing a great job, he then lined up all the male cleaners with the Vegas girls for a photo shoot and then told us that lunch was on him. A very nice man.

 

[witchofwestbyfleet]

My uncle's wife (it's hard thinking of her as my aunt, she is only a couple of years older than me and my sister!) was Emirates cabin crew when they met. She now works making artsy bags to sell at craft fairs / online, I know which I'd rather be doing LOL

I believe Virgin Atlantic now allow female crew to wear trousers but it only changed recently. I knew someone who is or was cabin crew with BA (not sure if she's still with them) and didn't like feeling expected to be "sexy", in the end she asked for the "modest" uniform intended for Muslim flight attendants or flights to Islamic countries - they knew she isn't a Muslim but she made up some other religious / cultural reason and got it! I work in market research and pre-COVID we worked with BA every year for customer satisfaction research among frequent fliers, the number of "female cabin crew are ugly / don't dress sexy enough" comments disgusts me. Just be grateful they are there for your safety!