Any ex cabin crew out there?

[WhatTheHeckNow]

Anyone who used to be cabin crew - how long in did you realise it wasn’t for you or what eventually made you feel you’d had enough?

I’m 4 months in as long haul crew and not enjoying it. I’m not sure it’s for me.

Before a flight all I feel is nerves and dread. I don’t actually enjoy being away from home - I thought I’d be fine as I usually enjoy travelling - but I’m flying to all these wonderful destinations, end up feeling very lonely and I’m counting down the hours til I can fly back home.

Some of the passengers are lovely. A lot are extremely rude.

Another thing is being so, so tired. I don’t feel I’ve recovered from one flight before I’m off on the next flight and my fatigue is getting worse.

Speaking to a couple of other crew members they say “oh give it a year, you’ll love it”.
I’m not sure I can last that long but I worked so hard to get through all the exams and training and a close family member has made me feel bad for “wanting to give up”.

Any words of wisdom?

Can you change to short haul?

Or reframe it , I followed my dream, succeeded to pass all that was asked of me ( training , exams ect) but have made a CHOICE ( not ‘ given up’) to do something that brings me more joy.
it’s so hard to know how we are going to feel about something we have had little life reference to, exhaustion/ sleep deprivation , distance from family, time zones ect… so it’s not surprising that when you experience it you recognise it’s not for you. No different to working in a cafe and realising it’s not for you after a week, except the input you initially put in.

I worked for Monarch in the late 90s.
Its not the glamour people think it is I only managed 11 months.
Not every job is the right fit and cabin crew is no exception.
Some of the pilots thought they were god.

I worked for BA. Fatigue, poor pay, rude customers, commuting to and from Heathrow were my reasons (I didn’t live down south) and it’s definitely more of a lifestyle than a job as you can be working any day or time. However I always joined knowing it would be a ‘for now’ job not forever. Many happy memories looking back. No regrets.