To want to be an Air hostess

[AirhostessMum]

As a small child I always wanted to be an air hostess.
I ended up working in a different career and now I'm a SAHM(doesn't pay to go back to work).
I have 2 dc age 2.9y and 8m.
My OH is 13 years older than me and he's seen alot of the world and lived in very exotic places.
I would have to wait untill dc start school so I would be nearly 30(I know that's not old btw but wondered if it's too old to start doing this as a job)?
Also still haven't passed my driving test although have enough time I suppose for that!
I don't really want to go back into my old career.
Are there any mothers out there who combine this job with children?
Thankyou for reading

YANBU but having overheard the last cabin-crew I travelled with complaining long and loud about what shitty pay and conditions they had (and they may go to exotic places but they don't stick around long enough to enjoy them) I don't think I'd recommend it as a career to anyone.

Hi airhostess

I worked as cabin crew 6 years ago, short-haul just european. altho i didnt have any dc's then, many other crew did, and im pretty sure you can work part-time, or if you do full time, arrange your hours so you are around for school pick up etc (or whatever would suit you) most days.

i would definately recommend passing your test and getting a car. I didnt and found it really hard to get to and from work for 5am in the morning.

good luck!

Thankyou Chil.Actually I know the pay is meant to be quite poor and it isn't as glam as people make out.
Just wondered if there are any mums out there who do this job because I've never met any in RL.

Thankyou chocolate!Now you have dc would you go back into this line of work?
Great to know you met other parents!I need to pass my driving test(I'm not very good).Thanks

My sister worked as cabin crew. She didn't have children though.

It is very much a young persons place at entry and you may struggle to get employment at 30 without prior experience.

All airlines are different but most offer yo a low basic wage and then you get "secotr pay" which is a small bonus like commission for each flight you work.

Short haul flights will end up earning you more money as you can do 2 or even 4 flights in a shift sometimes.

If you do long haul you will usually be away for at least a day or so at a time and whilst the basic pay is slightly more the sector pay is less.
Easyjet is one of the highest payers, Ryanair the lowest.

I would say that if you have a supportive family then it can work, but it would be difficult. Also, do you live near an airport? when on standby you have 45 minutes to get to the port.

Not sure what the lack of driving licence has to do with anything?

My parents both used to work for BA, both started as cabin crew and LOVED it and then moved into management. My Father has always said to me that if it was like how it was in the 70s/80s it's the best job on earth (long breaks, allowances, good hotels, concorde, unaudited bottles of champagne etc) but now it's very different. It's hard work, long hours, very very limited time in the destinations (I have a friend who works for sleazyjet and does up to 3 back to back places in one day so like London-Paris-Paris-London-London-Nice and back plus one more IN ONE DAY) awful pay etc.

But the social side is meant to be amazing and you do get to travel, even if you don't get to see the places you go to...

I think it's a young person's job really, they haven't got dependents at that age and they can share flats with other cabin crew. That doesn't mean to say that you can't, just that it's possibly more difficult for you.

If I had my time again that's what I would have done - then trained to be a pharmacist.

Oh and if you do shorthaul you don't actualy get to see the countries you visit. You literally don't get off the plane. They don't even stamp your passport as you remain "air side"

it is no more glamorous than being "trolley dolly" on a train.

Thing is, if you want to actually see the countries you visit, by definition that's going to mean being away at least overnight as otherwise when would you get to see anything.

So realistically, only going to work if your OH is able to look after the DCs while you're away, and if you won't mind being away from them a lot.

If travel is the attraction, would your OH consider all 4 of you moving abroad for a while? Good time to go, before the DCs are at school.

MamazOn... I'd absolutely disagree with you. For a young person, it is an excellent way of building confidence and getting some independence. My Mum always referred to cabin crew as 'trolley dollies' and I found it quite offensive really. I wish I'd done it, there's lots of scope for learning languages - or there used to be - and even if it doesn't quite have the glamour of the 1930s, it's a good first job to have.

Hmm - as others have said, it's not really a job that enables you to see the world if you want to be around for your kids too. To spend any time in other cities you'd need to do long haul, which would take you away for several days at a time. Short haul you wouldn't see anything other than airports.

SIL used to be crew for JAL and BA pre kids, but couldn't do it post children; she loved the whole travelling/seeing other countries and so did long haul, but couldn't face being away so much, having to be on call near the airport etc.

Thankyou everyone for great advice.Wonderful to hear your insights from yourself or your families.
Lying-I wish too that I had done that career first then my boring skincare job after.
My dh has alot to do with Malta so if we did move abroad it would be there minipie!
Thanks again

I was cabin crew for over 20 years (showing my age ) with a BA and they were the best years of my life. I loved it, and like you it was something I'd wanted to do since I was little. I flew before I had children and after and it was difficult at times, and tiring, but ultimately the best job in the world (for me personally).

Missing Sports Days, Parent's Evening, Nativities etc, and getting up at the crack of sparrows for a 0530 report wasn't unusual, and roster changes at short notice and sorting out your childcare was frustrating. BUT it was a fabulous job - we stayed in the best hotels, money was great, got to see the world - however, it's not quite the same now. Savings are being made everywhere, and the money (if you're not on long haul flights) isn't fantastic, and like someone else said upthread, if you are on SH with bmi, or easyJet you can do lots of sectors in a day without even setting foot off the aircraft. Lots of my friends still fly, and work extremely hard for their money.

But despite all that I totally regret leaving to be honest. Fantastic job, and the good really outweighs the bad - go for it! Good luck!

a BA?

BA.

Thanks Slutty!(great name btw).I assume you started air hostessing fairly young.Did you ever come across any new members of staff who were 29/30 ish?(The age I'll be when I'll be able to get back into work).
Would you go back into it Slutty?Glad that you loved it though-makes me wish I did it ages ago pre-dc!
Also untill my dc are old enough to start school I was looking into cabin crew college courses that run from Sep to June and you do evening classes.The course costs £500.I'm wondering if it's worth it to do this in the meantime?
I understand it's very difficult to get any job in this current climate so don't know if it's beneficial to do a course or not

Think about some of the people you have seen at airports and possibly shared flights with - arrogant businessmen who think the world revolves around them, stag and hen parties drunk off their faces before they even get on the plane, people with "energetic" small children and a laid attitude towards preventing them kicking other people's seats/running up and down the aisle. Then imagine getting sealed into a box with them for several hours while you either try to flog overpriced food, drinks and lottery tickets to them (low cost airlines) or get barked at for free drinks, peanuts and extra pillows (long haul).

How often do people come down with germs and bugs after travelling on a plane? You'll get exposed to all the coughs, colds and goodness knows what the passengers have every flight you make. You get all the boring travelling bits of holidays without hardly any time at the other end to enjoy yourself - for short haul they just run a few cloths around, vacuum, refuel and then load the passengers on to go back the other way. Delays and disruption make you late and the passengers grumpier. The uniforms are sometimes really dire (easyjet orange!), the pay isn't great and you work bizarre hours.

I can't say it appeals to me personally, but if you've got your eyes open and are really keen then go for it!

I am cabin crew, due to go back flying in July when my ml ends. I am dreading it, however loads of my flying friends manage it children. It is not the job I used to be. Sorry to sound negative. It used to be laugh a minute, what happened down route stayed down route, the uniform, the glamour ect. All that change after 2001 and the job will never be the same. Targets, constant flexible rosters and hard hard work.

Mam-thankyou for your reply.I'm sorry to hear you're dreading to go back.
Have you seen anyone employed completely new who are nearly 30 though?
Don't want to waste my time doing a course if I'm going to be too old

AirhostessMum - at my name :) oh yes, I was only 9 when I started

29 is not too old! A friend of mine has just started flying at 50+!

If it really appeals to you, just start applying and see if you can get a temporary summer season with a charter airline first. Honestly, age is no barrier. Personality is everything when it comes to being crew. They are looking for someone who loves being with people, who's adaptable, friendly and approachable - someone who obviously wants to do it, and can deal with all the passengers that givemushypeasachance refers to with a smile on their face at two o'clock in the morning after a 6 hour delay.

If you're not fussed about being on long haul, and just want to fly, then maybe one of the low cost airlines would suit you better - home most nights depending on your base. Charter = lots of night flights, but if you've got kids, you'll be used to being up all night anyway! Are you near big airport (better choice to apply to)?

Those courses are ok (I used to teach a cabin crew module at a local college) but they don't guarantee you a job - I'm not sure whether the airlines set much store by them, it's more what they see at the interview stage that determines whether you're in or out.

And yes, I'm thinking of applying again next summer - miss it loads. :(

Hope this helps - go on, apply! PM me if I can help with anything else.

Thankyou so much for the encouragement and advice Slutty!
I think I will be needing to PM you(I hope you don't mind)
Wow glad you're applying again!I would love to apply right now but don't know if I can commit myself with my youngest who is 8 months-childcare cost etc.
Do you think doing a course will better my chances in the meantime?
Also Slutty are your children at a good age now re you are thinking of going back into this?
Sorry for all the questions-just find this fascinating and would hate to look back in years to come and regret not trying for a job that has always interested me from such a young age.
at starting at 9 hehe!

No worries AirhostessMum, pm whenever you like - have a look into the course and see what you think - at least it will give you an idea of the job. But best think to do is just apply, go for interviews and see how you get on - maybe give yourself this summer off with the baby, and start applying in the autumn for next summer season. My lot are teenagers now so don't need me as much now, apart from taxi service, cashpoint and shoulder to whinge on. Follow your dreams

Aw mamzelle, I know how you're feeling, I felt like that after every ML (well three of them). I used to dread it, but the thought of it was worse than the actual doing it I found (except for SEP!), and it was lovely to have a hotel room and a night off to myself at times! Things ain't what they used to be though, I totally agree, it's bloody hard work. Good luck when you return to work :)

Thankyou SluttyAlso lovely how happiestblonde-your parents met and how they loved working as cabin crew!

They met because they both had medical backgrounds and a man had something akin to a heart attack, they both stayed to help him once the plane landed. They were engaged to different people but my father insisted on taking her number despite her refusing a date as she was engaged, my mother actually went to my father's first wedding which broke down independently of them after a couple of months and my father got in trouble for dancing with her too much! My mother's fiance was an abusive twat and she ended up in hospital for a bit of a breakdown due to him, when she came out she called my father, not knowing he and his wife had split up, and he invited her for Sunday lunch. She stayed the night, he slept on the sofa, and she never left, moved in that weekend. :)

Awwwww that's lovely happiestblonde it sounds like a real-life romantic film!

I worked for a medium haul airline when I was 20 - I'm glad I did it to 'get it out of my system' but for me, it was the shittiest job ever.