All The Way Up! The Life of a Cabin Crew Member

It takes a lot to be a cabin crew member.

They are dynamic, friendly and well-equipped people who are responsible for taking care of you while you jet off to your destination. From guiding you through emergencies in the air, to making sure you’re well fed and happy throughout the flight, being a flight attendant can be challenging, but it is a rewarding career that exposes you to many opportunities around the world. Ever thought of travelling the world and living your best life? If your fear of heights is not stopping you, perhaps this could be the right career for you. YouthPaper guides you through the life of a cabin crew member.

All Aboard

According to former cabin attendant Michelle Godenschweig, it gets pretty difficult, but this is what a typical day in the life is like: “Being a cabin crew member means more duties than just being behind a trolly serving food and drinks. From regular visual checks to caring for the sick and the elderly, it is a job that makes you become lots of career types at once,” she said. “Being cabin crew also teaches you how to always be kind to people and have a smile on your face, no matter how your day was/is. It teaches you how to be patient but assertive at all times”.

But that’s not all. “Apart from that, a cabin crew member has one thing on their mind all the time – and that is safety! Everything we do, from the type of trays we carry to the utensils we use… all these are inspected first by us as a team in order to make sure it is safe to provide to our guests.”

Keeping these in mind, a career as a flight attendant definitely has its benefits.

“There’s so much to mention but of course travelling is the most amazing benefit and it excites you each and every time you have a new destination on your roster. It’s a blessed job. Well, for a few years only, as it has health complications if time is exceeded, I believe. However, I wouldn’t stop anyone out there to take on a career like this. It has incredible mind-opening opportunities,” she added.

Ready, Set, Jet!

Convinced that the life in the sky is for you? The requirements are very specific. If you ever see a vacancy as a cabin crew hostess, here’s a little taste of what you need for a job at the Emirates Group, for example: You have to be at least 21; your arms have to reach 212cm while standing on tippy toes; you have to be at least 1,6m tall; you need to have a Grade 12 certificate; you need to be fluent in English (written and spoken); you cannot have visible tattoos while in an official uniform; and you have to be physically fit.

But your personality also has to match the standards of Emirates. This means you have to have a positive attitude and empathy for others, be culturally aware and be able to adapt to new environments; be flexible as the work is demanding and have a professional, progressive attitude in life. According to the Emirates website, “all Emirates cabin crew are provided with seven weeks of Ab Initio training in a dedicated state-of-the-art cabin crew training facility at the Emirates Aviation College”.

Qatar Airways is another airline that operates from Namibia. Known for their five star hospitality, it might be tricky to get a foot in the door, but it’s always best to try your luck. The requirements are more or less the same as Emirates, however, you have to be willing to relocate to Doha, Qatar where the airline is situated and be able to work with a multinational team.

Remember that applicants are never charged for interviewed or are required to pay security deposits, so be aware of any scams surrounding this. Keep a look out for recruitment events in Windhoek or South Africa to be a part of the Qatar Airways family.

For Air Namibia, eight weeks of intensive training is required. Aside from being able to swim, you will have to undergo an intense screening process so that you are within the necessary requirements.

In other words, be tall, fit and you’re good to go, because you have to stand, walk, kneel, bend, reach for things, carry heavy objects, pull and push equipment and stay on your feet – all while being in the air. It may seem easy, but it’s not.