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♥ vogue.
"Don't ask the question you don't want to know the answer of."
Life as a Cabin Crew
Sunday 29 December 2013 | 02:48 | 0 comments
Don't get me wrong. I love flying. I love the people I've met till date and thank each and every one of them for shaping me into who I am today. There are people I've met which made me want to be just like them and some which I tell myself, to never become one.

I would say it was a little strange on how I came to this decision. Actually, I somehow see working just like being in a relationship.

It was not as simple as just leaving one airlines and joining another. It was about leaving flying and probably, for good. There were many reasons that led me to decide to leave but I guess the most important was clearly, studies. Before I came into flying, I told myself, why don't I just take 2 years to do what I really love and wanted to do since young - cabin crew/flight attendant and so I did. I'm glad I chose it. Of course, there were ups and downs.


Every crew knows the path to flying is not easy as it seems. From interview to training to exams to graduation and spreading our 'wings'. Well, it doesn't just stop there. The license doesn't just come just like that. We can't just apply for it. We worked for it and yes, there is an expiry date.

You might have heard your friends who are crews telling you, "no, we can't afford to fall sick during training." which is very true. We can't afford an MC even if we fall sick. Because each single day of training is that important. If we miss one, we might have to start everything all over again.

Every single flight is something different. You might see it as just simply 'waitressing' but it isn't. We do face the fear of 'unexpected emergency', 'breach of safety and security', 'medical cases' and also, 'being asked to leave'.

So don't go telling your crew friend, "but you just go on board and ask coffee, tea, orange juice, fish or chicken mahs." Your friend might just smack you with an oxygen bottle (if they can differentiate an oxygen from water extinguisher. haha!) or, tell you to save yourself in an event of an emergency.

oh yes, the worst kind of comments I've ever heard from people on low cost carriers/scoot in particular?
That we will never be on par with international airlines. Yes, I agree for service and what we can offer in a flight. But if you are referring to first aid, security and safety aspect, I beg to differ. I've seen other LCCs which really don't care much about safety. And if you really like to refer to Scoot as a lousy airlines as compared to Singapore Airlines or others in terms of first aid, security and safety, give the crew a moment as we get a crew from the other airlines to attend to you.

2 months of training, close to 19 months of flying. It really isn't easy. The moment you decide to leave your house and report for a flight, it isn't just about you alone. 10 other crew members, 2 being your flight crew, and the lives of other passengers lie in your hands. If you are not feeling well that day, be it mentally, physically or emotionally, you either report sick else, pull yourself together and perform. I would say, it's a whole different persona when I'm with and without the uniform. Behave professionally when you are in uniform, even if it means having to meet your worst fear.


Do we meet people we don't like on a flight, i.e, crews? Yes we do. You have 2 options. 1) swap away that flight. 2) go for it and work as a team. Your personal grudge is out of the plane, not inside the plane. So we will be treating each other nicely in the plane. We do not practice zapping of crews/juniors. At least I don't and so far, I've not met any who do that. Address us as fake if you like but I call that teamwork.


Before I became a cabin crew, all I thought was, you just need to wear your uniform, go on flight and serve pax. Nope, not that easy. Homework has to be done beforehand, such as flight information, crew information and station information. Be sure to go around saying Hello when you report. You don't want to appear unfriendly, will you?

I guess I will find it hard to forget airline terminology. Flying has somehow been encrypted (woah!) in my blood.

There is a sentence which one of the CICs told me before which I will never forget it for the rest of my life and for everything that I do. "If you want to do something, do it properly - see it through, else just don't do it." Which is very true. Why would you want to do something half way and abort it? If not completing/achieving it was part of your plan, then why do it in the first place? Which CIC? ta-da!


it's a pity she has left but I will remember her teachings!

Most memorable passenger/flight?
I loveeeeeee how our passengers press the call light by accident and each time we go over, they have different answers for us. This is what I love cos' I can share them after that. haha!
Our typical approach when a call light is pressed.
crew: "Hi! Can I help you with the call light?" / "Hi, do you need help for the call light?"
Answer, type 1.
pax: "Oh yes. *cancels call light.* can you xxxxxxxxx"
Answer, type 2.
pax: "huh?"
crew: "the call light. would you need help for it?" *points to call light*
pax: "huh?"
crew: "it's okay." *smiles, cancels call light, walks off*
Answer, type 3.
pax: "huh?"
crew: "the call light." *points*
pax: "oh! sorry sorry! By accident."
crew/pax will cancel it off.
Answer, type 4.
pax: "huh?"
crew: *points*
pax: "Not me! *raises both hands* I never press anything!"
crew: "it's okay. Maybe by accident."
pax: "not me! I really never press!"
crew: "no worries." *cancels call light, turn around and call light chime sounds again. Turn back, it's the same passenger!*

of course, we have the continuous dong dong dong kinds. But all these are just simply sharing, not making fun of any passenger. 

most memorable flight? There was this particular flight whereby I went "WTF" right after it. Not bout the crews nor passengers. It was just something else.


"So good hor. Fly for free."

Yeah, heard of that many times. We do fly for free but we do need to work in a flight. If a flight is tiring enough, we sometimes, just head out to grab some food after touching down and we will just sleep for the rest of the day till reporting the next morning. Till date, there have been a few times whereby I wake up and ask myself, "where am I at?" then I stare at my roommate (who is asleep) and wonder "who is that uh?"


Crews have their days as well. But like mentioned, we have to be professional once we are in our uniform even if it means meeting our worst fear. I have to admit flying has changed me much. Into a more bubbly person, which I don't know if it's good or bad. I don't know if it's because I'm in the uniform, hence I'm bubbly or it has just changed my character as a person. One other thing, it has also changed my temper for the better. Used to be complaining at the slightest matter, tweeting the moment it happens but after being a crew, yes still complain but the tweeting on what happened just seconds ago has died down.

Just like what one of my trainer/ex IFS with SQ told me, "sometimes you have to listen to the pax. Listen to what they are saying. You think pax want to throw temper at you one mehs? They don't. They want a good flight to their destination too." Which is why, I strongly believe in listening and trying to understand. Faking it and really meaning it are two different matters.


Trained to have the poker face. So even if you irritate the shit hell outta me, my face is straight on the outside though it looks like this on the inside.


Things change, people come and go, and time goes on. Bonds were created and friendships were formed.

Will I forget whatever that took place? I won't. It has become a part of me that cannot be forgotten. What will stay are the friendship and memories. They will stay a lifetime with me. I can never forget the times of eating our meals halfway yet having to leave the galley to answer a call light, taking turns for toilet checks, having to solve a situation that meets both the pax's demands yet at the same time standing from our company's point of view. I will miss closing all the (super duper heavy and i always wonder what pax bring onboard) overhead compartments and scrambling to close if it rolls down during take off/landing. I will miss all my passengers and the valuable lessons they have given me. I will miss 'gym-ing' in the galley and definitely remember each and every delay fought.

Like I said, I somehow see working as being in a relationship. There are both good and difficult times. Some things can be while some can never be solved. Leaving doesn't mean it's the end of everything and it might not necessarily be a bad thing. It's definitely not about "if you really love it, you wouldn't leave." I mean true to a certain extent, you may love doing something very much but it might be just, some things were not meant to be or rather, something else might just be waiting for you.

It's just like being in a relationship, you have both the good and the bad times, and you just won't be unable to every single thing about your other half. Or even maybe, you two get along very well but somehow somewhere, you just know it's not the correct person. And you will come to learn, letting it go is better than holding on. It's not about fighting for a change or salvaging the matter but of course, you do not just let go of things like that without even trying. You will still give chances to both parties till things finally get better or you have finally come to accept the fact. There is a certain limit to both acceptance and compromising. Ok, I better not deviate.

And, I know. People do speak and I've been hearing lots. I usually don't care much but well, might as well take this chance to clear the air. I'm not attached to any crew or to any person. I do know of people who are just genuinely curious while some are just using it to kill time in the galley/start spreading gossips. I don't know what you guys have been hearing but bottom line, I'm not attached. Thank you. :) You are welcome to introduce any person you think might be my other half though.

Last but not least, I thank each and every one of you for all the sane and insane moments and making my flying career a memorable one.
























Of course, there's only so much we can tell you about our work/occupation. You will only come to truly understand the life of a cabin crew if you are one yourself.



Thank you to the team for the memorable last flight. I guess it's true. You will never forget the first and the last. I really did have every urge to cry but my work position was really too awkward to do so. And when all the passengers disembarked, there was the second surge but it somehow just got held back.

Well, whatever it is, I love all of you! And stay safe while spreading your wings! =)

ps: now you know why they call me sixty-nine, right?

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