Confessions of a Hostie 3 (9 page)

Other questions you may be asked include: How
do you handle stress? How would you conduct yourself when faced
with a difficult passenger situation? How well do you work as a
team player? How do you take directions? Why do you want to be a
flight attendant?

Don't answer the latter: 'Because I like to
travel and meet people'.

A good answer might be: 'I have been on five
flights now with (airline name) and saw how well the cabin crew
work together. It is that team work and bonding which impressed me
most. After talking with some of those crew, I understand the job
can be demanding, yet very fulfilling. I know this is what I want
to do'.

Also have some (good) questions to ask the
interviewers should the opportunity arise, something like: 'What is
the company's approach to training and development?' or ask
questions about the direction of the airline; but be specific and
current, e.g. 'I understand you are looking to buy more Boeing
787's; does that mean opening more routes?'

A little tip when asking these types of
questions:
Always know the answer before
asking the question
.

7) Airlines are procedurally driven. There are rules
and regulations, procedures, and guidelines. You are to follow
those rules, not question them.

8) If you are fortunate enough to have a
face-to-face interview with one or more people, then you a have a
huge opportunity to be personal.

Henry Ford once said: If there is any one secret of
success, it lies in the ability to get the other person's point of
view and see things from that person's angle as well as from your
own.

The interviewers are more-than-likely current or
former flight attendants. They spend hour after hour listening to
hostie-wannabees telling them how good they are, hearing the same
things over and over. Be different - see things from their
prospective. When I had a one-on-one interview all those years ago,
it was with the most beautiful woman. I asked if she was a flight
attendant. She was. We talked about her flying career, her love of
the job. She could see I was passionate and interested - and she
was involved. I'm sure the success of that interview was the major
reason why I got the job.

9) Charles Schwab once said: I consider my ability
to arouse enthusiasm among the people around me to be the greatest
asset I possess, and the best way to develop that in a person is by
appreciation and encouragement.

Be enthusiastic, be positive.

10) Have fun. Given the pressure of the occasion, it
is easier said than done, but it is important to be relaxed and
happy. You are there because you want to be there. Enjoy the
opportunity.

One of my favorite sayings is: Don't seek a
profession; seek a passion.

Being a flight attendant is more than just a
job, it is a lifestyle. If it a lifestyle you will love and a job
you can tolerate, then go for it, I say.

Did Holly listen to what I said?

Probably not. I think Helen knew Holly missed
a fabulous opportunity to learn. My only comment to Helen was I
thought Holly was a nice girl - and she was. I didn't tell Helen I
doubted Holly would get the job; not at the moment anyway - but I
could be wrong. I often am.

Holly may mature, yet Helen admitted Holly
lacked focus. If she is unsuccessful with her initial applications,
I would doubt she would reapply. If she does get an interview and
fails, I would also be surprised if she reapplied.

According to my friend involved in the
recruitment and training, the vast majority of hopefuls have
applied for the first time - and it shows. It was his opinion that
applicants who have applied before were not seen as failures.
Applying multiple times was seen as a positive.

'It shows persistence and passion' he said.
'It also is an advantage to know the interviewing procedures and
expectations.'

Wisdom will outshine knowledge every day.

Some years ago I was approached by another
young girl, a friend of a friend, also wanting advice to become a
hostie. She had more focus than Holly, being certain becoming a
globe-trotting trolley dolly would be the life for her. She was
studying at university at the time. She was so intent on following
her dream she contemplated leaving her studies to devote more time
to applying to the airlines.

'I think that would be a big mistake' I told
her bluntly.

She was a smart, motivated girl, but why
throw away an education on the off-chance she gets an interview
with an airline?

Education is important - very important. I
told her that most of the crew are well-educated, with many having
degrees and diplomas. A university education will not hinder your
chances of becoming a hostie, it will enhance it, I told her.

You can always apply to the airlines and
attend interviews, but at least you'll keep your options open.

In her second year of study she attended an
interview with a domestic airline. Domestic flying was not really
what she wanted, yet she went to the interview anyway. She was
unsuccessful, and as I understand it, she was unable to get an
interview with any international carrier in the short term. She
finished her university course, graduating to find a great job. She
would have loved to get into the airlines, however it was not meant
to be. She has since married and had children. Becoming a hostie is
no longer on the agenda.

I recently saw her. She loves to hear stories
about my job, yet admits that if she had left her studies it would
have been a huge mistake. She thanked me for the advice I gave
those years ago. We both knew it was the right thing to do at the
time.

Airline crew are worldly; most well-educated,
with additional qualifications, many continuing to study - often
with interests outside the flying industry. Just because we are
sometimes perceived as ditzy trolley dollies pouring tea and coffee
all day, don't be fooled. In the past few months alone I have flown
with a trained psychologist, a radiologist, an ex-policewoman, a
number of former teachers and nurses, an architect, and even a
former priest. Often flight attendants' past or current professions
are not mentioned while on trips. I never make assumptions about
crew. They constantly surprise me.

Like most, I love music. I've met many crew
with musical backgrounds, from a concert pianist to a guitarist in
a former well-known rock band. One of the guys in my training class
was a keyboard player in a moderately successful eighties band. He
said nothing throughout training, but in later years revealed his
love of music - and his past. We flew recently and I divulged that
I saw one of the band's video-clips on You Tube.

'Love the hair' I teased him, 'and what was
going on with the pants?'

'It was the eighties' he justified with a
smile.

One of my good friends was a lead singer in a
cover-band for many years before flying. She continues to sing in
various theatrical productions when time permits. I have even been
known to belt out a tune or two (in the shower). I am not
tone-deaf
, however I could be
accused of being
tone-hard-of-hearing
. I can tell you that as a
singer I make a wonderful flight attendant.

Cabin crew come from eclectic backgrounds.
I've flown with an Olympic medalist, another a top fashion model, a
guy who was once a world-ranked tennis pro, a former professional
footballer, a radio D.J, and even a former acclaimed ballet dancer.
These are just those I know about. Everyone has a story to
tell.

On a recent flight we had a male passenger
who drank far too much; loudly demanding more. The manager, who
just so happened to be a big burly man, told the man there would be
no more alcohol served for the rest of the flight. The man became
irate, irrational, and aggressive; looking up at the manager,
seeing he was a broad-shouldered and apparently heterosexual, to
comment something along the lines of: 'I thought all flight
attendants were gay'.

The manager was actually a former police
Sargent. Standing beside him was the flight attendant who was the
former professional footballer, being even beefier than the
manager. This passenger picked the wrong crew to mess with on that
day. I was within earshot, hearing the manager lay down the law in
no uncertain terms. The passenger looked scared - and rightfully
so.

The man passed out to later wakeup yelling
for more alcohol. I might add that we suspected he'd been drinking
his own booze at some stage and although he had slept, he was still
slurring his words.

The manager again read him the riot act. When
we landed, in Denpasar, Bali, he was very unsteady on his feet.
Leaving the aircraft we saw the man taken away from the immigration
queue to be questioned by the local officials. He remonstrated with
airport customs officials. We went through customs and immigration,
not learning of his final fate, but we knew it wouldn't be good for
the man. We presumed he would be placed in a room to sober up and
then put on the next flight back to his country of origin (at his
expense). It is a hefty price to pay for getting drunk and not
following instructions.

Having two physically intimidating flight
attendants onboard was a real bonus. Often the petite hosties need
to deal with situations onboard. Sure we are trained, and most of
us willing to put our bodies on the line should we have to, but
having a former police Sargent and pro footballer amongst our ranks
would be my preference every time.

There is no such thing as a typical flight
attendant. Several trips back I worked with the most amazing
fellow; part Gypsy, part Jewish, and a whole lot of fun. I saw him
in 'civilian' clothes. He was covered in tattoos, dressing like a
European backpacker (now I am making generalizations as well -
please forgive me), however you wouldn't meet a nicer guy - and he
was wonderful onboard. The passengers loved him.

I had some incredible conversations with him
- and I cannot recall talking about anything to do with airplanes.
What an interesting life he had led, holding equally
thought-provoking opinions. I like talking to people who sees
things a little differently to most. I could tell he was highly
intelligent and one instance onboard proved me right:

We had a young woman and man who met for the
first time onboard. I could talk-up the story with notions of love
and romance, but the reality was the potential lovebirds were drunk
and looking to join the mile high club just for the hell of it.
They'd taken their
get-to-know-you
routine to the exit row at the back of the plane. That is all well
and good, however there were passengers trying to get to sleep,
with the young couple extremely boisterous. My Gypsy-Jewish-fun
guy-colleague already had an informal chat with the couple, asking
to keep the noise down, but it obviously it fell on deaf ears. The
young girl was getting drunker and leaning all over the door bussle
and the crew seat at the exit row. Around this area are pieces of
emergency equipment, including a crew phone.

'Watch this' my colleague said as he poked
his head from the galley. He could see the girl leaning next to the
phone. With that he picked up the galley phone, ringing the phone
at the exit row.

Bing
Bong
.

The young girl nearly wet her pants.

My colleague raced down the back, telling her
that where she was leaning has all sorts of emergency equipment and
she must have 'bumped the phone or something'.

'I think you should go back to your
respective seats for a while' was his advice.

They left, not to return.

There are many funny characters who fly. I
will admit that we were able to get away with far more shenanigans
in the past than the present, yet the characters still exist. I did
a trip not long ago with a guy who had flown for almost 25 years,
yet told everyone he used to work in a helium gas factory.

He said 'The job was alright, but I hated
being talked to in that tone of voice!'

I laughed.

Another older crew member was bending down to
pick up a passenger's fallen headset from the floor when he
lamented how stiff his back was. He told me (and the passenger) he
was thinking of doing yoga. The yoga teacher asked if he was very
flexible.

'I'm free most Thursdays' was his reply.

Most crew have a great sense of humor.

Years ago I flew with a really senior guy who
only did trips to tropical island locations like Hawaii, Tahiti,
Seychelles, Fiji, etc. He only packed the smallest of bags, no
matter how long the trip - and he always took ONE rubber flip-flop
(also called a thong or a jandal). His rationale in taking just the
one flip-flop was he would always find another one washed up on the
beach somewhere. Rumor has it he did indeed find a flip-flop on
every beach he visited. .

Every time I see a single flip-flop on a
beach (and I do regularly), I think of him and chuckle.

I meet the crew for the flight to Jakarta,
knowing some, but not all. The ones I know are lovely. I quickly
establish that one of the girls I didn't know is one of those
personalities who shouldn't really be in the job. Her name is
Wendy. She is a few years younger than me, having flown about 16
years. I identify her temperament within a heartbeat. I am
sometimes wrong with judging characters, but only sometimes.

Wendy is to work down the back of the plane
with me. In the earliest stages of meeting Wendy I struggle to see
good in her. She lacks warmth, manners, and decorum. Not only do
her facial expressions make me want to run for cover, every word
from her mouth is either negative, derogatory, or downright
mean: