To celebrate International Cabin Crew Day (May 31), we’re appreciating the unsung heroes of the skies. We are sharing some lesser-known aspects of the profession, shedding light on the fascinating world of flight attendants.
1. Polyglot professionals
Flight attendants often speak multiple languages. It’s not just about “coffee or tea” in different tongues – they can manage emergencies, navigate international airports, and soothe anxious passengers in a variety of languages. In fact, Emirates has said, “Emirates proactively hire cabin cre who ware multilingual, as communicating with passengers in their own language is considered a core part of Emirates signature hospitality. Emirates cabin crew are recruited from more than 130 countries and together speak more than 70 languages.”
2. Sky-high therapists
Flight attendants are unofficial therapists. They calm nervous flyers, handle mid-air meltdowns, and even give life advice. Who needs Dr. Phil when you’ve got a flight attendant who can soothe your nerves at 30,000 feet?
3. Part-time pay, full-time work
Flight attendants are only paid when the plane’s doors close. That means all those pre-flight safety checks, document collections, and meal counts are on their own time. So, next time you’re frustrated with a delay, remember your flight attendants are right there with you, working unpaid while they wait.
4. Spilling tea? Only if you mean gossip
They’ve got stories that could rival any reality show. Flight attendants hear it all, see it all, and nothing phases them. It’s like they have their own personal Netflix series of in-flight dramas. So, if you are looking for gossip, add a flight attendant to your friendship group.
5. Safety superstars
Ever wondered why flight attendants are so serious about those safety demos? They’re trained to evacuate a full aircraft in just 90 seconds! That’s faster than it takes to decide what to watch on Netflix. In an emergency, these pros have you covered, getting everyone to safety quicker than you can say, “Fasten your seatbelt.”
Who’s currently coming out on top when it comes to safety? Etihad and Qatar are in the top 5 safest airlines in the world, according to AirlineRatings.com’s 2024 list.
Thank you to all the flight attendants out there keeping us safe in the skies!
