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Telegraph
27-05-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
‘I became a BA flight attendant in my 50s. It's not the high life despite the perks'
'The secret life of…' pulls back the curtain on professions you've always wanted to know more about. If you want to anonymously reveal all about your job, email money@ When I graduated with my British Airways wings, it was a huge moment. At 50, I was starting again. My business and my investments had collapsed; I'd lost everything. I had £12 in my bank account. So I just wanted to get back in the saddle with something straightforward, with the added bonus of getting to visit friends and family all around the world. Very quickly, I learnt that the most important thing in this job is having the patience of a saint. The most testing passengers are often in Premium Economy; they think they're in Business Class. The other serial offenders are those flying Club for work, dining out on the company credit card. They think they're gods. One time, a man boarded in a foul mood because of a last-minute aircraft change. His seat had been moved, he had no legroom, and he was effing and blinding. I could have ignored him – I wanted to – but I thought, let me try to help. I found him an exit row seat with an empty seat next to him. He totally changed. From then on, he couldn't have been nicer. It reminded me that the test is how you respond as a customer service professional. Sometimes, you just have to take it on the chin, no matter how bitter the pill is to swallow. 'Yes, there are shocking toilet moments' And yes, there are some moments which are shocking. In the toilets, I've seen piles of human excrement in the sink, and on the floor. I've walked in on more than one little old lady because they didn't know how to lock the door. Of course, it's not all awful. Most passengers are lovely. Many come on with gifts. Sometimes it's Smarties, sometimes Starbucks cards. Most are hoping for an upgrade, but still, it's kind. I get a lot of joy from making someone laugh, getting a heartfelt thank you, or finding a connection with my passengers and hearing about their lives. Once you've finished training, everyone starts off working in Economy and Premium. Normally, you'll spend six months there before doing an extra few training days for Business (Club) Class. You can then apply to work up in First. Personally, I think there should be more training for that, given the amount those seats cost. Passengers are expecting top-tier service. They want their crew to be able to recommend a wine, or even just to know how to open a bottle of wine! When a passenger is spending that kind of money, I think they're expecting just a little bit more – although our training on safety is well above par. I think there's this fantasy around cabin crew that it's all glamour and jet-setting. People see us striding through airports in our uniforms, little wheelie bags, off to Tokyo or New York, staying in the same hotels as the pilots. That part is glamorous, polished and proud. But then you get onboard and it's sleeves up. You're counting meals, checking safety equipment, strapping on your pinafore and setting up the bar. Then it's drinks service, turbulence, more drinks, someone tapping your lower back asking for another gin and tonic. I'm there thinking, 'I've still got ten rows to do'. It's exhausting. 'I had a colleague who took her own air fryer to save money' When you're abroad you usually get a daily stipend, which if you don't spend, you can pocket (it's also tax-free). Ideally, breakfast will be free at the hotel too, so you tend to get a little bonus there. The expenses amount is generally the same for pilots and crew. Some air stewards are also savvy at picking routes where their allowances are more generous, and avoid places where it means you can only eat street food. But most of us can't afford to splash out when we get to New York or Singapore. I even knew a colleague who would travel with her own air fryer and cook in her hotel room. That's the reality. In truth, most of us aren't living the high life (excuse the pun). The days of spending a week in Rio and being paid a proper salary are mostly gone. The pay isn't great. My basic starting salary (not including expenses for when we are abroad) was £17,500, before union action pushed it up to £22,800. It can vary slightly because we get paid more for doing long-duration flights or to fly to expensive destinations. But, on average, after two-and-half years in the job, my monthly take-home would vary between £1,900 to £2,400 per month. The pilots, or 'nigels' as we like to call them, can be a bit socially inept. Often, they're talking about rounds of golf or their yachts while we're trying to figure out how to stretch a bottle of wine between five people. The caveat to that is there's quite a lot of romantic mingling between pilots and crew – many get married. The other downside is the jet lag. I have tended to take sleeping tablets to get some rest, but it's tough as I hate being in front of people when feeling less than 100pc. Stewards will also get a break on flight, so you work a few hours and then sleep and then do the later onboard shift. But it's pretty tough on the body and social life for long haul. One of the best perks is what's called 'concession flights', but they are not free (you still have to pay the tax). For BA, you can sign up to basic standby seats, or premium standby (which gives you access to Club or First Class if there's space, for a bit more money). It's risky, though, because you might not get a seat. A passenger will also get the upgrade to the best class before the crew. On top of that, you can nominate three people (plus your partner) who can join you on the standby seats, so you can travel with friends or family, which is very generous. It's a good perk, but some people prefer just to buy a standard ticket to avoid any risk. Air stewards also get 30 'hotline' tickets per year, which are just discounted tickets to various destinations – often so staff can fly home or get to their shift. These are confirmed seats, so don't have the same risk as standby, and staff can use these tickets for friends and family too. Former staff also get access to 'hotline' flights if they have worked for the airline for more than 10 years and left on good terms, for an annual fee. The best thing for me is that the BA crew are generally good fun. You know it's going to be a great day on the job when you get to the briefing room and see one or two people you recognise, and can sense a really positive atmosphere. It sets the tone for the next 13 hours stuck in an aluminium tube together. As crew, you share the most intimate personal details with each other in the air; as if you'd known them for years, not three hours. I've heard confessions; I've given confessions. We exchange advice, support, and therapy. We know each other's intimate secrets. And then, when we land back in Heathrow, that's it. You say your goodbyes and it can be hard to keep in touch because of the rotas. For me, that's the reality of the job: you're a fire warden, a cleaner, a waiter, and a mental health supporter, all at once.
West Australian
26-05-2025
- Business
- West Australian
Qantas bulks up New Zealand flights over peak summer holidays
Qantas will bulk up its trans-Tasman routes by an extra 60,000 seats over the peak summer holiday period. The 20 per cent boost in capacity throughout December and January will see the Sydney-Christchurch and Melbourne-Auckland routes gain seven additional flights each per week, with Sydney-Auckland getting six more. The Sydney-Wellington route will get five extra flights a week; Melbourne-Christchurch and Brisbane-Queenstown another three each; and Melbourne-Queenstown two more. The Flying Kangaroo said the increase would see it operate more than 3.3 million seats across the Tasman between January 2025 and January 2026, supporting tourism growth in both NZ and Australia. Additionally, Qantas the same day announced it would soon introduce its Boeing 787 Dreamliner on flights between Auckland Brisbane, bringing Premium Economy to the route and increasing premium seat choices for customers by up to 80 per cent. The 787 Dreamliner service will initially operate three times a week from August and increase to daily from October. This marked Qantas' second 787 service between Australia and NZ, in addition to flights between Auckland and Sydney as part of the airline's direct service to New York. Qantas international chief executive Cam Wallace said the increased capacity meant Qantas would have the most frequency between Australia and NZ in one of the busiest travel periods of the year. 'This capacity boost represents almost 60,000 more seats compared to last summer, giving our customers additional choice and more convenience as well as supporting tourism and economic growth in both markets,' he said. Tourism New Zealand regional director Australia Andrew Waddel said the extra flights across all four major ports would mean even more options for travellers to kick start their Aotearoa getaway. 'We know Australians are interested in exploring the country's tranquil coastlines, world-class cycling trails and unique food and wine, and the longer days and warmer weather make it a fantastic time of year to experience it all and more,' he said. It comes just weeks after Qantas revealed it would launch direct flights from Perth to Johannesburg and Auckland from early December. The flights would operate three times a week on an Airbus A330, offering 224 economy and 27 business class seats.
Mint
21-05-2025
- Business
- Mint
Mahakumbh propels IndiGo to best-ever profits, sets a new course on international
IndiGo, India's largest airline by fleet and market share, reported splendid results with best-ever Q4-FY25 at INR 3067.5 crore, and just short of its all-time best of INR 3089 crore reported in Q1-FY24. The airline ended the year with a profit of INR 7254.8 crore. As the airline turned 18 last year, it announced the launch of a new class of service named IndiGoStretch, its business class product. As it quickly scaled its dual-class fleet adding route after route, with an aim to have 45 aircraft in its fleet by end of this year, the airline shied away from offering hot meals, instead offering vegetarian only set meal boxes. With the launch of flights to Amsterdam and Manchester, this is set to change and possibly give a sneak peek into what its own A350s would look like, when they join the fleet in 2027. As IndiGoStretch took to the air, the preset Vegetarian box meals crafted by Oberoi Flight Kitchen were offered on a complimentary basis. With flights to Amsterdam and Manchester, the airline will be offering complimentary hot meals to all passengers on this flight. While complimentary meals have been around for a while, the Hot meals part makes a huge change since the airline kept out ovens for all these years, citing the high weight of ovens. The flights to Amsterdam and Manchester are operated by the 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft which come from Norse Atlantic which has ovens in their aircraft thus enabling hot meals. In the Premium Economy cabin of Norse Atlantic, sold as IndiGoStretch, IndiGo will offer complimentary hot meals and alcoholic beverages while the economy class will see hot meals and non-alcoholic beverages being complimentary. The airline will offer alcohol for purchase in the economy class. However, all meals are vegetarian by default and a passenger will have to select 'Non vegetarian' preflight if the passenger so desires. With six aircraft lined up for induction by the first quarter of calendar year 2026, the airline is aligning itself to what its final service levels will be when the A350s land in India in IndiGo colors. The A321XLRs which are expected to join before the end of this fiscal, will also have dual class operations One of the differentiators for Air India over IndiGo in the front cabin was lounge access, with Air India having their own lounge at Delhi. IndiGo has now added lounge access to their IndiGoStretch offering, but kept it restricted to intercontinental flights to Amsterdam and Manchester. The domestic flights and flights to Bangkok do not reflect the lounge access right now. The lounge would also be available to passengers boarding at Amsterdam and Manchester. Lounge is a costly affair for any airline. Rival on the route but codeshare partner KLM offers flat bed Business class on the route unlike IndiGo, which will best match the Premium Economy class of KLM. In terms of pricing, this will be tricky since the passengers will be eligible for a lounge with a product which is not lie flat business and at a cost which is much more reasonable than KLM. IndiGo is offering a 30 kg baggage allowance in economy class, compared to 23 kgs offered by Air India. However, the routes of IndiGo are exclusive to Air India. KLM, which also operates to Amsterdam from Mumbai, offers 23 kg allowance in Economy. IndiGo has a monopoly to Manchester, from any point in India. IndiGo's Aircraft on Ground (AOG) situation has improved significantly with nearly half of the aircraft being back in service or redelivered from its peak. The focus is now international, with or without their own planes. It is an irony or sorts that an all Airbus airline is relying on Boeing widebodies for the international foray. The Delhi - Bangkok sector is reverting back to narrowbody, which means as more aircraft join later in the year from Norse Atlantic, there are more and more destinations lined up from Mumbai. A lot will also depend on the geopolitical situation and the ability of other airports to swing the flight in their favor.
Tourism Breaking News
20-05-2025
- Business
- Tourism Breaking News
The Emirates A350 debuts in Amman, Jordan
Post Views: 79 The Emirates A350 has touched down at Queen Alia International Airport, marking the start of its regular service on the second daily flight between Dubai and Amman. Originally scheduled to operate on 1 June, the deployment of the brand-new aircraft has been advanced by 2 weeks. The three-class Emirates A350 features 312 seats, including 32 next-generation Business Class lie-flat seats in a 1-2-1 layout, 21 Premium Economy seats in a 2-3-2 configuration, and 259 spacious Economy Class seats in a 3-3-3 layout. Designed for comfort, the aircraft offers higher ceilings, wider aisles, and a quieter cabin environment. Passengers across all classes enjoy Emirates' latest generation of in-flight entertainment with a cinematic viewing experience, enhanced cabin lighting, faster Wi-Fi, and improved seat ergonomics. The A350's arrival in Amman marks a significant milestone in Emirates' longstanding commitment to Jordan dating back to 1986. It also reflects the airline's ongoing investment in the Jordanian market, strengthening connectivity, tourism, and trade links between Dubai, Amman and beyond. In addition to the A350, Emirates also operates the iconic A380 to Amman on EK903/904. The Emirates A350 currently serves six other short and medium haul destinations including Edinburgh, Kuwait, and Mumbai, and will soon start serving more destinations like Oslo, Istanbul, and Ho Chi Minh City, to name a few. By the end of this year, the airline will serve 17 global cities with the A350. For more information or to book tickets, visit Tickets can also be booked on Emirates App, Emirates Retail stores, Emirates contact centre, or via travel agents. EK 905 departed Dubai at 2210 hrs on 19 May and landed in Amman at 0015 hrs early morning on 20th May. EK 906, took off from Amman at 0205 hrs and reached Dubai at 0605 hrs this morning. * *All times are local
Hi Dubai
20-05-2025
- Business
- Hi Dubai
Emirates A350 Begins Service to Amman Ahead of Schedule
Emirates has launched its brand-new A350 on regular service between Dubai and Amman, touching down at Queen Alia International Airport in the early hours of 20 May—two weeks ahead of its originally scheduled debut. Flight EK905 departed Dubai at 10:10 PM on 19 May and landed in Amman at 12:15 AM. The return flight, EK906, took off from Amman at 2:05 AM and arrived in Dubai at 6:05 AM. The A350 will now operate on Emirates' second daily rotation between the two cities. The state-of-the-art aircraft features 312 seats across three classes: 32 Business Class lie-flat seats in a 1-2-1 layout, 21 Premium Economy seats, and 259 Economy Class seats. Designed for enhanced comfort, the cabin offers higher ceilings, wider aisles, quieter travel, and the latest in-flight entertainment system, along with faster Wi-Fi and improved lighting and seating. The deployment of the A350 to Amman marks a new chapter in Emirates' longstanding partnership with Jordan, which began in 1986. The move underscores the airline's continued investment in the Jordanian market and its commitment to boosting connectivity, tourism, and trade. In addition to the A350, Emirates also operates its flagship A380 aircraft on its other daily Dubai-Amman service. The A350 is currently flying to six short and medium-haul destinations, including Edinburgh and Mumbai, with plans to expand to 17 cities by year's end. Bookings can be made via , the Emirates App, retail outlets, contact centres, or through travel agents. News Source: Dubai Media Office
