Working for THE BEST

“I wish I could experience this more often!” I was thinking during one of the take-offs from Bratislava to London. End of my holiday, going back to work in the UK. That was during the year 2016. What did the universe do a few years later? “Your wish is my command…” 

There have been girls who have been dreaming about this job all their life. And then there was me, whose life just took an unexpected turn and I suddenly didn’t have a plan for a future. And my life changed after that ‘Golden Call’…

How was it, working for one of the best airlines in the world?

FABULOUS

People stared at us wherever we appeared wearing the uniform. That looks were full of awe, and admiration, but also jealousy. Going through the airports, tapping our heels in unison, pulling our small suitcases. Heads have been turning to watch us, taking pictures, and making videos. Even taking pictures with us. We felt like celebrities. 

I still remember the feeling that I used to have when we’ve been getting ready to take off. I was sitting on the jump seat, looking around me. Wearing the uniform, red lipstick, and red high heels. Golden letters and the design of the sand dunes on the walls. I was telling myself: ‘I’m here. This is my reality. I made it happen!’

EXHAUSTING

There are no words to describe the level of exhaustion I felt some of those days.

Imagine that you wake up at 3 am. The flight takes off at 6:30 am. It’s 8 hours long. You land at 6 pm local time. The bus ride from the airport to the hotel takes half an hour, then you take a quick shower, change and you are going to the city. You can’t miss the chance to eat amazing Asian street food.

You want to see the city during the daylight as well, so you sacrifice your sleep and you set the alarm for the morning. You come back to the hotel 3 hours before your pick-up time. You sleep for 2 hours, then go to the airport. The flight back takes 9 hours. You land at 4 am in the morning. 

This is only one example of the flight to Taiwan and back. Add the turnaround to India the next evening. You wake up at 11 pm. Wake up. So you need to plan your sleep. The previous day you slept until 4 pm because you came from Taiwan. So you aren’t able to sleep at night. But the next night you aren’t able to sleep because you are flying to India and back. What do you do? Tell me.

Plus imagine scheduling the meal times. And the gym. And going out and keeping in touch with family and friends. 

UNBELIEVABLE

I experienced the moments when I’ve been crying from joy. While walking on the top of the Great Wall of China. Or sitting on the terrace of the restaurant next to the Opera house in Sydney, sipping white wine and eating cheese during a beautiful sunny warm day. Or swimming with dolphins in the ocean near Mauritius. 

I walked through Hobbiton in New Zealand, the bamboo forest in Kyoto in Japan, and along the pyramids in Mexico. I was in a cage submerged in the ocean, sharing the water with 3 meters long sharks. During those moments, you forget that you have slept only 3 hours in the last 2 days. During those moments, you need someone to pinch you to believe this is the reality.

We usually had 24 hours for ourselves in the destinations where we flew 4 or more hours to. We could do whatever we wanted until the next flight. Many of my colleagues slept, they have been too tired. I was tired as well, but I haven’t slept much in those years. I wanted to discover new places. And I did, I’ve seen such a big part of the world.

I didn’t go out to the destination only twice when I was actually sick. And then when covid happened and we haven’t been allowed to leave the hotels. But that’s the story for some other time…

IT TAUGHT ME A LOT ABOUT THE WORLD AND PEOPLE

I saw how people survive in the poorest countries in the world. Ghana, Zimbabwe, Angola, South Africa,… I wish everyone could see that. Especially people, who are unhappy and they are complaining because the new iPhone was delivered 2 days later than expected.

I go back to those moments when I feel I am complaining too much. I remember especially one day which I wrote about here. When one of the poorest men I have ever met was one of the most generous. 

I’ve experienced the opposite extremes, too. People handed me their Louis Vuitton luggage to me demanding to have it lifted to the storage space above the seats. By me. Haha. Voice in my head: ‘You wish.’ Reality: I smile at them, turn around, and walk away, saying that I have to get the plane ready for takeoff. You want to be in the Maldives on time, don’t you?

RESPONSIBILITY FREE

Life in Dubai, working for Emirates, was like living in a different universe. I didn’t pay for the accommodation, bills, transport to the airport was arranged as well. We could use those minibusses to go around all of Dubai even if we haven’t been going to work. The laundry was in the same building where I lived or at the airport, uniforms were ready within a day or two. For free, of course. I could order food delivery 24/7, coming to my doorstep beeping hot. And groceries, Amazon, all the other things. The only responsibility was to go to work. Be in a good mental and physical state. Enjoy. Smile.

FULL OF RULES

There have been rules, quite a lot of them compared to ‘normal’ jobs. I had to have perfect makeup, nails, hair, and tights matching the color of my skin, always had a watch on my wrist. Only certain shapes of earrings and watches have been allowed. No smartwatch, no piercing or visible tattoos. The uniform had to be ironed, and shoes polished. 

Did I mind? No, I knew the rules, I knew what was expected from me from the moment I stepped inside the room in a hotel near London Heathrow airport, the room where I had all these conditions presented. And all the perks of the job I fell in love with. I accepted it.

Because that’s what you imagine when you hear about the cabin crew of Emirates. The colors, the luxury, the smiles, and the hospitality.

Do I miss it?

This was my world, my lifestyle for 43 months, almost 3 years and a half. Disrupted by Covid, it took unexpected turns and challenges. And I loved it. All of it, the exhaustion and rules, the joy of discovering new places and a great salary, all the sleepless nights, friends for 24 hours. So many of my traveling plans came true…

Yes, I miss all of it sometimes. But I had my reasons to leave. I will be forever thankful for the opportunity to experience the adventures of a lifetime.

Do you want to know how to land this dream job?

The DOs and DON’Ts, my mistakes, and the right moves. It’s all here ready for you. Good luck!