I have been attending cabin crew graduations since 2015, and in each and every graduation, or wings pinning ceremony, I have noticed the excitement on the faces of the newly pinned cabin crew members. Yes, they are finally flight attendants! A dream come true for them, indeed. However, I continued to wonder if their excitement was because they are eager to fly and serve their passengers or are simply excited to finally have the title of cabin crew. Truth be told, the pinning ceremony or graduation is not the culmination of your cabin crew journey; in fact, it doesn’t start there. Your real cabin crew journey begins during your first productive flight.
This is one reminder I consistently share on my social media accounts and something I keep reminding our new cabin crew. The excitement should go beyond graduation; it should continue on every flight the moment they step inside the aircraft.
Sadly, I have received feedback that some newly pinned cabin crew tend to become complacent right after they receive their wings. Some focus on social media, posting pictures of themselves in uniform and their travels. But when it comes to the job of serving the passengers and ensuring their safety, which is what they were hired and trained for by the airline, they tend to be complacent.
Hired by the Airline to Serve the Passengers
The moment you earn your wings as a cabin crew, you accept the responsibility of ensuring the safety and security of all your passengers on board. The free travels, layovers, and wearing the beautiful uniform are merely perks of the job; they are not the main reasons why the airline hired you. The Japan Airlines flight JL516 incident on January 2, 2024, is a clear reminder of your role as a cabin crew member. No matter how safe things may seem, anything can still happen, and you must be ready to ensure all your passengers are safe on every flight.
As such, your real journey and story as a cabin crew begin on your first productive flight, the very first time you step inside the aircraft as a full-fledged cabin crew. This is the real deal; you are no longer under the supervision of your trainers. You will experience new things not covered in your training. You will deal with a diverse set of passenger personalities on board. And yes, I know some cabin crew who have experienced an actual emergency during their first productive flight.
Also, remember that your first productive flight is where you will build on the foundation set during your training days. The training process equips you with all the skills and knowledge you need to successfully carry out your role as a flight attendant. Your wings pinning ceremony is a symbol that you are ready to fulfill the role of a cabin crew for your respective airline. But what you need to give your 101% to is your first flight and all subsequent flights until the culmination of your cabin crew career, the day you decide to hang up those wings for good.
So always remember not only to give your 101% during your cabin crew training by the airline, but also to carry this 101% throughout every flight. Becoming a cabin crew is not about holding the title nor about looking “pogi” on social media in your uniforms. It is about you and the passengers you encounter and serve on board. It is about ensuring each passenger arrives at their destination safely and comfortably.
Never forget why your airline chose you to become part of their cabin crew team. It’s because they believed in your potential to wholeheartedly serve your passengers on each and every flight.
First love never dies. I fell in love with airplanes and aviation when I was a kid. My dream was to become a pilot, but destiny led me to another path: to be an aviation digital media content creator and a small business owner. My passion for aviation inspires me to bring you quality content through my website and social accounts. Aviation is indeed in my blood and blog!
