Always be grateful to the airline that made you a flight attendant

I am writing this post, particularly for our cabin crew aspirants, the future generation of flight attendants. We have different plans in life. Some will fly for two or more airlines throughout their careers, and some will stick to one. Whatever it is, never forget that first airline that hired and made you a fight attendant, turning your dream into a reality. Be grateful to them, and do not burn bridges.

Think of it that that airline trusted that you could deliver and believed in your capabilities as an asset. Even if you have no experience, that airline took a gamble by hiring you because they know that you have the potential to become a great flight attendant. So no matter what, be thankful to them.

So why am I writing this?

Sorry if I have to speak out about this, but I think this culture of going on AWOL (Absent Without Leave) has become rampant this year. Several rehired and present cabin crew from our local airlines have gone AWOL to transfer to foreign carriers. There is nothing wrong with moving to foreign airlines, especially if it is one of our goals to seek greener pastures in the future. However, the manner of transferring by going AWOL is just totally all wrong.

Being our future generation cabin crew, I hope you change this.

For your information, AWOL happens when you suddenly stop reporting to work. You just stopped showing up without any proper resignation or prior notice.

While at first, it can be favorable for you in the short run, the adverse effects are more significant for you in the long run. It also affects your airline negatively. You are wrong if you think you are in a better position by going AWOL.

What has happened?

A foreign carrier began hiring new flight attendants from the Philippines. If I am not mistaken, a lot were employed, more than a thousand. These include former cabin crew (including those who were retrenched still without a job), present cabin crew (including those who were rehired), and newbies (no experience at all). Sadly, some of the current crew (including rehires) are going and have gone on AWOL from the previous airline to transfer to the foreign airline.

Why are these particular present and rehired crew doing this?

The closest reason I see is for them not to serve the 30-day notice required by the previous airline if they decide to resign. The second reason may be the training bond. Last but not least, the third reason is that they try to play it safe. They will only resign when the new airline gives them a departure date. Some will even wait for a plane ticket before leaving. Thus, the 30-day notice can no longer be served.

All airlines in the Philippines require a 30-day notice if you are to resign as a cabin crew. They will not stop you, but you must give a 30-day notice.

Now why is a 30-day notice important for the airline?

Airlines have already plotted each crew’s schedule to crew the flights properly. There are still reserves in case rostered crew may not be able to report last minute due to some emergency or something. The 30-day notice will allow the airline to make final adjustments to the schedule in the future, considering that you will no longer be flying with them later on.

The current reality

The barrage of recent AWOLs is not only hurting the airline’s schedule and growth plans, especially at a time when recovery is crucial. It is also causing other cabin crew members to be overworked due to a lack of workforce. This is why all local airlines have begun hiring more cabin crew members, both with and without experience.

Our local airlines have been really on their toes to ramp up operations and to bring back their capacity to pre-pandemic levels, even higher. However, these plans are greatly affected by the recent number of crew members going on AWOL. Right now, these airlines are filling in the void by hiring new flight attendants.

The negative effects are worse than the short-term positive results

The only positive result is that these people could transfer to the foreign carrier immediately without serving the 30-day notice of resignation. However, the adverse effects are greater for everyone. So what happens if you go AWOL to transfer to a different airline?

• You burn bridges with your previous airline. Once you go on AWOL, don’t expect that you will be taken back by your former airline, no matter how good your performance was.
• You face the risk of not even getting into other local airlines. Our only full-service airline in the country does background checks. They have a way of catching you if you have misrepresented anything in your CV. I have personally seen this happen to someone I know. Three days before her graduation as a cabin crew in that airline, she was removed from training and immediately terminated. The cause? It was discovered that she went on AWOL in her previous airline and did not declare it on her resume. How did this airline find out? The aviation industry is small. In other words, you can jeopardize your career in the long run. Don’t ever think there is no chance for the airline to do background checks. Data is so easy to obtain nowadays.
• AWOLs significantly affect airline operations, especially if they happen one after the other. Other cabin crew members are made to work longer hours, pushing their tired bodies to the limits. Many of the reserves are immediately upgraded. If all reserves have been used and there is still a lack of workforce, this may cause a flight to be canceled. Canceled flights cause airlines lots of money. It hampers growth. Ever thought about those overworked cabin crew members who still have to attend to their families when they get home?

What is happening now is just too unfair for the airline and other cabin crew members

The ongoing situation is indeed so sad. Just think about it. Airlines rehired these cabin crew members in good faith, especially when the situation is still fluid. Not all those who were retrenched made it back. Some were not considered. These rehires were chosen, given a chance, and prioritized above others. The airline hired them before and no one else. Then all of a sudden, this is the kind of “thanks” they give back to that airline by going AWOL. It isn’t pleasant.

However, I am confident that our airlines are doing something to curb the adverse effects of these recent AWOLs.

There is nothing wrong with transferring to other airlines, but you should resign correctly out of respect. If anything doesn’t go well with the new airline, your previous airline may still accept you back.

Please be grateful to the airline that gave you your first wings

You are now applying, hoping that you will also have your wings and uniform one day. Once you get there, I want you, cabin crew aspirants, to remember this, including the new hires.

Always be grateful to that airline that first took you, that gave you your first experience of being a flight attendant, that trained you and nurtured you with all the necessary skills needed.

If you were rehired after the devastating effects of the pandemic, be grateful to that airline for giving you that second chance to fly again.

I do understand that we all have our plans. Some of you, I am sure, have dreams of moving to an international airline one day. That is good; you have those dreams and a clear direction. You may end up applying first to any airline that will accept you soonest as you may see them as a stepping stone towards bigger dreams. Nothing wrong with that. Your life, your decision.

Nevertheless, still, aim for excellence no matter which airline you end up with. Take care of your relationship with them as much as they take care of you. No matter what, your first airline is investing heavily in you, and they will mold you to become the cabin crew you will be in the future.

If you want to stay with that airline for a long time and perhaps retire there, go for it! Nothing like really climbing up the ladder! If you wish to move to a foreign carrier, do your best at your first airline. Who knows, they may even give a good word about you to that international airline you plan to join in the future.

I encourage you to stick with your first airline for a year or more. Gain experience and establish yourself there first. Gain the necessary skills. Trust me; your first airline will even be so proud of you when you move to an international airline as an established cabin crew. Your first airline may proudly say, “galing sa amin yan, na train namin yan.”

Please don’t go on AWOL

Sometimes, foreign carriers may hire immediately. This is why it is crucial to plan your life. Plan your career path and stick to that. Something like “I will work first for a local airline for at least one year and consider moving to an international airline later on.” Now this will give you enough time to plan your finances and move. You will be able to adhere to the 30-day notice of resignation if you decide to move airlines later.

You just have to stick to your plan.

Lastly, when making a decision, please use the 50 – 50 rule. That is 50% mind and 50%, heart. Your heart may tell you, “work for that foreign airline now because the opportunity is in front of you.” Still, your mind will then tell you, “you have to serve a 30-day notice resignation”, “you have been with the present airline for less than a year yet,” and “you can always try and apply at the same airline the following year, should you desire to.”

This way, you will be able to come up with a balanced decision. Wag panay heart heart. That can cause you into so much trouble. Take time to always discern.

Continue to build relationships and don’t burn bridges. The most significant way to thank the first airline that hired you is to respect and treat them with full dignity. Without that first airline that molded you, you would not be who you are.

Going AWOL is wrong at all sense.