Being a Flight Attendant is Not About Free Travel Around the World

If you ask cabin crew aspirants the question, “Why do you want to become a flight attendant?” many might say, “Because I want to travel around the world,” or “I want to take my family to travel.” While there’s nothing wrong with this answer and I can’t invalidate this thought, it’s important to clarify that being a flight attendant is not just about traveling around the world. Let’s not forget the primary purpose of flight attendants, which is to ensure the safety and security of passengers.

During a cabin crew interview, answering “I want to travel the world” when asked “Why do you want to become a flight attendant?” may raise the eyebrows of your recruiters, to be honest. It’s just like answering “Because I want to get a high salary” when asked, “Why do you want to join our company?” In other words, traveling around the world is merely a benefit of becoming a flight attendant, not the sole purpose for which the airline hired you.

Having the sole purpose of “traveling the world for free” as to why you became a flight attendant, may affect the quality of your work on board the aircraft. Instead of focusing on serving your passengers with genuine concern, you may end up thinking about your OOTD on your upcoming layover. When you encounter different passenger personalities, there may be times when you might end up responding inappropriately since your main purpose of becoming an airline cabin crew was never to serve your passengers, but instead, to travel for free.

And all the more when tough situations happen, like actual emergencies, you might end up not knowing what to do as your main purpose of becoming a cabin crew was to travel, and not really to serve your passengers. Do not forget that airlines hired you because they want you to take care of their passengers and to ensure they enjoy their flights. Free travels are simply benefits of all your hard work.

The Primary Duties of Flight Attendants

Being a flight attendant is all about service to your passengers. It’s about ensuring the safety and security of your passengers primarily. You also have to attend to the needs of your passengers and make sure they have a comfortable flight experience. So, in other words, the airline will hire you as a flight attendant because they know you can take care of their passengers and ensure everyone’s safety, not to give you free travels. At the end of the day, your primary motivation or “why” for becoming a flight attendant is because you embrace the job of being of service to your passengers.

Things May End in Frustration

I came across a TikTok post where a new flight attendant expressed frustration about her job, saying, “I didn’t know it would be like this.” Her complaints likely stemmed from the aspects of the job involving serving passengers and handling less glamorous tasks, such as cleaning lavatories or dealing with the aftermath of a passenger’s air sickness. It’s a common misconception that being a flight attendant is solely about glamour; in reality, it’s a role that requires a lot of hard work and dedication, especially when it comes to providing service to passengers. The job can be incredibly rewarding for those who are passionate about service. However, entering the profession with different motivations, like wanting to travel the world, might lead to unmet expectations and eventual frustration.

The Quality of Work May Be Affected

There has been feedback from both current and more experienced cabin crew members indicating that some of the newer generation of cabin crew are not meeting expectations. This feedback includes various concerns, such as a lack of initiative in assisting colleagues, a tendency to be lazy, instances of talking back to more senior crew members, and even forgetting crucial procedures during critical situations like medical emergencies.

It’s possible that a portion of these new cabin crew members are still adapting to the demanding work environment of being on active duty, yet there are others who may become complacent, focusing more on social media activities like posting uniformed pictures on Instagram. This behavior suggests that some individuals might have misconceptions about the job, believing that the main purpose of being a flight attendant is to travel and showcase their experiences online.

It’s important to remember that your true journey as a cabin crew member begins when you start working on actual flights, not just when you receive your wings. The real measure of success in this career is not at the commencement when you are officially recognized as a cabin crew member, but rather when you retire after many years of dedicated service. This long-term perspective emphasizes the commitment and professionalism expected in the role.

Being of Service to Others

Ultimately, the true fulfillment in being a flight attendant should not be measured by the number of countries you’ve visited, but rather by the number of passengers you’ve assisted and the memorable experiences you’ve provided them during their flights. This is why having a strong sense of purpose, or a “why,” is crucial if you’re considering a career as a flight attendant. It’s also important to have a clear understanding of the job’s responsibilities.

The essence of being a flight attendant is centered around service to passengers, ensuring their comfort, safety, and satisfaction. The opportunity to travel the world and experience different countries, while a significant aspect, should be viewed as a reward or a bonus of the job, not the primary goal. This perspective emphasizes the service-oriented nature of the profession and the commitment required to excel in it.