A long-haul cabin crew member has revealed that flight attendants must correctly answer a safety-based exam question before every flight to be allowed to operate it. The disclosure came from Alicia Fannen, who regularly documents her travels and time spent abroad, and it has nothing to do with uniform or makeup.
Training and exams
Alicia admitted the job is certainly a "work hard, play hard kind of job," but confessed there are aspects of the role she hadn't anticipated, which can take their toll if not managed carefully. She revealed that the training required is "rough" and will "consume your life" while undertaking it, with numerous exams to contend with.
Prospective cabin crew members must "pass every single exam" before they "get (their) wings," she explained. Yet the questioning doesn't stop there, as she highlighted a little-known fact about flight attendants.
Pre-flight safety questions and fatigue
"You will need to correctly answer a safety-based exam question before each flight to be able to operate that flight," she said. Alicia also disclosed that flight attendants frequently experience considerable "fatigue," though she noted the industry takes the issue "very seriously."
The role can prove additionally demanding as assignments may not always reflect what attendants actually end up working, meaning flexibility is essential. Alicia wrote: "The aircraft could change, and you could be removed from the flight, you could swap the trip you have with another crew member, or the flight could get cancelled."
Rewards and lifestyle
She described the industry as "unpredictable at times," but suggested this is precisely what draws so many people to the profession in the first place. She noted that the "cabin you work [in] massively affects your working day," with business class requiring "a lot more preparation you have to do before the flight."
The role does carry its share of rewards, however, including getting to meet a diverse range of people and forging strong bonds, even if colleagues may not cross paths again for months. The freedom afforded by layovers in various destinations around the globe is another appealing aspect of the job.
On top of this, crew members are frequently permitted to bring "friends and family along with you on trips and they can stay in your hotel room," which represents a highly attractive benefit. Alicia said: "The lifestyle both is and isn't what it seems. You're in a different country every week, paddleboarding in the Caribbean, experiencing the wonders of the world. However, there are times when you will be in an amazing city and just want to do nothing but sleep due to fatigue."
