Cabin Crew. Many people associate these two words with glamour, and a lifestyle that many people envy. Cabin crew gets to travel to many parts of the world and meet many beautiful people Very few realize that the job is very demanding and that it is a very exhausting lifestyle which can be tough if you have family and social commitments. Their sleeping patterns are erratic and at irregular times. In this interview series, SGTOP10 will connect our readers with an ex-cabin crew who flew for 2 years before he decided to move on to another career.
SgTop10 :: Hi, Can you introduce yourself to our readers
I flew with a full-fledged carrier for 2 years but have since left the company, and am currently with the civil service. My flying days were probably the best years of my life.
SgTop10 :: What made you decide to start a career as a cabin crew?
I learnt about this career option from a friend who joined as a cabin crew before I did. From him, I learnt that flying is an opportunity not to be missed. Something many aspire to be, but only few achieve.
SgTop10 :: What made you decide to switch your career?
Several reasons made me switch career and there isn’t ONE factor that solely contributed to it. Issues like long-term prospects, health, family and loved ones came into play. I know of many ex cabin crews who made the switch too. And each have their own reasons for doing so. But what surprised me more when I was in the airline, was the huge number of cabin crews who couldn’t bring themselves to leave the airline. “Lifestyle” was frequently quoted as the reason why one would want to stay in the airline instead of leaving it. It’s like the longer you stay there, the harder it is to leave. But ultimately, it all boils down to what each individual wants in life. For me, I decided to leave after just 2 short years because I was afraid I would be “consumed” by the “lifestyle” too. 
SgTop10 :: Can you tell us more about the type of training required?
We frequently hear people saying that cabin crews are “High-class waiters/waitresses”. They are right, one of our roles is to serve F&B to passengers. But, we are much more than just waiters/waitresses. A cabin crew is:
A Waiter
A Sanitor
A Chef
A Bartender
A Tour Guide
A Salesman
A Model
A Nanny
A Nurse
A Safety Specialist
A Counsellor
An Entertainer
An Educator
And so much more.
All cabin crews go through rigorous training to function as any of the above roles at anytime.
SgTop10 :: What is the most memorable thing you did as an air crew?
Ran out of toilet paper while doing my stuff in the lavatory. Thank goodness cabin crews know where the spares are kept.
SgTop10 :: How much on average can you earn a month?
More than the average starting pay for fresh university graduates. A typical month average of around 4 grands. Note that the bulk of our remuneration comes from allowances. Which means that should one be down on medical leave or on holidays, that month’s earnings will be significantly less.
SgTop10 :: What is one misconception by the public on your profession?
As stated above, that we are merely a “High class waiter/waitress”.
SgTop10 :: Mile High Club: Fact or Fiction?
I personally didn’t encounter anything related to the Mile High Club. But I believe that it is a fact, probably more rampant in the past than now. Having said that, one should also note that there aren’t many places secluded enough for such activities. But then again, with flights lasting as long as 18-20 hours, wouldn’t one get bored onboard and would rather get “on bod”?
SGTOP10 : Can you comment on the incident where the air stewardess was slapped by one of the passengers ? You can read about the story here.
I think these kind of people should just go to Jail.
SgTop10 :: Since this is a SGTOP10 interview, tell our readers 10 things that could happen on the plane that we didn’t know ?
1. Detonate a bomb onboard and fly.
2. Sit beside a dead person. Regulations are such that a deceased remains on his/her seat for the rest of the flight.
3. Not find any form on nuts(the food, not the person) onboard. When we have a passenger with severe allergy to nuts, we remove all form of nuts and nut related items from the aircraft.
4. See the north pole even though you are flying from Singapore to LA.
5. Be struck by lightning.
6. Eat food that were prepared in Singapore although you boarded the plane in Europe, and am flying to the USA.
7. Sit beside a dog. Seeing-eye dogs are allowed.
8. Ask for extra blankets to cover(hide) what you and your loved one are doing beneath it. I meant breast-feeding.
9. See a rainbow below you. We normally see them above us.
10. Defibrillate a person.
