Passing the CABIN CREW interview

Many people have e-mailed me and asked me a  bunch of questions. I will do my best to answer most of them, but please be advised that my blog is in continuous development and that I have a job ;)) I need to fly from time to time to pay my bills, food, extravagances and for the internet connexion that keeps me closer to you all. One of the most frequent (also most common) of them is how to pass the Cabin Crew interview. Over the time I tried to advise people on the "tips and tricks" to be used when participating at Open Days or Employer's Assessments. Depending on each person (and employer nonetheless) and the degree of trust they gave to my "expertise" and advices, some of them got in and, some of them are still trying and a few even lost hope, determination and decided to abandon the endeavor of Seeing the World from above. In what is to follow I will introduce you to some of the most important things you need to remember if you decide to take part at an Open Days session or to Apply online or even Mail your intention to HR departments of your dream's Company.

The cabin crew interview is often feared by many candidates and the one part of the selection process that they do not look forward to. However, if you want to become part of the cabin crew team you will need to stand out during the interview stage. Also many candidates believe that the interview signals the end of the entire selection process. Those that have made it this far have done very well as the majority of candidates are asked to leave after the teamwork exercises. It is only the select few that are asked to stay behind and undertake a interview. For many candidates the problem is that they either have not prepared for this stage or they relax because they did not expected to get so far

However, this is arguably the most critical time in your attempt to join your chosen airline. The reason that I say this, is due to the fact that at the interview stage it is the first time the recruitment staff will be able to spend some time with you on a one-on-one, face to face basis. Don't forget people! So far, you will have been assessed on your teamwork and other skills but now its just you and the recruitment staff. You should look at this as an opportunity to present yourself in such a way as to STAND OUT  from the other candidates. Everyone will be nervous at this point but if you have prepared for this, then you will definitely be fine. The question that arises, well how do I prepare for an interview. The key to this stage is trying to think of the questions you may be asked and preparing you responses.

Not all the questions you will prepare will come and not all will be asked in the way you want but by preparing you will be one step ahead of the rest. A typical question that the recruitment staff like to ask is: "The role of a cabin crew member requires the person to be away from home for long periods of time, how will this affect you and are you able to handle this?" The reason that they ask this type of question is not to catch you out but to find out if you have really thought about what the job requires from a candidate. They do not want to be in a position 3 or 4 months down the line where you have decided that you cannot deal with being away from home for that amount of time. A lot of candidates get caught up in the idea of joining their chosen airline and flying around the world without really considering what is means. The recruitment team will be looking for an answer that shows them you have thought about this point and you were mature enough to take this decision before showing up for selection. A good answer may include the point that you are used to being away from home for long periods of time and that this will not be a problem for you. Or maybe that you have children any have given this much thought and you have arranged someone to look after them while you are away. There is not such much a right or wrong answer but more an answer that shows you have considered this fact for your circumstances before endorsing your CV.

To be continued..

Smith out

Emirates accuses Transport Canada

In July 2009 the Toronto Star carried a report about the views Transport Canada has about Emirates Airline and the Emirates response which states that the department is making "slanderous" allegations. This story is being discussed in an aviation forum on Airliners.net. The Financial Post reported Emirates CEO Tim Clark as saying the the Canadian government's approach was "ludicrous" and "protectionism of the worst kind." The Star carried an earlier report about lobbying by Emirates on 28 February 2009.

My read of the situation is that my Canadian counterparts are grappling with one of the more fundamental aeropolitical dilemmas of the last decade - how should governments (it is governments that exchange the air rights on a reciprocal basis) respond the spectacular rise of airlines from the Gulf region? They are not alone.

The home countries of the Gulf carriers are putting together an impressive number of air services arrangements that the carriers can utilise, taking advantage of their geographic location between Europe, Asia and Africa, to exploit the sixth freedom opportunities that as a consequence become available.

Many of these Gulf carriers seem intent on gaining global market share at the expense of profitability, although financial information is simply not disclosed by airlines such as Qatar Airways and Etihad. Not having to pay tax and enjoying some of the cheapest landing fees in the world at their home airports no doubt helps, as does the fact that reciprocal rights for other airlines to serve the Gulf region are often of limited value.

Slam on Singapore Airlines Crew

Hi all,

I just have to confess something, otherwise I might do something bad to anyone that comes my way. Not so long ago I went on trip to JNB (Johannesburg - for the unfamiliar ones). Heavy load, difficult pax, long block time, quite risky destination (much like LOS - not Los Angeles, but Lagos, Nigeria). I held myself together thinking constantly of a nice dry glass of south african wine, one of those from the southern valleys - drooling -  The flight went better than I expected to go, the crew kept on joking around and having fun so time just flew faster than us. We finally parked the aircraft after spending another precious 45' taxiing - I was still drooling for my fav wine- disarmed doors, hide all our cabin trolleys, coz in Jo'burg theft is at it's highest peak, disembarked every living soul and headed to our "5*" luxury hotel somewhere far, far away from downtown, where safety seems comprehensive compared to prev. mentioned. We've all got our "chambres" following the strict chain of command, unlike Europe, where LADIES GO FIRST!!! As I mentioned, putting aside the lack of common sense and international social values, my crew was GREAT! Super fellas to hang with, funny, open minded and wine lovers - my favorite characteristic- .

I don't want to seem like a heavy drinker, but I told you, I was going thru a desire kinda' feeling for that hrrrrrr wine.

So we decided to meet in the hotel provided Crew Lounge, a nice suite, designed to accommodate even the grumpiest of any species. All good and done! Before heading to the suite we all went to Nelson Mandela Square supermarket, where everyone could find any kind of liquors, wines, brandies to satisfy their needs. I was truly impressed by the huge selection on the Wines department and I chose not less than 5 bottles, more than enough for the 3 days to spend there. After getting the drinks, the nuts and the snacks, we found ourselves rushing to the spacious accommodating suite, where by the way, the couch was hugging you literary!

When we entered the Lounge, we were surprised (they were a bit rejective, although on the entrance door was clearly written "Exclusive for "my airline") to find another set of crew lazing around and after a short conversation we learned that they're SIA F/A. Nothing wrong with that! A bit wrong was that they were smoking a "weedy smelling" kind of cigarettes in a designated NO SMOKING area. We passed over that issue as well, and we quietly and gently placed our drinks in the chiller and then passed in the other room (the lounge was a three rooms suite). After spending quality time with my friends I went to get a second bottle of wine from the pantry and SHOCK!!!!! They (SIA Elite) were comfortably serving our drinks (one of them being a 21 years aged single malt Glenfiddich Scotch - which in South Africa costs a bit of a fortune). I stood there still stunned, the previous bottle that I've served having no visible effect on my behavior. I couldn't believe my eyes!!! The rage was growing into me like a freaking volcano! It wasn't about the drinks! It wasn't about the money! It wasn't even the name: Glenfiddich! It was much more than that! It was the mannerism! The sneaky way they did it! I swear that should they asked us, we'd have had nothing against sharing! The things that followed don't worth posting, but since that day I stopped looking up to THEM....:(  It all ended up in disappointment..

I joined the rest of the crew after a few minutes of hard talk and the wine testing kept going on for hours! Nothing could spoil the mood of a great group! It's like flying, you make the flight or you break the flight!

What do you guys think? Post a comment to share your opinions.

Business kids

Hi everyone! Quick question! How do you manage and keep your temper down when you are surrounded in the Business Class cabin by a very loud, crazy, freaky bunch of kids. Don't misunderstand me, I love kids and I am anxious for the moment when I'll have my own elite team, but for the moment I please my fatherly feelings playing around with my friend's pupils. So, tonight I had a short 2h30min flight, somewhere in the Far East, a cabin filled with holiday makers, and a heavy 30 seater J/C filled up with rich, spoiled and nasty lebanese kids. The oldest of them wasn't more than 9. Have you had any idea that lebanese kids can be more demanding, more rude (in a cute way), more clever and also better english speakers than their beloved parents? However, it was cute when one of them read on the menu and ordered a screwdriver, thinking that I'm gonna provide him with the tool. Instead, although I thought for a moment to get them all drunk and sleepy, I was a bit afraid of the legal consequences so I had to politely deny his quest for drinking and instead I gave him the almighty OJ!

I suppose the way to deal with them was to look into their big, round, naughty, yet innocent blue eyes and hope that the best is still to come. Surely that's it!

 It was a great experience and .... gotta go now!

Johnny Smith out!

Another Flight Attendant Writing About Flying: There's a new laviator in town

Another Flight Attendant Writing About Flying: There's a new laviator in town

Laviators - explained-

Like a bad case of indigestion, hopefully this fad has passed, but in March Gadling’s Heather Poole uncovered what she called the “hottest trend on the airplane since the mile high club“: airplane passengers taking self-portraits in the lavatories.

On a subsequent post Heather Poole referred to these photographers as members of the “laviators club” and posted a second slideshow of this emerging sub-genre of the self-portrait.

But is it a trend? Or is it just bored airplane passengers looking for entertainment having already finished reading the in-flight catalog and the duty free magazine?

For those of you who have absolutely no idea what this is LAVIATORS all about, read Heather's  Galley Gossip post, the hottest trend on the airplane since the mile high club, as well as what MSNBC recently wrote, The New Mile High Club is "G" Rated . And then, next time you fly, don't forget to pack a camera in a carry-on bag and whatever you do, don't be afraid to get creative! Need a few photography tips before you slide the camera into the pocket and make a move to the lav? Check out what our very own Gadling photography expert, Karen Walrond, suggests when it comes to taking a self portrait.

New LAVIATORS - The new trend

Laviators 39 – 47!

Here he is, my favorite laviator, the kid!  Oh yes, there was a lot of, “No, no, no, don’t touch that!  Smile!  Look at the mirror, not the camera!  The mirror! I said don’t touch that!” going on, which was followed by, ”why?  why?  why?” which is kind of funny, because…well…I get that a lot when it comes to the laviators – Why?  And I still don’t have an answer.    

 

Well hello there, just me sending you a photo of myself in a toilet room.  This was on my flight from LAX to Narita…  – Kim, Host & Co-Creator of www.galavanting.tv

Am I in? -  Barbee

  

  I flew from DFW to Washington DC and couldn’t resist joining the “club.”  After I returned to my seat, my husband noticed the camera in my hand and asked if I had taken a photo.  I smiled sheepishly and said “yes, I’m now a member of the laviator’s club.”  LOL.  So, here’s another photo for your collection: 1st class lavatory, DFW to DCA – Laura Powers
www.laurainsideout.com

  

 I’d like to join the laviators club, so I’m sending my picture  It was taken in a TAM A320, flying from Sao Paulo to Vitoria (SBVT) inBrazil. – Lucas

   

Laviating on Skywest (Delta Connection) between SLC and PHX while the seatbelt sign is on.  Aircraft was a CRJ-700 – Brad, http://brajit.blogspot.com

   

 Here I am, on my way back from a scuba diving vacation on CO387 from Belize City to Newark yesterday, a little tired, a little sunburned. And happy that I remembered to shoot my first laviator pic! – Nancy-  Metuchen, NJ

    

I perched myself up on the sink/counter area (after a good cleaning & sanitizing). – Rita, Binhog.com

I don’t know what it is about this photo that makes me smile, but I’m smiling, and I can’t stop smiling! 

 It’s  Ann of “The Trip Chicks” – Courtesy Delta Airlines ATL-ORD. A proud new member of Heather_Poole’s airline elite…. The Laviators!

Air India to table financial turnaround plan today

Cash-strapped Air India is likely to table a detailed financial turnaround plan at a meeting of the high-level Committee of Secretaries on Saturday, showing proposals to cut costs and enhance revenue generation over the next five years.

The plan, vetted by the Finance and Civil Aviation Ministries, is likely to include proposals relating to the nature of financial assistance it wants from the government, including equity infusion and soft loan.

While the government may make only a partial contribution as equity infusion to the airline, a major part of resource mobilisation is likely to be through options like partial divestment of government equity, issuance of initial public offer or infrastructure bonds, informed sources said.

Officials of the Finance and Civil Aviation Ministries and Air India have held series of discussion over the past few weeks to finalise these proposals, many of which had come up for discussion last month at the first meeting of the CoS, headed by Cabinet Secretary K M Chandrashekar.

The government had then asked the Petroleum Ministry to extend the credit limit on the purchase of jet fuel by Air India for at least three more months.

Once finalised, the proposals would be sent to the Union Cabinet for its approval, the sources said, adding that the much-needed funding for Air India would be released by the government only after the Cabinet nod.

The airline is suffering from a loss of about Rs 5,000 crore and has a debt of Rs 16,000 crore. It is negotiating with banks and financial institutions to turn its high-cost debt of Rs 10,000-11,000 crore into low-cost.

The CoS, which comprises Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister T K A Nair, Finance Secretary Ashok Chawla and Civil Aviation Secretary M Madhavan Nambiar, has made it clear that any assistance from the government would have to be matched by an "aggressive" cost reduction and a better revenue management by Air India's parent company NACIL.

In its bid to cut costs, the national carrier has been mulling cancellation of delivery of six Boeing 777s long-haul aircraft meant for delivery between 2010 and 2012.

The fleet renewal plan, including leased aircraft, is being reviewed by the carrier. As of now, it has 46 aircraft on lease including 17 on sale-and-lease back arrangement.

Another significant measure aimed at cutting costs and increasing revenue is the proposal to allow Air India Express, the low-cost entity, to launch domestic operations from next month by deploying 10 additional all-economy aircraft.

The national carrier was estimating an earning of Rs 180-200 crore through low-cost operations on the domestic sector and planning to gradually shift 70-75 per cent of its existing domestic flights to Air India Express.

A separate cost management and audit team has been set up to look at financial restructuring plan, including debt servicing, risk management and hedging on ATF.

Qatar Executive to take lead of Business Travel in the Gulf

Qatar Airways's new on-demand charter division plans to build rapidly on its initial fleet of threeBombardier Challenger business jets as it looks to tap into the region's growing demand for executive travel.

The subsidiary, dubbed Qatar Executive, was unveiled at the Paris air show. It will function as a profit centre within the airline group with its own management structure.

Headed by former president of New Jersey-based ProFlite, American Ted Button, the division is launching operations with two newly delivered, 11-seat Challenger 605s along with an eight-seat Challenger 300 that is already in the airline's fleet.

Flight 1549 still emotional to.... up to this moment - true heroes-

How do you evacuate 155 people from an Airbus 320 sinking in just off the Manhattan shoreline? The crew of U.S. Airways Flight 1549 described how they were able to get every passenger back on dry land.

Unless they happen at a major airport, most commercial airline accidents generally occur without any "real time" video and/or photographic record of the event. However, the circumstance of Flight 1549's river ditching in a heavily populated metropolitan area during daylight hours was an exception, with video of the accident captured and recorded by multiple nearby closed circuit television surveillance camera systems as the accident occurred. That, along with the survival of all 155 passengers and crew, virtually uninjured made possible the relatively rapid production and broadcast of multiple television reports and documentaries containing both extensive real time video of the actual ditching and rescue, and extensive recorded first person accounts by the aircrew, passengers, rescuers, and other key participants.

As for me...it was still shocking to see the images again and to feel and live with the crew those moments, especially the Emotional Reunion. It may sound like a cliché but every incident that I see, I hear of, makes me review my drills, not before the flight, not in theory, but within myself, for me, for my wife and our families, for those who would miss us. It's not a burden, it is part of me, of what I do and I am still proud to be a flight attendant. My thought and prays go to everyone that in this very moment and moments to come are wearing the uniform and take thousands of lives in their hands. 

Thank you for doing what you're best at!

Smith out!

PS: Please don't forget to subscribe to my newsletter, as I will get back to you with nice updates.

Bali sweet Bali palm pics

JAL retires the last Boeing 747 Classic Jumbo

Japan Airlines has retired its fleet of the Boeing 747 Classic Jumbo Jets with the last scheduled international flight of the type: JO 073 flying from Honolulu, Hawaii to Tokyo Narita airport in Japan, landing on July 31st. (The last domestic flight by a Boeing 747-300 was scheduled to land just 5 minutes earlier, departing from Sapporo Chitose.)

The last JAL operated Classic Jumbo Jet was a Boeing 747-300, that still had to be operated by a 3-man flight crew (modern airliners fly with only 2 pilots). The plane was originally manufactured for JAL and received by the airline in 1983 – 26 years ago.

In the mid-1960s, unprecedented development in technology and the availability of large-thrust engines led to the creation of the giant 747, beginning with the 747-100, the first in the 747 Classics series which also includes the -200 and -300 models. JAL first took delivery of a 747-100 in 1970, and was the launch customer of the 747-100SR (Short Range) in 1973. One of the SR variants formerly operated by JAL is currently being used by NASA as the Shuttle Carrier. For its ever-expanding international network at the time, JAL owned the largest fleet of 747 Classics in 1984, and from 1987 through to 1989, it held the record number of 65 such aircraft – a figure that still stands as the most number of Classics owned by any one airline at a time.

Starting in 1983, Japan Airlines have also been using the Boeing 747-300 type, that had a longer upper deck that could seat more premium passengers. Decommissioning the Group’s remaining 6 747 Classics – of which the earliest was delivered in November 1983, attests to the Group’s steady progress towards downsizing its fleet and operating more fuel-efficient aircraft such as Boeing 777. The Boeing 747-300 was the only airplane in Japan Airlines’ fleet that carried all three liveries over the years. The last two -300s in the fleet have the registration numbers: JA812J and JA8166.

Special ceremonies were held today to bring the curtains down on a long-standing service by the Classic Jumbo Jets in grand fashion. The flight was draped in a giant Hawaiian lei before departure at Honolulu Airport, where an elaborate ceremony was conducted with a proclamation declaring July 30, 2009, as “JAPAN AIRLINES CLASSIC JUMBO JET DAY,” with local dignitaries in attendance.  Upon arrival in Tokyo (Narita), the aircraft was received at the gate by its designer – the “Father of the 747”, Mr. Joseph F. “Joe” Sutter, JAL staff as well as members of the media. Mr. Sutter who led the development of what would become the world’s first wide-body airliner and who is now a senior advisor to the Boeing Company also graced this special occasion with a talk about the birth of the 747.

To memorialize the role of the popular Classic’s in the history of JAL, a sell-out commemorative flight organized by JAL Tours flew fans of the Classic Jumbo Jet from Tokyo (Haneda) to Shimojishima on a round-trip day tour on July 5, 2009. A total of 449 enthusiasts, members of the media and staff had the rare opportunity to go down memory lane, when cabin attendants who wore the 8 different uniforms in the history of JAL welcomed them onboard and served them during the flight.

Over the 39 years of service by the Classic 747 fleet, among thousands of flights and probably lots of memories for millions of passengers as well as crew members, one of the scariest crosswind landings by the Boeing 747 Jumbo Jet captured on video was also conducted by JAL in Hong Kong, as seen here onYoutube.

Lesson no.1 DON'T FREAK! Keep cool!

Sometimes situations on board do not go as expected. A good day, a good flight may turn bad, everything may suddenly go wrong. Needless to say, it’s difficult to stay calm in such situations. We all tend to become confused, panic or even heated by anger (mostly!!!). That won’t help you much to get out of the situation though. Handling a bad situation in such condition  will just make it worse; you are more likely to make mistakes. That’s why it’s important to stay calm. By staying calm, you will be able to judge the situation wisely and take theappropriate actions all resulting in self control and self improvement ultimately. I am sure it's not just me, all of us tend to loose temper sometimes and you know what? It's normal, it's within our blood, it's human nature. But for a great deal of time now, humans have tried to evolve, evolute and progress. Why wouldn't we start by controlling out temper and attitude towards things, situations and other people nonetheless. When I firs joined the airline industry I was a teenager with the personality of a teenager and of course with the guts of the same. It was all right, however, in time I realized that listening more, smiling more and genuinely trying to understand the situation I was confronting with would help me more than taking blunt decisions, on the spot decisions, talking without thinking more. Like my grandpa use to say, a tailor should measure 10 times and cut just once ;)

But how do you stay calm when the situation goes bad? How do you calm your nerves while the world around you is falling down? I believe there are some simple things you can do. Here are a few tips ; pick theones that work for you and you'll see how it goes. You'll thank me later, I am sure!

• Take a deep breath.
• Do nothing for 5 minutes.
• Take a nap.
• Take a shower.
• Listen to comforting calm music (or if Hard Metal suites you...however I don't really think it helpes).
• Listen to natural sounds.
• Play music.
• Share to a positive friend.
• Meditate, think where you've gone wrong and don't just blame those around you.
• Ask “What’s the next action?” and focus on only that one thing.
• Go to nature (mountain, beach, desert, etc.).
• Ride a bike or cruise around with your car.
• Talk about other topics.
• Drink a bottle of water (not the 5lt one however).
• Play games (just for a while!).
• Go eat or have a coffee with someone who is not part of the situation.
• Exercise.
• Read spiritual texts.
• Listen to spiritual audio programs.
• Unplug the Internet.
• Say to yourself, “This situation is not as bad as it looks. Many people have handled situations worse than this successfully.”
• Be grateful for what you stillhave (instead of looking at what you don’thave).
• Be grateful for what you can learn from the situation.
• Take a walk around a park or do some window shopping.
• SMILE!!!!!

These things help you get past the bad situation only on thesurface. To "really" pass a bad situation one needs to have a deeper understanding of what caused it, what could he learn from it (”There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so. William Shakespeare ~ Hamlet), how could he apply what he learns from it in other aspects of his life and/or in the future, et cetera.

I hope it helps, please subscribe to my newsletter and I promise I'll get back and update  you with great stuff!

Smith out!