Oh you’re only 19 you seem so mature. I’ll be 19 in a month and have applied twice since turning 18 but was never successful. I always thought it was my age that was the problem. Is there a big difference to them between 18 and 19?
What an open and honest video, this should be played at BA assessment days to say "look it's not a lovely happy smiley days in the sun, it's tough, hard work, it can get you down, think carefully about is this career for you?" It would save a lot of heartaches in the long run. Thanks for make the effort and I hope your video reaches a few cabin crew wannabes before they sign up. Stevie
Your only problem seemed only commuting. My brother is a F/A for IBERIA for the past 30 years, and apart from the first 5 which he was on short haul, as soon as he stepped up to the A340, he got on half time, and I tell you it was and still is PARADISE. For example, he only flys 2 long hauls a MONTH, meaning he has 24 days off. And before you say, his salary is 2500 euros month NET. So if you dont want too many responsabilities, good pay, many days off and see the world, this is your job.
I quit BA because I got chronic fatigue. I looked very glamorous and I love people, but I found it lonely and exhausting..I also suffer from body dismorphia and it was a really challenging environment for my mental health. Everyone was really nice but I found relationships really transient .
Hey! Watching this video I totally agreed with everything that you said about BA, it's so nice to hear someone else say all the things I was thinking, because when I left (I was mixed fleet for a year) I was so unsure, but so much happier! I'm at Norwegian now and I absolutely love it, so I would say if you think about being crew again maybe you should try a different airline, my experience at Norwegian is so different to BA!
You're absolutely right, it's a lifestyle not a job. I was longhaul 747s before you were born. I commuted from JFK, a drama if you're doing a b2b. I was 26 when I started and needed to be because you have to be incredibly resilient, independent and love your own company. I did 3 week trips to Australia and New Zealand and by the end of the trip you were like family. Long trips worked for me because the commute was cheaper and because I loved travelling, I loved working in First class, we had box payments so it was financially fab particularly directs to NRT, SIN and HKG. You're a sweetie but I really think it wasn't for you, you're too young and too family orientated. I would hate flying now with mixed flights tbh, I don't do shorthaul or bucket and spades, and we partied bloody hard back then which made us even more a family. These days it just doesn't happen, so sad for your generation and what a shame you can't see my memories. Hope you find something that makes you happy darling, good luck xxxx
I appreciate your honesty. I was MF cabin crew from the very beginning and retired after 6 years (yes I am old). Your comments very much echoed those I heard from first time flying younger crew during my years at MF. A lot of crew’s only reason for wanting to be cabin crew was to see the world, and, as you rightly pointed out, it’s a very tiring job that takes up a lot of your life away from work as well. If it’s any consolation, the roster schedules were so much worse when MF first started, e.g. single night stops in GIG. I live in Cornwall so had overnight 7 hour commutes with national express each time. And sleeping in my car in the crew car park wasn’t unknown. And the pay was awful as well. The MFU strikes helped improve things, but as you so rightly pointed out, if your only reason to want to be cabin crew with MF is to see the world, then it probably isn’t for you. I saw too many crew burn out with fatigue especially on the return sectors of the SIN/SYD route or 4 days euro tours which were always my monthly top bid to save on commuting costs. And with the low pay, a lot of crew had to leave just to find a better paid job to pay off their debts. I do wish you well for the future and hopefully your very honest comments might be a reality check for those who have never flown before, no matter how much they don’t want to hear or believe them. I look back with fond memories meeting some great customers on board plus a few celebrities as well. It’s definitely not a bad job, but it’s definitely not for everyone.
The only thing i'm worried about is the money cos I live over 2 hours away from london so obviously will have to stay down there and i dont know how i will afford it
I am following several flight attendants or cabin crew on UA-cam. Some is commuting and others are moving so they live near the base. a Cabin crew from Lufthansa has standby and live two hours away from the airport and drive to the airport when she is on standby.you meet new people and sometimes you meet your friends or cabin crew that you have met before. That sounded like a good idea to live in a shared accommodation, because you live and know some people that you know and you can support one another. Even when the job might not be for everyone these things is good to have when you consider applying for the job. These is the observations that I have seen
For some reason I expected an issue with management or something deeper. Seemed like the only problem was living too far away. Living closer would've meant: less time spent commuting, less money spent on transport (this spent on the accommodation instead) and standby would've been at home instead of feeling on-edge in a carpark.
As someone who is interested in this line of work does the roster work in a week on week off period or is it a 24/7 365 type thing if that makes any sense also with regards to airport locality are you assigned to fly from the airport nearest to you or did you have to move around the country?
Ellie, I kmow where you are coming from on this one and i did nearly 23 years as longhaul and Eurofleet crew. I know i made the right decision to leave in June 2018 and despite being unemployed at present do not miss the job at all. Best of luck in what you decide to do next. Seán. Eurofleet LHR.
I think if a person (not necessarily you) is used to leaving jobs every couple of years and they take this type of challenging job then it is highly likely that they will quit!
Hey Ellie Just wonna say I’m new to your channel. I’m loving your content. I have my BA video interview coming up, any advice? Gosh I’m nervous, I’m praying it goes well though.🙏🏻 I always convert these figures you give to Rands and I’m shook!🙆🏼♀️😱yoh wow £250( thats R4627,1 according to gogle🙄🤣) for just gas..yhu... cost of living is hella expensive there hey.Not even my full tank cost that much in South Africa. And then people think Johannesburg is expensive, they must think again.
So very sorry to hear of your experiences - but do not think badly of yourself. That is not your fault. This is just endemic of the British airways catastrophe they have caused for themselves by alienating long-serving staff and forcing so many to take redundancy, leaving them then shorthanded and hiring people who perhaps otherwise they wouldn’t of done - it sounds as though you are too far from base to really have been considered, and should have been told this actual interview and advise that you would be better taking a flat, Even if you shared, closer to the airport. Think of all this as experience - and I hope it does not put you off aviation. You would feel better at a smaller base if you like working with the same group of people all the time. For example, Gatwick is much more close-knit than the dreaded mixed fleet at Heathrow.
Meg, they have needed to move with the times. Airlines like Easy Jet and Ryanair are destroying them on shorthaul whilst the likes of Norwegian across the Atlantic and the Gulf carriers are eating their profits on long haul. For too long they were heavily protected by left wing and self serving union reps and now they've had to trim their expenses. Cutting overpaid cabin crew on old contracts with outdated practices on was the first step. As for recruitment, well, the standard applying and being accepted these days is very different but I guess BA have to accept that. As they say, you pay peanuts.....
harry the cod Goodness - you sound like a corporate affairs manager at Waterside! You don’t have to swallow all the spin coming out of BA you know. There are airlines around the world which have managed to keep up standards. Granted there had to be some changes, but the way BA management went about it meant they lost virtually all their experienced cabin crew and just don’t offer what it takes for retention. The training budget must have escalated enormously. Not to mention recruitment costs. They don’t think about these sorts of implications of their wholesale decimation.
@@markpunt9638 I don't have to swallow the spin, I base my opinion on 34 years of aviation experience. I've seen the industry change dramatically over those years, both in salary terms and in conditions. With it has been a commensurate decline in standards of those applying. BA simply can't compete with the Gulf carriers and low cost outfits on outdate contracts. The new lower salaries and reduced T&C's attract a calibre of applicant very different to those that applied 30-40 years ago. That's the simple truth. Even the pilots have had to give up their much protected bid line system recently and the final salary pension was lost years ago. If you want to fly commercially as a pilot, you get your rich parents to buy you the 100k course or go into debt for the next ten years. 35 years ago, pilots graduated from a flying school in which BA paid for ALL the training and selected only the very best. Cabin crew selection was equally tough. Watching Ellie's blog, even only half that I could be bothered with, confirms my belief that there is very little substance to many of today's new cabin crew. Take away the make up.........
Hi Ellie, have you thought about becoming a weight loss consultant? I'm currently sponsoring can-do positive people. Let me know if your interested as a career either full time or part time! John
You have NO IDEA what you gave up on...….there are literally hundreds of thousands of pretty boys and girls willing to give their right arm for a flight attendant job in this very prestigious airline. In India very educated and good looking people apply for this position in the thousands and only a handful get hired. It is like winning a huge lotto!! Wish you had stayed!!! You had some thing millions pine for!! By the way there are many international airlines that hire pretty women from Britain and provide them free accommodation and tax free salaries ie Emirates in Dubai, Etehad in Abu Dhabi and Qatar airways in Doha . Perhaps you will give one of these airlines a try !! Best of luck in all your endeavors !!
I had my headphones in and when the Instagram tag popped up, IT SCARED THE CRAP OUT OF ME DJSBSHHA
Sorry guys! When I made this I was so bad at editing! I apologise to your ear drums xx
ThatsSoEllie aaww..that's so sweet of you...No problem..dear !!
samee
Same thing happened to me ! I'm still shaking
Same!😩😩😩😩at 5am I’m watching this
That Bahamas being added on your roster was definitely calculated they wanted you to stay
Oh you’re only 19 you seem so mature. I’ll be 19 in a month and have applied twice since turning 18 but was never successful. I always thought it was my age that was the problem. Is there a big difference to them between 18 and 19?
What an open and honest video, this should be played at BA assessment days to say "look it's not a lovely happy smiley days in the sun, it's tough, hard work, it can get you down, think carefully about is this career for you?" It would save a lot of heartaches in the long run. Thanks for make the effort and I hope your video reaches a few cabin crew wannabes before they sign up. Stevie
Your only problem seemed only commuting. My brother is a F/A for IBERIA for the past 30 years, and apart from the first 5 which he was on short haul, as soon as he stepped up to the A340, he got on half time, and I tell you it was and still is PARADISE. For example, he only flys 2 long hauls a MONTH, meaning he has 24 days off. And before you say, his salary is 2500 euros month NET. So if you dont want too many responsabilities, good pay, many days off and see the world, this is your job.
Is 2500 euros enough to survive in London?
Elllliieeeeee
Aww thank you so much! Means so much xx
I quit BA because I got chronic fatigue. I looked very glamorous and I love people, but I found it lonely and exhausting..I also suffer from body dismorphia and it was a really challenging environment for my mental health. Everyone was really nice but I found relationships really transient .
Hey! Watching this video I totally agreed with everything that you said about BA, it's so nice to hear someone else say all the things I was thinking, because when I left (I was mixed fleet for a year) I was so unsure, but so much happier! I'm at Norwegian now and I absolutely love it, so I would say if you think about being crew again maybe you should try a different airline, my experience at Norwegian is so different to BA!
You're absolutely right, it's a lifestyle not a job. I was longhaul 747s before you were born. I commuted from JFK, a drama if you're doing a b2b. I was 26 when I started and needed to be because you have to be incredibly resilient, independent and love your own company. I did 3 week trips to Australia and New Zealand and by the end of the trip you were like family. Long trips worked for me because the commute was cheaper and because I loved travelling, I loved working in First class, we had box payments so it was financially fab particularly directs to NRT, SIN and HKG. You're a sweetie but I really think it wasn't for you, you're too young and too family orientated. I would hate flying now with mixed flights tbh, I don't do shorthaul or bucket and spades, and we partied bloody hard back then which made us even more a family. These days it just doesn't happen, so sad for your generation and what a shame you can't see my memories. Hope you find something that makes you happy darling, good luck xxxx
I appreciate your honesty. I was MF cabin crew from the very beginning and retired after 6 years (yes I am old). Your comments very much echoed those I heard from first time flying younger crew during my years at MF. A lot of crew’s only reason for wanting to be cabin crew was to see the world, and, as you rightly pointed out, it’s a very tiring job that takes up a lot of your life away from work as well. If it’s any consolation, the roster schedules were so much worse when MF first started, e.g. single night stops in GIG. I live in Cornwall so had overnight 7 hour commutes with national express each time. And sleeping in my car in the crew car park wasn’t unknown. And the pay was awful as well. The MFU strikes helped improve things, but as you so rightly pointed out, if your only reason to want to be cabin crew with MF is to see the world, then it probably isn’t for you. I saw too many crew burn out with fatigue especially on the return sectors of the SIN/SYD route or 4 days euro tours which were always my monthly top bid to save on commuting costs. And with the low pay, a lot of crew had to leave just to find a better paid job to pay off their debts. I do wish you well for the future and hopefully your very honest comments might be a reality check for those who have never flown before, no matter how much they don’t want to hear or believe them. I look back with fond memories meeting some great customers on board plus a few celebrities as well. It’s definitely not a bad job, but it’s definitely not for everyone.
What were the salaries like? Did you get paid per hour or a base salary?
I want to be a flight attendant and luckily I live 30mins away from Heathrow
They are recruiting now. You should apply
Could you have a whole month of available days like how emirates has a reserve month for cabin crew?
Why do so many BA crew make videos about why they left?
The only thing i'm worried about is the money cos I live over 2 hours away from london so obviously will have to stay down there and i dont know how i will afford it
I am following several flight attendants or cabin crew on UA-cam. Some is commuting and others are moving so they live near the base. a Cabin crew from Lufthansa has standby and live two hours away from the airport and drive to the airport when she is on standby.you meet new people and sometimes you meet your friends or cabin crew that you have met before.
That sounded like a good idea to live in a shared accommodation, because you live and know some people that you know and you can support one another.
Even when the job might not be for everyone these things is good to have when you consider applying for the job.
These is the observations that I have seen
Hey Ellie, I'd love to see a video about the assessment day and tips for the interviews, what you wore and everything like that! Thanks! xo
Abbey Sutton yeah that’s a really good idea! That’s my most asked question so I’ll do one of them! Xx
90 minute standby for me would be a luxury. At my company, we only have 30 mins!x
30 minutes, do you live in the crew car park?
I’m the same, 248 per month in travelling. I’m a teacher but work a fair distance.
hey love do you have a video running about number and wage is it possible to save ?
0:32 that scared the hell out of me😂😂😂
Josh 104 😂😂 sorry!! I have improved on my sound since this video! I didn’t know what I was doing then 😂😂
Omg I clicked knowing and still got scared
Useful information but I do feel slightly sorry for BA because they do make it fairly clear what the lifestyle will be like when you first apply.
what was the typical schedule say in a week? How many flights?
Could you do a video about the training? (The 6 weeks one) like whos paying for ot. Do you get accomodation from BA for that time?
♡♥ Dami Daria ♥♡ yeah, if that is something you want to know!
@@EllieBennettx yes please! X
For some reason I expected an issue with management or something deeper. Seemed like the only problem was living too far away.
Living closer would've meant: less time spent commuting, less money spent on transport (this spent on the accommodation instead) and standby would've been at home instead of feeling on-edge in a carpark.
London is too expensive on the BA salary....trust me...600pgbp for a room.she says
As someone who is interested in this line of work does the roster work in a week on week off period or is it a 24/7 365 type thing if that makes any sense also with regards to airport locality are you assigned to fly from the airport nearest to you or did you have to move around the country?
Ellie,
I kmow where you are coming from on this one and i did nearly 23 years as longhaul and Eurofleet crew.
I know i made the right decision to leave in June 2018 and despite being unemployed at present do not miss the job at all.
Best of luck in what you decide to do next.
Seán.
Eurofleet LHR.
Aww thank you! Yes I think you know yourself when your time is up! Hope you are okay ☺️
@@EllieBennettx yes thanks and the same to you
How much did they pay you ?
hey girl! I spoke to you a few weeks ago on instagram, just wanna say i looove your new intro ❤️❤️
Georgia Barlow thank you!!! I’m glad you like it!! ❤️❤️
I think if a person (not necessarily you) is used to leaving jobs every couple of years and they take this type of challenging job then it is highly likely that they will quit!
Where were you based? Gatwick or heathrow?
I think she said Heathrow
Did you get called alot from home standby?
LOST EMILY no I never got called!!
Wat does mixed fleet mean exactly?
Annzz. Lyfe short and long haul flights
Hey Ellie
Just wonna say I’m new to your channel. I’m loving your content. I have my BA video interview coming up, any advice? Gosh I’m nervous, I’m praying it goes well though.🙏🏻
I always convert these figures you give to Rands and I’m shook!🙆🏼♀️😱yoh wow £250( thats R4627,1 according to gogle🙄🤣) for just gas..yhu... cost of living is hella expensive there hey.Not even my full tank cost that much in South Africa. And then people think Johannesburg is expensive, they must think again.
Bulelwa Gebashe hiyaa!! Thank you so much 😅 and yes London is hella expensive! I LOVE joburg!! Deffo one of my favourite destinations!!
What was the salary like Ellie?
ppsunlight hiya I obviously left almost a year ago now! Its about £1,500-£2,000 per month- I talk about all of this in another video on my channel
At the time. Was you working full time or part-time? xx
What are you doing now Ellie
I now run a self storage and self drive company ☺️
Fairly obvious that life as internationally-travelling Cabin Crew absolutely isn’t for you. Good luck in your next choice of career!👍🏻😀
So very sorry to hear of your experiences - but do not think badly of yourself. That is not your fault. This is just endemic of the British airways catastrophe they have caused for themselves by alienating long-serving staff and forcing so many to take redundancy, leaving them then shorthanded and hiring people who perhaps otherwise they wouldn’t of done - it sounds as though you are too far from base to really have been considered, and should have been told this actual interview and advise that you would be better taking a flat, Even if you shared, closer to the airport.
Think of all this as experience - and I hope it does not put you off aviation. You would feel better at a smaller base if you like working with the same group of people all the time. For example, Gatwick is much more close-knit than the dreaded mixed fleet at Heathrow.
Meg Punt thank you for those kind words x
@@EllieBennettx I don't think the airline needed to advise you. Common sense would have done that.....and a very basic knowledge of geography!
Meg, they have needed to move with the times. Airlines like Easy Jet and Ryanair are destroying them on shorthaul whilst the likes of Norwegian across the Atlantic and the Gulf carriers are eating their profits on long haul. For too long they were heavily protected by left wing and self serving union reps and now they've had to trim their expenses. Cutting overpaid cabin crew on old contracts with outdated practices on was the first step. As for recruitment, well, the standard applying and being accepted these days is very different but I guess BA have to accept that. As they say, you pay peanuts.....
harry the cod Goodness - you sound like a corporate affairs manager at Waterside! You don’t have to swallow all the spin coming out of BA you know. There are airlines around the world which have managed to keep up standards. Granted there had to be some changes, but the way BA management went about it meant they lost virtually all their experienced cabin crew and just don’t offer what it takes for retention. The training budget must have escalated enormously. Not to mention recruitment costs. They don’t think about these sorts of implications of their wholesale decimation.
@@markpunt9638 I don't have to swallow the spin, I base my opinion on 34 years of aviation experience. I've seen the industry change dramatically over those years, both in salary terms and in conditions. With it has been a commensurate decline in standards of those applying. BA simply can't compete with the Gulf carriers and low cost outfits on outdate contracts. The new lower salaries and reduced T&C's attract a calibre of applicant very different to those that applied 30-40 years ago. That's the simple truth. Even the pilots have had to give up their much protected bid line system recently and the final salary pension was lost years ago. If you want to fly commercially as a pilot, you get your rich parents to buy you the 100k course or go into debt for the next ten years. 35 years ago, pilots graduated from a flying school in which BA paid for ALL the training and selected only the very best. Cabin crew selection was equally tough. Watching Ellie's blog, even only half that I could be bothered with, confirms my belief that there is very little substance to many of today's new cabin crew. Take away the make up.........
Hi Ellie, have you thought about becoming a weight loss consultant? I'm currently sponsoring can-do positive people. Let me know if your interested as a career either full time or part time! John
hi ellie must have worked on 747 400 ? ba s loss
do u have to go to heathrow?
Senay Elizabethan yes! If you get a job with mixed fleet you work from Heathrow xx
The new female cabin crew uniform is awful.
What is stand bye
standby*
You basically stand and say bye to customers
You're waiting to be called for a flight that has crew off sick, so quite literally on standby
What job did you have before
Customer service assistant at Tesco 😅
Very very nice blog
You have NO IDEA what you gave up on...….there are literally hundreds of thousands of pretty boys and girls willing to give their right arm for a flight attendant job in this very prestigious airline. In India very educated and good looking people apply for this position in the thousands and only a handful get hired. It is like winning a huge lotto!! Wish you had stayed!!! You had some thing millions pine for!! By the way there are many international airlines that hire pretty women from Britain and provide them free accommodation and tax free salaries ie Emirates in Dubai, Etehad in Abu Dhabi and Qatar airways in Doha . Perhaps you will give one of these airlines a try !! Best of luck in all your endeavors !!
Be very careful what you wish for, all that glitters isn't gold