Working the friendly skies comes with a not-so-pleasant downside.
Ascending to 30,000 feet, flying to an exotic vacation destination, may sound like a dream. But a flight attendant says the seemingly serene scenario could be a skyway staffer’s worst nightmare — especially on their days off from work.
“Something they don’t inform you about being cabin crew is, holidays aren’t going to feel like holidays anymore,” said Estelle Jones, an Emirates Airlines worker, detailing her disinterest in traveling for leisure when she’s not on the clock.
“I finally got my leave, I’ve been working back-to-back flights,” she continued within the trending TikTok clip, “and now I actually have to pack a suitcase again, I actually have to go to the airport again, I actually have to sit down on a flight again, I actually have to regulate to an entire latest time zone again and sleep in a bed that’s not my very own again.”
Conceding, nonetheless, that there are “worse problems on the planet” than jet-setting on a glitzy getaway, Jones, based in Dubai, explained that continuously lifting off and landing, “takes away slightly little bit of the thrill of a vacation.”
“You only desire a break from doing that very same thing again and again.”
It’s a every day grind the plane skilled doesn’t wish to repeat during her personal time. And who can blame her — would you wish to spend your vacay days in a cubicle?
Breaking free from the office — or in Jones’ case, the cabin — will be key in avoiding job burnout.
It’s the overwhelming feeling of stress and exhaustion, brought on by the demands of workplace duties, that plagues 4 in 10 US jobholders, in line with a recent report.
And Jones’ colleagues share her burnout pain in terms of boarding yet one more plane — although many major carriers, including American Airlines and Southwest Airlines offer employees free or discounted travel privileges.
“Facts. [It’s] pure hell,” confirmed a flight crew member beneath the viral vid.
“And [we] hear all the decision bells… AGAIN!!!!,” one other insider chimed.
“I sometimes book leave to simply stay in my very own bed for per week,” confessed a separate sky-high hostess.
“The considered going to an airport and getting on an airplane during my annual leave is nothing in need of sickening,” groaned a flight attendant of eight years.