First Flight as Emirates Cabin Crew !

My first observational flight was going to MCT (Airport code for Muscat). It was going to be a short one hour flight going, and another hour coming back. We call it a turnaround- when you fly to the destination and head back to base again the same day.

I am not required to work here; I’m only to “observe” what the real thing was like. I had to learn what really happens on board, how the flight service goese, and how my duties are supposed to be executed. I had to learn from the current crew, and get the feel of what the job entails.


When we had our briefing ( a meeting of the cabin and flight deck crew before a flight ), I approached my purser (head cabin crew) and informed her that I was a SUPI - a first timer- and might mess up.

She greeted me enthusiastically, introduced me to everyone, and told me not to worry. It wasn’t about learning fast, but to enjoy the experience and absorb as much knowledge as I can. After all, experience requires time.

In the briefing room was an oval table with blue office chairs around it. The purser was at the end of the table with two SFS (senior flight stewards) flanking her side. Everyone looked so serious with their thick red manuals opened, and their faces buried in them. I sat at the far end and reviewed the safety and emergency procedures along with them.

“Hello everyone! Who is our supi for today?” bellowed the captain as he stormed in, with the first officer lagging behind him.

“It’s Janice.” Purser smiled.

“Hello captain,” I said as I hesitantly raised a hand.

“So you’re the baby eh? Everyone, please take care of her, make sure to teach her the good stuff. Don’t show her any wrong shortcuts that you guys got used to doing.”

There was a burst of giggles from the girls and some sly remarks accompanied by stomps on the ground from the guys. Ugh..

We carried on with the information exchange, what to expect of the flight and some important details about it. Then we went through immigration, and boarded a shuttle that was to take us to our aircraft.

I got to ride inside the cockpit for the take-off. Though the view was amazing, I felt bored. So when they asked me to come in again for landing, I politely refused, reasoning out that I could learn more if I stayed in the galley. Really now, I just wanted to stuff myself with chocolates from the crew meal.

It was an easy flight because I didn't do anything. I just helped out with the service so I could learn a bit. I’d rather make mistakes now than later.

After the flight, I dragged myself to my bed, and slept early for my next supi flight to IST (Istanbul, Turkey); another turnaround, which was then changed later to RUH (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia).

The flight to RUH was easy than expected, the same flight time as MCT. I was with a fellow supi this time, who was also my classmate back in training college. It made it all better knowing I was with someone to be blamed for in case of mishaps. Haha.

Now, I have to prep up for my operational flights. This time, it’s real.. and the pain will be intense. Nothing exists in the sky but me, the passengers, and some silly bird’s poop on captains window.