"The dream of flying"
As a young girl, I dreamed of one day visiting foreign countries, meeting new people and constantly discovering new things. Today, this dream has come true.I have been a flight attendant for four years, flying around the world with SWISS.

Soaking up the sun in Jeddah, overnighting in Mumbai, Christmas shopping in New York and eating sushi in Tokyo are just some of the many experiences I have had.

Every day I get to know interesting people, from business people and couples in love to holiday-makers, adventurers and globetrotters. They are all on a journey and have much to talk about. And at an altitude of 10,000 I sometimes eavesdrop on their conversations.

Although flight attendants are often portrayed as flying waitresses, this line of work is really quite demanding.Discipline, communication skills, team spirit, the ability to learn quickly are all required – as every flight is a new challenge that calls for a great deal of flexibility, understanding and responsiveness. Having demonstrated on the job one’s knowledge of cultures, languages, countries, cuisine, etiquette, first aid, emergency procedures and on-board safety, a flight attendant can do the same in obtaining the professional national diploma.

As I said, my girlhood dream has been fulfilled. I am grateful to be a SWISS flight attendant and look forward to many happy landings!  

Dreamjob Flight Attendant

I first came in contact with air transport during my primary school days. A photo of a Boeing 747 jumbo jet in my arithmetic book caught my eye. Ever since, aircraft and flying have been part of my life! From this moment on, I knew what kind of work I wanted to do. My goal was to become a flight attendant and to explore the world as a member of an airline crew.

My job has fascinated me from day one. I enjoy the constant challenge of working in a new team. And I like the involvement with people from different cultures. My goals are to respond to passengers’ wishes, be flexible and give my best.

The many special moments on board our aircraft are fascinating. Such as the fabulous approach into Tokyo with Mount Fuji in the background, or seeing the sun come up over the Swiss Alps. Simply wonderful!

All these countless elements make being a flight attendant my dream job. I am proud to be able to perform this work for SWISS. 

“The airplane is our stage”,

a flight attendant once said. And there is certainly something to that, even if our “stage” is more like a “pipeline”, our “performances” take place at all hours of the day and night high above the clouds, and our passengers do not even realise that they have an important part to play in the success of the “performance”. As flight attendants, we are not, as many people possibly believe, just there to serve meals. Our overall role is to ensure the operation of the flight is smooth, safe and comfortable. Together with the pilots, we ensure that all safety regulations on board are followed. We train and re-train these procedures every year during refresher courses to ensure that in the event of an emergency, passengers can be certain that we will make all the right moves. But of course the physical well-being of our guests on board is an important aspect of our work. And then we are happy to demonstrate the skills we have learned about serving meals and beverages.

Above all, flying means interacting with other countries and nationalities. What could be more fascinating than exploring the streets of Hong Kong, shopping in Thailand or enjoying delicious sushi in Tokyo? And does fruit taste fresher anywhere other than in Sao Paulo, do spices have more flavour anywhere other than Mumbai? But even just walking along the Champs-Elysées in Paris or eating fish in Hamburg or Nice this is what makes the job of flight attendant so special. Every day I deal with people from all over the world and learn new customs and manners. No two days are alike. Every flight is a new adventure and my on-the-job colleagues are always different. All of these things are just as much a part of this line of works as are having to get up early, jetlag, delays and discussions about the size of carry-on baggage.

Having joined SWISS in 2002 and thus fulfilled a boyhood dream, I live and experience the thrill of flying daily. After two years, I earned my national diploma as flight attendant, which entitles me to instruct new colleagues – maybe you’ll be one of them! 

life around the world

What I find fascinating about working as a flight attendant is the exposure to life around the world. Encountering people from different cultures and being able to use my language skills every day makes my job varied and unique. Every landing in a foreign country is the start of a multicultural outing far away from home. 

Surprises and adventure

Over time, every job becomes routine to a certain degree, even flying. But no other line of work can compare with the one we perform above the clouds. Every day brings a new challenge. The team changes from one rotation to the next and the passenger mix is different on every flight. Every flight is unique in its own way, because of the destination and the religion and culture of the people on board.

Diplomacy, respect, a healthy degree of self-confidence and a neat and tidy appearance are the values that really count in this profession! I know that I can take advantage of opportunities that other people can only dream about. I like being in New York one day and then flying to Johannesburg the next. This cosmopolitan feeling is what makes our work so special. My life is balanced, and yet full of surprises and adventure at the same time. I am satisfied with myself and my work. In my opinion, this is an important element in a person’s professional life.

Work beyond the clouds

There are many reasons why I made the decision five years ago to work beyond the clouds. The main one was that I have always enjoyed dealing with people from different cultures. At the same time, I was able to fulfil my dream of being able to get to know foreign countries without having to move abroad.

SWISS offers me flexible working hours and solid training that includes such interesting topics as first aid, how to respond appropriately in an emergency, flight and service procedures, and how to deal with both pleasant and difficult passengers alike.

In my opinion, the most important requirements for this profession are international flair, openness, flexibility, a talent for languages, a sense of responsibility and a natural personality. But even the best jobs have their drawbacks. We flight attendants have to struggle with jetlag, and the hours we work can be very long. But even so, I am glad I chose this line of work and that I can work as a flight attendant for SWISS.

Flight Attendant?

My dream as a little girl was to become a flight attendant. And I haven’t changed my mind to this day!

Having completed my schooling, with an emphasis on foreign languages, and a baccalaureate degree in physics and chemistry (yes indeed!) and higher studies in tourism, I started my career as a flight attendant.

Of course there are drawbacks such a shiftwork, sleepless nights and tired legs. But what a life otherwise: new colleagues on every flight, different types of passengers and very interesting destinations !

This line of work certainly requires flexibility and dedication. You don’t return home every evening, but if you’re organized a little, you can still enjoy family life, do sports, pursue your hobbies, go out...maybe even more so than under normal working hours.

For me it’s clear that I will never change my uniform for another one!

Learning every day

Even after 16 years as a flight attendant, I find that every rotation is different in its own way. The crew composition is always new, as is the combination of passengers from various cultures. During every flight, I feel as if I am standing on stage in front of an international audience. Hundreds of pairs of eyes are watching me, each person with their own needs and expectations. This is what makes our job unique and different from so-called routine lines of work.
All of these great experiences offset the flip side of the job, which includes night duty, irregular and sometimes very long hours, or the cliché about being an “airborne waiter”.

Looking back on 16 years of service, I wouldn’t have missed a single day. Being able to combine my job with my hobby, namely travel, is perfect for me. In my work on board I learn something new every day, and I enjoy that.