Senior Cabin Crew Member

Steph Bradley is a senior cabin crew member with Europe's largest regional airline, Flybe. She is based at Southampton Airport and flies to destinations within the UK and in Europe.

How would you outline your role?

The cabin crew's top priorities are safety and security. We have to make sure that passengers arrive safely at their destinations. On a daily basis, we also offer excellent service and customer care on board our aircraft.

What are your main responsibilities?

A typical shift involves two return flights within the UK, or one return flight to a European destination. Before the aircraft takes off, the cabin crew greet passengers, check boarding cards, direct passengers to their seats and make sure the hand luggage is safely stowed away. During the flight we do a safety demonstration and then serve drinks and snacks. At the end of the flight, after the passengers have disembarked, we check every seat pocket and cupboard in case anything has been left behind. We then get ready to take off again - we spend very little time at each destination. As a senior cabin crew member, I also help train new staff, and I complete written flight reports.

What hours do you work?

My roster consists of a mixture of early and late shifts. The early shift starts at 6.00am and ends at 2.00pm or 3.00pm; the late shift is from 1.00pm or 2.00pm until 10.00pm. A typical week consists of two or three early shifts followed by two or three late shifts and two days off, but the pattern varies. It's important to be flexible, because flights can get delayed and very occasionally there's an unscheduled overnight stop away from home.

What is your working environment like?

My shift is spent on board the aircraft. Apart from during the take-off and landing, I'm on my feet most of the time. I wear a uniform: a red skirt, jacket and scarf, with a navy blue shirt. Appearance is important, as cabin crew are representatives of the company.

Who do you work with?

I work as a team member, along with two pilots and one or two other cabin crew. Our passengers include business people, families going on holiday, second-home owners and sometimes people going on stag parties! There's also daily contact with ground staff, caterers and cleaners.

What skills or qualities do you need?

Initiative, enthusiasm and flexibility are essential. You should be an excellent team worker, but you also need to be able to work on your own. In addition, you need to be fit and healthy.

Why did you choose this type of work?

I wanted to gain experience of working with people and build up my confidence. During my time with Flybe, I've gained lots of experience and my confidence levels have grown and grown.

What training have you done?

I did a four-week intensive training course in Exeter, where Flybe's head office is based. The main focus of the course was safety and security, although topics like customer service and personal grooming were also covered. There were tests at the end of each module, and practice flights in the final week. After that there was six months' probation. Because Flybe has since signed up to the Government's Skills Pledge, new recruits now work towards gaining an NVQ during their probation.

Do you use any special tools or equipment?

There is special equipment for cabin crew to use in emergencies. It includes oxygen bottles, fire extinguishers, smoke hoods, first aid kits and flotation equipment.

What do you like/dislike about your job?

I like having different days off every week. I enjoy leaving at two o'clock in the afternoon, when most people are still at work. On the other hand, a delayed flight can disrupt your social life. If you arrange to meet someone in the evening, you can't always guarantee that you'll get back in time. I accept this as part of the job, but some cabin crew struggle to cope with these occasional disruptions.

What are the main challenges?

Every day, cabin crew have to be prepared to cope with a challenge, whether it be explaining why a flight's delayed, coping with a difficult passenger, administering first aid or acting calmly in an emergency.

How do you see your future?

There are opportunities with Flybe to become a trainer or manager, but in a few years' time, with some solid experience behind me, I intend to pursue my long-term aim of joining the police.

Steph's route

• GCSEs and A levels.
• Part-time waitressing while taking A levels.
• Office 'temp' job.
• Joined Flybe.

Steph's tips

• Get some experience of working with the public before you apply to an airline.
• Try looking for vacancies at regional airports.
• This is an excellent first job and can be a stepping stone to other careers.