Airlines have very strict rules regarding pre-flight preparations so cabin crew has to plan well before to make sure they are on time. This may mean catching an earlier flight on standby (if commuting) or taking the before the bus to operate. Most airlines work on the 90-minute rule, so the cabin crew should aim to be there before that.
If a crew member is late, they will have a complaint on file and will have to go on standby for seven hours – so your roster may be involved too.
This also means, that if you have three late information or three complaints, then you can lose your job, so it’s always better to be prepared before. No one wants to be late for a flight and of course, sometimes unseen circumstances occur, but you don’t want to be rushed at the beginning of a long day ahead.
So, once you have checked in and reported for duty, and dropped off your baggage, it is good to make time to check on any paperwork, that you need to do or to pick up any crew notices or newsletters. If the airline has a canteen (usually subsidized) there may be time for a quick meal or coffee. If the cabin crew has any extra duties that day, for example, inflight retail or charity ambassador they may pick up the items required for that
Then arrives the pre-flight briefing, if there are a few minutes to spare, it’s always good to go through an emergency procedure or scenario and brush up on first aid as there will be queries from the senior crew member to test that your knowledge is up-to-date and that you can work on the flight. The briefing usually lasts approximately 15 minutes and prepares the team for how they will operate the flight.
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- After the briefing, the cabin crew collects their baggage, goes through security and takes the crew bus to the aircraft. On arrival, the cabin crew does pre-flight checks before passenger boarding.
If the cabin crew commutes, extra planning is needed as they may have to consider catching before the flight of the day or leaving a day earlier to assure that they are on time for duty. Travel is often standby, therefore you only travel if there is a spare seat and also depending on your seniority. The crew member may have to book an airport hotel or take a rest in a crew lounge, before the flight.
A last-minute changes
For cabin crew on standby duty, they will report for duty at the assigned time whether it’s home standby or airport standby, and await instruction from the operations department. A last-minute change to a flight like a sick crew member or a change in traveler numbers could mean that you get called out.
For private jet cabin crew
For private jet cabin crew, the rule is also usually 90 minutes when the flight is scheduled and known and the briefing and pre-flight checks are usually quicker, but the extra time on the aircraft is needed to upload the catering. However, the private jet crew can also be called out immediately for an unscheduled flight.
