Taking Flight

So training has come and gone, and it is finally time to put what we've learn't to good use. The impending Supi flights were causing quite a stir within our group, and the facebook page was a buzz with nervous conversations. 

The can use on our rosters caused havoc, and resulted in 90 odd abinitios phoning in to find out what it meant, sadly several answers were acquired which added to the confusion. But slowly and surely each roster was allocated flights and the nerves were now the result of the  fast approaching briefings and safe talk.

Before every flight there is a briefing and in the briefing the Purser will ask each cabin crew member a question from either safety, security or medical. Needless to say even when you know the answer the pressure renders you into a babbling idiot. Fortunately there is a safe talk book which has now become my best friend, and will hopefully aid me in looking less like a a retarded turnip in the briefings.

I was so nervous for my first supi I gave myself 2 hrs prep time, this was the best plan I have ever made. My hair on the day would just not behave. On a usual training day it took me approximately 3 min to do my hair however on that day it took over 30 and a good portion of a can of hairspray. On the upside my supi flight was at a similar time as my my building friend Fabio's flight so we got to keep each other company on the bus and calm each others nerves (well a little).

On arrival to the airport you wait for your e-gate to open which will allow you to go through and check-in. Your e-gate opens 2 hours prior to departure and closes exactly 20 min later, if you don't get through during that time...sorry for you-Off loaded! and marked absent.

Bun in place lipstick on and legs shaking I gingerly made my way through to the e-gate, only to have it beep at me menacingly. My e-gate card was not working, panic was averted by the queue of my other group mates forming at the service desk. I quickly joined the back and made my way through to check-in with plenty of time to spare. 

Briefing was alright, only a few jokes at my expense and thankfully I was spared a question. I think I looked so nervous and made such a fool of myself during my entrance they took pity on me. 

The flight was to Mumbai and it went pretty well. It was very chaotic and non-stop busy. Passengers know what's available on the flight and want to take full advantage of every goody possible. This is all good and well, but when you have someone tugging on your arm during the middle of service and asking for a blanket, it can cause quite a predicament...If I was Chuck Norris I could totally run and do a somersault through the air over the food cart, cart wheel, hurdle over bar cart grab a blanket and return...reality not so much. Fortunately crew were friendly and willing to help a newbie out.

And so several call bells later, complete depletion of blankets and pens, first supi was complete. Although I was feeling super tired it felt  good to  actually do real work.

So here I now sit, 2 supi flights down, on the eve of my first operational which is also a lay-over. I will be going to Jakarta, which is apparently a difficult flight, but none the less an exciting adventure. Rumours from the cabin crew is the hotel is haunted and the lizards are ginormous...I'll update on both topics upon my return. So uniform is ironed and bags are semi-packed, come tomorrow I'll be a real cabin crew :)