I was working with an international airlines for two years. Here are some reasons why I decided to resign. I would like to highlight that, these reasons are based on what I FEEL. My friends and relatives were asking me why did i resign, while people are queuing up to get a job in reputable airlines like this. I have no regrets of quitting. Here are the reasons:
1. Health
My health was so affected. I had flu and cough always because my immune system was so weak. Flu causes ear blockages and it hurts my ears so much during take off and landing. Sometimes it is difficult to get decent amount of rest before flight. Whenever, I get MC (medical leave), the next day will become standby. At times, incase if the standby gets activated, it will affect the next flight. So it will be like snowball, affecting all the flights. So i was little scared to get MC , just incase if it was my favourite destination. I was also scared to take MC during probation, because if you get casual MC, such as fever, backache, toothache or ear infection, it will be classified as casual MC and your probation might be extended.
2.Homesick
I missed my family and friends dearly during all the celebrations. I had to miss my brother's wedding because I was still under probation. So I could not giveaway that flight. I can't even be there during emergency situations. My family members couldn't even contact me because I was on 13 hours flight to London.
3. Partiality
There are so many crews and each time you will be flying with different people. Each of them will have different ideas and working styles. In the same flight, some of the leaders will be saying that you're so hardworking. However, some will be complaining non-stop about your work. They will be finding fault in everything that you do. Personally, I felt that there were also so much of partiality when they like or hate the particular person. I had some leaders hated me ever since briefing. I have wondered why do they hate me so much and keep finding faults. I also believed that on board assessments that crews have are biased because when the seniors like the crew, they will give very good marks , when they hate the crew, they just fail the particular crew.
4.It's not easy
It is a tough job! Trust me. It's not glamorous as you see in youtube videos, or even in Instagram pictures and stories. You need to clean the toilets, sometimes there will be vomitus or passenger's poop. But, that was part and parcel of the job, so I was okay with the toilet checks. Sometimes, when you do turnaround flights such as Hong Kong, you will never get to sit or rest for that 10 hours or more.
5.Always tired
I was always tired during layovers. The layovers were very short, it was only enough for me to recover and get ready for the returning flight. As I have mentioned in my previous point, you have to work hard, so physically you must be very strong. There will be a lot of Ad-hoc orders, where you need to keep walking up and down. It is like you're walking to London or Australia. It is that tiring. During my interview, I told the person who interviewed me that I want to travel and see the world. But whenever i reach the hotel, I will close the curtain and put the Do Not Disturb sign on my door and sleep. I have seen some crew will be hanging out in the city and then on the way back, they will be complaining that they are sleepy or neck pain. I'd rather sleep and prepare myself for next flight rather than going out and being tired all the way.
6.No future
I have seen a lot of my seniors stuck there because they have got too comfortable with the job. They are also stuck there because they have got no other qualifications other than high school certificate. So they are afraid that they can never get any other job because they don't have any educational background. So I would suggest you to get at least a degree or diploma before joining the airlines.
7.Anxiety & Depression
The moment i entered training, I felt that my anxiety level spiked up. My confidence level dropped. Everyone else were so smart. I felt so inferior. Training was not easy. I had to wake up around 5am or 5.30am and go to bed around 1am. Training starts around 8.30am and finishes about 6 or 6.30pm. Only coffee kept me going throughout the day. I was depressed whenever I missed any family events or celebrations. I used to stay in hotel and will be thinking what am I doing here? But, I can't complain about the hotels because most of our hotels were four or five star hotels.
8.No Social Life
Everyone thinks cabin crew are having best life. But they don't understand how tough the job is. When your friend's are having off, you will be working. Whenever you're having your day off, they will be working. Sometimes, after I come back from flight, I will spend half a day sleeping. And I will be awake at night. My sleeping pattern was messed up. My friends were annoyed, because whenever I come back from flight, I don't feel like going out.
9. Stress
I was stressed about everything! Yes ! Everything. From pre-flight duties, where we used to fight for space with cleaners. Cleaners will be busy cleaning the aircraft and we will be busy checking safety equipments, organising magazines, dressing toilets or preparing galley or getting amenities. It's also stressful when it is a full flight, and to organize the bags in overhead compartment. Some passengers will be carrying a few bags and overhead compartment will be full. Passengers will be angry when you place them far away from them. Senior will be stressed when the overhead compartments are not closed because it will delay the aircraft from taking off. Crew will be always rushing, particularly during meal service. Sometimes I don't understand why they rush to finish the meal service early when it's a four hour flight. It's always stressful when passenger never get their choice of meal. We need to find a substitute for the passenger. When I walk down the aisle, I will get at least 10 Ad-hoc orders and passengers will never understand how busy are we and they will get angry when we take longer to deliver their orders.
Again, I would like to emphasize that these reasons are based on what I went through. It is nothing to do with the airlines I have worked for.
It was a love hate relationship with my job as cabin crew.
