Flying on a jet comes with many perks, including the fact that you can have a private jet flight attendant on-board. But what exactly do they do? Here is a typical day in their life.
Commercial flight attendants have the job of making flights bearable for hundreds of people. However, the flight attendants for private jets have an entirely different job. See, they don’t have hundreds of people to look out for – and they surely look to provide anything more than bearable circumstances.
These attendants are extremely trained. And, they are they to make sure your flight is as close to perfect as is allowed. But, what does that mean? What is the career of a private jet flight attendant like?
To find out, let’s take a look at a day in the life of a private jet flight attendant.
The Travelers
It may seem that being a flight attendant for a private jet would be simple. And, for good reason. Why? Because you only have a few travelers. Maybe even only one. But, the difference of these passengers and those on commercial airlines is that these guests expect more.
You are dealing with the top business executives, CEOs, CFOs, COOs, well-known investors, politicians, celebrities, and more. These are not your everyday people. When booking a private jet, they expect there to be a certain level of attention by a flight attendant.
What does all this mean? For those who handle the job every day, it means that flight attendants for private jets have to go above and beyond to provide the expected service.
Many Skills Required to Be a Private Jet Flight Attendant
If you think that there are few skills that are required for flight attendants, think again. It is common for people to think that flight attendants simply get on board and have everything ready to go. All they have to do is serve you a drink, give you a snack, and maybe provide you a little blanket for comfort, right?
Perhaps for commercial flight attendants. But, when it comes to those that work in the private jet arena, there are so many more hats to be worn. In fact, if you ask a current or previous private jet flight attendant, you may hear that they had to take on the role of a:
- Butler
- Chef
- Problem solver
- Safety expert
- Event/party planner
- Personal assistant
- Caretaker
And that is just the icing on the cake. Remember, these flight attendants are serving the elite people around the world. They have standards to meet – and exceed. He or she needs to be able to fill this role and care for the passengers and the aircraft during the entire flight.
It’s All About Creating an Experience
Anyone can pour a drink and pass out a snack – but, what kind of experience is that? Will passengers leave the aircraft with smiles on their faces and great stories to tell of the amazing time they had on board? Highly unlikely.
On private jets, the flight attendant is there to create an experience. From the moment passengers step onto the jet, they should be filled with a sense of welcome. From flowers and centerpieces to welcome trays of hors d’oeuvres and flowing champagne, the view upon entering the jet should be extravagant. And, who creates it? The flight attendant.
Anything that needs to get done while in the air is also up to the flight attendant. For example, if a flight attendant has the idea to provide fresh baked goods on board the flight or even present a lovely display of flowers, he or she must take the time to head to the local market, gourmet shops, and so forth to find the best of the best to make the flight memorable.
Then, the flight attendant needs to arrive well in advance of the flight to make sure the cabin is in pristine shape and everything is set and ready for the passenger(s) to arrive.
All of this time and effort go into creating an unforgettable experience.
No Defined Work Hours
Most private jet flight attendants have to be on call 24 hours a day. When a new flight is booked, he or she typically has between 24 and 48 hours to put together this in-flight experience. So, it does not matter what city the flight attendant is in, a new flight booked means hitting the local markets of the city and purchasing everything needed for a successful flight.
This means that there are no defined working hours. Prepping could take a lot or a little time, as it varies per flight. Therefore some flights may take up more time than others.
Flight attendants need to take pride in what they do – and want to do it. Think about it – everything that goes into making a flight memorable is compliments of the flight attendant. There is absolutely no way it can be made to impress with restricted, defined working hours.
Smile, Smile, and Smile Some More
Strip everything away from a private jet and what does it really come down to? The smile.
That’s right – the smile from travelers as they board the jet. Smiles from flight attendants and other crew members throughout the flight. And, smiles as the flight is over and the passengers are gathering their belongings.
This smile lets the flight attendant know that the experience worked. The effort, the time, and the creativity that went into building the experience from one location to another and everything in between paid off. The passenger is happy and – hopefully – will be a repeat customer.
Speaking of frequent (or repeat) fliers, do you know what brings the top smiles? When someone returns time and time again and their tastes, preferences, and personal touches are remembered by none other than the flight attendant.
Conclusion
A day in the life of a private jet flight attendant can take you anywhere around the world – tackling jobs both on and off the jet. Securing catering, fresh local items, and other special items that will make the difference between this flight and another.
Putting on many hats is a requirement. One thing is for sure – flight attendants won’t get bored doing a monotonous job!