I am now on my third week here. Daily walking around seven to ten kilometers, I wander around the streets of Dublin, plastic binder full of CVs under my arm.

The weather has turned bleak and cold for several days now. The sunshine becoming a precious commodity to be enjoyed only at certain hours, best with arms wide open at the greenery of nearby Phoenix Park.

Whilst heavy rain pours over Dublin, I chat to a friend/fan who has recently joined Qatar Airways as crew and has politely asked for advice for both training and flying hours. Inquired about how I kept my stamina during the demanding hours of flying and immediate layovers, I have decided to put together a cabin crew-related FAQ, which I hope might be of help to those that want to pursue a career in the skies.

– Sleep properly before the flight. Even if sleeping becomes a nearly impossible task for your body, rest and unwind before the flight. Listen to your favourite music and fill your mind WITH positive thoughts. You will most likely need them.

– Eat a light snack/meal before jumping on the pick-up bus. I learned this the hard way through cramps whilst performing my on board service. Apart from scaring away any embarrassing yet amusing stomach grumbles in the quietness of the briefing room, it will provide you with much-needed energy boost for boarding, take off and service. You will next have an opportunity to eat after around two to three hours.

– “Fly safe, God bless”. Remember this is only a flight. You will not remember your passengers after this sector, so keep smiling and fight the urge of slaughtering your rude airplane companions.


 – ‘Welcome to , enjoy’. The aircraft is rolling around the tarmac and you are craving for your bed. Don’t rush. Get out of that stinky uniform, open the curtains and turn the TV on. Grab a shower and set your pace to the timezone you have landed in. If landing at night, move around and grab some dinner, if landing in the early morning, grab as much sunlight as possible and go to bed when it finally gets dark.
Also, remember that not many people are lucky enough to visit , nor you know when you’ll be back. Move those legs and step outside the hotel to create memories, even if its Dhaka.

– Rent some friends. If you happen to find yourself surrounded by lazy crew. It happened to me when I had a layover at the not-so-popular destinations (read Dhaka or Kathmandu). Traveling solo never hurt anybody and it will give you time to clear your head and appreciate details that you would have perhaps ignored if visiting with a large group. In some countries, you can hire a taxi for the day and the driver, who will always be a local, will give you the best insight into his/her city. Best $25 I have ever spent.

– Eat local food when possible. What’s the point of going to Germany and eating pizza, or going to Nepal and eating KFC?. Gulp on that sour milk and dig into the dish of fried crickets.

The above are rituals I performed almost religiously whilst flying and I acquired after valuable lessons learned through episodes of sickness, jet-lag and fatigue.

My friend appreciates the gesture and I hope my readers will too.
Back to my chicken noodle soup. I am freezing.