AFTER just one day of emergency scenario training and mastering the art of the trolley service, I’ve learnt more about life at 30,000ft than in all my years of flying.
It takes five weeks for Virgin Atlantic cabin crew to earn their wings (qualifying to fly as cabin crew) – I had less than eight hours.
Recently, I joined Virgin Atlantic’s ‘Group 1000’ – the landmark 1,000th cabin crew intake to train at the Canadian Aviation Electronics (CAE) centre in Gatwick – which is part of the world’s largest civil aviation training network.
And across the day I discovered things I never knew about cabin crew and some brilliant tips for when you fly…
Dashing in red
For these recruits, getting their uniform isn’t like getting dressed for school: it’s a rite of passage.
One Group 1000 crew member even told me that getting your ‘red threads’ is like your unofficial graduation before getting your wings.
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Having explored Virgin Atlantic’s ‘uniform boutique,’ I knew exactly why.
It’s like stepping into a walk-in wardrobe drenched in two shades of red – bright and burgundy.
Pro tip: Next time you’re on board, look at the shoes.
Female cabin crew will be wearing red ballet flats during the flight for comfort and safety, but pop on their signature red heels when back on the solid ground.
In case of emergency
Donning the iconic Vivienne Westwood red uniform, I was ready to join Group 1000 for the day – though they had already been training for four-and-a-half weeks and had now been wearing their uniform for a few days.
Moving from glamour to grit, I got a sneak peak at what it is like to train for emergencies by sitting in on a scenario with trainees where the cabin filled with smoke.
With noises of the plane grumbling and smoke weaving between rows of seats, it didn’t feel like a movie – it felt terrifyingly real.
Watching the crew spring into action, one shouted “I’m coordinator” while another shouted “I’m the firefighter”.
By defining roles, each cabin crew member knows their responsibilities in the emergency.
The coordinator got to work, ushering passengers away from the smoke; this is the person you must listen to.
The firefighter then calmly investigated the area, using the back of their hand to feel if the panels of the side of the plane were warm.
When they found a ‘burning’ iPad (which you might hear them calling a PED (Personal Electronic Device)) another member of the cabin crew opened a special lithium battery fire bag – a piece of kit not every airline has.
It allows cabin crew to seal off the device and the flight to continue as normal.
My biggest surprise, during another training exercise, is that you may not even know a fire is happening.
When a small fire emerged in the area cabin crew prepare food, it was dealt with quickly, without alarming passengers, and the flight was able to continue unaffected.
Cracking the codes
Whoever thought in-flight food service could be so complicated?
I certainly didn’t until I learnt that cabin crew actually have to memorise 14 different food options, each with a specific letter code.
For example, ‘VGML’ means Vegan Meal and ‘CHML’ means child’s meal and will usually be chicken nuggets or pasta.
Passengers can of course request a meal before flying, depending on their needs.
For flying with kids, this can be extremely useful to ensure picky kids get an easy meal or a baby gets fruit or veg pouches or a jar of baby food when ‘BBML’ is requested.
There’s even a ‘DBML’ Diet Balanced Meal, which is generally low in sugar, low in salt and low in fat.
Virgin Atlantic also caters for a variety of religions, including a ‘VJML’ Vegetarian Jain Meal, which is prepared according to strict Jain dietary customs and will be in a plastic bag that the passenger opens themselves.
Trolley service secrets
One of the best things about a long haul flight is the free alcohol.
On flights, it comes as a double measure (50ml) and you’ll get a can of mixer.
But don’t be afraid to ask for a second can of mixer if you don’t like your drink strong – they will be more than happy to give it to you.
Virgin Atlantic cabin crew will also make you a cocktail if they have the ingredients.
For example, they can make a Bloody Mary and even have Worcestershire sauce for you to add to it.
They can also make a Screwdriver (orange and vodka) and even have a pre-made Mojito mix that can be drunk on its own or with rum.
Note – they will never ‘lampshade’ (where the cup is placed upside down over the top of a can) as no one knows what might have come into contact with the top of the drinks can…
Avoiding jet lag
Another Pro Tip: If you are on a long-haul flight and want to avoid jet lag, it is best to eat in line with the times of your destination.
For example, say you normally eat lunch at 12pm.
You shouldn’t eat when it is 12pm in the place you have flown from, but instead when it is 12pm at the destination you are flying to.
This helps your body’s circadian rhythm (its internal 24-hour clock) to adjust to your destination’s time zone, helping to reduce jet lag.
Something I will definitely be doing on all my flights in the future is taking electrolytes with me on board.
Group 1000 informed me that flying is highly dehydrating, hence why you should always have water on a flight and remember to drink it.
As such, cabin crew swear by electrolytes as it helps give your body minerals such as sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium that are essential for hydration, muscle function, nerve signalling and pH balance.
By keeping hydrated, you can also better manage jet lag.
For more cabin crew tips, one air steward has flown to thousands of destinations and here are three reasons why UK holidays beat them all.
Plus, a Jet2 cabin crew member shares the affordable holiday spot they go back to every year with highs of 18C in January.