attendants

Sept. 22 (UPI) — Spirit Airlines plans to furlough 1,800 flight attendants, about one-third of cabin-crew members, to cut costs during its second bankruptcy in a year.

The airline filed for bankruptcy Aug. 30, less than six months after emerging from Chapter 11 reorganization.

The budget carrier said it was “executing a comprehensive restructuring of the airline to position the business for long-term success.” The company filed voluntary petitions for Chapter 11 in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York.

“As we work to return Spirit to profitability, we face difficult decisions about our network, our fleet, and ultimately our workforce,” John Bendoraitis, Spirit’s chief operating officer, wrote in a memo sent to flight attendants on Monday, CNBC reported.

About 800 Spirit flight attendants already have been out on voluntary leaves of absence, which has helped the airline avoid involuntary furloughs, Bendoraitis said.

“However, there is a limit to how many people can volunteer for these types of leave, and we have reached that mark,” he said.

Spirit has about 5,200 flight attendants, who are represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA.

“We have been able to mitigate harm for our workgroup until this point,” the AFA said in a message to members. “The problem is that the significant reduction of aircraft and flight hours requires a much higher reduction in force, and the company is clear that a furlough is necessary.”

Voluntary furloughs are also being offered to Spirit flight attendants starting in November, the union said.

“Management has also indicated, though not officially notified us yet, that they will be seeking changes to our contract per Section 1113 of the Bankruptcy Code. We do not have any further details on this at this time. Information will move quickly, though, and we encourage you to stay close to your AFA communications,” the AFA said.

The furlough announcement follows earlier cuts of the airline’s pilots. In the past several months, it has cut more than 500 pilot jobs.

Bendoraitis told the union, the Air Line Pilots Association, last week that that management is “available to continue to negotiate every day thereafter to reach a consensual agreement” by Oct. 1.

Earlier this month, Spirit cut routes to several cities, and United picked up some of those routes. Spirit said it will cease operations in Albuquerque, N.M.; Birmingham, Ala.; Boise, Idaho; Chattanooga, Tenn.; Columbia, S.C, Macon, Ga.; Portland, Ore.; Salt Lake City, Utah; plus California cities Oakland, San Diego, Sacramento and San Jose in October.

Workers at Canada’s flagship carrier defy back-to-work order as they stage first strike in 40 years.

Air Canada flight attendants have said they will remain on strike despite a government-backed labour board’s order to return to work by 2pm ET (18:00 GMT), which they described as unconstitutional.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees said in a statement on Sunday that members would remain on strike and invited Air Canada back to the table to “negotiate a fair deal”.

Canada’s largest airline now says it will resume flights on Monday evening. The strike was already affecting about 130,000 travellers around the world per day during the peak summer travel season.

The Canadian government on Saturday moved to end a strike by more than 10,000 flight attendants at the country’s largest carrier by asking the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) to order binding arbitration.

The Canada Labour Code gives the government the power to ask the CIRB to impose binding arbitration in the interest of protecting the economy. The CIRB issued the order, which Air Canada had sought, and unionised flight attendants opposed it.

It is unusual for a union to defy a CIRB order. It was not immediately clear what options the government has if the union continues its strike.

Air Canada flight attendants walked off the job on Saturday for the first time since 1985, after months of negotiations over a new contract.

Natasha Stea, an Air Canada flight attendant and local union president, told Reuters that other unions joined the flight attendants’ picket line in solidarity in Toronto on Sunday.

“They are in support here today because they are seeing our rights being eroded,” Stea said.

The most contentious issue has been the union’s demand for compensation for time spent on the ground between flights and when helping passengers board. Attendants are largely paid only when their plane is moving.

Workers are also unhappy with Air Canada’s proposed wage hikes and other compensation terms, which they see as insufficient to keep pace with inflation or match the federal minimum wage.

Reuters

Why is Air Canada cancelling flights?

What led to the strike?

How has the government responded?

How long will the strike last?

What to do if your flight is cancelled?

A six-year-old boy asked his dad if they were ‘going on the slide’, and his dad corrected him – but a flight attendant on the plane wasn’t as kind and it sparked a discussion

Safety briefings happen every single time you step on an aircraft, and they’re designed to assist you should the unlikely event of an emergency occur while you’re travelling on the plane. It covers details about the brace position, oxygen masks that will drop from the overhead panel if cabin pressure falls, and chutes you might need to utilise during an emergency, among other things that would come in handy if something went wrong.

Naturally, if you have any queries, cabin crew will be delighted to share their expertise with you, as they must complete rigorous training before they’re permitted to work aboard the aircraft, for more than obvious reasons.

Nevertheless, one six-year-old lad received more than he expected when he enquired about using the slide on the plane – likely imagining it was an entertaining playground feature, rather than a potentially life-saving apparatus in the proper circumstances.

Hannah Cantile posted a clip of herself on TikTok, though you could overhear the exchange between the youngster and the flight attendant.

The little lad told his father they were “going on the slide,” and he couldn’t hide his enthusiasm.

The father responded: “No slide,” and the flight attendant supported the dad’s response, explaining the boy wouldn’t be using the slide.

The inquisitive child then enquired: “What’s the slide for?” and the flight attendant explained it’s utilised during “emergencies”.

He candidly added: “So if everybody is about to die, that’s when the slide comes out.”

Hannah awkwardly chuckled at how bluntly he explained this, but many applauded him for preventing the youngster from “asking any more unnecessary questions”.

Someone also remarked that children don’t require “sugar coating and tiptoeing” and should be told the truth – even if it’s harsh.

The slide deploys when passengers need to evacuate rapidly, such as during a fire, smoke in the cabin, a water landing, or a crash landing.

In a water landing, the slide may also serve as a life raft for passengers.

It will automatically inflate if a cabin door opens whilst the door remains in the “armed” position.

Doors are “armed” for slide deployment before take-off and landing, ensuring that during an emergency, the slide will inflate instantly when the door opens.

The slide doesn’t deploy during normal boarding or disembarking; in these instances, the doors are “disarmed” so the slide won’t activate.

Cabin crew are responsible for arming and disarming the doors and for triggering slide deployment during emergencies.

It’s a vital safety mechanism designed to help passengers exit the aircraft swiftly and securely, and it’s not routinely used.

The airline is currently looking to hire 17,300 people, equivalent to a mid-size town or the seating capacity of 58 Airbus A350 aircraft, across 350 roles, which include pilots, IT professionals, engineers, and cabin crew

Emirates Airlines is hiring new flight attendants, but applicants must meet strict criteria.

The airline is currently looking to hire 17,300 people, equivalent to a mid-size town or the seating capacity of 58 Airbus A350 aircraft, across 350 roles. Emirates hasn’t said how many of those job openings are for flight attendants, but it is likely to be within the hundreds, if not thousands.

Throughout the year, the group will be hosting more than 2,100 open days and other talent acquisition events in 150 cities to recruit pilots, IT professionals, engineers, and cabin crew roles. The announcement comes after Emirates banned power banks on its flights.

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Emirates has said that new recruits are required for some roles, including cabin crew, pilots, engineers, commercial and sales teams, customer service, ground handling, catering, IT, HR, and finance. Separately, Dnata is looking to hire more than 4,000 cargo, catering, and ground handling specialists.

Some of the benefits included with Emirates jobs are profit share eligibility, comprehensive medical and life insurance cover, travel benefits including flight tickets and membership cards that provide discounts at hundreds of retail, hospitality, and lifestyle outlets.

Although the airline has not advertised wages as part of this recruitment drive, Aviation A2Z reports that the average annual salary of an Emirates flight attendant working in the United States at approximately $47,000 (£34,000) as of last year.

While the salary and benefits appeal, Emirates is particular when it comes to what it is looking for in new recruits. They must be:

• Be fluent in both written and spoken English (additional languages are an advantage)
• A natural team player with a personality that shines
• At least 160 cm tall (5’2”)
• Able to reach 212 cm high
• Able to meet the UAE’s employment visa requirements
• Have at least one year of hospitality/customer service experience (desirable)
• Have a minimum of high school (grade 12) education
• Have no visible tattoos while in Emirates cabin crew uniform

“Irrespective of nationality, Emirates look for a positive attitude, confidence, flexibility, maturity, a friendly disposition and a genuine passion to help others to provide quality service. As the job can be physically demanding, it is imperative you demonstrate resilience and a determination to continually perform well”, the job requirements add.

Marika Mikusova, a flight attendant with Emirates, shared her recollection of the application process. “For example, I would definitely advise against wearing unnatural hair or nail colour! I personally attended open days twice. The first time I didn’t even pass the first round of the interview. I assume it was because of what I was wearing,” she explained.

Marika also had some, perhaps slightly more traditional advice for those angling for a job with Emirates. “So I would advise women to put on blazer and pencil skirt and style their hair in a bun. I would highly recommend putting a lipstick and heels on!”

For men, Marika suggested that they arrive clean-shaven or with a moustache only, and dressing in a suit.

“Mind your body language! Put on a gentle smile and present yourself in a calm manner. Do not cross your arms during interview as you would look unapproachable or even angry,” she added.

Marika even recalled a time when she attended her Prague Emirates Open Day, where several Korean women hoping to become flight attendants had flown in from other continents just to attend the Emirates Open Day.

“In fact, the interview was conducted entirely in English and was not limited by the nationalities of the candidates, the number of participants, or how many times each candidate attended Open Days in the past. So you can try multiple interviews outside your country,” Marika concluded.

Those aspiring to join the Emirates Group can apply for the various roles and keep a lookout for open days and recruitment events worldwide at www.emiratesgroupcareers.com.

Flying with just a small personal bag can be a struggle when it comes to packing light, but a flight attendant has shared a handy hack that could help avoid extra fees

Excess luggage charges can quickly escalate, turning a dream getaway into a costly nightmare. Keen to keep my Poland trip this month on the cheap, I flew with no-frills carrier Ryanair and stuck to the complimentary baggage allowance – just a small personal item.

The challenge arises when you’re keen to bring home souvenirs, on top of having a compact cross-body bag. Flight attendant Miguel Muñoz previously shared with Express.co.uk a nifty loophole, noting that “duty-free bags don’t count as carry-on baggage” and are usually overlooked by gate staff. This tip has even been echoed by thrifty TikTokers, so I was eager to try it out.

Miguel outlined the trick: “If you have something that doesn’t fit in your suitcase or you want to bring an extra bag on board, here’s the trick.

“All you have to do is carry a duty-free bag. Or ask for one at the duty-free shop, and you can place whatever you want in the shopping bag.”

Boarding the plane with my bulging duty-free bag had me anxious, but to my relief, the crew waved me through without a hitch.

With Ryanair’s baggage fees stretching from £12 to £59.99, avoiding that extra charge felt like a victory.

This trick was a lifesaver for the extra bag and jacket that I couldn’t squeeze into my main luggage.

While this method did work wonders for me, a few folks have mentioned that airline staff requested a look inside their bags.

To sidestep this, if you’ve made any duty-free purchases, place them on top. Also, always ensure your airline permits carrying duty-free items onboard in this manner.

Having triumphed with this hack, I’m eager to test out the neck pillow packing hack. This essentially involves replacing the pillow stuffing with small clothing items.

However, it’s worth noting that some travellers have been caught out using this hack, with a few even being denied boarding.

Andras Rado, head of communications at Wizz Air, has opened up about the quiet checks boarding agents carry out when they spot a passenger who might’ve spent a little too long at the airport Spoons

Tipsy passengers are subject to a secret process to determine whether or not they should be allowed to fly.

Andras Rado, head of communications at Wizz Air, has opened up about the quiet checks boarding agents carry out when they spot a passenger who might’ve spent a little too long at the airport Spoons.

“We will be flying 75 million passengers this year, and so for sure we will have some issues. We have a procedure that is not known to passengers,” Andras told The Mirror.

“It is not a secret that we’re doing it—they just don’t know how we do it. The cabin crew screen passengers. They have certain criteria to watch, then they watch it. An example is how the passenger greets you back. Do they greet you back? There are signs that a person is already drunk.”

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If a passenger is judged to be too pickled, flight crews ask the captain whether they should be allowed to board. “The captain makes the final decision.”

When asked whether Wizz Air would support Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary’s calls to introduce a two-drink limit at airports, Andras said: “I don’t think you can control how many whiskies people drink at the airport. Onboard we can control. If we see they are intoxicated, we stop serving them.”

The PR man also noted that Wizz Air is less impacted by drunken, disorderly customers than some other airlines. “We don’t have any problems with passenger diversions. We don’t have the same issue. It’s a different demographic. If you look at our London Gatwick–Jeddah flights, I spoke to a crew member on Wednesday, and she said how respectful our passengers are.”

The Mirror also spoke with a former Wizz Air pilot about how the process of stopping drunk passengers from boarding typically unfolds.

“If they do not create trouble, sometimes it’s better to keep them drinking. Some passengers may become unruly if they want to drink. It doesn’t apply if they show up already drunk. It’s the captain’s call. I try to use common sense, but I never experienced any pressure from the company either way,” the pilot explained.

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Addiction specialist Martin Preston, from private rehab clinic Delamere, has explained why the effects of alcohol kick-in quicker and often stronger when drinking onboard a plane.

“The reason for this is not because the alcohol content is higher in drinks on the plane, but that alcohol is absorbed into your bloodstream more quickly, as a result of cabin pressure and lower levels of oxygen in your blood,” he said.

This means that consumers may feel more intoxicated than they normally would be if they were drinking on land. From sleep disruption to fainting, Martin has revealed what happens to the body when you drink on a plane – and they can really dampen those holiday highs.

A flight attendant has revealed the real reason they greet you as you board the plane – and it’s not just to make sure you have a pleasant experience while in the air

A flight attendant has spilled the beans on the actual reasons behind the friendly welcome passengers get as they step onto a plane. While many seasoned flyers might think cabin crew are simply setting the scene for an enjoyable experience with their beaming smiles and seat guidance, the truth could be more about safety than service.

One TUI staff member, operating out of Stuttgart airport, took to TikTok to reveal in a viral video – that’s been viewed a staggering 18.7 million times – that attendants are actually sussing out if passengers are fit to fly during the greeting.

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The user, known as MrsMiva on TikTok, shared that the warm reception isn’t just hospitality but also a quick assessment to determine whether individuals are “too drunk or sick” to take the journey.

She even goes as far as stating: “Did you know that your flight attendant greets you not only out of kindness but also to check whether you are too drunk or sick to fly?”

Prompted by her candid revelation, others chimed in to confirm this is standard procedure, with some suggesting that it’s also a way to identify who might be helpful in case of an emergency.

According to flight attendants, the greeting is more than just a friendly welcome – they’re assessing whether passengers are sober enough to fly and identifying potential helpers in an emergency.

One attendant revealed: “We are also picking out good candidates for the event of an emergency.”

Meanwhile, passengers shared their own experiences, with some joking about having “really chill” attendants who turned a blind eye to their fragile state.

One confessed: “Lol my flight attendant back from Vegas must have been really chill cause I was NOT in any condition to be on a plane.”

Another recalled: “I was once severely hungover and I threw up twice mid-flight. The flight attendants were so helpful. I felt so bad.”

Rather than the classic ’round the waist’ belt that most plane seats provide, flight attendants are treated to a much more secure ‘X’ across the body design

A flight attendant has explained why they have to wear different seatbelts from paying customers.

If you’ve ever been on a commercial flight and torn yourself away from the in-flight entertainment for a moment, you may have noticed that the cabin crew strap themselves into their seats with different belts.

Rather than the classic ’round the waist’ belt that most plane seats provide, flight attendants are treated to a much more secure ‘X’ across the body design.

A Reddit user recently visited the ‘NoStupidQuestions’ subreddit to ask: “Why do flight attendants have the cross body ‘X’ seat belt on their seats, whereas passengers only get the horizontal ones across the waist?”

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A former flight attendant kindly rode in to explain that the difference isn’t because customers are “too stupid” to use anything more complex than the passenger belts provided, but because of the way the crew’s seats are installed.

The aviator said that flight attendants’ seats were not bolted to the aircraft in the same way as passengers’ seats, meaning they moved around far more during take-off and landing.

“We needed the extra harness because that thing was bouncy as h**l on a normal takeoff and landing,” they wrote.

The cabin crew member went on to argue that passengers should welcome the fact that flight attendants seem to have a little extra security, as it’s they who are on hand to guide customers to safety in the event of an emergency.

According to Aerosavvy.com, the extra strap is there to work in the same way as the seat in front does for passengers. If a plane were to crash or stop suddenly, the seat in front would stop a passenger from being chucked forward.

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Given that flight attendants do not have the same setup, the extra strap is on hand. Marina Efthymiou, an aviation expert, told Metro that passengers “wouldn’t keep their seatbelts on if they were like the ones cabin crew wear”.

The lives of flights attendants, and the curious world of planes in general, is one that appears to be endlessly fascinating for those who haven’t glimpsed behind the curtain.

Recently a cabin crew member highlighted the “secret button” in aeroplane armrests that is a game-changing convenience for those in the aisle seat.

The little-known – or often forgotten – button is located on the underside or side of the aisle armrest and makes it easier to move around onboard. Fly Arna – Armenia’s national airline and well-known low-cost carrier – shared a video on its TikTok account of one of its cabin crew members revealing little-known features on its aircrafts.

The video has been viewed over 100,000 times with many excited over the “secret button” reveal. Seated in an aisle seat of a Fly Arnra carrier, the cabin crew member in the video shows that there is a “secret button” in the armrest. Pressing the button allows passengers to lift the aisle seat armrest, making it easier for everyone in the row to exit the aisle.

If you hear this word whilst you are on a flight, it might mean that one of your fellow passengers has died on board – and cabin crews have a whole host of codewords like this

Cabin crews have a lot to deal with as they take care of passengers during their flights. In addition to keeping everyone happy and well-fed, they occasionally have to deal with more major crises, but flight attendants are known to use secret codewords to ensure that they don’t panic any of the other passengers.

One phrase, in particular, can mean, if you hear it whilst travelling, that someone on the plane has sadly died – and the staff are trying to let each other know what’s going on, whilst keeping the situation under wraps from the passengers.

The code words regularly used for a death mid-flight are “Angel” or “Code 300.” These words allow discretion while the crew deals with the sad situation and ensure that no excess attention is drawn or alarm is generated amongst those on the flight.

Travel experts at Wander have put together a list of in-flight codes and phrases that passengers may encounter on a flight, but do not know what they mean. Whilst most flights go smoothly, on others there can be some issues where flight crews need to communicate with each other secretly, so as not to alert passengers.

There are a number of other in-flight codes and phrases that passengers may hear when on a flight.

If a traveller hears ‘Squawk 7500’ or ‘Hotel’, it means that a hijacking is in progress. As a passenger, if you hear this either mentioned by the flight crew or air traffic control, it signals that there is a potential security threat on the flight. Usually, the aircraft’s transponder will send a signal with this code to alert authorities that the plane is in danger.

Another alert is ‘Code Yellow’. A ‘Code Yellow’ indicates a minor medical situation, such as a passenger feeling lightheaded or nauseous. While not an emergency, it allows crew members to discreetly monitor a situation and assess whether they need any assistance.

If a serious but non-life-threatening emergency occurs while on a flight, passengers may hear ‘Peter Pan’. The phrase indicates that something is wrong onboard the flight, which could be mechanical trouble or a medical emergency, but it also signals that the flight is not in imminent danger.

‘Mermaid’ is a nickname used for a passenger who deliberately sprawls across empty seats. This behaviour is particularly common on flights with spare seats, where a passenger may stretch out to try and claim the extra space. Last year, one passenger got into an argument with another passenger over an empty seat, as she was told she wasn’t ‘allowed’ to sit in it despite nobody paying for it.

The woman needed to move seats because something was wrong with hers, and a flight attendant informed her she could move to an empty seat in the row across from her own. When she tried to sit in it, however, the woman sitting next to the empty chair told her she “wasn’t allowed”—despite nobody having booked it.

‘Code Adam’ is not used onboard planes but in airports to indicate a missing child. If an announcement is made for a ‘Code Adam’, staff will begin searching the airport while securing exits to prevent abductions. At an airport, ‘Code Bravo’ may also be used to signal a general security alert.

Finally, while ‘VIP’ is usually used to refer to a ‘Very Important Person,’ in the airline industry, it can sometimes refer to a ‘Very Irritating Passenger.’ Crew will sometimes use the code to refer to a traveller who is making excessive demands, complaining a lot, or generally being difficult without violating any specific rules.

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