7. Friends From All Over the World
Emirates Airlines employs people from 130 countries around the world (there are only approximately 195- the exact number is up for debate because of the status of places like Taiwan) and makes a concerted effort to create a community within Dubai for these employees to meet and socialize with one another. That is very nice as they have all left their home countries and everyone they know and love. The newbies kind of fall into a sort of commonality and thus have support, friends, and people to turn to should they need anything.
It is also awesome because they get to know people from various cultures that they never would have met otherwise. They learn about customs, food, language, and perhaps will even visit a close friend there someday. Friends are important no matter what, but so much more can be learned from people with vastly different backgrounds than oneself.
6. Posh Working Environment
Even though the crew are not the ones enjoying the flight, still they get to work inside a beautiful luxury airliner. And even the secluded part of the plane you never get to see that is designated for crew rest times is posh. They have little nooks with low-lighting, soft bunks, and privacy in which they can get a catnap, as some of their flights can be excruciatingly long (Emirates launched the world’s longest non-stop flight- now a daily occurrence- in March of this year: 8,823 miles, from Dubai to Auckland, which takes 17 hours and 15 minutes). The nooks look super comfy to me! And these bunks are definitely private; as someone who has flown regularly on long-haul trans-Pacific flights for years, I have yet to see a door that leads to one of these uber-secret rooms.
5. Whisked To and From Work in Private Cars
vi: cabincrewexcellence.com
Now, if this doesn’t make them feel glamorous, I don’t know what would! So, all spiffed up and looking gorgeous, the crew are picked up at their door in a private car and driven to work. I’m talking door to door service, here. No worrying about traffic, no road rage, and best of all, it is not your fault if you are late! I am sure there is some kind of carpool, but even so, it is still a perk the likes of the rich and famous receive. And knowing what we do about Emirates Airlines, I think we can assume that they do not half-do anything, and thus their employee transport vehicles likely fall somewhere on the spectrum of opulence as well.
4. It’s Great Birth Control!
Sounds weird, right? Well it may be weird, but it’s true! At least, if they want to keep their jobs it is. In the first three years of employment, the flight attendants must leave if they become pregnant. This is because it costs nearly $27,000 to recruit and train each member of the crew. Also, they have little ground work to offer pregnant women, and they cannot allow them to fly while expecting. Emirates calls their policy “generous”, and it does make sense. After three years, women can take paid maternity leave. But for the newbies, this policy is a great incentive to (A) keep their pants on, or (B) if they just can’t, use protection.
3. A Kick-Ass Training Program
via arabianaerospace.aero
The crews of Emirates Airlines will never have an unprepared day at work, not even on their first day. I am sure they are nervous no matter what, but they are well trained. During the 7-week intensive Aviation College in Dubai, the students learn everything there is to know under the sun about the company: the aircraft, safety procedures, and, yes, they even take uniform and makeup classes. It is a thorough program that requires hard work, encompassing all of the following and more: full motion flight simulator of all aircraft types, first aid, fitness and nutrition, firefighting, delivering babies, grooming, customer service, simulated evacuations into a real pool (fully clothed), duty-free shopping, and cultural fluency. They also serve food, physically restrain, and role play with each other to learn. And all in a building that looks like an airplane!
2. A Flexible Schedule
As in, with thousands of fellow employees living practically at your doorstep, crew members are constantly switching their trips around to accommodate the places they want to go. From what I read of flight attendant interviews, the company seems surprisingly lax on this aspect of work, as long as the job gets done, and gets done right. So not only do these people get to globe trot their little hearts out, but they can be like, “Oh,
Paris? I’ve already been
there. Care to trade for Hong Kong?” Or something like that. You get the picture. And with that kind of flexibility, the aforementioned 195 countries on this planet will all be checked off the list in no time! You know, except that the swanky Emirates Airlines does not fly to places like Cambodia and Mongolia. But still…
1. The Extras
And finally, a staple in any job, the benefits. They are pretty sweet. Besides the obvious insurance kind of stuff, and the free furnished housing we already talked about, there is more. First, a fixed monthly cash payment. Their base salary is tax-free. They receive a minimum of 30 days paid leave annually, as well as one free ticket a year to their country of origin. They receive (in addition to the FACE card) 50% off local restaurants and health clubs. There are reduced entry fees into thousands of clubs around the world, and of course, that “professional allowance” (for things like hair and nails) I mentioned before. All in all, even though their cash payment is less than what most other airlines offer, Emirates more than makes up for that in other perks,
especially to a person who is a born wanderer
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