Loving these days off :)

 

I am enjoying my days off :) Got back from my Saudi Arabia flight on 28th in the early morning hours.. Now I have today and tomorrow off before I fly to Singapore - will be a 4 sector flight so I will be exhausted. Dubai-Colombo, then Colombo to Singapore.

Went to get my nails done yesterday, now they look decent again.  Working in the galleys are the worst for your nails... it's definitely hard work but at the end of the flight you get to go home and relax and that's not a bad thing :)

Oh woke up yesterday morning just to find out that I forgot my laptop charger at the hotel in Kuala Lumpur!!
I called the hotel and they put me through to "Lost and Found" but alas, the charger is just missing in action.. this is something you'd expect in South Africa but seems like it's not much different in Kuala Lumpur!

So yesterday I had to hunt for a laptop charger, I went to Samsung, and they told me they don't have any chargers I will have to order through another company and wait up to a week before they deliver it. Now I can't live without my laptop, I mean I don't have a TV in the flat so my laptop is everything to me. Decided will shop around and eventually found this shop in Dubai Mall that sells "International chargers" so it's not ideal for your laptop but you know it will do for now... I can always later order my Samsung Charger and just use this other one in the meantime because it works fine... JUST 300 dirhams later :(

I applied for leave in April and June, however they only allocated  7 days in April for me, still trying to get more days either in March or June but so far it seems like I will just be able to go home in April. Still, better than nothing am so looking forward to it!!! Will only pay 50% for my ticket, and after May I will only pay 10% for my tickets so not bad at all.

Below are some pictures from my day in Kuala Lumpur:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

KUALA LUMPUR & Roster for February!

Arrived in Kuala Lumpur this afternoon -  4 hours ahead of Dubai so it's just turned 23:00 here however I do not feel sleepy enough to go sleep now.

I was meant to fly to Bangladesh but then as I was getting ready for my flight, Crew Control phoned me to tell me that there's been a change in my roster (a "slight change" as they call it)

I was happy to find out that my flight changed to Kuala Lumpur instead of Bangladesh, I just think the layover would be nicer in Kuala, also 3 hours longer flight and instead of flying with Boeing 777 I now flew on A380 for the second time :)

We are staying at the Marriot hotel and its very pretty and comfortable! I have two single beds unfortunately however I still think I will sleep very comfortable tonight.

So I also received my roster for February!! My flights are as follows:

All of them are layover flights and I have not one turnaround!

Birmingham
Bangkok
Vienna
Mauritius
Brazil (Sao Paulo)

I have a total of 12 days off in February so that should be awesome as well!
I also applied for leave for the first half of the year: 8 days in April and then 7 days in June - I should find out soon if the leave has been approved or denied, here's hoping!

Well I suppose I need to get some sleep! Chat soon*

First Charter flight and to Bahrain!!

Avotel Hotel in Bahrain where we stayed for the night

 

 

Had an eventful week I must say!  I found out my roster changed after I got back from Paris on the 16th. I had a Charter flight ordered from the President of the UAE - we had to transport 425 football supporters for a "Cup Final" which was held in Bahrain. Get the treat: The flight was JUST MEN! 

 

Thought I was gonna faint! We were delayed on ground for 3 hours because the aircraft couldn't leave until the very last passenger was on the flight. Some people got so annoyed that they offloaded themselves. We had FOUR incidents where seated passengers smoked secretly in the Lavatories, that after we told them that it's not allowed and that when it happens once more, the police would be called out to the aircraft. We finally locked all the lavatories open so no one could use it before we eventually took off.

 

So we basically had to guard the toilets. How ridiculous... They also didn't follow "the boarding passes" for seat numbers, they literally walked on the plane and decided they will sit where ever they felt like it. We had our hands full from the moment they started to board. Anyways, the flight to Bahrain was so short, not even 55minutes, but we had to bring the same passengers back the next day so we had to spend the night in Bahrain. There were riots going on in the streets because of the losing team and I woke up like 4 times during the night from all the noise. I was so exhausted, may I never experience anything like that in my life again! Imagine, it was my first operational flight and we were 5(first operational) from the total of 17 cabin crew. The Captain was so shocked when he found out he almost offloaded himself haha!

 

Luckily the next day it went easier, most of the passengers were hungover so they slept and didn't even want food or drinks. I was meant to have a "Can Use" day today, however thankfully Emirates turned it into a day off. So now I am only flying again on Wednesday - so have 3 days off now :)

 

My roster changed once again (no surprise) - flying to Bangladesh on the 25th - layover... Yup, I think I will stay safely in my hotel thank you very much!

Can't wait for my layover in Singapore - so far that flight hasn't changed yet, touch wood!

Would fancy a Johannesburg flight next month seriously! I miss my family, my dogs and my fiancé too much :P

 

I must say, it has been an exciting month so far, you never know what to expect!

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

PARIS...City of L o v e

Paris.... always had this vision in my mind that I would go there one day, and now, finally I have! The layover was just over 24hours, and it was enough time surprisingly.

The only downside was that we were put up in the Hyatt hotel which is nearby the airport - and also almost an hour away from the city :( It was so extremely cold and I didn't really have the proper winter clothes to withstand the cold. I saw some beautiful snow!!!! First time in my life to see snow like that, and it's a memory that will stay with me for a very long time!

The hotel was nice, despite having 2 single beds in my room (I am so used to sleeping on a double bed) however the bed was so comfortable, I slept like a baby.
The food was divine!! We also got about 50% discount on the hotel food for example the dinner and breakfast. When we arrived in Paris it was 19:00 so we all went for dinner at the hotel's restaurant which was a buffet. The French sure know how to bake bread!! I had the most delicious bread at dinner and for breakfast I had a delicious croissant and some flap jacks. So for the next days/weeks it's back to hard work in the gym and dieting!!

The crew were lovely as well, they supported me and the other girl from SA as it was only our second flight. I feel much more confident now, and I am enjoying most of the flying time. Sometimes during the flight on the way to Paris and back I was bored and didn't know what to do which I hated because then time goes so slow.

I just checked my roster and found out that I'm doing a Bahrain turnaround tomorrow, so this will officially be my first "operational flight" as cabin crew! Amazing feeling.

See some pictures below :) Next time when I go to Paris it will hopefully be summer time and I can go and explore the amazing city!

Flying to Cairo (Turnaround)

First flight is over! Wow, can't believe it, the time has come for me to live out my dream since I was a little girl!!
It doesn't feel real to me yet, I think maybe after a month of flying it will feel like reality for me.

From signing on at the briefing station in Dubai until we arrived back at the station in Dubai, I worked 11 hours... not the normal "office job" which normally consists of 8hours.
It will definitely take some time to get used to, that is for sure.

We flew with Boeing 777-300 and the flight was busy going to Cairo and even more so coming back to Dubai. I sat in the flight deck for take off and landing and WOW what an experience!! I even had the opportunity to listen to "Radio control aka ATC" They communicate non-stop, such a stressful environment, I really do take my hat off for these pilots, wow!!

The Crew were also very nice and friendly and they helped me where possible. Most of the time I just tried to figure things out for myself. I even had the opportunity to do Boarding of Passengers coming back to Dubai and helped with Service in the Cabin and also helped out in the main Galley.

I feel more confident now, and I am sure every flight will just get better! Soon I will be doing service in the cabin with my eyes closed :P

Flying to Paris tomorrow on the A380, -4 degrees with possible snow.. went and bought some flat winter boots, as I don't really have a lot of winter clothes with me in Dubai...
No shopping in Paris, it will be too expensive... However, I will explore the city that's for sure!

Got to bed at 03:00 and slept until 09:30, woke up with a bit of a sore throat. Last thing I need now is to fall sick as I won't be allowed to fly :(
Went to the pharmacy this morning and got some decent vitamins and flu meds, rather sort it out now before it develops into a proper cold...

P.s My blog has reached just over 5000 views :) thank you everyone!!!

I've got my wings baby!!!

I have received my wings to fly!!! Training is FINALLY over... Wow, what an journey it has been so far. I am mentally and physically exhausted, but the good news is, I have 3 full days off before I take my first flight on!

Today was relaxed, we just received some added info and our final documents like our medical certificate, our FACE card (it's this pretty pink card, which we can use at many restaurants, clubs, bars, hotels, shops and beauty salons whereby we will receive discount) and also our SEP license.

WOW, still can't believe I am done. Tomorrow I can sleep in a bit, should receive my debit card from the bank I joined in Dubai and then I have a manicure appointment at the mall later and just need to go get my e-Gate card at EGHQ :)

I will definitely update the blog once I have completed my flight on Sunday! I am petrified about flying as Emirates Cabin Crew for the first time, but at the same time I am extremely happy, proud, excited and honoured!
What an opportunity of a lifetime I have in my hands.... just incredible.

Wish my baby was with me to celebrate my success!!

Saying goodbye to the love of my life, was so hard!

Me and my sexy baby <3

So I said my goodbyes this morning, I am so sad :( My baby should land back into South Africa in the next 30 minutes more or less...

 

 

I can't wait to be done with the training, I have 3 days to go, so just need to stay focused and hopefully it will soon be over and done with... Then I can relax for 3 days before I have my first flight. It's crazy to think that in exactly a week I will be on the plane to Cairo!!!

 

 

I worked hard to get where I am today, and soon I will live out my dream. Not many people get the chance to live out their dream job, so I must just make the most of this - it will happen once in my life!!

 

 

And hopefully before I know it, Tristan will be able to move to Dubai :):) Things are looking up, it's a matter of time.

 

 

 

 





5 more days of training left

Training is finally coming to an end!! Wow, it has been another difficult week and I am happy to announce that I now have the next 2 days off, and I can spend it with the love of my life!

We are planning on going to the top of the Burj Khalifa which is the tallest building in the WORLD for those who's not familiar with it... It is said to be an amazing experience. One of my other friends in Emirates went 2 days ago and she says it's something to experience and it will always be a lasting memory.

Today we did our first LHR practical (fake flight to London) the whole process took about 4 hours and it was crazy. I felt like I did not have a clue what I was doing. But I think the best way of learning and getting used to flying, is by actually doing it for real... that is the only way that I will learn how to do things and it will also give me more confidence as time goes by.

It feels like training can go on forever! However, I must push through the last 5 days, after that I get 3 days off and then I will operate my first flight.
A "suppy" flight is basically a "relaxed, observation" flight. I will not be operating as crew but I will basically view and observe the crew and also offer my assistance where needed.
I have 2 suppy flights (one turnaround and one layover), after that I will start operating as crew.

I was thinking of maybe putting my name on the list of accommodation change - Sarab is nice in some ways but it really is far from the city and I think I would rather live in a flat which is more central. Even if that means having to wait for a few months, as long as the ball is rolling then it will happen eventually... When my fiancé moves to Dubai, it would only make sense for me to be living in the city... Taxi's are costing me a fortune since he got here...

Anyways, let me go get ready for my night out with my baby :)