2026 update: After 36 years in the sky, Asiana Airlines is being fully folded into Korean Air. It’s been a good run, Asiana! Thank you for the memories.
And yes, hard as it may be to believe, I wasn’t always a snarky writer. I was once young and doe-eyed, serving coffee, tea, and mishaps in the air.
This piece was written in 2013.
——————————————————–
I never really divulged much about this short stint of mine, but the recent tragedy-slash-miracle of Asiana Airlines OZ 214’s crash landing at San Francisco airport pushed me to write about it.
Imagine being 23, overworked and underpaid. Working at the airport as an interpreter and airline check-in crew may have been tiring, but it was fun. What wasn’t fun was getting paid under AUD 200.00 a month to be on your feet 10 hours a day. And that’s what ultimately drove me to apply for that cabin crew job ad in the newspaper. It was a bit of a rash decision. For one, I don’t even have the prime requirement of having a “pleasing personality.” But boy, did that lure of getting to travel more call out to me!
After a bit of a hurdle (they first said I was too old) and two interviews later, I was on a plane to Incheon, South Korea with a bunch of other awesome girls. We all came from different work backgrounds, but most came from travel too.
And soon the days of helmet hair buns and red lips began. It was a very intensive nine-week training. The first half was service training. This included all the different meal services on flights, how to mix drinks, prepare trolleys, how to say certain key phrases in Korean such as “would you like chicken or beef,” and learning the proper way to walk, smile, and put on makeup, among many others.
Then came the second half: Safety Training. And Asiana was really rigorous in making sure we were on top of this! We memorized where every piece of safety equipment was in every type of aircraft the airline flew. We learned CPR. We swam fully clothed while safely pulling another person to safety and led evacuations from an aircraft — and a lot more that I’m sure has slipped my memory. It’s been eight years!
It required a lot of concentration and energy, especially as some of us used our spare time to try and explore the city. It was a fantastic day when we finally got our “wings.” All our hard work had paid off!
My very first working flight was to….
Saipan! (Northern Mariana Islands). Well, I learned a valuable lesson on this first flight: don’t forget to bring walking shoes or slippers!
I really enjoyed the traveling the job brought. Apart from seeing new cities, it also allowed me to see family and relatives from all over the world. Of course, the occasional Sydney flight didn’t hurt either. Zombie and I rendezvoused whenever I had Sydney in my monthly roster.
And one memorable flight was OZ 214 Seoul to San Francisco, when our captain allowed a couple of cabin crew members inside the cockpit to have a feel of “steering” a Boeing 777. (Please, no comments relating this to the current accident. Our captain at that time was very experienced and only allowed us to do this when we were at cruising altitude. We were heavily supervised.)
It’s always a bonus when you fly with someone you know — then you can explore a city together. But it’s also not bad gallivanting on your own. You just have to contend with really crappy solo photos of yourself taken by reluctant passersby.
Exhibit A:
But nothing, and I mean NOTHING can ever come close to the creativity of our photographer here in
Exhibit B. An artistic result of a friendly request to take a photograph of me and Big Ben:
And the job itself — you have to be a people person to be in this kind of profession. You don’t need to be Miss Congeniality, but you must, at the very least, like being around people. And I wish I could tell you it’s such an easy job that I could do it with my eyes closed. But that would be an outrageous lie, because I should probably mention:
- The numerous times I almost spilled boiling coffee or water on an unsuspecting passenger.
- That time when I was enthusiastically shaking a huge can of juice for serving, not knowing that a colleague had already punctured open one end. The gentleman in seat 40K looked up at me drenched in pineapple juice, with natural tidbits too.
- Or that time on a flight to London when I had to literally plead with an undercover police officer to “please let it go” when he said he was going to report the airline to CASA. The crew (including yours truly, of course) had unknowingly served over 10 cans of beer to a minor sitting next to him. The drunk and pimply teenager sat giggling the whole time I was pleading the case. The officer did let it go eventually. Whew!
- One flight to Hanoi when the Cabin Manager and I had to break two men apart from bashing each other. The cause of the mile-high UFC match? A baby. One of the men’s infant had to be in a bassinet seat, and the other guy complained about it.
- On my very last flight, a sleazy red-faced man “casually” grazed his arm on my hip when he asked for beer. He laughed when I told him not to touch me. I laughed when he opened the can of beer I served him and foam exploded on his face and gadgets.
There’s so much more, but I won’t bore you further. Every single flight was different and broadened my “people skills” more. I learned how best to approach a weary traveling mother with her infant, honeymooners, couples traveling where the woman shot dagger looks at every flight attendant, bratty kids — pretty much every traveling profile.
While I enjoyed the travel, what I enjoyed the most was the company and friendships formed. They say that relationships are best built with experience and not time. I find this true. I may have only flown for barely a year, but the experiences I shared with these girls go beyond coffee or tea.
So if it was so much fun, why did I stop? A death and tragedy in my personal life took over in December of 2005. And let’s face it — I wasn’t born with grace and adroitness in the air. It was probably only a matter of time before an angry mob of passengers complained about the injuries I’d inflicted on them.
It was a good working experience for me, but not one to take up as a career for the lifestyle I have. It’s definitely not a cushy job, and I hope the heroic acts of the Asiana flight attendants of OZ 214 last Sunday prove that it’s not just about being pretty.
So the next time you see a flight crew, don’t just check out her behind. For all you know, she could later be saving your sorry ass.
POST NOTE:
I’ve been receiving loads of emails, comments, and Facebook messages asking how to apply for cabin crew at Asiana. While I would normally be happy to help, I WILL NOT BE ANSWERING ANY OF THESE QUESTIONS anymore. IT’S BEEN MORE THAN TEN YEARS since this experience. It’s been a DECADE and I’m now on an entirely different career path. Applications then are different from today. I don’t know how the airline hires cabin crew anymore. Please call or email your local Asiana office. Asking the company directly is the best way. Good luck.
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Super article jean 😉 Thank You so much for providing me these information. I surely will book my next flight through Asiana airlines 😉 BTW We could book in their website nah?
omg Jean, what a great journey you had!
its bit weird that Asiana won’t appear anywhere anymore but it will be in my memory and also you! it was either Korean air or Asiana Airliens for me to visit home but i preferred fly with Asiana as I liked thier bibimbab and bit cheaper as well 😉
thanks for sharing all this precious memories!!
I liked your story
Like you blog alot! I am in my 43rd year as a Male Flight Attendant with a major U.S. carrier. I have enjoyed the career very much, but look forward to retiring in about a year and half from now. In your decade, the industry has changed as you mentioned. For myself, becoming a flight attendant, especially a male flight attendant and the pickiness of Airlines hiring criteria in the early 70’s was very different from now. I remember my airline had over 15,000 applicants and the ending result was to select about 4000 to interview! I was one of the lucky ones to be trained and hired! My graduating class of new hires from all those applicants was only a class of 29 new attendants. Seems today, if you want the job, it’s there and is much, much easier to get hired! The airlines are not as picky any longer!
Please don’t talk so highly of yourself. Us airline hired granny or grandpa like you yourself. Look at how those image they have given from the us carrier. All Thier images failed badly if they were to go any top notch airline nowadays or was never been hired. Interview now are even more strict then in your old era. I am glad I am in a glamorous airline where looks are important. So stop saying or degrade nowadays interview criteria. In fact it is more strict then your era. Grandpa please show respect to new generation and stop selling your old grandpa tales. No one loves it. Duhz.
I had all of those same experiences 20 years ago! Class 52 I believe. You nailed it perfectly. I was a crew based out of LAX. I would never trade that experience but only managed about 9 months. Anyahegaseio!
Hello. Ms. Jean.
Can I ask what age did you start being a flight attendant?
Thank you 🙂
Hi Jean! I like your post! 🙂 I’ve been really wanting to be a cabin crew of OZ. I just want to ask what are their requirements and how did you apply for that position? Hoping for your response, it would really be a great help to me! Thank you 🙂
What an amazing post! these photos and all those stories are simply awesome, I’m sure this experience was an experience of a life time you will never forget. I’m 20 years old and I’m looking forward to become a cabin crew, although I have failed in previous recruitment process, reading your blog really pushes me forward to experience a new jorney in my life (not sure if a career path).
Thank you for sharing this with all of us!
Thank you Carlos, I’m glad you are not discouraged! Keep pursuing what you love!!
Hi Jean. I’m here in the Philippines and been wanting to be a cabin crew for years. I just want to know where can I go to apply in Asiana. Somewhat an agency I guess so I can apply personally. Thanks!
Hi Jean,
I’ve stumbled across your page while trying to get some information on applying for Asiana Airlines as their flight attendant.
Would you be so kind to contact me directly via email so that you can sort of guide me on how to start this journey? Information on the internet just seems so scattered I really don’t know where I need to start!
I would GREATLY appreciate it so much!
Thank you 🙂
Connie
What a cool post! I had no idea you were previously a flight attendant. We have a very close family friend who has been a flight attendant with Delta for over 20 years. We know it’s a tough job to go along with the “glitz” of it (and it’s not as ‘glamorous’ in the US anymore). But despite Delta being cheap with consumers, they do put their crew up in nice hotels. In Dublin their crew gets to stay at the Shelbourne, where Mrs. Obama stayed when she came! 🙂
What great stories you have and no wonder you are so interested in airplanes, which is typically more of a guy thing. lol, you guys were so lucky you got away with that undercover police officer. Wow! 🙂
Hi Alex, thanks 🙂 Not a lot of people know either and this was the only time I talked about it 🙂 It’s definitely not a cushy job and wow to do it for 20 years! (your family friend). that’s admirable. To me, it was a great experience as it definitely broadened up my people skills. Yes being put up in great hotels are one of the perks too. (best one is travel!) I was Very lucky with that undercover and underage guy situation. there’s more to that story that’s ‘unpublishable’ LOL let’s just say I was extremely lucky and got away by the skin of my (or the entire crew’s) teeth.
Hi Jean , I really love your story! It was my dream since I was in high school . I wish I could become a flight crew one day .
What’s the average salary of an asiana flight attendant?
Very interesting story Jean!
I have always wanted to be a flight attendant but things change when you get married and get a mortgage – plus not sure i could get up at 3 or 4am to go to work!
Thanks Sam! You know for me I never wanted to be a flight attendant, I always wanted to be THE PILOT!! 🙂 (Or be Indiana Jones) But I wasn’t so good with math and numbers (which you apparently need to become a pilot) , and the job gave me the opportunity to travel. It’s a good life experience but not a career for me.
Hi, may I know the estimate of your salary for asiana? I’m a flight attendant for an airline in the Philippines but I’ve been wanting to move to asiana. Also, would you know when they will be hiring Filipino flight attendants again? Thank you
Hey Lena, all details above are about 9 – 10 years old (as indicated) I’m sure you’d want a more recent and updated information. Go to their website and ask directly Good luck 🙂
Thanks for this fun, but semi-serious blog post. Congrats. on being linked by the Vancouver (BC) Sun. 🙂
One of my cousins was a flight attendant with Pan Am Airlines back in the mid-1970’s. Not sure how long.
Thank you Jean! Wow Pan Am, those were the ‘golden days’ of flying 🙂 I admire those who stayed on for years doing the job because clearly I couldn’t! LOL Hey may I ask
where the link to Vancouver Sun is? thank you !
Loved reading this Jean, I too did a short five year stint as an FA in Bombau, India, saw the world and had some of my fondest memories in the skies and in those galleys! I could relate with every word you wrote. Now life moves on, and I have a ‘regular’ job…thanks
Hi Riaan! Awesome, ex-cabin crew too! five years is not a stint LOL! yeah I agree even if we have moved on to ‘more normal’ jobs now, the skills you picked up in flying are priceless!
Yes, I agree, the skills I picked up in the galley and in the cabin are priceless. Also, I can show up for a meeting at work at 7 am looking absolutely impeccable, or step out of office after a 12 hour work day looking fresh and perky, much to the dismay of my shabby colleagues, is something I owe to my flying job. Besides that, the wealth of knowledge that I acquired while seeing the world now helps me in my job as a luxury magazine Editor. SIGH
omg jean you look so youngggg! And ‘zombie’ toooo!
Yes we were young too , once upon a time 🙂