Suppie Flights

I am now operating crew!! I cant believe it! My suppie flights were a turnaround to Athens and a layover in Dhaka. The Athens flight went well the flight time was 4 1/2 ish hrs on the way there we only had 40 something pax but on the way back we were full. The flight has our new inspired service (which is the only service iam trained in) on board so we were kept busy the whole time. In fact on the way back we struggled to finish in time! The Dhaka flight was shorter than the Athens but its a layover tehe. The flight has the old service which is v quick so for me there was too much sitting about and the time went v v slowly! The hotel we use in Dhaka is really nice so it was straight to bed when we got there as it was 6am. I woke up around 12 ish and met some of the others for lunch then me and one of the other girls went to the bazar. We went on the hotel transport which I would recommend but if possible try and get the driver to walk with you in the bazar. We didnt do this and we were hassled from the minute we arrived. We didnt really enjoy the bazar as they tried to rip us off at every stall. Sometime the prices we were being quoted were more expensive than the shops!! I did buy a couple of things after the price came down from 12000 to 1300!! The driver told us we still paid too much but by that time we just wanted to go and the price we got is still cheap compared to UAE or UK. Next time we have been told to go to the college market as this is more relaxed and honest!

My rosta has changed allot this month so I have been checking everyday! I was called off standby to go to Damascus on Sat, this was a turnaround and my first operating flight!! I was given the position of duty free, the crew were nice and helped me but no one wanted anything. I am going to Munich tomorrow with 15hrs layover then Sydney on Sun with 30hrs layover. Im really excited about Sydney, Ive never been to OZ and a couple of my batch mates are there at same time so it should be a good laugh.

I have xmas day off so were trying to arrange a lunch somewhere. I hope everyone has a great festive season x.

Like a kid at xmas!!

I have had such an amazing time over the last week!! Firstly Rod took me to Bab al Shams last Friday for the night. When we were getting ready for dinner he asked me to marry him!! Woo hoo!! He has bought me the most fabi ring, I love it!

We had a great time at the hotel, we went for a couples spa treatment then to the Arabic buffet restaurant with belly dancers, singers and a horse show on the sand dunes then the next day sat by the pool.

On Tuesday which was my 30th birthday all my batch mates came out to captains bar for a few drinks then Rod and me stayed at the Rotana beach hotel (hes not allowed to stay in staff accom). Were going to move in together early next year.

On Friday my mates in Dubai and my batch mates went for brunch at the grand grill and had a fabi day!! The food was amazing the DJ was great and the vino was flowing!! As you can imagine with all this celebrating Rod and myself are a bit tired haha. I have promised him I will not mention my bday again till next year tehe.

Training is going well we are on our last week!! We got our rostas but there will be a few changes because we are only trained in EYs new IS service we cant fly on routes with old service and on our rostas they have put us on old service so Im waiting on the changes. It looks like my first flight is Athens next Sunday, its a turn around so it will be a long day but I cant wait! Its only a supy flight so I wont be operating crew until I have done a supy turnaround and layover. At the mo my layover is an old service so dont know where it will change to. Ive got a Sydney and Heathrow late dec im hoping they wont change because Ive never been to OZ and in LHR I can go to asda haha.

Right back to the studying!!! Weve got a run through of the meal service tomorrow, wish me luck.

Finished safety training

I really am in shock about how quick the last few weeks have been. We have finished our safety training and have moved on to security then on Sunday we start first aid. For all the safety exams the whole batch got over 90% which is fabi! My lowest mark was 97% so I'm mega chuft with myself tehe. I will be having a few beverages at the weekend to congratulate myself!! I should be studying now for security tomorrow but I thought Id write a quick entry first.

We had an aircraft visit yesterday on the a320 and I came out with an injured thumb!! We were all opening the stretcher hatch but it was really stiff so on my turn we were wiggling the latch and the hatch when the hatch opened on top of my thumb and went straight through my nail. Now I'm not a baby when it comes to these things but it was bloody sore so there was a few sweary words! I think I might loose my nail which I'm not overly happy about, funnily enough! Fingers crossed it didn't break the all the way across and it keeps growing. It would look a bit silly when Ive got red nail polish on the rest and no nail on my thumb tehe.

Rod came down for dinner last night as my flat mate is away we had the house to ourselves so I made tiger prawns with garlic & wine sauce. I had a few glasses of wine to celebrate passing the last safety exam so I was a wee bitty tired today (early night tonight). Were both getting really excited about next weeks trip to Bab al Shams (my 30th prezie), I keep reading the website it looks amazing. Only 2wks till my bday I get far too excited just like a child haha.

Week 3 of Training

Well for a start I really cant believe I am in my third week of training!!! But I am!! The safety training has been great fun, weve been firefighting, jumping n sliding, ditching (emergency landing in water) which was bloody freezing but v funny oh and today we had our first exam, not so fun! We all passed scoring over 90% (pass mark is 80%) I only got 1 question wrong so I am v v pleased with myself, next one I want 100% keep your fingers crossed. The exam today was general safety and we have the airbus 330-200 exam on Wednesday, we also have a practical on Wednesday so it will be a busy day. Tomorrow night we are meeting up to run through the drills and commands for the practical exam. Tomorrow we are going on an aircraft visit Im really looking forward to having a nosey round the plane. I hope its a 330-200 as we have the exam the next day.

I went back to Dubai at the weekend and met up with some friends for a wee drinky then on Friday went to Karama where they sell genuine fake hand bags (well everything) tehe. Got myself a lovely wee D&G which Ill use on my bday brunch in a few weeks. I have no idea where the time go's in this country, in a week I will have been in the UAE for one year (apart from 2mths in the summer when I was in the UK). I cant believe its my bday again!! This time its the big 30! Im excited about it because Rod is spoiling me with a trip to Bab al Shams, Ive wanted to go there for ages so im really excited.

Keep your fingers crossed for me on Wednesday, I will let you know how it go's.

First week

Well I am half way through my first of seven weeks training, its going well, I think! We've got a great group of new crew, 5 male and 8 female, we all get on well and have a laugh. The first two days we have had many many people coming to talk to us from HR, security, housing, licencing and various other departments. Today we had our grooming day!! This was the day I have been panicking about for months, I thought I was going to be told my makeup is all wrong because I don't usually wear it. But our instructor Omar made us all at ease by giving us all compliments followed by the buts tehe. He picked me out to do my makeup and done a fantastic job. I told myself before I went I would not be talked into buying loads of expensive products but after seeing myself I wanted everything he had used haha. There was a bit to much powder for me, but my eyes looked fab! After grooming we went to the uniform store to be measured for uniform and shoes, we will receive them in 3 weeks (ish).

Tomorrow we are going to the Etihad airways medical clinic to complete our medicals, I still have to get my yellow fever jag and one other which I cant remember. Its going to be a long day starting at 6am pick up!!

Oh I forgot to say Im living in one of the old building in the centre of town. My room is great and I have my own shower room but I am not keen on the area. At night there are allot of people hanging about and its a bit unnerving when your out my yourself, since I don't know anyone yet its a bit of a pain. My flat mate is lovely she is a cabin senior and has been flying for 9yrs so I can use her knowledge haha. I have already put my name down to move to one of the newer areas outside the town centre so fingers crossed it wont take long.

We received our safety and emergency manual yesterday its the size of 3 yellow pages stuck together! They keep telling us we will know it all by the end of training, Ill believe it when Ive done it tehe.

Ive just been out for dinner with my boyf (Rod), we went to TGI fridays, v v nice! I could do with a wee glass of vino to wash it down but I will have to wait till Thursday night yacht club happy hour haha.

Employment visa

Ive got a wee adventure to go on today!! Because I am in Dubai on a tourist visa I need to leave the country and come back in with my employment visa. So today Im heading down to the Etihad HQ near the airport to collect my employment visa from Celeste then fly to Bahrain and back. Im quite excited about it because I get to have a look at the new terminal, I have only been in the old one. I still have a few bits of make up to buy for next week so Im going to have a look in duty free, hopefully I will pick up a bargin.

I had my first snowboarding lesson on Thursday, it went really well its so much fun! Ive booked two more for Tue. I was v stiff yesterday and could hardly move, Im really unfit I must start to do more exercise!

One week to go!!!!

Getting Excited!!

Im back in Dubai and just cant wait to start my Etihad training. Only two weeks on Friday I move to Abu Dhabi!! Im sitting learning my airport codes, I knew most of them already so just a few to learn. I keep reading the Etihad website so Im up to date when I start but its just getting me more and more excited, I have so many questions and cant wait to start learning. Ive been reading about the rent to buy scheme it sounds great I will be looking into that as soon as I start.

Ive been having a good time here while Im waiting. Ive already been for a brunch at the madinat then the beach party next to Burj al Arab. Ive been at the pool most days for an hour trying to get used to the heat after two months in the UK. I think we are having a quiet weekend this week, as you can imagine my funds are very low after three months not working! I might manage a wee trip to wild wadi (I havent been before) because I have buy one get one free vouchers from the entertainer.

Anyway enough rambling!! I just wanted to check in and give you an up date.

Story so far

Hi, Im new to this so please stay with me!!

I thought I would give you a bit of history to start with.

When I was 22 I left Scotland and went to work for Style villas in Portugal as a rep. I stayed with Style for 6yrs as a rep in Algarve & Madeira then a manager in Crete and Cyprus. After living out of a suitcase for 6yrs I decided I needed a base, a home. So I went back to Scotalnd and got a job in Glasgow. The job was in a call centre and I found it really really boring so much so that I handed in my notice with no other job to go to!! I had a part time job that could give me more hours until I found something else. My step brother (who lives in Dubai) was working with some big wigs at a cruise ship company so I gave him my CV to pass on. I dont know if he ever gave it to them but he did give it to his friends who ran a sailing school. They would be looking for someone in the office in a coupe of months. My step bro had a spare room and a spare car I could use!! So off I went to Dubai.

After a couple of quiet months in the office I started to get bored again! Nightmare! I had been looking at all airline sites and found that Emirates were holding an assessment day in Jan. I applied online and got invited to the assessment. Unfortunately I couldnt make it and asked them to put me on the next AD but they informed me that this would be the last one so I missed out! After all the fuss that happened with them taking back offers of employment im soo glad I didnt go! Next came an invite to Etihad's AD in Abu Dhabi in March. I made sure this time that nothig would stop me getting to the AD. Before I went I read all the forums and blogs I could find and they all really helped me, thankyou.

The day went well and a week later they emailed me advising me they were taking my application further, woo hoo. The only thing was on the email they put thankyou for attending the assessment in Sydney!!! After a wee panic they assured me they did mean to send me the email, phew. So now I am in the holding pool, waiting game. I read on one of the forums that people were starting to get phoned with dates, how exciting! One of the girls I met at the AD gave me a number to call to get a date for training. I built myself up to make the call and of course it went straight to answer phone, just my luck tehe. I called reception who gave me another number and I got through straight away, I feel sick by now. The lady said she would call me back the next day, so another sleepless night. The next day I got the call, woo hoo! I start training on the 18th Oct subject to medicals.

I received the medical forms that day and made an appointment with the Dubai London clinic, I found them to be the cheapest and most helpful. The dentist gave me a great deal, she said that Emirates crew get a special so she will give the same price for Etihad. I sent the forms back to Etihad and within a few days they had been cleared. So I am confirmed for the 18th oct!!

Since then I lost my job at the sailing school and had to come back to stay with my mum in Scotland. We have just been sailing for a week through the caledonian canal, they do it every year but it was my first time and I loved it. It couldnt have worked out better, I have a couple of monthe to spend with family and friends then back to Dubai to get ready to move to Abu Dhabi in Oct.

Well I hope that didnt bore you too much, I wanted to get you up to date with my story so far.