This archive report was first published on 15 November 2019.
Life in the Skies: A Cabin Crew's Journey ¶
Published on November 15, 2019
Mariam Ali's job takes her to the skies, literally. As a cabin crew member for Emirates, she has the opportunity to travel the world, meet new people, and experience different cultures.
Her journey began at Fly Dubai, where she worked as a member of the cabin crew before joining Emirates in 2015 as a business class hostess. Mariam's main responsibility is to ensure the passengers aboard are comfortable and safe, and to provide them with the best possible experience during the journey.
'My main job is to ensure the passengers aboard are comfortable and safe. It's also my responsibility to ensure passengers have the best experience during the journey by attending to all their needs,' she says.
One of the challenges of her job is dealing with long flights, which can last up to 10 hours. However, Mariam finds ways to keep herself and her passengers entertained and comfortable.
'Some journeys, such as Dubai to New York, are very long, sometimes lasting more than 10 hours. This can get boring and exhausting, so it's important to ensure passengers are happy and relaxed,' she says.
Despite the challenges, Mariam loves her job and the opportunities it provides. She has traveled to many destinations, including India, which is her favorite due to its diverse cultures and languages.
'Every journey is an opportunity to experience new cultures and to interact with people from diverse backgrounds,' she says.
Mariam's job also comes with many perks, including the opportunity to meet new people and experience different cultures. She is also encouraged to engage in sports, go to the gym, do yoga or meditation to keep her body and spirit active.
'We're encouraged to engage in sports, go to the gym, do yoga or meditation so we keep our bodies and spirit active,' she says.
However, Mariam's job also comes with its own set of challenges, including jetlag and the need to maintain a positive attitude in the face of long flights and demanding passengers.
'You fly through different time zones every day. When you leave Dubai for Chicago, for instance, you depart in the morning and arrive there while it's still in the morning. This throwback upsets the body, and you have to adjust accordingly so that you can sleep,' she says.
Despite the challenges, Mariam loves her job and the opportunities it provides. She is an avid reader and enjoys reading crime thrillers and history books. She is also an ardent hiker and has climbed several mountains, including Mt Kilimanjaro and Everest Base Camp.
