I’m an air hostess – I got my dream job but had to wait FOUR YEARS for first flight

AN AIR hostess told how she landed her dream job – then had to wait four years for her first flight.

Alyx Barnett, 22, was taken on as cabin crew by TUI in 2018 but was shelved until a space opened up for her. 

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The same happened in 2019 and when she finally went through her month-long training for the first time Covid hit and she was left cooling her jets again.

She got to go on her first flight in May and now flies to Cancun from Glasgow as many as three times a week.

Alyx, who’s originally from Perth, said: “It’s been a long time coming.

“When I first got the call to say they wanted me it felt amazing. I was jumping up and down in my room. This is what I always wanted to do.

“It got a bit frustrating waiting but I knew it was nothing personal and that it was going to happen. Now I’m living my best life and I absolutely love it.”

While Alyx’s pals were all preparing to go to uni she went for her first interview to become cabin crew.

She was accepted and was placed into TUI’s talent pool. To pay the bills she got temp work that lasted far longer than she expected them to.

She said: “I worked in Tesco and had a few fill-in jobs. I was in danger of becoming the girl who cried wolf.

“I’d go in and say I won’t be here long because I’m an air hostess and then I’d be there for years.”

In April this year she was called to do her training again and was then given her first flight.

After more than nine hours in the air she got to spend 24 hours in Cancun, and has had several stays in the Mexican resort since then.

Alyx has also flown to Lanzarote, Tenerife, Palma but came back the same day.

She said: “My first flight was just amazing. I couldn’t stop looking out the window because I couldn’t believe it was happening.

“The rest of the team were absolutely brilliant with me. They understood that I wouldn’t know everything and were really understanding.”

Alyx still has to pinch herself that she gets to have mini-holidays in Mexico every week.

She said: “When you land it’s like 3pm. It’s exciting to be there.

“Going to destinations like that is just amazing. It’s a bit of a glamorous job.

“Sometimes I’m like ‘wow this is so cool’. Others I’m too tired to function. But I’m there for work. “It’s not a party and I’m on company time.”

At least every couple of flights Alyx gets asked for advice from passengers who are desperate to follow in her footsteps.

She advises them that personality is what her bosses are looking for.

She said: “I love when I get asked that question. I always tell them that it’s important to be themselves.

“People want to be served by someone who is happy and bubbly. No one wants a robot.”

Alyx, who moved to Glasgow to be closer to the airport, reckons the worst part of her job is probably getting up at 2am for a flight.

But even then she still happily volunteers to work extra.

She said: “I just absolutely love my job.  I’m happy even when I’m called in on my days off because I enjoy it so much.

“Every flight I fall in love with it even more. I don’t know if I’ll ever get tired of it.”