Cabin crew reveal their worst routes and a few unexpected favourites


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Air stewards are the all-seeing eyes that witness the good, the bad and the ugly of air travel. 

They know the routes that will always have rowdy passengers, the best duty free, the smallest cabins or those that never have enough alcohol on board.

So, when an internet forum chat gets underway with said members of crew thrillingly comparing flight routes down to the smallest detail, it's time we took notice. 

A website dishes the dirt from anonymous cabin crew on the airlines and routes that stewards love to hate

A website dishes the dirt from anonymous cabin crew on the airlines and routes that stewards love to hate

On FlyerTalk, a site for frequent-flyers, a number of British cabin crew have taken to the keyboard to vent their fury at some of their worst working routes - and also praise the best.

According to them, flights to and from Nice Airport never have enough booze at-the-ready. On return legs, the drinks trolley frequently runs out of gin and these are the flights with the pushiest passengers.

Those passing through the Italian airport Milan-Malpensa tend to carry the most luggage - 'bringing way too much on board'.

HOW TO TURN A RIYADH LAYOVER INTO A SAUDI ARABIAN ADVENTURE

A frequent flier naming themselves fbrj on FlyerTalk revealed what a stay in Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh could involve for cabin crew with an amusing anecdote. 

He explained: 'In the early 2000s I lived in Riyadh. On a return flight back from the UK I was chatting to the CC [cabin crew] and asked what on earth they did while based in Riyadh (I think they had at least a one night stop over on this occasion), bearing in mind they could hardly venture out of their hotel: no-one walked anywhere as it was too hot (45degC+), no cinemas, clubs or bars, no mixing of the sexes (unless related) - which meant even a visit to a restaurant was fraught with problems because of the Mutawa etc. 

'The answer was that they were usually well looked after at the British Embassy, which is where they spent most of their time enjoying all the facilities that provided.

'However on this occasion there had been some muddle and someone had forgotten to make the necessary advance arrangements at the Embassy - so it looked like a couple of days confined to barracks so to speak (the Holiday Inn if I recall) for the CC.

'Of course I couldn't let this happen (I had also been well looked after on the flight) so offered an evening at my compound for those who were interested. Several hours later I found myself picking up a mixed party from the hotel and heading back to my compound. 

'We had a rather random fun evening - an excellent BBQ (cooked by me), the provision of my very best homemade hooch and swimming under the stars for those who wanted to - a taste of expat compound life! All were returned safe and sound by midnight...'

Flights from Tel Aviv-Yafo have narrow cabins and a high percentage of special meals for stewards to prepare and serve, which could slow down service.

Some bemoan Lagos, Nigeria, as a difficult destination due to the high levels of security needed once in the city, while others love the relatively short flight and minimal jetlag.

The same goes for flights to Rihadh, Saudi Arabia, with cabin crew and frequent fliers speculating that it must be among the least popular destinations due to the lack of freedom, particularly for females, on arrival. 

Flights from Tel Aviv-Yafo have narrow cabins and a high percentage of special meals, which crew dislike

Flights from Tel Aviv-Yafo have narrow cabins and a high percentage of special meals, which crew dislike

EasyJet flight from Luton to Ibiza are said to be awful but flying from Gatwick or London City Airport is a breeze

EasyJet flight from Luton to Ibiza are said to be awful but flying from Gatwick or London City Airport is a breeze

LAGOS, NIGERIA - THE UNEXPECTEDLY POPULAR DESTINATION FOR CABIN CREW

While often considered a bad route, due to strict security precautions in the city, the London to Lagos route has some unexpected fans, according to discussions among flight attendants.

One worker, calling themselves BA.MF.CSM, explained: 

'I have my Lagos list that I promote in briefings to turn the few Lagos crew's frowns upside down!

'6 hour flight time each way

'best duty free commission on the network, and let's face it.....every little helps for us lot!

'comfortable hotel, all new pool furniture, lovely staff and great pizzas!

'usually land back at LHR at 04:30

'the Nigerian customers can be challenging but they have a great sense of humour

'on site nightclub at the hotel. The night fighters aside, I love a good boogie!

'little/no time change

'very sociable trip re crew showing up post flight

'sunshine (usually)

'decent sized pool (i'm a swimmer)

'Now ask me at the end of May when i've done 4 in a row, and my enthusiasm may be beginning to wane!' [sic]

Opinion is interestingly mixed on travelling to and from Ibiza.

While easyJet from Luton is said to be avoided at all costs (the low budget route is a party goer's favourite and, according to the forum, some passengers even take drugs while on board), flying from Gatwick or London City Airport is a breeze with charming and glamorous passengers and models. 

Crew enjoy flights from Jordan and Russian airports as they make a fortune from commissions off the duty free trolley, and flying from London to Lagos is one of the shortest long haul routes you can do, with no jetlag and guaranteed sunshine at the other end.

The comments appeared on FlyerTalk, an internet discussion forum for frequent flyers where members trade knowledge and experience about deals, flights and travel issues. 

The site was founded in 1998 by Randy Petersen and taken on by Internet Brands in 2007. It currently has almost 600,000 members, 1.4 million discussion threads and some 24 million posts.

One air steward, whose username is Shefgab, commented: 'I have two friends that work for the Orange airline at LGW [London Gatwick Airport]. They hate NCE [Nice Airport] (apparently they always run out of gin, sometimes with nothing left for the return), with lots of pushy demanding pax [passengers].

Shefgab continues. 'MXP [Milan-Malpensa Airport] is also a nightmare with pax [passengers] bringing way too much on board, and generally being lively Italians. 

AMM [Queen Alia International Airport, Jordan] and DME [Domodedovo International Airport, Russia] are liked as they make a lot of commission from the trolley.' 

Those passing through the Italian airport Milan-Malpensa tend to carry the most luggage

Those passing through the Italian airport Milan-Malpensa tend to carry the most luggage

Another, DominicB weighed in. 'I fly TLV [Tel Aviv-Yafo] frequently, and I have had more than one crew make plain to me they find it a uniquely trying route - and all the worse since it went narrow-bodied.

WHAT MAKES A GREAT FLIGHT FOR CABIN CREW? 

According to the discussions on FlyerTalk, there are some interesting things that make for a great flight for cabin crew, including:

Making money from the duty free trolley is an important pro for many workers

When it comes to long haul, six hours is positively short and means the flight is much more manageable

Minimum time difference between destinations is a pro for those wanting to avoid jetlag

Relaxed passengers on board who are unlikely to complain or cause trouble is a definite positive for many

And cabin crew appear to favour routes that involve less luggage, meaning it is easier to accommodate passengers 

'It has perks (one of the shortest long haul flights, with a nice TLV hotel between the flights, etc - but the behaviour of the pax can be very wearisome indeed, and often with a very high percentage of special meals to boot....' 

Flights to Israel have been the subject of negative passenger experiences in the past. In October last year a petition was launched against Israel's El Al Airline to stop ultra-orthodox Jews 'bullying, intimidating and discriminating against women'.

The petition, organised by Sharon Shapiro from Chicago, followed several high-profile news stories of delayed flights as male passengers insisted they could not sit next to women.

Mrs Shapiro was on board a disrupted flight from New York's JFK to Israel when the pilot reportedly announced the plane would not leave until everybody was in a seat. 

Passengers described chaotic scenes of men stood in aisles rather than take their seats and attempting to persuade fellow passengers to swap seats with them. 

Waterhorse adds. 'MRU [Mauritius] always attracts a lot of negative comments from crew. Too long a flight with everyone awake all the time - makes for a very long day for the crew who get very little off time. Just hard work, which I guess we all moan about from time to time.'

Ryanair domestic routes can be a favourite for stag and hen dos where alcohol runs out by the fifth row

Ryanair domestic routes can be a favourite for stag and hen dos where alcohol runs out by the fifth row

For cabin crew, popular stag or hen routes are hellish.

One, breatheeasy, explains, '...can't be worse than a Ryanair flight I got back from Dublin to Newcastle on a Friday night. Probably about 20 different stag and hen parties. 

'The beer ran out after about row 5, they were trying to purchase anything alcoholic after that (probably including aftershave) and there was close to a riot by row 10 when the trolley was dry.

'And by the sounds of the cabin crew it was a fairly typical flight.'

Another user, WeLoveSpace, brings up the notorious party island of Ibiza. 'Ibiza flights on Easyjet from Luton are to be totally avoided. Once the Guardia Civil came to meet the plane after open drug-taking on board the flight. Plus lots of hen/stag parties...'

Cabin crew most enjoy flights from London to Lagos as it is one of the shortest long haul flights without jetlag

Cabin crew most enjoy flights from London to Lagos as it is one of the shortest long haul flights without jetlag

But, WeLoveSpace says, other London airports have a very different clientele. 'Ibiza to / from LCY [London City Airport] is actually very pleasant - lots of home counties families as the flights are at very nice child-friendly times. Lots of Gold Card holders too (according to the tags on hand baggage).

'Ibiza flights from LGW can be fairly fun - I remember a model in her rollers in Club Europe getting ready to go to Pacha as soon as she arrived.'

When it comes to best flights for crew to be stationed on, London-Lagos journeys come up top. The user BA.MF.CSM praises the six hour flight time, the 'best duty free commission on the network, and let's face it.....every little helps for us lot!' and the small time change.

Lite agrees: 'Lagos is one of my favourites as well. Very quick flight time for long haul, no jetlag, no time zone changes, more or less guaranteed sunshine (except for the odd thunder storms).'

It's not all roses, however. 'Only downside is we get one day off after it, so not long to do all your laundry, repack and most importantly to see loved ones.'

Another, Bar operator BA, says that London-Kuwait is their favourite route to fly thanks to the quick flight time on a 747, free breakfasts at the other end and being a 'nice, easy trip'.

 



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