Which aircraft do airline cabin crew love to work on?

Do cabin crew have a favorite aircraft? Cabin crew can be trained on up to four aircraft types at a time (as long as two are of the same family), so we may get some variation of aircraft during our careers. Some cabin crew only work on one type their whole careers, while others will collect a few different types. Do cabin crew have favorites? In general, yes!

Types
When cabin crew do their initial training, they are trained on the specific aircraft type or types that the airline uses. So, someone working for Flydubai or Ryanair, for example, will only train on the Boeing 737, whereas if they were working for British Airways or Etihad Airways, they may have three or four different types. These can be from the same family, for example, the Airbus A319, A320, A321, and A350. Alternatively, there could be a mix of aircraft like Airbus A319, A320, and Boeing 777 and 787.

Training
It all starts with training. The aircraft-specific training encompasses safety features on the aircraft, door operations, emergency equipment location and much more. All aircraft types differ and have different variants, so a Boeing 737 could also be a 737-400 or 737 MAX – in total, there have been 23 variants of the Boeing 737 over the years.

The configuration may be different on the same type of aircraft, the safety equipment might be different, as well as the operator’s safety procedures. Therefore, even if qualified on one type and you move to another operator, you still have to repeat the aircraft-specific training. Often, one of the aircraft learned during the first initial training will become a favorite.

Experience
Aircraft experience on type is also a factor, some cabin crew are more comfortable with the aircraft type that they’ve flown on the most. Obviously, the more hours you work on the type, the better knowledge you have of the safety equipment, locations and procedures, so that may become a favorite. Certainly, the A320 is a very popular aircraft, many cabin crew have been trained on it, and many airlines use it. Many cabin crew like the A319 (or the ‘baby bus’ as it’s nicknamed) and A320 for those reasons.

Issues
Sometimes, crew members may not like an aircraft. It can be due to the door operation, which is crucial for cabin crew to get right. An inadvertent slide deployment is certainly not good! On the old 737 types, the girt bar and slide had to be attached manually to the floor brackets. This seems very ‘old school’ now, along with the red strap across the window, signifying that the door was in automatic.

Most aircraft have power-assisted doors and more visible signage to show that door positioning is correct. Some doors are just ‘uncooperative’ and we’ve all got bruises from a door at some point. Some doors have unusual door operating systems, like the Embraer 190, which can be difficult to get used to at first.

Memories
Personal memories of working on an aircraft can also make it a favorite type. Some crew may have had a fantastic trip and remember the aircraft because of this. Sometimes, it’s about the crew you worked with that made the aircraft fun. Some crew have been lucky enough to have sat in the cockpit for landings and seen amazing views outside.

Now, with some types rarely used or no longer being made, there is some nostalgia to it as well. Any cabin crew who flew on the Boeing 747 will never forget it! Working on a huge aircraft with an upper deck, traveling far and wide, watching the wings flex in flight – it is an incredible aircraft. A380 crew will no doubt say something similar – it’s an experience.

Favorites
In conclusion, cabin crew have their favorites for a number of reasons. The Airbus family are very popular with cabin crew as a whole, along with Boeing 777 and 787. Any standouts? The A319/320 for its familiarity and ease to work on, and the Boeing 747 and 767 for being unique and knowing that you were flying somewhere a long way away. simpleflying.com