2:1 Types of Airlines
In this module, you'll learn the fundamentals of the different types of airlines and familiarise yourself with the types you'll be approaching for cabin crew jobs. These are mainly passenger airlines, but there are others such as private chartered, which aren't major employers in the UK, but nevertheless they still do hire cabin crew staff from time-to-time.
Other types of airlines fall into the cargo category, which isn't where you'll find cabin crew positions, but knowing about the monetization of airline business models will give you a better understanding of your potential employer, and what your duties will be. The more you know about any potential employer, the better your interview chances are for a successful job offer.
The only type of airline you'll be approaching for cabin crew jobs will be passenger airlines, low cost carriers, and regional airlines.
2:2 Business Class Airlines
Prior to the fuel crisis of 2008, there were several business class airlines in operations, some of which included -
1.Eos Airlines
2.MAXjet Airways
3.SilverJet
L'Avion was the last business class only airline to operate, until it was bought over by British Airways for £54M in 2008.
Virgin Atlantic was the first large airline operator in the UK to consider plans for a business class only airline service, however; due to the oil crisis, all major airlines quashed this business model, and now nobody operates business class only airlines.
The closest to this you'll find now are private chartered flights, which don't always carry the hundreds of passengers the AirBus is able to cater to.
The AirBus was the family of aircrafts used for business class airlines, but now operates regular routes with different seating arrangements, split into different class sections.
Outside of the UK, there are still some larger airlines offering this type of service, but within the UK it's only private chartered flights you'll find this type of service.
2:3 Cargo Airlines
Cargo airlines solely focus on the transport of goods in air freight. There won't be any cabin crew on board these flights as the heavy lifting is done at on the ground.There was a time when passengers and the cabin crew would be aboard the same flight, but nowadays, this practice is pretty much a thing of the past. The cargo bay on the aircraft is used for passenger luggage, and the occasional small cargo. Some of the larger passenger airlines, will subsidise their passenger airline service, with cargo planes to boost revenue. These flights don't require cabin crew to be on-board, as all the logistics are handled at ground level.
International logistics brings products from global manufacturers to the market place in a timely manner, enabling industry growth at a fast pace, but as mentioned, these aren't the airline services you'll find cabin crew positions available. They are subsidiary services larger airlines will use to keep their ticket prices competitive, and boost the airline service operators' revenue. This is only included here as you may find yourself applying for a position within an airline which also offers cargo only flights, enabling them to keep their ticket prices competitive for consumers. It never hurts to know as much about your potential employer as possible, as this will impress them if any trick questions arise at your interviews.
2:4 Passenger Airlines
Since passenger safety is the core of the cabin crew job requirements, this is the type of airline you're most likely to be working with. Without passengers, cabin crew jobs wouldn't exist, and since there is competitive pricing among passenger airlines, it's the customer service side of things that you need to excel at when it comes to some of the higher priced tickets.
With the boom in low cost carriers, larger operators such as Virgin Atlantic, and British Airways now train their staff to the highest of standards, so that the cabin crew will constantly be delivering a world-class level of service to every passenger.
Larger passenger airlines often have different pricing for seating. Some have extra legroom seats, others with business class, economy, and standard seat pricing. Regardless of how much a ticket costs, the customer service must constantly remain at a high level. The main difference is the optional extras that passengers receive, which could be a complimentary meal in a business class cabin, with economy class passengers, (cheaper tickets), paying for in-flight refreshments, snacks and/or meals.
2:5 Charter Airlines
Charter Airlines pride themselves on putting the customer first. Every time! Top-notch customer service is always a must when you're working with any Charter Airline. The customer service is the selling point, for which passengers are paying more for the tailored experience.
In addition to being fully trained to deal with health and safety aboard the aircraft, the cabin crew in these types of airlines could be considered as a “Silver Service Catering Assistant”. The meals are top class, with fine wine selections to create a truly unique flying experience. This type of passenger airline will require top of the range customer service experience, with consistent
service with a smile.
2:6 Regional Airlines
Regional Airlines connect smaller airports to larger hubs throughout the UK. As they are only within the UK, the work on this type of airline will be short-haul flights. An example could be a flight departing from Aberdeen Airport to London Gatwick Airport, where International
Flights would be departing from. The purpose is to connect to the passenger to the larger airport, making the travelling experience more convenient. There are smaller airlines which cater solely to the regional aspect, whereas larger airlines will use a combination of regional flights and international.
2:7 Low-Cost Airlines (Budget Airlines)
Low cost airlines are on the rise as they are extremely popular for the last-minute getaways, as well with travel agents providing low-cost holiday packages. Due to the low-ticket price, budget airlines will usually subsidise the cheaper airfare with optional extras to increase passenger revenue, as well as make up for sometimes selling the tickets at below operational cost.
In those instances, you can expect to be working to sales targets when selling duty-free items during the flight. It's also worth noting that, due to landing fees, one method of lowering the operational costs is to schedule the flight to reach its destination during off-peak times. To ensure maximum RPK, and maximize the flight revenue, budget airlines will often have a fast turnaround time, so punctuality and working to a fast-pace will be required to ensure all checks, and briefings are done in a timely manner in order to get the flight back in the air and onto its return path.
Budget airlines also have an industry reputation for having a high staff turnover. There are some airlines which monetize their flight operations by charging potential candidates for training, with a contract of employment on offer after successful completion. Due diligence should be done prior to paying for training. e.g. Consider the salary on completion in comparison to the cost of training.How much is your training really going to cost, if it doesn't span longer than the initial contract term?
Additional methods of monetization for budget airlines include optional extras such as:
1.Priority Boarding
2.Preferred Seating, such as window seats or extra leg room
3.Baggage fees
4.Sales of goods during the flight (food, beverages and gifts)
As with most budget services in any industry, there is a no frills element to this type of airline. All the non-essential things like the reclining seats, pillows, neck-rests etc, are not supplied. Any additional products and services will be paid for by the passengers during the flight, such as the hire of pillows.
Working on this type of airline, will require you to a work at a fast pace as the flight will spend more time in the air, and they do that by having a rapid turnaround time at each airport. Personnel costs are also minimized as budget only airlines will have fewer check-in desks, and use cabin crew for checking tickets at the gate, giving you additional duties.
Types of Airlines
Top left Cargo Plane / Top Right Charter Plane / Bottom Passenger Plane
2.8: Key Features of Each Passenger Airline Type
1.Charter
2.Charter flights focus on customer service
3.Ticket prices are higher
4.More services are included in the service
5.A la Carte menu
6.Fine wine selections
7.Charter flights are business class, offering bespoke services to passengers.
Charter flights are likely to be the flights you are most familiar with. They can include airlines like Thomas Cook and Monarch, which typically take happy holidaymakers to their destinations. As you work for an all-encompassing brand while on these flights, you are constantly adhering to that brand's code of conduct or slogan. For example, Virgin claim to offer their customers a rock star level of service, which is what you need to provide.
The services you provide can include selling duty-free goods, serving meals, providing entertainment packs for the children, and attending to customer needs and when they want them. For carriers like British Airways, this can mean working across different standards of cabin, including business and first class, where you may be expected to prepare specialist meals and drinks.
Regional
1.Short-haul flights
2.Connect smaller airports by flying into larger airports
3.No meals due to the short flight time, however beverages will still be available for passengers
On a regional flight, there is a significantly reduced service. Usually, there are one or two cabin crew members working, and often there is no more than three. There is rarely a meal service, but you may give out basic refreshments once in the air, which can include a sandwich. The flights often last between half-an-hour to an hour. When working on these flights, cabin crew members may find themselves taking part in three or four a day, but this can vary between airlines.
Budget
1.No frills
2.Cheap passenger tickets
3.Cabin crew play a pivotal sales role
4.Fast turnaround time at airports, so you will be flying more
5.Cabin crew will have more to do, such as cleaning, safety, sales and gate duties.
Budget airlines aim to make the most of their money. This can include airlines like Ryan Air, Easy Jet, and Flybe. Often the cabin crew member's role is expanded to include time on the ground, as well as significant cleaning duties between flights. There may not be a full meal service; instead customers have the chance to purchase a meal. As budget airlines only pay a basic wage and have high ticket sales with low prices, cabin crew members face the pressure of selling duty free goods.
There are often sales targets, which means you need to find tactical means of boosting your sales. This can include careful product placements, to draw customers' eyes towards those that are the biggest earners.
Module Summary
As a potential cabin crew member, you may already be familiar with the most common types of passenger carriers. Much of what you know will be based on personal experience, so you may be surprised at the differences between each type. If you are used to budget flying, you may need to know a little more about charters, and vice-versa.
You will also need to learn about how the levels of service can vary between these flights, and what your roles will be.
.svg)
