A first class Emirates flight attendant says cabin crew store secrets of VIP customers on a special tablet - and she reveals the specific nail and lip colours required to work for the airline
- An Emirates first class flight attendant shared some secrets of the trade with Town & Country magazine.
- She said there's a rigorous training process to progress from economy to premium classes.
- There are strict guidelines on makeup, hairstyles, and shoes.
- Emirates first class cabin crew will know a surprising amount about you before you even board the plane.
Emirates' cabin crew are among the most glamorous in the sky. Their pristine appearance - be it the signature red hat and matching lip, the bright smile, or the perfect flicky eyeliner - is all bound to make a passenger feel like they're in good hands.
And according to a first class flight attendant for the airline, you'll have to do a fair bit to get there, and abide by a series of strict rules - from wearing an exact shade of eye shadow to the style of your bun.
Joanna Collins, a Dubai-based Brit who has climbed through the Emirates ranks and now works in the first class cabin, told Town & Country magazine that to progress to premium class, there's a "rigorous" training process you'll have to get through first.
You'll have to know your wines...
It might sound like fun, but you'll need to have a seriously solid grasp on fine wines and fizz before you cater to Emirates' first class passengers. And according to Collins this is by way of a wine education course.
"When you're serving things like Dom Perignon and Bordeaux, you need to have a thorough understanding of what you're pouring," she told the magazine. "We need to know the difference between old world and new world wines, as well as champagnes, bourbons, whiskeys, and other spirits."
...And brush up on your 'silver service' dining etiquette.
"In economy there's just one tray; in First Class, we have 'silver service' dining, so appetizers, main courses, and desserts are all served at different times, and customers can 'dine on demand' whenever they want," she said.
"We're taught all the etiquette about cutlery and the different plates used for each course."
You'll have to learn how to do your makeup perfectly.
According to Collins, you'll have to abide by a set of guidelines on what's appropriate aesthetically while flying.
"Emirates likes to keep uniformity," she said. "Your nails can be nude, light pink, or you can have a French manicure. We also have different variations of red nail polish that are outlined by the Imaging and Grooming Department. An 'Emirates red' lipstick with lip liner is required."
And there's apparently one lipstick in particular that's popular among the airline's flight attendants. Collins told the magazine: "We like to use Mac's Russian Red because it stays for a long time."
You'll also want to master the perfect flick, as liquid eyeliner is "recommended," while eye shadow can either be black or beige, she said.
And there are rules on hairstyle, she added: "We can have a French twist or a bun with a red scrunchie. The red scrunchie is optional. I usually make my bun with one of those 'hair donuts.'"
Before first class passengers have even boarded, you'll have to do some homework.
"We have a briefing and a team talk before each flight, where we'll review the customers who are traveling with us, including any VIPs," Collins said. "We get their names and have information about them stored in on-board tablets."
You'll then be expected to use this tablet to make notes about your VIP's likes, dislikes, dietary requirements, and the purpose of their trip throughout the journey, she explained.
You can swap your shoes, but only after take off...
...But when parading through the airport, it's strictly heels-on.
"In the airport and during the boarding process we wear heels, but we can change into red flats after take-off. Some girls prefer not to, but I couldn't be in heels for a 16-hour flight. After take-off we switch to 'service attire' - we remove the jacket and add a waist coat."
And there's an easy way to identify the head flight attendant.
"Our standard uniform is the skirt and white shirt with a jacket, hat, and scarf," Collins said. "Every crew member dresses the same, except for the purser who wears a brown color."