Being a flight attendant may look like the epitome of glamour.
With the chic uniform, jetsetting lifestyle and waking up in picturesque countries every day – the image certainly seems exciting. However, the job does come with its fair share of turbulence.
A TUI worker, who goes by @mrsmiva on TikTok, has become well-known for documenting her life in the job. Her followers are hooked on both her educational content and humorous skits.
Recently, Miva uploaded a video explaining why passengers should think twice before disturbing a cabin crew member during their downtime. The reason is simple – they need to eat.
Highlighting her point, she posted footage where she’s attempting to eat while on break mid-flight. When a passenger approached her for assistance, all Miva could do was gesture and nod, unable to speak with a full mouth.
Miva acknowledged this awkward juggling act as an inevitable aspect of the job that’s unlikely to ever change. Breaks are precious to staff, but they can often be interrupted.
The clip struck a chord online, garnering over 32,000 likes, and sparking lively discussions in the comments section where fellow flight attendants chimed in with their own relatable anecdotes.
One crew member shared: “My favourite is when they hand me trash… while I’m eating.” Another recounted: “Or when they see you eating and say ‘hmmm, that smells good’ all up in your face.”
A third chimed in with: “Yup, and my favourite is people wanting to chat for 20 minutes. Also when they ask me if they can get the same as I was eating from the crew meals.”
Adding to the conversation, a fourth wrote: “Some guy handed me his airsick bag while I was eating.”
Cabin crew members’ lunch breaks vary depending on the length of their duty period and the airline’s policy. Typically, those on short-haul flights experience more regular hours.
The “pairing system” is a common shift pattern for many cabin crew members. They are scheduled to work a set of flights, both outbound and return, over a span of one to five days. These pairings can include night shifts, early mornings and weekend work.