Being part of a cabin crew does have perks like flying to a new country every week or a pretty decent salary – but there are cons to the job, according to one former cabin crew member. Dion Ong is a former cabin crew member for Singapore Airlines. After quitting, he took to TikTok to share his experiences working for the airline.
In his video, he listed five reasons why he left the company, starting with the effect that flying had on his “body clock” due to time differences. Dion also said that he had to skip many special occasions like birthdays and holidays, including the funerals of his two grandmothers.
@diongdion Replying to @NamDosan And a lot of you are trying the interview so hit me with the questions! Let’s see if I can help 🫠
@diongdion Replying to @lola Here are 5 more PERSONAL reasons why I left SQ 🫣 If you’re on Lemon8 you can read all about it and more! 🥳
The former cabin crew also cited exhaustion as to why he left the company, adding that flying also caused him to live an irregular lifestyle, especially mealtimes. He also said he tends to overspend when travelling. In another video, Dion listed five more reasons why he left, which are more personal, like toxic work culture. Another personal reason for leaving his Singapore Airlines job is due to slow career progression because there are only four ranks to achieve so it can get competitive.
Dion added that he finds his work repetitive and there is no much “meaning” to the job so he has lost a sense of job satisfaction. Lastly, Dion said he doesn’t think working as a cabin crew and flying frequently is sustainable. However, he also mentioned the pros of working with Singapore Airlines, saying you can experience a dynamic work environment and get the best training in the industry.
Many netizens shared their reactions to the videos, mostly saying the reasons were valid. Some former cabin crew members also shared the same experience, saying that the same reasons are why they left their jobs. Many also sent well wishes for Dion, hoping he’ll find success in his future endeavours. According to his video, Dion is currently pursuing a communications degree while running a small business with his sister.
It’s good to hear both sides so, hopefully, Dion’s sharing will help others decide whether being a cabin crew member is suitable for them.
