Cover Jet-setting 25-year-old Nur Aida Noor Hashim shares how her career was inspired by her own mother's experience as a flight stewardess in the 80s (Photo: Scoot)
Jet-setting 25-year-old Nur Aida Noor Hashim shares how her career was inspired by her own mother's experience as a flight stewardess in the 80s (Photo: Scoot)
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The jet-setting 25-year-old Malaysian shares how her career was inspired by her own mother’s experience as a flight attendant in the 80s
Ever since she was a child, Nur Aida Noor Hashim dreamt of joining an airline cabin crew and jet-setting off to a new destination every so often. But the inspiration for this particular career didn’t come from flashy airline commercials, a character in a favourite childhood movie, or even a post on social media; instead, it was her mother’s career as an air stewardess for a local airline in the 80s.
“My mother was a cabin crew member for four years before she left to spend more time with her family. She would often tell me stories of her jet-setting days and the places she went to as she travelled the world,” Aida says. “I would try to imagine the beauty of these destinations and wonder what it was like to see the world. She would also tell me about her training and how it was a meaningful but challenging journey.”
See also: What Malaysian Foods Do These Pilots Miss While Flying?
From its unseen challenges to the allure of a career in the skies, Aida takes us through her journey as a cabin crew member for the Singapore-based Scoot airline, along with the greatest career lessons from her mother.
Above Before joining Scoot, Aida worked in a hotel in Penang as a sales coordinator (Photo: Scoot)
Before joining Scoot, Aida worked in a hotel in Penang as a sales coordinator (Photo: Scoot)
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What led up to your decision to become a cabin crew member at Scoot?
Aida: While I had dreamed of becoming a cabin crew since young, I was more familiar with the prominent full-service carriers. I only found out about Scoot from a friend when I was in college. I went to Scoot’s YouTube page to learn more about the airline and was drawn to the idea of Scoot being like a big yellow family, with everyone always travelling together and sharing their experiences. I’ve also heard about the famed Scootitude inflight activities, which were unlike any other and convinced me to apply. Scoot is now like a second family to me.
How did your mother's experience as a cabin crew member influence your decision to pursue the same career?
I was inspired by her travel stories, and experiences with meeting so many different people from all over the world. Hearing about the lifelong friendships she made during her time as a cabin crew also enticed me to follow in her footsteps.
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Above Aida with her mother, Nur Aliana Ng Abdullah (Photo: Courtesy of Nur Aida Noor Hashim)
Aida with her mother, Nur Aliana Ng Abdullah (Photo: Courtesy of Nur Aida Noor Hashim)
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Tell us about the training process to become a cabin crew member.
When I joined, I had to complete a six-week training programme to learn how to manage emergency scenarios, including sea evacuations, firefighting, first aid, and the use of onboard safety equipment. The amount of information we had to remember and various processes we needed to familiarise ourselves with was overwhelming at times. This was even more so when I started flying, as I was very focused on trying to remember all the details I was taught. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the overall experience and will never forget that feeling of pride and satisfaction when I found out I passed my training.
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What are some of the more challenging aspects of your job, and how do you deal with them?
Being a cabin crew means that I don’t always get to spend special occasions and important milestones with my family and loved ones. My flying patterns differ every month, and it can be challenging to plan for special events. However, this makes me cherish my moments with them when I am back even more.
Above Photo: Scoot
Photo: Scoot
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What do you enjoy most about your job as a cabin crew member?
I love the freedom of visiting different places and exploring the world. However, what I look forward to most is being able to meet all kinds of travellers such as honeymooners, students, families and retirees, and to make their Scoot experience a memorable one. Every flight is different, as it gives me the opportunity to meet new people, colleagues, and cultures.
Ever so often, we would organise fun and exciting activities on board, also known as our Scootitude activities, to engage our passengers through fun quizzes, dance-offs and dress-up parties. This is always a special experience as we bring smiles to our passenger’s faces.
What's one of the most memorable experiences you've had while working as a cabin crew member?
One memorable experience I had was being remembered by a family I had the pleasure of serving during their flight to Melbourne. A month later, I met them onboard another flight, and they (especially their second daughter) recognised me from the previous flight. It was such a good feeling to know that I had left a positive impression on them, and it is these small acts of appreciation that make me cherish my job even more.
What does your mother think of your decision to follow in her footsteps and become a cabin crew member? Has she given you any advice or insights from her own experience?
My mum naturally worries about my wellbeing whenever I fly. However, I am thankful that she is also supportive and encourages me to pursue my dreams of being a cabin crew.
One of her many words of wisdom for me when I started flying was to have empathy in all that I do. It’s important to understand that everyone comes from different backgrounds and has different experiences. Understanding one’s needs and priorities has helped me to tactfully interact with the many different people I meet on my travels; these are words I will always hold dear.
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Previously contributing to Esquire Malaysia, Expat Lifestyle and Newsweek, Tania oversees digital stories across Tatler’s key content pillars, also leading the Front & Female platform exploring issues and topics affecting women today.
