Business Traveller
Confessions of a VIP private jet flight attendant
Bianca Britton, CNN • Updated 23rd December 2019
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(CNN) — For many, the thought of catching a plane is far from luxurious: from spending countless hours lining up at security, to wrestling arm rests with other passengers as you face a crammed long-haul flight in economy.
But somewhere else in the sky on board a private jet, high fliers are having their every need attended to while they enjoy their very own cinema, bedroom and living room.
It's a travel privilege enjoyed by a lucky few -- from celebrities, royals, self-made entrepreneurs and oligarchs. But the smooth running of private jets depends, usually, on a select few. Among the most attentive are flight attendants who spend hours, often alone, tirelessly ensuring their passengers receive a premium, 5-star service.
Mary Kalymnou has been working as a flight attendant for 13 years.
Mary Kalymnou
While life as a VIP air hostess comes with the perk of traveling the world, their jobs can be demanding and stressful.
They may serve their passengers every need, but the skills required by flight attendants are much more than that of a waitress -- they're cocktail mixologists, cleaners, personal assistants, caterers and even dog sitters.
Flight attendant Kimberley Benton has been working in the industry for nine years. She says it was her love for traveling that drew her into the world, which has enabled her to embark on 14 world tours. During her lifetime, she's traveled to more than 130 countries and traveled on 27 different types of business jets.
For her, being a VIP flight attendant is more than just delivering the best possible service to her clients, but about "creating an experience."
"They're expecting you to be a lot more personal," the 32-year-old told CNN Travel. "They expect you to know exactly what they want, when they want it and it could be something as little as as soon as they get on the plane they want a shot of a Nespresso, the foot rest up and their Sunday Times [newspaper] waiting for them."
She's held birthday parties in the sky, after-parties for pop stars who she's flown with for their concert tours, and even put on full banquets for her guests. It's a job that requires her to be constantly adaptable to whatever situation she's in.
"Pop bands, royalty, millionaires, billionaires, heiresses," Benton lists as people she's flown with. "I've [flown] a lot of people you see on TV and you can get a bit nervous, but when you fly these people you understand they're just like everyone else."
As for the parties, she says there's a need to make sure they "don't get out of control."
"You kind of need to be on the ball a little bit -- not letting them drink too much, but not spoil the fun and kind of having a balance," Benton says.
"I've hosted a few parties in the sky before when I know they're going to have guests on board and they want all the champagne and ice ready to go," she adds. "You want to make sure they've got everything they want -- their favorite whiskies and scotch," she adds.
Exotic parrots, guns and dead bodies
Mary Kalymnou has also worked as a flight attendant for 13 years, working for high-ranking international clientele such as royal families, heads of states, CEOs and celebrities.
She says she's worked on a variety of jets, including the long-range Gulfstream G550 and the Embraer Legacy which allows up to 14 passengers on board.
Kalymnou says she's flown for royal families, heads of states, CEOs and celebrities.
Mary Kalymnou
On board she's had guests bring exotic parrots, jewels, more than 20 bags of shopping and even guns. She says she's also had dead bodies.
"Three times in my career I had a deceased person on board -- a coffin in the cargo, made out of gold and expensive wood," she recalls.
"They were three very well-known men, [who] obviously traveled in luxury for the last time in their lives."
She says the job of a VIP flight attendant is demanding and one that "requires a lot of sacrifices."
"It requires a lot of patience, flexibility, and for sure -- high levels of self-esteem," Kalymnou explains. "The clients expect the best, the operators demand the highest so you must be willing and of course be able to offer the best of yourself."
Otherwise, she says, you could be easily replaced.
"Every girl could learn this job ... but only a few will eventually stand out. Being professional is not enough -- you must be unique," she says.
"You can easily be replaced by someone new, someone younger, someone prettier, someone smarter, someone more flexible. So since day one, I knew I had to be like a sponge in order to survive in the industry."
Kalymnou's career has led to her running the luxury travel and lifestyle blog, Maryhop.
Mary Kalymnou
Kalymnou says in order to succeed a flight attendant needs to have "premium catering skills, creative thinking, great manners as well as an elegant and hospitable attitude."
Her career eventually led to her running the luxury travel and lifestyle blog and Instagram, Maryhop, which has gained over 23,000 followers and inspires others to pursue a career in aviation. She also provides one-on-one consulting to help others improve their customer service.
Travel the world for $119,000
Benton now works as a freelance flight attendant for TAG Aviation and various other operators that provide private and business aviation services.
But previously, Benton worked on board the Four Seasons' state-of-the-art luxury private jet. The Toronto-based luxury accommodation brand leased its very own Boeing 757 to fly up to 52 guests on global tours, setting back passengers $119,000 for a 24-day nine-destination trip.
Interior of the Four Seasons private jet.
Courtesy Four Seasons
"It's a private jet experience because the guests are on this aircraft for their full tour, it could be for four to five weeks and It's their aircraft, there's no one else getting on the plane," Benton explains.
Each journey includes air travel, bespoke excursions, meals, drink and accommodation, she said.
"A lot of these guests are repeat guests and sometimes they do request the same crew on their next trip," Benton said, adding that eight attendants usually worked on board.
However unlike on the Four Seasons flights, when Benton's operating smaller, more exclusive jets, she often works alone.
Before each flight, both Kalymnou and Benton have to organize catering for the flight -- which can sometimes be challenging.
"You could have a very low maintenance owner that doesn't want much, maybe just beans on toast and some might want a full banquet, family dinner and a five star service," Benton said says.
Mary Kalymnou
While Kalymnou once received a last minute order from her client who requested a shark's fin soup on a flight out of London. The rare dish, which usually needs to be ordered 48 hours in advance, led Kalymnou to scramble.
"That was a difficult challenge as this was mainly forbidden in the UK and only certified suppliers and restaurants could actually deliver the order," she said.
"Having great connections in the UK, I managed to get the request on board just a few minutes before the passengers arrived," Kalymnou says. But after all the stress that she went through to get it on board, once she offered the menu to her guests they decided they wanted to carry on eating the burgers they had bought on the way to the airport instead.
"This is a typical example of our daily lives as VIP flight attendants. We strive for the best, even if it's not needed," she explained.
Kalymnou has to organize catering for the flight, which can sometimes be challenging due to guest demands.
Mary Kalymnou
Fendi toilet seats and silk carpets
Once, Benton says, she worked on board a plane that was decorated with silk carpets throughout, and toilet seats made by the Italian luxury fashion house, Fendi.
"It was 100% pure silk carpet so you'd have to be aware of all the engineers coming on in their big boots. You'd be like 'oh god, please take your shoes off ... don't touch anything!'," she laughs.
Benton has worked in the industry for over nine years.
Kimberley Benton
There was also a Formula One driver whose private jet had most things made out of carbon fiber.
"It was really expensive and he had all that and black leather," she remembers.
Benton says while some large commercial airlines provide private rooms to customers if they want a more luxurious experience, it still can't compete with the exclusiveness of a private jet.
"You still haven't got the ability to change the schedule and that's what makes private so much more bespoke and tailored in comparison to commercial."
While there isn't a set universal uniform for VIP flight attendants, Benton says that she has known some who have been required to wear platform high heels that have been bought for them by the jet owner.
"I do know people who have to wear Louboutins in and outside the cabin," Benton reveals. But usually, she says, owners just like them to look presentable -- with simple hair and makeup.
Living life on 'permanent standby'
Life as a flight attendant is a job that can put Benton on "permanent standby," where you may not know where you'll end up in 48 hours or even two weeks.
"Sometimes you don't always get the opportunity to fully have a day off," Benton adds.
She says as a freelancer, flight attendants can earn anywhere from £150 ($195) to £450 ($587) a day, depending on your experience and what you can negotiate with the operator.
"There's no set salary," she adds. "Everyone's got their own little deal going on."
Benton says the biggest perk of her job is being able to meet new people and see new places.
Kimberley Benton
Benton says while they don't usually receive tips, she has received gifts such as expensive handbags from those she's flown for. And while she admits it is a perk, she says the best part of her job is having the opportunity to meet new people and visit new places -- such as the Maldives, Japan, Easter Island and Bali.
"One of the massive perks is part of the job. It's going to all these different places and being able to say this is your job," she said. "You travel for a living and you're doing what you love."
