Holidays aren’t holidays for cabin crew — Estelle Jones’s Dubai confession
Estelle Jones, a flight attendant with Emirates in Dubai, says holidays don’t feel like holidays when you spend your life in the sky. After back-to-back flights, she explains that taking leave means packing a suitcase again, going to the airport again, sitting on a plane again, adjusting to a whole new time zone again, and sleeping in a bed that isn’t her own again. She adds that, while there are worse problems in the world, the routine of takeoffs and landings steals some of the excitement from a holiday. She says, “I finally got my leave, I’ve been working back-to-back flights, and now I have to pack a suitcase again, I have to go to the airport again, I have to sit on a flight again, I have to adjust to a whole new time zone again and sleep in a bed that’s not my own again.” It’s a reminder that the dream of travel can collide with the realities of a demanding job.
In This Article:
Jet-set Burnout: Back-to-Back Flights Erode Vacation Magic
Behind the glossy image of exotic destinations and smooth takeoffs lies a daily grind most crew members don’t want to repeat in their personal time. Holidays stop feeling like holidays when your job keeps you in the air. A recent report shows burnout affects four in ten US workers, a sobering reminder that high-stress jobs spill over into home life. Even with travel perks, airlines like American and Southwest offer staff free or discounted travel, but fatigue persists. “Facts. [It’s] pure hell,” commented a flight crew member beneath the viral clip. “And [we] hear all the call bells… AGAIN!!!!,” another insider chimed in.
Perks Can’t Cure Fatigue: Even Travel Privileges Don’t Fix the Strain
The life of a crew member is a constant balance between the lure of travel and the cost to personal rest. The article notes that travel perks don’t erase the pressure that follows them into off hours. “I sometimes book leave to just stay in my own bed for a week,” said one flight attendant. “The thought of going to an airport and getting on an airplane during my annual leave is nothing short of sickening,” groaned an eight‑year veteran.
Rest as Rebellion: Some Crew Choose to Stay Home to Recover
For many, personal time is a rare treasure. Some crew members even choose to stay home rather than travel on leave to recover. The eight-year veteran quoted above echoed a familiar refrain, underscoring how the thought of airports and flights during time off can feel overwhelming. What do you think? Post a comment.
What Is a Holiday in a World of Constant Travel?
The piece leaves us with a larger question: in a culture where travel is both a dream and a demand, what does ‘holiday’ actually mean for those who keep the world moving? The story invites readers to consider boundaries, rest, and the real cost of a life built on journeys rather than stays. The online response to the clip reflects a shared ache and a call for better work‑life balance.
