Ryanair flight attendant and influencer: "Between 'robot' passengers and panic attacks, I see all kinds on board"

Benedetta Minerale, 21, born and raised in Rome, flight attendant Ryanair e influncer with over 170,000 follower at Instagram e Tik Tok, tells what motivated her to fly for work; reveals her favorite airport; who are the "robot passengers"; why patches can never be missing in a stewardess's suitcase, and especially why she chose precisely Ryanair. "Would I work for ITA? No, too many old company policies."

What made you decide to become a flight attendant?

"It was a choice that matured over time. Ever since I was a child, I've always had a creative streak. I loved playing and doing things that pushed me beyond my reality. In my family, since I was a little girl, we have always traveled a lot, and this allowed me to develop a passion for the world of aviation and in particular for airports, wonderful places for me. It fascinates me to see so many different people, in the same place, for different reasons, each with their own story. A feeling I carried with me all the way back to my high school years."

Which high school did you attend?

"I attended language high school, studying German and Spanish, during the years of the Covid. A period of which I have a partly negative memory because we all gave up attending classes and school life in attendance. I felt like something had been taken away from me.. But every cloud has a silver lining. The lockdown and remote tuition-combined with my passion from an early age for travel-gave me the impetus, once I had graduated from high school, to choose a job that would allow me to get out of the house and travel often. As soon as possible, I applied for Ryanair"

 

Why exactly Ryanair? Was it your first choice?

"Yes, it was my first and only choice. I applied with Ryanair because at that time, it was late 2020, it was the only company with open job positions. At that time of great pandemic crisis, Ryanair was the only one that held its own: it always sought out personnel and paradoxically even grew, it seems to me by 3%, precisely during the Covid years."

First job?

"Yes, this is my first real job. During my school years, in the summer, I always did small jobs, like waitressing. When I applied with Ryanair They took me in right away, and shortly after that I started the training course."

How long is the course to become a flight attendant?

"It lasts for six weeks. I did it starting in January 2021 in Germany, near Frankfurt. Once it was completed I was sent to Stockholm as a base. I was there for two years, and today I am back in Rome."

How are shifts and workflow organized?

"Our roster Is fixed. Each of us works 5 consecutive days and then has 3 days off. On workdays, however, you don't have flights scheduled every day, so it's possible that you get three flights on three different days and for the rest of the days you are home stadby, on call. They only call you for emergencies. This routine allows for a lot of free time. The morning shifts called "early" start at 5 a.m. while the afternoon shifts, called "late," start at 4 p.m. In one day you can do two flights, if they are two-hour or two-and-a-half-hour flights, or four flights if they are one-hour or one-and-a-half-hour flights."

How many flight attendants are on board?

"There are four of us."

Relationship with passengers. Have you had any absurd incidents?

"In three years of work, I have seen everything. Every time one happens. The most common thing is the panic attack due to fear of flying. Still so many people have this fear. There are so many of them. Fear of flying is an issue that is still talked about too little unfortunately but it is very real."

How do you handle a panic crisis?

"Of course it depends on the type of crisis, everyone expresses fear differently. Some people scream, some cry, some stiffen, some faint. In general, in the simplest cases, the flight attendant talks to the passenger and explains what is happening, gives him precise explanations. It also happened that someone even wanted to get off the plane when they were already in the taxiway, the taxiing phase. Many times it has happened to return to the parking lot, open the doors and let the panicked passenger off. In such cases it is important that other passengers do not judge and are understanding. Once on a flight from Stockholm to Malaga, the plane had to turn around to let an entire family off because their daughter had a bad panic attack."

Worst passengers, what are they?

"The Italians very nice but often, on the part of the men, they get away with that one too many jokes or wink at you because you are a pretty girl. Spaniards and Poles do it too. It is very annoying and disrespectful behavior."

The most abnormal ones?

"Then there are the Swedes and Germans. I call them, jokingly, "robot passengers". They are perfect, they do everything themselves, you don't have to tell them anything, they know how to behave on board, never a word out of place. They are almost boring because of how good they are."

You once had a flight with 26 children on board.

"Yes, they were part of different soccer teams in the same association. Children of various ages. They behaved very well, better than many adults. Lively yes, but always very respectful and polite."

Benefit Corporate, which ones do you have?

"Obviously as employees Ryanair We have discounted tickets and tickets available for friends and family."

What are the policies si Ryanair On the use of uniforms on the social media?

"Ryanair was one of the first companies to open up in this respect. Before there was a lot of closure. The company realized that the social are an important image and marketing tool. In any case, the content should always be respectful and respectable, and it should also not contain sensitive information related to the security of an airport. If someone goes out of line they will be pointed out."

As employees you also receive inspections. How do they work?

"Yes, we receive periodic on-board inspections. Sometimes they are scheduled other times totally random, either by company supervisor or by civil aviation in general. The latter are tough, the external inspectors don't compromise on anything. You have to be impeccable."

What can't be missing in a flight attendant's suitcase?

"My suitcase absolutely cannot lack the products for the skin care. This sounds trivial, but it is not. When you fly a lot, you need to take care of your skin. And then in my work, the aesthetic aspect is very important. But what really never fails are the patches. Of all kinds and colors. Band-aids on board are always needed. There's always someone who gets cut."

Your favorite route?

"I love flying to Spain, so my favorite route is. Rome-Seville. I love speaking Spanish and I am very comfortable traveling with Spanish passengers."

Favorite airport?

"I don't want to sound patriotic, but I would say. Fiumicino. I have toured many airports but the one in Rome is the best, not surprisingly it won the award for best hub of Europe. I then love art, and I find it fascinating to walk through an airport where there are statues and you can breathe art even before you set foot in the city."

Would you like to work for ITA Airways?

"Even though it is the national airline and enjoys great prestige, I think it still needs to freshen up a lot. They have corporate policies that are too outdated, starting with those related to the use of uniforms or logos on the social By employees. ITA should take an example from Emirates o Qatar Airways, much more youthful."

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