When flight attendant Kelley Lokensgard, 33, welcomes VIP passengers on the tarmac, many assume her work began just one to two hours prior. In reality, she spends dozens of hours preparing to ensure a smooth passenger welcome the following morning. Kelley, a lead flight attendant for private jet company Silver Air Private Jets, states she shops for groceries the evening before and arrives two hours prior to the flight. She brings pre-arranged flower arrangements, prepares snacks for passengers, and ensures the cabin is impeccably clean and tidy.

Kelley poses next to an aircraft she frequently works on. *Photo: BI*

This extensive behind-the-scenes work is an essential part of serving wealthy and demanding clients, including business owners and celebrities. Recruitment requirements for flight attendants in this segment are more stringent than for commercial airlines. To excel, Kelley takes courses to gain expertise in music, youth education, and fine dining. Kelley, who began working as a flight attendant on private jets in 2021, notes the work pace can be relentless. She is on duty for 21 days each month, sometimes receiving last-minute flight assignments. She is responsible for managing all meal preparations according to each passenger's specific preferences.

"The job of a private jet flight attendant serving VIP clients is not as glamorous as the images often seen on social media", Kelley says. To perform well, individuals must maximize their strengths and soft skills. Despite the demands, Kelley "absolutely loves" this high-intensity work. Flight attendants serving on private aircraft represent a small but growing segment of the aviation industry.

Kelley shows off her engagement ring with her boyfriend (now husband) on the French Riviera. *Photo: BI*

The job typically demands long hours, irregular schedules, extended trips, and strict requirements from affluent clients. Additionally, private jet flight attendants often do not receive complimentary standby travel benefits like their commercial counterparts. They can only fly if space is available. Nevertheless, the "benefits" are substantial, according to Kelley. She gets to travel the world following client itineraries at no cost, and her income is many times higher than that of her commercial airline colleagues.

Based in Los Angeles, My, Kelley's salary exceeds one hundred thousand USD annually. A seasoned VIP flight attendant can earn up to 350,000 USD per year. Currently, the average salary for flight attendants like Kelley is approximately 94,000 USD annually. In comparison, commercial flight attendants at major airlines like American, Delta, or United typically have a base salary ranging from 30,000 to 80,000 USD per year, depending on seniority, along with daily allowances and additional income from overtime, holiday flights, or international trips. Many long-serving flight attendants can achieve six-figure incomes after years of dedication.

The interior of a private jet serving VIP clients. *Photo: Linkedin*

To prepare for the role, Kelley completed 5 days of training and an online course. "There's so much to learn, from professional conduct and luxury service to safety", she says. Silver Air also sponsors her participation in culinary classes. Her training period is much shorter than the multi-week courses for commercial flight attendants, partly because the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) does not regulate flight attendant positions in the private jet sector. FAA flight attendant regulations apply only to airlines and commercial flights, not to private aircraft.

Most of the time, Kelley works on a Gulfstream G550, a large private jet valued at millions of USD, featuring a private bedroom and intercontinental range. The aircraft has an owner but is managed for charter by Silver Air. Kelley is tasked with serving anyone on board the flight. Long flights mean the crew is away from home for many days, working from early morning until late night. A flight from Los Angeles airport to Tokyo lasts approximately 11 hours, including at least two meal services. To cater to passengers on such a flight, Kelley begins her workday very early and finishes late in the evening.

She is responsible for passenger meals and is often asked to cook directly. She preps meat and vegetables the evening before and cooks them on the aircraft. Occasionally, she arranges for a local restaurant to prepare meals in advance to lighten her workload on the plane. Kelley admits her mind is constantly "exploding" with ideas stemming from client requests. Kelley also performs safety checks, prepares meals for pilots, makes beds, and handles numerous other tasks. According to her, rest time is "surprisingly limited", even on ultra-long-haul flights.

On the ground, she washes dishes, does dry cleaning, and organizes meals for the next flight. After international flights, the entire crew must clear customs, and she must adhere to agricultural regulations when handling food and waste. Rest policies vary by operator. Kelley's crew receives at least one day off after long-haul international flights. For shorter flights, she is guaranteed a minimum of 10 hours of rest. Kelley hopes for longer rest periods to have more time to explore destinations she visits with clients, such as major metropolises and luxury resorts in Europe.

During layovers with clients, the crew often goes sightseeing, visits museums, and samples local cuisine. Kelley also takes the opportunity to build relationships with local chefs at her destinations to facilitate catering requests from clients. Upon returning home, Kelley almost immediately takes her clothes for laundry and repacks her suitcase to be ready for the next trip. She keeps a spare uniform in her car. This constant readiness is essential in the private aviation industry.

On standby days, she must be prepared for last-minute flights. Kelley once received a call at 6h for a flight scheduled to depart 2,5 hours later. However, the aircraft was departing from an airport at least 30 minutes away from the crew's hotel. "We jumped out of bed, threw off the covers, and hastily packed our bags", she says. She then ordered food directly to the airport and quickly reviewed an 8-page client profile. Despite the short notice, everything was ready, and the plane departed at 8h26. "That truly builds client trust", Kelley states.

Anh Minh (According to Business Insider)