It takes a special kind of person to be good in the field of customer service and an even more special kind of person to be great at it. Now imagine having to be that special kind of person thousands of feet in the air while hurtling hundreds of miles per hour through space! Beyond & Above Corporate Flight Attendant Training specializes in helping to develop that person!
Welcome to the world of the private flight attendant. What special people they are – and we know you can be, too! Because much of the job is freelance, it relies on selling your skills to your clients and that means convincing them that you are exceptional and will go above and beyond the next person. What is it that sets you apart? Why are you the best person to serve on that airplane? Why do you deserve this job?
As a free agent, you are your own business, you are the CEO of your company, even if you work through a placement agency. You’re the face of the business and you represent yourself. Every client you have is a stepping stone to the next client. And these are clients who expect the best – and they know the best. Therefore, it’s more important than in almost any other industry, if you want to succeed, to give them the best. Unlike on a commercial airline, you don’t have to please the company – you have to please the client. It’s a much smaller and more discerning base. Tougher? Absolutely. But you’re here because you like a challenge and you’re up to the task!
A few things to keep in mind about providing exceptional customer service:
- You’re human. You’re going to make mistakes. Own those mistakes and make them right as soon as you realize what you’ve done. Apologize, fix the problem and move on. Don’t dwell on it and don’t make it worse.
- Don’t make promises you can’t keep. Know your strengths and weaknesses from the beginning. If there’s something you know you’re unable to do, don’t tell your potential client that you can do it and fail to deliver in the end. Set expectations that are realistic so that everyone is on the same page from the get-go.
- In the same vein, if you’ve made a promise and find you can do better than what you’ve stated, do better. Your client will appreciate that you’ve gone that extra step even though it wasn’t expected.
- Finally, keep checking back. Make sure your client always has a full glass, food when needed, a warm blanket or pillow. But don’t be overly intrusive, either. Too much attention can be as bad as not enough. The most successful private flight attendants learn the art of subtlety, of being able to read their clients’ needs and wants. In the end, it all comes down to proper training and a little practice.
