From turbulence to success: how aviation transformed Lina Luk?ait?'s life

15 years in aviation, thousands of served passengers, and an ongoing adventure that leaves no room for monotony. Former flight attendant, now leading the Cabin Crew division at GetJet Airlines, Lina Luksaite , couldn't imagine that flying would radically change her life. But the passion for living between the earth and the sky proved too hard to resist.

- Lina, aviation can either knock unexpectedly on someone's life or grow into love gradually. What was your first encounter with aviation like?

- Actually, before starting my career, I flew only once, and I absolutely disliked that flight – I had a severe cold, and my ears were hurting. So, for a long time, flying was associated with pain for me. I thought flying was nonsense.

- What happened that turned everything upside down?

- It was in the early spring of 2007. I was a twelfth grader living with my studying sister, basically living off her. I didn't like that situation and wanted to find a summer job. If I didn't get into free studies, I would have saved my own money, and there would be no need to look for a job abroad. I remember the day my sister was browsing the computer and found an ad that Lithuanian Airlines were looking for flight attendants. I laughed at her proposal because the idea of flying every day didn't appeal to me, and who would accept a twelfth grader anyway? However, my sister insisted, saying I wouldn't have money if I didn't go to the interviews. So, I had no choice.

- How do you remember those interviews?

- At that time, flight attendant interviews in Lithuania were a rare event. The Lithuanian Airlines had much older flight attendants, there was no room for new people, and the group I participated in was only the second in many years. Throughout the interviews, my goal was that the employers wouldn't call me – I was shy, said whatever came to my mind, faced some uncomfortable moments, but they kept calling me.

Finally, I had to undergo a medical examination, which cost a significant amount of money at that time – 500 litas. My sister bravely decided to pay for it, and I successfully passed the examination. Later, when signing the employment contract, I realized it wouldn't be just a summer job because everything the company invested in training us had to be worked off within a year. So, I started working.

- How did you manage to balance studies and the job of a flight attendant?

- I passed the state graduation exams and started flying. I was the youngest flight attendant at Lithuanian Airlines, and many looked at me like a child. I can't say I didn't take advantage of that situation. I had enrolled in the Institute of International Relations and Political Science, so there was plenty to do. I went on flights with a suitcase full of books and notes for my studies. So, after the first passenger service on the plane, the senior flight attendants kindly let me do my homework in the galley or in the business class area (if no one was flying there). It was a joke.

- Let's go back to the past, to your first flight. How did you feel about it, and what tone did it set for your future career?

- My first flight was to Moscow, on a fully packed 150-seat Boeing aircraft. It was a complete disaster – fingers cramping while serving food from the trolleys, tension trying to be pleasant, rushing to serve everyone... I thought, "Am I going to be like this all the time, it's impossible to do everything on time!" One of the flight attendants working with me after the first flight said I wouldn't make it as a flight attendant and told me not to waste my time or others' time. I left the plane crying. Nevertheless, the next day I flew to Moscow again and met a girl who is still one of my best friends. She taught me how to deal with routine tasks and perform duties more efficiently. I gained self-confidence, and after about 10 flights and a few mistakes, I found my techniques and methods. It took time, but flights became a pleasure for me.

- Every profession has its traditions, and flight attendants are no exception. What were your most memorable rituals or traditions?

- There was a time when I worked for a Swedish company, taking care of business class passengers. After serving those 10-15 passengers, I had time for myself – I would have coffee and watch the sun through the window. My favorite part of the flights was when we left the turbulent air, and we could enjoy the sunlight. It didn't necessarily mean sitting by the window – you could walk down the aisle and feel how the sun illuminated you, lifting your mood to a higher level. When arriving in warm destinations, you would open the aircraft doors and enjoy the burst of warm air. And returning to the plane, you knew you would soon meet the sun again.

- What were your favorite destinations?

- I was always looking forward to flights to Tenerife, where we stayed for one and a half days, sometimes even a week. I still remember my first trip there – as soon as I left the airport, I saw a palm tree for the first time in my life and rushed to take a photo. Sun, black sand, palm trees, exotic plants – I enjoyed it. I've been to Tenerife so many times that I could probably be a guide for others.

- Unexpected situations are inevitable in the life of flight attendants. Perhaps you remember a case where you had to improvise?

- Funny situations happened every week. I remember a flight to Hurghada, it was my first year in aviation. I was responsible for serving food during the flight – from hot dishes to drinks and desserts. I enjoyed this position because I thought I was the best at managing the galley. However, on the way back, after finishing the service, I found a box containing large, fatty chocolate cupcakes. It turns out I didn't notice them and didn't serve them to the passengers. But the senior flight attendant reacted casually: "Let's eat." So, we stuffed ourselves with those cupcakes, so no one would notice that we didn't distribute them. It's no wonder that to this day, I hate cakes (laughs).

- Life teaches us various lessons or gives wisdom at certain stages, and the sky is no exception. What do you think you gained and applied to yourself from your time as a flight attendant?

- Flying changed my life. Probably the main things I learned are taking responsibility, discipline, and being conscientious. Being unpunctual can jeopardize the team. Providing first aid incorrectly can harm someone's health. Being in the air taught me to act according to the rules and become a procedural person – it became important that everything around me was in order, whether it was work or the environment with friends. These principles made my daily life easier.

- You flew for only five years. Why did you decide to leave?

- In the first year, I realized that aviation could trap you. When I started flying, my life changed significantly: my income increased, and I could afford more. I made a promise to myself to fly as long as I was learning. It was challenging because my income dropped several times, I no longer had two months of vacation, and a flexible schedule. However, I wanted to have a regular job in an office, celebrate holidays with family, and add to that my still hard-to-explain ambitions.

I took a one-year break and worked in several companies, but I realized those jobs weren't for me. It seems that the job in aviation found me, even though I wasn't looking for it. One day I received a call from GetJet Airlines, didn't hesitate for long, and realized that I wanted to be here.

- What was the beginning of your work at the administration of GetJet Airlines like?

- My main responsibilities were focused on working with flight crews, taking care of their well-being, regulations, and the admission of new people. However, for a long time, I was a "one-person orchestra" – I conducted employee selections, participated in the planning of flights and their procedures, communicated with designers and sewing workshops for uniforms, and responded to passenger complaints. My working day often lasted up to 12 hours because there simply weren't enough human resources. It's worth noting that there were only 10-15 people in the team, while now we have several hundred.

- So, you laid the foundations for the flight attendants division, and recently, you celebrated your ten-year anniversary with the company. What has changed, and what are you most pleased about?

- Firefighting is a thing of the past; now, we have an organization whose dynamics allows everyone to work comfortably and efficiently. I am proud of the internal structure, our team, and our flight attendants. Over these years, such a bond has formed between us that we can call a colleague anytime and ask for help, even if it's not their responsibility. Help and solidarity are invaluable.

- In your eyes, how has aviation and the routine of flight attendants changed in the last 15 years?

- Looking through the prism of a flight attendant, passengers used to treat you like a servant, but now they consider you the owner of the plane and someone who can help.

There is also more discipline and accountability in the daily work of the flight crew because every wrong step or appearance can be scrutinized. Previously, a passenger had to make a significant effort to make a negative review public. But now, even before the plane lands, we can see a complaint report.

- Why should someone considering a flight attendant profession not hesitate to choose it?

- I recommend this profession to every young person who hasn't decided on their future life path. Being here, you can broaden your horizons and communicate in a multicultural environment. Another important aspect is free travel. You can explore the world and places on different continents. The cherry on top is the salary. Nowhere else will a person without higher education or skills earn as much as a flight attendant. It opens up wide horizons for a young person. We have many success stories where people, after finishing school and unsuccessfully trying to study, transformed their lives by coming to work as flight attendants. It opens up paths to continue a career professionally in aviation – from working as an instructor to flight operations.

- Sum up aviation in one sentence, or even one word, if possible.

- Passion!

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