You would be surprised…
The weird, wonderful, and often manic world of working on a private jet – sometimes the crew don't get much notice as it's often an 'on demand' service. The aircraft are often luxurious, and often VIPs request the strangest things – because they can. Whatever they request, we have to try and make it happen, and you never really know what will be next.
Prior to the flight, the flight attendant will normally get a brief of what special items are required by the VIPs and then the items must be ordered in time for the flight. It can be the usual high-end foods such as Beluga caviar, Balik salmon, Lobster and Champagne, Macarons from Laduree and sweets from La Maison du Chocolat, but sometimes we get asked for something a bit different.
One famous female singer from the USA, wanted just Kentucky Fried Chicken for her lunch. Another younger singer wanted a popcorn machine installed on the aircraft and a bottle of truffle salt for said popcorn. A supermodel jetting off with her family wanted peach juice and Japanese rice cakes. Another supermodel just drunk straight from a bottle of champagne. A well known television personality in the UK requested a certain brand of salt and vinegar chips (or crisps), only one color M and M's and a yellow colored mouthwash.
A well-known band wanted mugs (not tea cups) and individual teapots for its flights, as well as a brand of Irish tea and wines from California. Another band requested English pork pies and cheese boards to go with their vodka and champagne. A club for male VIPs asked for female 'entertainers' to be onboard during the flight – thankfully, that did not go ahead!
On one flight, we were requested to remain in the galley (or kitchen) of the aircraft for the entire flight and were paid to do so by a Russian oligarch and his model girlfriend. Maybe they played 'Scrabble'. A very famous lady in the USA, asked the Captain to land the private jet immediately as she 'wanted a burger'. Taking a royal family from Saudi Arabia to France, I was asked just to reheat the McDonald's they had brought onboard.
Ever seen 32 falcons on one aircraft? We did. They traveled with a sheikh and his entourage on a hunting trip in the Sahara. The bar was drunk dry before take-off, the aircraft full of cigarette smoke, and everyone was seated on the floor eating from huge pots of food.
We sometimes carry pets with their families and provide them will care and attention, and it is not unusual to carry a rich VIPs pet alone, taking it to its owner. In Africa, sometimes sacrificed goats were given as presents to escort to the country's leader, and sometimes, it was just a baggage compartment full of rabbits to be eaten by them.
One rock star known for his fueled antics left a package of white powder, and it wasn't laundry detergent. The cousin of an African despot left thousands of dollars in a plastic bag in a seat pocket after playing loud rap music and drinking numerous bottles of red wine he had bought with him.
As you can see, working on a private jet is certainly unusual, and no request is (usually) turned down. We do our best. Whether it's creating a birthday party or looking after someone's pet, or reheating a burger, be prepared for anything!
Writer – Patricia joins Simple Flying with over 20 years of experience in aviation. She has served as cabin crew on flights from economy-class to private jets. Patricia has a master’s level postgraduate diploma in Human Factors in Aviation and has written about aviation since 2010. Based in Dubai