When it comes to the world’s best airlines to travel with, the Gulf’s carriers: Emirates, Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways... are usually at or around the top of the pile. And that’s not all - these are the most appealing companies to work for, according to cabin crew staff.
Emirates has a reputation for treating its staff well and with respect - a rarity in itself in today’s labor market. And according to one employee, the Dubai-based carrier is a dream to work for.
A flight attendant for Emirates named Victoria posted a short video on TikTok which has reignited the debate around working conditions in the airline industry, which many feel have been in steady decline in recent years. The ‘fire and rehire’ policies deployed during the Covid pandemic were just one tactic that negatively affected aviation workers.
But Emirates, apart from being one of the top airlines to work for when it comes to salaries, offers other attractive incentives to keep staff happy.
Pay and perks
In her video, filmed while prepping for a flight to the United States, Victoria speaks candidly about how much money she earns and the other benefits that come with her job. Such topics are generally not spoken about openly and are “pretty much taboo” in aviation circles, she says.
“The pay isn’t bad at all and on top of that, you don’t have to pay rent,” Victoria explains, adding that Emirates flight attendants earn a fixed, tax-free, base salary of $1,200 per month - although the actual monthly salary will vary as there is also an additional hourly rate for operated flights which depend on monthly schedules and route assignments.
But it’s the add-ons that allow cabin crew to save money. “What really makes a difference when you look at our salary is that we don’t pay rent, we don’t pay for transportation to or from work, and on top of that, we get discounts all over the world. We get discounts when flying with Emirates as well as discounts with other airlines”.
Living in Dubai, rent-free
Emirates provides housing in Dubai and also a shuttle service to and from the airport. These benefits alone reduce living costs significantly. For comparison, flight attendants working for European carriers can expect to earn between €1,500 and €2,000 gross per month (roughly $1,600–$2,100), but they will also be taxed on that amount (around 15%), and a large chunk of what’s left will be eaten up by sky-high rent costs and commuting.
In the US, the average salary is $33,607. Flight attendant salaries typically range between $25,000 and $43,000 a year, depending on experience/seniority. The average hourly rate for flight attendants is $16.16 per hour.
Global talent, Gulf incentives
With a cabin crew of over 20,000 employees from around the world, Emirates is known for offering competitive employment packages to attract international talent. Providing housing and transportation is standard practice among Gulf carriers, helping them stand out in a fiercely competitive industry.
Victora’s video continues to generate broader conversations about transparency, compensation, and quality of life for airline staff—especially in an era where social media is reshaping how workers share their stories.