Avoid and try to get employment direct with airline (VA or QF)The good thingsAirport environment and exposure to airline operations.
The challengesPay rates are low and shift lengths are generally short, often around 4 hours. Although roles are advertised as part-time (20 hours per week), this usually requires working five days a week, which limits flexibility and makes it difficult to supplement income.
Management is unorganised and often unhelpful, with poor communication and limited on-the-ground support. Training is inadequate, leaving staff underprepared for customer-facing and operational situations. Workplace culture can be challenging, with some colleagues being rude or abrupt.
Having previously worked directly for airlines, it is disappointing to see how much service standards have declined since COVID, particularly in outsourced ground handling.
Uniforms are not provided for the first three months, requiring staff to purchase their own suit, and employees must also pay for their own medical, creating additional upfront costs.