A flight attendant has spoken of her tax and rent-free life in the skies.
Alexandra Cosoff has seriously cashed in during her time soaring about at 30,000 feet with fancy carrier Emirates, which pays for her accommodation in Dubai.
Not only does she not have to pay tax on her salary in the Middle Eastern country, the high-end aviation firm covers her transport, laundry, medical and dental bills as well.
So, with no rent, insurance, transport, taxes or even laundry to pay for what does an Emirates flight attendant take home? Well, a base salary rate amounts to about £1,700 a month, according to Cabin Crew Wings.
Are you a flight attendant with a story to share? Email webtravel@reachplc.com
She told News.com.au: "What was very attractive to me was also not paying tax on top of my salary. I live in my own apartment. You can either get company-provided accommodation or opt for accommodation allowance."
Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, does not levy any tax on income, and there is no sales tax on most goods and services either.
On top of the tax-free lifestyle, flight attendants are given layover allowances when they spend time in another country, which generally covers the costs of three meals and a snack.
Many workers chose to save the money instead and just eat instant noodles, meaning they can bolster their take home pay.
Flight attendants who work in the higher classes – like business and first – are paid more than economy workers, so there is scope to work your way up through the ranks.
She noted: "After I joined, I started in economy class for one and half years, before I got promoted to business class and the business promotions events team. I have been so lucky. I’ve had the most amazing time."
Alexandra says she is living a "dream come true" and loves to travel the world and meeting new people.
On average, cabin crew fly 80 to 100 hours a month, which breaks down as 20 to 25 hours of work a week. Much of this is during anti-social hours of the day however, and the stresses and strains of working on a plane shouldn't be ignored.
Part of the Emirates experience is the high level of attention paid towards those lucky enough to be able to fork out for a first or business class ticket.
Flight attendants are required to know the personal preferences, travel itinerary and dietary requirements of well-heeled passengers.
"Before our flight, we have a team briefing to ensure we are all aware of any VIPs who are flying with us, and we also have on-board tablets to keep information at hand. We make sure these are kept updated throughout our journey," Alexandra told Mail Online.
