Eight things I've learned working as a VIP air stewardess

During her time as a VIP air stewardess for the rich and famous, Emilia George has learned to expect the unexpected. Here she shares her most memorable stories and what they taught her.

Money is no object

From a &1 million dinner service to a $700 bag of salad, money is no object when you can afford your own private jet. Many people treat them as a taxi service. Rather than having to see each other, a divorced couple who had shared custody of their dog would send the pampered pooch back and forth on their plane.

Planes are out of this world

It's quite easy to see the interior of a VIP charter jet by a quick search on Google. A rarity, however, is sneaking a peak inside a privately owned aircraft with its own bespoke outfit.

Everything has to be of the finest quality, technology must be state of the art and the more lavish the decoration the better. Everyone wants to have the most impressive plane around, so it's necessary to go one step further and personalisation is key.

There's been on-board gyms, disco rooms featuring poles for girls to dance on and even a solid gold throne. In many cases it costs more to furbish the plane than it does to buy one in the first place.

It is a challenge

Resources are limited when you're 38,000ft in the air or stuck on a tiny island in the middle of the ocean. When the client requests something special it's your responsibility to make it happen.

This can leave you feeling like a contestant on The Apprentice, doing tasks that might see you paying a &500 taxi fare just to get a tin of caviar, or desperately trying to source a 200-piece brass band to welcome your client upon arrival.

You will be propositioned

Clients seem to think that chartering a private jet gives them an automatic invitation to join the Mile High Club. If you mix powerful businessmen with pretty girls eager to please then it's a recipe for... well, you get the picture.

Invitations to intimate dinners, visits to your hotel room and inappropriate touching are common. A private owner even had his cabin crew dress up in kinky outfits rather than uniforms. One is able to politely decline; you just might fall from favour for few days.

Plenty of perks

Staying in some of the world's most expensive hotels and dining at the finest restaurants are among the perks. As is having all your expenses paid while you're away. Clients like to show their gratitude, so it's not unusual to be offered a generous tip.

One crew were given &3,000 each in cash; others have been given Rolex watches and Herm??s bags. If you look after someone particularly famous you might find yourself being invited to party in the VIP section of an exclusive club or being given backstage passes to see your favourite band.

Unusual food requests

Being asked to serve salmon that's had classical music played to it all its life is not an unreasonable request, apparently. Neither is having your food served at a particular temperature or only eating desserts covered in gold leaf.

But if you think it's all champagne and caviar then you're mistaken. Sometimes having &70,000 worth of food to choose from simply won't cut it when all you fancy is a McDonald's and demand the plane land at the nearest airport so one can be delivered to you.

It's a waiting game - and can be very wasteful

Unlike flying for an airline, there is no set schedule. Often VIP stewardesses can be away for months at a time as clients like to have crew on standby ready to go. On the day of departure, it's a common occurrence for them to arrive late or even not at all.

However, it's still necessary to be ready to depart at a moment's notice, so you can spend days upon days going out to the aircraft, prepping and waiting. This means that everyday you'll have to order expensive fresh food only to throw it away.

You'll cover up affairs

Sometimes you will see a regular client travelling with a different female companion to which you're usually expected to turn a blind eye. Other times you'll be asked to make sure no traces of the other woman are left behind. This entails scouring the aircraft for giveaways and cleaning lipstick off shirt collars.

Some people, however, don't want the hassle and just bring their wife and lover on the same flight.