SIA flight attendant of 34 years, retires at 57, says he loves flying but misses family

After disembarking from his final flight as a member of the Singapore Airlines (SIA) cabin crew, Abdul Wahid Ahmad Jamil was met with a warm welcome by his loved ones.

Cheering outside the arrival concourse at Changi Airport, his family held up handwritten signs that spelt out: "Happy Retirement Day!"

Having joined SIA back in 1990, the flight attendant has finally hung up his uniform for good.

Amid the flurry of well wishes from his former colleagues, Wahid reflected on his flight journey the past 34 years.

Cost of flying high

Speaking to Mothership, Wahid admitted that his career came with turbulent moments.

"It was difficult being away from the family," he admitted.

In 1994, four years into his job, Wahid's wife delivered the couple's firstborn child.

"When my wife delivered my firstborn, my son, I was not beside her to give her the moral support," he lamented.

He said he was lucky to be around for the birth of his two daughters later on.

While flying across the globe, he often came across reminders of his life back home.

"When I saw little kids on board, I would give them extra attention because I missed my own kids," he said.

He would also exchange parenting notes with the mums and dads on board.

Conversations like these helped him feel "not alone" in missing his family.

His hectic schedule did not stop him from carving out pockets of time for loved ones, such as hosting Hari Raya gatherings for the extended family.

Plans to chill

With more time on his hands now, Wahid is able to make up for lost time.

As if fate was giving him a second chance after missing the birth of his firstborn, Wahid's grandson arrived prematurely on the exact same day that Wahid retired on Sep. 23.

Apart from travelling to and fro from the hospital for grandparental visits, the retiree will dedicate more time to playing with his two-year-old grandson and supporting his youngest daughter, who will be having her O-level exams this year.

Other than that, the man will be "chilling".

"I still love flying"

His feet may be back on the ground, but the thrill of the flight remains fresh in his mind.

"The thing I miss the most about my job is my awesome colleagues who always made every flight an interesting journey," Wahid shared.

With the right people, even the most mundane flight became a "new, unforgettable experience".

The former-flight attendant took a moment to reminisce about sightseeing, shopping, and dining with colleagues in various parts of the world.

He revealed that he had managed to obtain an MBA degree while working as a flight attendant, but decided to continue flying out of love for the job.

As for his peers who are still flying, Wahid left them with one simple message: "Enjoy the job and be happy with the lifestyle that comes with it! Make a difference in your passengers life!"

Top images courtesy of Wahid