Eastleigh College Travel and Tourism learners have been treated to a special visit from a guest speaker, who shared how his qualification at Eastleigh has helped launch his career as a Cabin Crew Attendant.

19-year-old Ethan Elkins studied at Eastleigh College between 2018 and 2020, as part of his Travel and Tourism Level 3 Diploma. Little over a year later, he is a firm fixture among the cabin crew of Wizz Air - an airline carrier that serves 44 countries and flies to over 100 airports, predominantly in Europe but also Africa, the Middle East and Asia. Ethan’s role often sees him travel to dozens of different destinations per week, catering to the on-board needs of thousands of travellers.

“My course at Eastleigh was instrumental in landing my job at Wizz Air,” said Ethan. “Many of my interview questions were focused on my time at college, and my college training in customer service and cabin crew procedurals ensured I felt well equipped to deal with the responsibilities of the job.”

It wasn’t all smooth sailing for Ethan, however. A part time job at a travel agency to support his college studies fell into uncertainty in late 2019, during the Hays Travel acquisition of the Thomas Cook retail estate. A few months later he was made redundant, all while navigating his studies through the pandemic and one of the most turbulent years in recent history. Nevertheless, his perseverance and determination shone through as he successfully achieved his Level 3 Diploma qualification and began pursuing his next career steps.

Michelle Thornton, Ethan’s lecturer in Travel and Tourism, said: “We are all very proud of Ethan, who has demonstrated what can be achieved with a Travel and Tourism Level 3 Diploma in such a short period of time. It’s a great inspiration for learners to see someone of their age excelling in this way and will hopefully help reaffirm their own career aspirations, whether in travel, hospitality or further education”.

The Level 3 Diploma in Travel and Tourism is a two year programme comprised of 18 units or 9 units per year. Examples of units include Customer Service, Cabin Crews, Business Travel and Specialist Tourism, giving learners a well-rounded education as to the industry and the potential career paths it provides.

Ethan concluded: “My job has given me the chance to travel the world and for that I am grateful. It has also significantly boosted my confidence, both through the job itself and my decision to relocate to our base in Luton, which has helped me become more independent and grow as a person. This all began with my course at Eastleigh and I would encourage anyone with an interest in travel to go for it". 

For more information on our Travel and Tourism courses, please click here, or contact the college at BeBetter@eastleigh.ac.uk.