Sunday May 7, 2006
Take flight with Amanda
BY HONG BOON HOW
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“With 25 minutes to turn the plane around after arriving at our destination, we flight attendants have to double up as cabin clean up crew to prep the aircraft as fast as possible for the next flight,” she told StarMotoring.
“We have to learn fast in this trade and get used to the routine quickly,” said the 23-year-old Kuala Lumpur-born girl.
“With our tight schedule, we don’t even get the opportunity to leave the airport terminal to venture into the city unless we have an overnight stay-over flight,” she sighs.
Depending on her roster, Amanda flies to cities such as Bangkok, Bali, Surabaya and also domestic destinations like Penang, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching and others.
Amanda started work with AirAsia in 2001, realising her secondary school dream of becoming a flight attendant.
Her slim figure and good looks also helped her go into freelance modelling for roadshows and corporate events from 2002.
“Although modelling pays quite well, I am putting this freelance job on hold as I have an additional role as one of the brand ambassadors for AirAsia,” she said.
At the moment, Amanda, when not in her red flight uniform, appears for the Ellgy Cracked Heels lotion advertisement in local pharmacies.
Amanda also entered the Miss International Airline Contest 2004 that was held in Zhuhai, China. She won the Miss Friendly and Best Uniform categories.
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Currently, Amanda gets around in her little red Perodua Kenari Aero which she bought in 2004.
We decided let her try her hand at the seven-seater Mazda5, distributed by Cycle & Carriage Bintang Bhd, the latest multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) to hit Malaysian shores.
“It may not be as spacious as the interior of a Boeing 737 or Airbus A320 but it is definitely spacious for a car, especially when you are going for a family outing,” Amanda laughs.
“I have driven fast cars such as the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VI, I feel that the Mazda5 is fast and has good acceleration despite being a large vehicle,” she said after her ride in the MPV around the Bukit Kiara neighbourhood.
She also liked the MPV’s suspension system which was able to soak up bumps and potholes during her brief ride.
However, for Amanda who is still single, MPVs are not on her list of vehicles to buy when she wants to trade in her trusty Kenari.
“The Mazda5 would be too big for most single people like me to drive around,” she said.
“Anyway, my Kenari fits my purpose well and is a fuel sipper especially for my daily drive from my house in Subang Jaya to the Low Cost Carrier Terminal in Sepang and back.”
In case she wants to retire her Kenari, the next vehicle on her shopping list is the Mini Cooper because of its cute looks.
“I may consider the Mazda5 if I have a family,” she said.
She liked the Mazda5’s powered rear sliding doors which she felt would make entry for the back passengers easier and more convenient.
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Amanda’s dream car is the super fast and super exclusive Ferrari Enzo.
With only 400 units produced and costing RM5mil a pop, the Enzo would continue to be the dream car for Amanda and the rest of the six billion inhabitants of this planet.
Being a brand ambassador does not mean that Amanda gets to escape from routine work.
“We have to return to our normal duties once we have completed our promotional work. Every cabin crew member is treated equally and we have to share the work,” she said.
On her most memorable moment as a brand ambassador, Amanda said it was getting to fly to Manchester with AirAsia as the official low fare airline for Manchester United football club.
“It was an opportunity of a lifetime to meet star players of the club such as Ruud van Nistelrooy, Phillip Bardsley and Wayne Rooney in person at their home pitch,” she said.
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