Kelsey's parents met working for Qantas. Now she also flies for the Australian airline
It seems Kelsey Williams was always destined to work for Aussie airline, Qantas.
Not only did both her parents fly with the company, but she knew the airline's trademark song when she was just five.
"When I was little mum didn't like nursery rhymes," the 30-year-old tells 9Travel.
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A baby Kelsey with her Qantas pilot father, Terry Williams Supplied
"She was in love with with marketing that Qantas did for, I still call Australia home, the original one, where they're up on the Opera House.
"So she taught me that song and I used to get up on the coffee table and sing it."
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Kelsey's father Terry, 68, was a first officer on the Boeing 747 for 27 years. Her mother Lauren, 62, was a business class flight attendant for 36 years before retiring earlier this year.
The couple first met in a karaoke bar on a layover in Japan, and used to "tag team" to take care of Kelsey and their twin boys after marrying.
"They would do the flight so that there was enough time to get home hand over the kids and get situated. And the other one would go," Kelsey says.
Kelsey and mum Lauren, who was a business class flight attendant before retiring earlier this year. Supplied
Lauren Williams, Kelsey's mother, as a flight attendant for Qantas. Supplied
But they also used to take the family on exotic holidays thanks to their staff benefits. Though the couple is now divorced, dad Terry said their favourite destination was Honolulu in Hawaii which became a "second home."
Rome was also a top spot, as were Johannesburg and Zimbabwe.
They once took their kids on safari, which led to an interesting game drive.
"One night we took a safari looking for lions," Terry tells 9Travel.
"We were racing around for about 35 to 45 minutes looking for this purring lion, when, in fact, it was Kelsey snoring in the back."
Terry Williams flew the Qantas 747 planes. Janie Barrett
But her family background didn't mean Kelsey had an easy path to get a job. She didn't get in on her first application - or her second.
It was only on her third time she landed her role, seven years ago, after working for another airline.
She now works in the business and first cabins, as well as being an inflight service design specialist. She's even served some famous passengers, including Bridesmaids actress, Melissa McCarthy.
Meanwhile, Kelsey says her favourite destinations are Japan, Vancouver, and Tasmania.
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Kelsey and Terry Williams on board a Qantas plane together. Supplied
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Kelsey, who lives in Newcastle, NSW, says she's often asked how to get an upgrade.
"I wish there was a trick to it, but unfortunately, we just don't even have that capacity on board. We're lucky enough if we can find a spare seat," she tells us.
"The only thing I can recommend is love the ground crew and be loyal."
Meanwhile Terry, who lives in Townsville has some tips for dealing with jet lag which got him through almost three decades of flying.
"The trick is to make sure what sleep you've missed out on, you gain," he tells 9Travel.
"If you're usually seven hours a night and you've missed four hours of sleep, you need a total of 11."
