I’m a flight attendant for British Airways on the A380 and my cabin crew daughter inspired me to join the ranks at the age of 55. This is what it’s like to be in a high-flying family…

A mother has told how she found a new set of wings while traveling the world for work after being inspired to join the ranks by her British Airways cabin crew daughter.

Christine Barnes, 66, said ‘the world opened up for me’ as soon as she stepped into the role in 2011.

Now, as an inflight manager, she leads a team of 22 crew on board the Airbus A380 and has lost count of how many countries she has visited – with Saudi Arabia next on her bucket list.

Her career change moment came when she accompanied her daughter Sophie, 36, on a business trip and saw how much she enjoyed the role.

“I loved the professionalism and camaraderie of the crew,” she said. ‘I felt I had to be part of this lifestyle and I was looking for a new challenge.’

The mother and daughter worked together on their first flight to Philadelphia. Here they are pictured in a hotel in the American city

Sophie, now a BA customer service trainer who sometimes flies as an inflight manager, encouraged her mother to apply for the job, believing Christine could transfer skills from her previous career as a salon owner and hairdresser.

Although the training has been “a challenge,” Christine said the job has been great so far and she has no plans to stop anytime soon.

“Some members of our family were very surprised when I decided to make a career change at a time when most people my age were downsizing and thinking about retirement,” she said.

‘I couldn’t believe the places I went every week – and the experiences I shared with other crew members, most of whom are still friends.’

Seven years after the role, Sophie moved from Gatwick Airport to Heathrow, where her mother is also based.

The pair then worked together on their first – and only – flight, to Philadelphia, USA

LEFT: Christine holds Sophie during her baptism in 1991. RIGHT: The pair are known to the crew as ‘Sophie’s mother’ and ‘Christine’s daughter’

Christine said it was great to show her daughter the ropes on the plane and visit the Rocky Steps in Philadelphia together during the layover.

In the style of the BBC show ‘The Traitors’, where contestants often have to hide their true identities, they decided not to tell their fellow crew that they were related until they landed in the US.

“It was very strange to pretend we didn’t know each other,” Sophie said.

“When the crew found out, they were surprised, but they saw the similarities.”

The couple are now known to the crew as ‘Sophie’s Mum’ and ‘Christine’s Daughter’ and said they would love their whole family to experience the ‘amazing lifestyle’.

LEFT: Sophie, as a child, in Orlando, USA RIGHT: Sophie and Christine pictured in front of the Spinnaker Tower, Portsmouth

Other funny moments include the time Sophie hopped on a flight to Vienna and surprised her mother at the boarding door.

“She had no idea I was on the run with her,” she said.

‘It was so funny to see her so confused about why I was there. I wish I could have captured it.”

Christine said she hasn’t faced as many challenges as she thought she would after changing careers at age 55.

‘“I am healthy for my age, and I think as a crew you have to be resilient,” she said.

Christine leads a team of 22 crew members as an inflight manager on board the Airbus A380

Sophie encouraged her mother to apply, believing Christine could transfer skills from her previous career as a salon owner and hairdresser. Here the couple is pictured on a trip to New York in 2014

In fact, she has found that becoming a crew member later in life helped her adapt to the role and be a good manager.

‘“I don’t find myself feeling homesick when I’m away, but I do look forward to coming home after a trip,” she said.

‘I often feel like a mother at work and notice that I can draw on the experiences I have gained while raising three children in my role as a manager. It is important as a manager to listen to and care for my team.’

Sophie shared her mother’s feelings and set the sky as the limit.

“It’s never too late to start a new career or try something different,” she said.