Here I was - newly trained and eager to fly. I was ready to see the world and live the glamorous life. Boy was I quickly given a reality check. My first day as an official flight attendant I got airport standby. It's anything but glamorous. Let me back up...
Right out of training you are the new hires/newbies/fresh meat. Whatever the term it boils down to you are clueless and everyone (including seasoned travellers) know it. I was on reserve (on call - you only know the days you are on call - you don't know anything else) and anxiously awaiting my first assignment. I get airport standby. No flights - no fantastic layover in Honolulu - nothing. I get to go to the airport and sit in the flight attendant lounge for 5 hours. Yes, I said 5 hours. It's standard procedure for scheduling to have 3-9 reserve flight attendants sitting in the lounge for the "just in case" situations. Sometimes it's great, sometimes not so much. My first time I got a flight from New York to Denver. Not too terrible actually. My crew was fantastic but very senior (EVERYONE was senior to me at this point).
I get on the plane, stow my luggage and get ready to board. I am so excited! Then the gates of Hell open and boarding commences. Oh my gawd. It was utter chaos. People had no idea where to sit (it was assigned seating), where to put luggage (um, overhead bin perhaps), and one guy didn't know his name - seriously. We had a seat dupe (two people assigned the same seat) and I asked the man his name. He actually paused and looked at me like I was speaking a foreign language. We had just been talking in English, and he was entirely capable of carrying on his end of the conversation. But that simple question threw him for a loop. I grabbed the boarding pass out of his and a read his name aloud. Again - deer in the headlights look. He finally gives me a yes, and I go figure out the issue. I later learned it was a computer error (duh) and got him another seat. I also later learned it was a light flight and I could have had him wait and just pick an open seat. Why hadn't I thought of that? Oh, yeah. I was new and clueless.
We finally get through boarding, the demo and actually are in the air for Denver. Now it was supposed to be easy. Here I am at row 15 on the forward end of the cart serving drinks. "May I get you something to drink?" I ask the gentleman in 15 D. "A diet coke, please." (I later learn "please" and "thank you" are often omitted from requests to flight attendants.) No problem - I grab a glass, fill it with ice, pop open the can and start to hand it to the passenger. I drop the can on the floor. Immediately Old Faithful erupts from the can and sprays all the way to the ceiling. Rather than leave the can, I scoop it up from the floor and proceed to spray a 5 row area with Diet Coke. Everything and everyone was covered - save the flight attendant on opposite side of the cart. He saw what was happening and RAN to the aft galley laughing hysterically. Meanwhile I am all alone with my cart, an empty can of Diet Coke, and a lot of pissed off passengers. I stand there and don't know what to say. I try to apologize and get yelled at by several passengers. I'm called stupid and clumsy. I want to cry. Then the gentleman (he truly was) in 15 D calmly asks how long I've been flying. My reply, "How long have we been in the air?" That one simple sentence changed every one's attitude. They immediately became nice and well mannered. It no longer mattered that they were soaked with Diet Coke. They said it was OK and that they would dry. Wow... I quickly learned to use the new hire line whenever anything went wrong. It was my, albeit temporary, get out of jail free card. Hallelujah...
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
The Truth Be Told
Initial Flight Attendant training is anything but ordinary. Nothing can prepare you for the experience. I made life-long friends during this time. I also managed to piss off a few people enough to last a life time. Where do I begin...?
It's all a blur of weight checks, proficiency checks (emergency equipment uses, first-aid, aircraft evacuations) all the things we are trained for "in case" something happens. Interestingly enough we were shown a video on aircraft crashes the first day - three people elected to leave training after viewing that. Really? What did you think we were being trained for - looking great walking through the airport! I guess it was to scare the bejesus out of the clueless people - or the ones who would freeze when the slightest thing went wrong. It didn't get all of them out of the way. Some managed to hid and are now flying the skies with me.
Ditching was a fun day - we got to jump in an unheated pool (it was December) fully clothed and climb into a life raft. We froze our butts off - but that wouldn't compare to the real temps in the North Atlantic if we were flying to London. And it would be in the middle of the night... There's a reality check for you.
Emergency evacuations were truly a mind boggling experience. There are "cabin trainers" that can mimic smoke, fire, landing gear failure in any combination. You've never seen dark until you are in an aircraft cabin filled with smoke. Trust me on that one. The adrenaline was the ONLY thing that got me through that day. But looking back, it was truly a bonding experience for all of us in the training class. I have every confidence I can evacuate an aircraft - I just hope I never have to find out.
Graduation day was upon us then we were being thrown to the wolves in New York. If we knew what was ahead, I don't know how many of us would have followed through with the dream. The ignorance factor helped me stick it out. Had I known the reality of my next 2 years, I may have only lasted a few months. But 21+ years later, I am still here. I'll have to be dragged down the aisle kicking and screaming to leave this life behind.
The real adventure was just around the corner...and is still alive and well with every trip. Whenever I put on my uniform, I never know what is going to happen, be it good, bad, or down right hilarious. I just try to keep an open mind and very closed mouth.
It's all a blur of weight checks, proficiency checks (emergency equipment uses, first-aid, aircraft evacuations) all the things we are trained for "in case" something happens. Interestingly enough we were shown a video on aircraft crashes the first day - three people elected to leave training after viewing that. Really? What did you think we were being trained for - looking great walking through the airport! I guess it was to scare the bejesus out of the clueless people - or the ones who would freeze when the slightest thing went wrong. It didn't get all of them out of the way. Some managed to hid and are now flying the skies with me.
Ditching was a fun day - we got to jump in an unheated pool (it was December) fully clothed and climb into a life raft. We froze our butts off - but that wouldn't compare to the real temps in the North Atlantic if we were flying to London. And it would be in the middle of the night... There's a reality check for you.
Emergency evacuations were truly a mind boggling experience. There are "cabin trainers" that can mimic smoke, fire, landing gear failure in any combination. You've never seen dark until you are in an aircraft cabin filled with smoke. Trust me on that one. The adrenaline was the ONLY thing that got me through that day. But looking back, it was truly a bonding experience for all of us in the training class. I have every confidence I can evacuate an aircraft - I just hope I never have to find out.
Graduation day was upon us then we were being thrown to the wolves in New York. If we knew what was ahead, I don't know how many of us would have followed through with the dream. The ignorance factor helped me stick it out. Had I known the reality of my next 2 years, I may have only lasted a few months. But 21+ years later, I am still here. I'll have to be dragged down the aisle kicking and screaming to leave this life behind.
The real adventure was just around the corner...and is still alive and well with every trip. Whenever I put on my uniform, I never know what is going to happen, be it good, bad, or down right hilarious. I just try to keep an open mind and very closed mouth.
Monday, May 30, 2011
You're going to do WHAT for a living?
All those years spent in college were supposed to land me in a job that would provide "for my family" for the rest of my life. It's my mother's fault that never happened. You see, she sent me to Greece as my high school graduation gift. That was the best thing she ever did for me - and she's done a lot of nice things. But that decision started my life in a different direction. The next 20+ years have been roller coaster ride of experiences that, in my opinion, I have been fortunate enough to call my normal life.
All my friends were going to London and Paris after graduation. I didn't want to so that. I wanted something different - I happened on a trip to Athens and Mykonos. I was going. And I did.
The plane ride over is where my life began to take a different direction. I had never flown commercially until that day. The flight to JFK was uneventful and unmemorable - save the take-off. I LOVED the power of the engines as we were thrown down the runway. But the Tower Air 747 from JFK to Athens was something I never imagined existed. I had seen jumbo jets on the television, but I had never imagined I'd actually fly in one (later even as a crew member). I was more excited about the plane ride than spending 2 weeks in Greece.
One of the cabin crew was a male flight attendant, Jeff, who was a few years older than my 18 1/2 years. He was telling me how they would be in Athens for 2 days before heading back to JFK. He described his life as flying all over the world, lying on beaches, drinking and eating well, parties, and sightseeing. I was hooked - where did I sign up? Sadly, I had to wait until I was 20 to get a job as a flight attendant. I remembered that everyday until I turned 20!
The "via-air" travel bug was firmly planted in my brain. My freshman year of college I found that Piedmont Airlines flew from Roanoke, VA to Pittsburgh, PA for $25. It was a repositioning flight (last flight of the night) - it went empty if necessary because it was needed in PIT the following morning to start its day. I took that flight at least 10 times that first year - I am a proud to say I paid for all the tickets. Sometimes I even took friends along. And I never told any of them I wanted to become a flight attendant...
The summer after my freshman year of college I moved to Anchorage, AK for a while to live with my sister. Once again, the plane ride from Chicago ORD to Anchorage was the highlight of the trip. I was on a new Boeing 767. I was beautiful inside - I was a mere 19 but was amazed at the interior of this aircraft. The flight attendants even took me on a tour inflight. And encouraged me to apply to work there once I was old enough. The entire time I was in Alaska, I couldn't wait for the trip back to the lower 48. I just wanted to fly again.
I managed to move to Salzburg, Austria for my sophomore year of college. It was wonderful - I back-packed and hitch-hiked my way all over Europe. I even managed to live and work in London as a bartender at the Traveller's Club off Pall Mall. I was loving my life - as much as a 20 year-old could - living in London. All the while I knew I was now old enough to become a flight attendant.
I returned state-side and resumed my studies. I couldn't get flying out of my mind - I decided I'd ring a few airlines (this was before the Internet had caught on) and see who was hiring. They all were - damn... Now what? I couldn't focus on school....damn curiosity.
OK, I'll just apply to a couple and see what happens. American, United, Continental, Delta, Piedmont, Pan Am, and TWA were all interested. Oh, shit...now what. I'd interview with the ones I knew - Piedmont, Continental, American, Delta and United. And they were on school days.... Skipping a class or two would be OK, right? So I went to Atlanta for my Delta interview, Chicago for United, Dallas-Ft Worth for American, Winston-Salem for Piedmont, and Houston for Continental. I was offered a training date with Continental for Thanksgiving Day...WHAT? That's in the middle of school. No, I can't. But I did...
Thanksgiving Day flying in first class to Houston didn't suck - and the crew was so excited to have a trainee onboard - in hindsight they saw new meat and instant seniority. The next 8 weeks of Barbie Bootcamp were some of the best times I'd ever had... I'll write that tomorrow.
All my friends were going to London and Paris after graduation. I didn't want to so that. I wanted something different - I happened on a trip to Athens and Mykonos. I was going. And I did.
The plane ride over is where my life began to take a different direction. I had never flown commercially until that day. The flight to JFK was uneventful and unmemorable - save the take-off. I LOVED the power of the engines as we were thrown down the runway. But the Tower Air 747 from JFK to Athens was something I never imagined existed. I had seen jumbo jets on the television, but I had never imagined I'd actually fly in one (later even as a crew member). I was more excited about the plane ride than spending 2 weeks in Greece.
One of the cabin crew was a male flight attendant, Jeff, who was a few years older than my 18 1/2 years. He was telling me how they would be in Athens for 2 days before heading back to JFK. He described his life as flying all over the world, lying on beaches, drinking and eating well, parties, and sightseeing. I was hooked - where did I sign up? Sadly, I had to wait until I was 20 to get a job as a flight attendant. I remembered that everyday until I turned 20!
The "via-air" travel bug was firmly planted in my brain. My freshman year of college I found that Piedmont Airlines flew from Roanoke, VA to Pittsburgh, PA for $25. It was a repositioning flight (last flight of the night) - it went empty if necessary because it was needed in PIT the following morning to start its day. I took that flight at least 10 times that first year - I am a proud to say I paid for all the tickets. Sometimes I even took friends along. And I never told any of them I wanted to become a flight attendant...
The summer after my freshman year of college I moved to Anchorage, AK for a while to live with my sister. Once again, the plane ride from Chicago ORD to Anchorage was the highlight of the trip. I was on a new Boeing 767. I was beautiful inside - I was a mere 19 but was amazed at the interior of this aircraft. The flight attendants even took me on a tour inflight. And encouraged me to apply to work there once I was old enough. The entire time I was in Alaska, I couldn't wait for the trip back to the lower 48. I just wanted to fly again.
I managed to move to Salzburg, Austria for my sophomore year of college. It was wonderful - I back-packed and hitch-hiked my way all over Europe. I even managed to live and work in London as a bartender at the Traveller's Club off Pall Mall. I was loving my life - as much as a 20 year-old could - living in London. All the while I knew I was now old enough to become a flight attendant.
I returned state-side and resumed my studies. I couldn't get flying out of my mind - I decided I'd ring a few airlines (this was before the Internet had caught on) and see who was hiring. They all were - damn... Now what? I couldn't focus on school....damn curiosity.
OK, I'll just apply to a couple and see what happens. American, United, Continental, Delta, Piedmont, Pan Am, and TWA were all interested. Oh, shit...now what. I'd interview with the ones I knew - Piedmont, Continental, American, Delta and United. And they were on school days.... Skipping a class or two would be OK, right? So I went to Atlanta for my Delta interview, Chicago for United, Dallas-Ft Worth for American, Winston-Salem for Piedmont, and Houston for Continental. I was offered a training date with Continental for Thanksgiving Day...WHAT? That's in the middle of school. No, I can't. But I did...
Thanksgiving Day flying in first class to Houston didn't suck - and the crew was so excited to have a trainee onboard - in hindsight they saw new meat and instant seniority. The next 8 weeks of Barbie Bootcamp were some of the best times I'd ever had... I'll write that tomorrow.
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