The Flying Pinto... A Flight Attendant Blog

THE BRIGHT SIDE OF TRAVELING WITH YOUR FAMILY

2009-07-13T23:48:00.007-05:00

My family and I just returned from visiting my sister in Florida and after a great week and great flight home I was planning on sharing my tips for traveling with toddlers but I've decided instead to focus on the activities you can do with your kids while flying. Most people I know stress when it comes to flying, especially if they are traveling as a family with small children. I have some ideas to make the experience more enjoyable for everyone...you may even look forward to the flight home!

Most families I know have full schedules, jam packed with work, school, and extracurricular activities that they barely have time for family dinners anymore. So, before you pack those DVD players for your trip, why not look at your flight as a way to spend some quality family time? Here are a few ways to make your flight an experience your kids will remember...and yes enjoy!

BEFORE YOU GO:

Get them excited about flying, especially if they have never flown before. Start talking about your trip a few days before. Point out airplanes in the sky, tell them that you will be on an airplane....up in the sky! Your child may not understand at that very moment, but they will piece it together as you get on the plane and then take off.

Take them to the library or book store, and get age appropriate books related to flying. If your child is older, use this as a learning experience and chose books on the history of flight or maybe a book related to your destination. For the toddlers, coloring books with airplanes are fun...just remember the triangle shaped crayons, you don't want to spend your flight picking up crayons that rolled off your tray table.

One of my favorite activities for older kids is to keep a travel journal. I started Lucy's on her first trip...she was only three months old...but now she scribbles where I write and eventually she will take it over. We've also saved every boarding pass from our trips together.

You can get creative with the activities, here are a few more I like:

for toddlers:

playdoh
sticker books
Mr. potato head

for older kids:

travel scrabble
lego models

anything that is busy work, is great! It's also a good idea to have a couple of surprises for the toddlers. The dollar store is a wonderful resource for this...a bunch of "new" things without breaking the bank!

THE DAY OF:

Give yourself plenty of time. Plan for oodles of time. Kids feel your stress, which is pretty inevitable on travel day. I usually have to take moments out while packing, preparing or loading the car to bend down and "talk" to Lucy...let her know everything is ok. You won't be in your normal routine and your child will need some reassurance that this is the plan and this is the way things are supposed to be going, and that you will all be doing this together. It really helps if you have the time to explain that instead of rushing a nervous, possibly tired, anxious kid out the door...not a great stage to set for travel day!

Allow your child to help in whatever way they can. If they are big enough let them pack and carry their own little suitcase or back pack with their activities in it. This usually gets them excited and ready to go!

And don't forget your camera!

ON THE AIRPLANE:

Have your camera ready while boarding....

As you board the aircraft, point out the flight deck to your kids. If your child is interested ask the Flight Attendant to ask the Captain if your kids can pop in for a quick visit. I have never met a Pilot who wouldn't take a few minutes to show a child around the flight deck. Now get that picture;-)

Once at your seats, if you have a window seat, let your child sit there. My daughter loves the window seat! (of course if you have two children...there is the return flight...or one for take off, one for landing.)

Let your child buckle their own seat belt, and take out the safety information card and explain a few things...you don't have to tell them it's for an emergency..keep it age appropriate, and show them the picture of the passenger buckling their seat belt and explain like the car they will need to stay buckled.

Along with all the activities mentioned above you can also play games in flight, an example of one is, "pack a suitcase," start with one person saying, "I'm packing a suitcase and bringing a ____." The next person then repeats the sentence and adds another item. Keep going back and forth until someone forgets something. Then start over...kind of like the electronic game, Simon. (You can find more ideas on "games" to play in the card set. "52 Fun Things to do on the Plane.")

And last but not least, ask your flight attendant for a pair of plastic wings, they'll be a nice souvenir of your flight....and the wonderful time you had on the flight;-)

I would love to hear if anyone has more activity ideas for traveling with kids, let us know!

Now, sit back, relax and enjoy that flight you were dreading...it may just turn out to be fun!

MY INTERVIEW WITH THE "THE UPGRD PODCAST"

2009-07-08T23:19:00.003-05:00

Some of you may know Lucky from his blog at Boardingarea.com, "one mile at a time." He has a great site, and flies about 200k miles a year, so he knows a little something about the ins and outs of the airline world! He is a self described "points collector"....I had know idea this world existed! If you are interested in how he manages to score upgrades and free flights check out his site and be sure to tune into "The upgrd podcast," where you'll find Lucky and his friends discussing the latest in the airline industry, the deal on upgrades, car rental programs and their latest pod cast...an interview with me!

WEDNESDAY'S Q&A

2009-07-08T11:55:00.003-05:00

I have another great question this week form Joe:

Q: Since you work first so much, I've got to ask, what's the easiest/hardest meal to serve? Seems to me like breakfast would be pretty easy since it has a lot less options, at least on AA, which is who I tend to fly. It's basically just three choices, omelet or cereal/fruit, bagel or biscuit, and drink. Once you get into the dinners, there are a couple of hot options, you've gotta worry about wine & cocktails on top of water & all the other drinks, etc, etc.

FP: I'll answer for both cabins. In coach, I find it easier to serve lunch or dinner. Breakfast in coach involves a lot of coffee and tea. Here is a secret.....every FA I know has a pet peeve about passengers and coffee. The peeve is that nine out of ten people don't tell you how they take their coffee. "What?" you say....is the big deal with that? Just ask them...right? Well, I'm not sure, but I can tell you from experience that it does get a tad annoying by row 32....leg #3. I guess you add that with having to ask, "Would like something to drink?" three times before the head phones come out of the ears and voila'....irritation sets in. I know that most passengers still don't understand what the fuss is but trust me it's not personal, it's just one of those things: ) If you would like to get on your FAs good side, next time you fly say, "coffee, cream and sugar please."

In FC everything is easier....to me. I find it more relaxing and Breakfast is a bit easier up front......(except for scrambling those eggs and the bacon splattering everywhere...hahaha!!) You're right it is usually a lighter fare and even if all of my passengers kept how they take their coffee to themselves I only have to ask, "how do you take that?" at the most twenty four times;-) The only problem is I never work early enough to serve breakfast. I guess I like checking in late more than anything else!

MARRIED ON THE FOURTH OF JULY!!

2009-07-04T11:21:00.014-05:00

Some of you may no Shelby, from her blog, "My view from UP here," or from Twitter. I decided to interview Shelby for my Fourth of July post for two reasons, the obvious, she serves in the Army and the other reason I found out yesterday while tweeting with her that she and her husband were married on the 4th of July! So, Happy Anniversary Shelby and Jack!

The flying Pinto: I find it fascinating that you're a FA and serving in the Army. I assume the Army came first? What made you decide to pursue the Army and what do you do for them?

Shelby: I joined the Army in 1986. While following my first husband around in the
Army, I saw what the females were doing .... and I said "I Can do this"...  It was
easy till I had my son in 1987. I was based in Panama, Far from home & my 1st baby.
My husband was no longer in the Army and told me he wanted us to move home. I
liked being in the Army he didn't... I stayed...He went!  As of right now, I am a Human
Resource Instructor, I teach othersoldiers how to manage soldiers in their units. This
includes & is not limited too:  All paperwork on a soldier from their entry into the
service, until they Retire & or they died, Even after retirement.

FP:How much have you been involved in the current war? Have you been in
 any others?

S: As far as this War is concerned, I "Trained" Navy Sailors to be
individual augmentees for Army units in Iraq, Kuwait & Afghanistan...
No small task considering we were given just 3 weeks from start to
finish.  I was involved in Panama, While trying to Oust Noriega...I sat in a
basement & was prepared to implement the "Casualty Reports"...  I
typed only One!  That was my 1st & only! A job to which no one could
ever be truly prepared.  During Desert Storm,  Jack (Current) hubby,
*We were not married yet* took me to the Oregon coast so he could prepare
me for hisdeployment.  I came down on Orders he didn't...  This was also
time for my reenlistment. Jack & I decided I wouldn't Reenlist in
the Army.  I got out of the Army for a couple of reasons, Jack & I had just
gotten married, He is an Officer & I was enlisted, Even though we were
not in the same Division, it was frowned upon, & since he had been in
longer & made more money, I let him stay in, (ha ha) 2nd, we
considered having another child, & Soldier & Mother is a hard JOB! I
don't care what kind of Super Mom you are!
I went into the IRR (Individual Ready Reserve)  A pool of soldiers
that still owe a commitment, but do not have to be on Active Duty
anymore, (Sort of like pulling reserve as a FA)  You go if you are
needed,  I sat there for 1991 to 1997, Until one day hubby *Now
Retired* said,"Why don't you go back in the Army?" to which I replied,
"I Can do that!"  Off I enlisted again for the 2nd time in my Army Career,
I've been in ever since, I joined the U.S. Army Reserve,  One weekend a
month, 2 weeks a year, YEAH RIGHT! That is a commercial, they worked me
like a Step Child, & I loved it... I was in Uniform again, I had missed it.


FP: When did you decide to become a FA? How long have you been flying? Are
you enjoying your 2nd career?

S: After Jack retired from the Army we moved to my home in Fort Worth Texas, I was
a "Cruise Consultant"... Thing was, wecould get these great cruises...but could
never afford the Airfare...well, being in Dallas, who should you apply for?
(TWA) ...I applied in Jan 1999, and they turned me down, I was heartbroken...My
1st book report ever was in 8th grade ..and it was on a TWA Flight
Attendant!  My company called the next day to offer me another
position as a Ticket Agent, Hmmm, Foot in the door, Right?  So I did
that for one year, & applied for Flight Attendant again... GOT IT!,
Living the Dream, Off to Training, in Chicago & Reality sets in,
Seriously I love it, but it not the job you think it is ...looking in from the
outside. I Graduated March 2001,and yes, I do love my 2nd Career.

FP: Your husband is also in the military, is he in the Army too?

S: I met my current husband, Jack in the Army, He was being investigated,
I was the one doing the investigation... we never met face to face, it
was all done via Snail Mail & Phone calls. We didn't have Internet way
back then! When the investigation was over, I went on my way,
Jack went his way, 6 months later, we met, face to face!

Jack joined the Army in 1974  & because of Bill Clinton he retired
with 20 years in 1994 at the age of 38...

He was "Recalled" to active duty in 2006 & is still currently serving
until September of this year! He is the most patriotic person I know!

FP: You mentioned that your husband will be oversees soon, where is he going
and do you know for how long?

S: My husband has been offered a job with a company, that he works side
by side with now, they don't want to lose him, & offered him 3
positions, One is in South Carolina, (He won't take it), the second, is in
Jordon,and the third, is in the Country of Georgia. He is still weighing his
options at this point...
He wants to go back to Iraq, where he served 2 years, as a Civilian
Contractor.  He loved his work there and he loved the people. That
is the problem, he likes this work, but it takes him away for long
periods,  neither one of us are good at being separated, so he is
working with the company for "Dates" that will make everyone happy!

FP: Today (the 4th) is a special day for you and your husband...besides the
obvious...what will you be celebrating?

S: Our Wedding Anniversary! Jack and I were separated for 2 years awhile back,
but we managed to find our way back to each other. We celebrate now more than
ever, that we WANT to be together, to celebrate our marriage! We believe in
marriage now, more than ever! In this day & age, that is a gift in
it's own..

When I asked Jack.... How many years do you want to count as being
married, now that we are back together, he said "ALL OF THEM", I said
"WHY?", he said,  "For better or Worse, baby, Remember your vows,
Count them all"!!

I loved him more that day, than any other!

So, we celebrate the fact that Independence Day, Is our Day! the Fact
that we are Not Independent from each other!

FP: What a great date for you two! How did you decide on the fourth of July
to get married?

S: Our 1st date, Mind you, after 6 months of "Chatting",  we played 20
Questions, He asked on question number 3...Will you marry Me...  WIDE
EYED, and a loss of air in my lungs, I managed to say  "YES!!" His
next question, was WHEN do you want to do this?

I laughed and said, July 4th, I know we will both have that day off &
it's a day you can't forget!


FP: Did you have a big celebration? Where was it? Lots of Fireworks?

S: Since this was both of our 2nd Weddings we kept it low key, just
family & a few friends..
We were married in a Park in Salem Oregon with thousands of Red, White
& Blue balloons...
It was fantastic, my Mother was afraid it would rain.... Jack said
"It wouldn't dare!!" & It didn't, we did Bed & Breakfasts up and down
the coast of Oregon for our Honeymoon.  We took a nap when we arrived
our wedding night, so so tired,  we got up, & he pulled me from the
bed, saying I promised you Fireworks, Now come on lets go!

FP: Do you have any special traditions for celebrating this special day?

S: We are always ALONE, & we always search for the best fireworks! No
matter what city we are in... There is never any family on this day,
It is just the two of us! I know it is selfish, but sometimes you gotta do
what ya gotta do!!

(post photo courtesy of: Laz & Didi's Pics' photostream)

MARK FINISHED HIS JOURNEY! 30 DAYS ON A PLANE...PROBABLY EVERY FLIGHT ATTENDANT'S WORST NIGHTMARE

2009-07-02T23:45:00.003-05:00

Congratulations, Mark! Hope you are enjoying your comfy bed at home!

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO KNOW....WEDNESDAY

2009-06-30T23:36:00.004-05:00

This weeks question comes from Joe...it's a long one, but a good one:

As I sit here, wondering why accounting hasn't gotten me my travel reimbursement, I find myself filled with questions about how you all handle your layover stays. I assume you don't have to book anything, that the airline takes care of it, right? But then, how does it actually work when you get there--do you just show an ID & the room just gets billed to the airline? Or do you have to float it on your credit card & get reimbursed? (Since we use the latter system, I hope you get to do the former, although I know if it's direct billed, sometimes that means you don't get stay credit/points from the hotel, and I hope you get those no matter what...I can't imagine traveling as many nights as you do without earning any status for it!) Are the big airlines linked in with certain hotel chains, so that you only stay at Hilton or Hyatt or whatever no matter what city you're in, or is it city-by-city, e.g., at DFW it's the Hyatt but at MSP it's the Hilton? I'm also guessing that they usually make you guys wait for and take the little hotel van rather than cabbing it. And I can only guess that, with as many nights as you stay a year, that you must have plenty of stories of the hotels botching your reservation, claiming to already be full, etc.

FP: You are right, airline crews don't do any of the booking. The airline takes care of it all. I think the only exception to that is corporate airline crews, but I'm not sure exactly how their bookings are handled. The airline has contracts with certain hotels, and no, they're not all the same chain. Each time a contract comes up, different hotels bid for the airline's business. So, the hotels expect our arrival and have a certain group of rooms blocked out. We check in by writing our names next to a room number and that's about it. Some hotels require that we leave a credit card "imprint" if we want to use any of the hotel services, like rent movies etc. but most do not. You're are also right in assuming that because it is direct billed, we do not get the "points," a sore spot with most of us!

Yes, we use the hotel van service. The hotel usually makes special trips for airline crew although some airport hotels have us ride with everyone. At my airline we have a clause in our contract that states, if we are waiting for more than 20 minutes for a van, we can cab it. If the hotel doesn't have a van service then the airline will contract with a limo/livery service in that city. At my airline, any layover over 20hours means we stay in the city rather than by the airport.

I do have a few "stories," but one that sticks in my mind is when I was working as a load FA (meaning I was by myself) and I arrived in Newark, and because of major weather in the area all the hotels were booked up. I had to call scheduling when I arrived, after waiting on hold for 20 minutes, the scheduler directed me where to pick up my van. I was driven about an hour away from the airport, by myself, by a stranger, to a disgusting, hotel room wreaking of cigarette smoke....and it was the only room they had. Needless to say it was a loooong night! Luckily, we usually stay in pretty nice places and that time was not the norm!

and to answer a question you didn't ask, but it is a common one: "No, we don't have to share hotel rooms, we each get our own: )"

(post photo courtesy of Capnmikesphotostream)

BARE ESSENTIALS OF SAFETY FROM AIR NEW ZEALAND

2009-06-30T00:10:00.003-05:00

Here's a safety video you all might pay attention to;-)

Thanks Kevin! For your recent (Go Girl) comment and introducing me to this very cool "safety demo".....and to answer your question,"would my airline be up for this?" Nooooooo: )

Also, check out "my view from 30000 ft" Blondie, tested out the "remote condom"....thanks, Blondie!

GO GIRL!

2009-06-28T01:13:00.003-05:00

Some of you may remember my first contest...a give-away...no it wasn't the car! It was a gadget. The contestants had to e-mail me and explain...why they had to have it! Well, I got some great responses but the clear cut winner was Aviatrix:

"I fly commercially in a small airplane with

No relief tube or co-pilot. Seven hour missions can lead to
Eight hours between bathroom breaks..
Elevated summer temperatures require me to
Drink lots of water.

Turbulence aggravates my
Overfull bladder

Precision flying requires concentration. If only there were some way to
Empty my bladder in flight. Also, I'm not afraid to blog about the
Experience. (Sorry, no photographs, though)."

Well, she has tried it and posted about it! Thanks Girl! Head over to her blog, "Cockpit Conversation" and check out what she has to say about the experience!

MY SECRETS REVEALED: DIFFICULT CUSTOMERS

2009-06-27T12:24:00.003-05:00

When I tell people what I do for a living, they usually respond by saying, "I don't know how you do it, I wouldn't last one day....I'd be in a fight with someone!" Dealing with passengers on an airplane can be trying at times but I have a couple of techniques I use for dealing with "troublesome" passengers. Here are two methods I use on almost every flight:

The Kindergarten Teacher:

There are two types of passengers that are particularly hard to deal with the first is, the needy passenger. When I say needy, I am not talking about you, the passenger that might have a couple of special requests during a flight. I travel too and understand how it is to travel and the needs that arise. I am talking about the "extremely" needy passenger that distracts FAs away from everything and everyone else. Most flights have one. My trick for dealing with this type of personality is to pretend that I am a Kindergarten Teacher and to treat this person like they are 5. It works every time. I meet their need, but I also give them much needed direction. I let them know what to expect, when to expect it and what is expected of them...works like a charm. It is a win/win.

The Diffuser:

The next type is not as easy to deal with. It is the passenger that shows up irate. (I'm not talking about taking anyone along who is a threat to the flight...I'm talking about your average mad person) When I was new I used to engage with these people...big mistake. There is never a good outcome. What did I accomplish by arguing back? Even if I "won" and had the passenger removed from our flight, the tone for that flight has now been set...I've taken on the bad energy, and inconvenienced the other passengers. I had been flying for about 5 years when we had a passenger on a flight who had managed to piss off everyone before he even sat down! We were in the process of talking to the Captain to see about having him removed, when the gate agent came down, and informed us that this man's daughter was also on the plane. Only she was in cargo, he was on the flight to escort her body home for her funeral. Ever since then? When a passenger gets on one of my flights and is looking for a fight? I tell myself that he/she is heading to the funeral of a loved one. It changes the way I approach them and instead of taking things personally I can now diffuse the situation. Some people see it as putting up with people you shouldn't put up with. I see it as making the flight more pleasurable for everyone.

(Photo courtesy of: George Eastman House's Photostream)

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO KNOW....WEDNESDAY

2009-06-23T20:30:00.007-05:00

This weeks question comes from Joe:

Just recently discovered your blog and, as a very frequent flier for business, I am enjoying the behind-the-scenes look at the airline world.

Had a quick question, though. It may just be my perception, but it has sure seemed like certain carriers' crews have been getting older and older and older, while others' crews seem to get younger and younger and younger. Is that your experience/perception as well? Do FAs often change carriers? Given how important seniority seems to be in your job, I would think there would be a huge downside to switching, but the only explanation I can figure for the age trend is that there are "starter airlines," where young FAs get their first jobs but that are less desirable for some reasons (because of routes, pay, etc), and then there are "career airlines," that are more desirable that FAs jump to & stay at once they can. Is that right? Just curious.

Thanks so much for writing your blog, and good luck with everything!

Joe
San Diego, California

Hi Joe!

Thank you so much for reading my blog, I am flattered that you are enjoying it! I know as a frequent business traveler you experience a lot of the same frustrations that we do. I've mentioned in previous posts that business travelers are my favorite travelers because you understand the ins and outs of traveling and don't usually take it out on the crew when there are weather, ATC, or mechanical delays!

To answer your question, yes we are older, older, older at the majors because seniority is everything.(which is not a bad thing, think, U.S Air 1549...average age of the crew? 54.4 years) Flight Attendants and Pilots alike will stay at an airline once they are hired because it doesn't make much sense to keep starting from the bottom. I have 16 years at my airline and my seniority number is 3,878 out of 9,450 Flight Attendants. We have a lot of 25-40 year FAs.(not their age...their seniority) There really isn't a lot incentive to quit, as a FA at my airline you can work as much or as little as you want. Why quit?

And, yes the younger, younger ,younger FAs seem to be at the new low cost carriers. We haven't hired too much since 911. For a while there weren't that many FAs under 30. Now we have a handful of FAs in their twenties again, I just recently flew with a woman who is 26 and her Mom is a FA with us and she has 39 years! I should also mention that the airlines, at least mine, likes to hire people with experience! Life experience that is...the oldest person in my FA training class was 63! A retired teacher...great FA!

As far as desirability, yes, I am happy with the big boys! I like longer flights and I'm not a fan of the small planes: )For me, the majors was a better choice but I think it's a matter of personal preference.

Please send in your questions, you can leave them in the comments section or e-mail me at theflyingpinto@aol.com!

AN EARTHQUAKE, $12.00 DAYQUIL AND A MOOSE

2009-06-23T16:54:00.005-05:00

Sometimes things don't work out the way you planned...as was the case for my layover in Anchorage. I had been looking forward to this trip all month. It is rare that I will work a three day trip these days but I love going to Anchorage and with the husband on vacation I decided to take advantage.......only I got sick! I tried to convince myself it was allergies, and checked in on Sunday for my trip......only it wasn't allergies.....and I went down hill from there.

The 7 hour flight up wasn't too bad but I had to go straight to bed by the time we got there. My crew on the other hand made plans...BIG plans to go out and join the summer solstice party going on....and for those of you reading who are FAs or Pilots, you know how rare it is that your whole crew is cool and wants to got out!! I actually contemplated joining them and then succumbed to my achy, tired body in hopes of feeling better in the morning and being able to explore then.

Well, it didn't seem possible but I felt worse the next day. I decided to stay in bed and fell back asleep only to be awoken to my bed shaking back and forth. I immediately thought someone was under my bed! Hotel beds sometimes have a hollow frame that the mattress sits on and as FAs we always hear these horror stories of someone hiding in there and waiting for your arrival to attack. My first thought when the bed started shaking was, "I can't believe this guy waited all night to come out and get me!" But, then I saw everything in my room shaking and realized, "Oh my God! I'm in an earthquake!!" My first earthquake! I found out the epicenter was about 30 miles away and registered 5.7! I don't think anyone was hurt and so it was actually kind of exciting....considering how unexciting my trip was up until that point.

I spent the rest of the day watching a movie, still feeling lousy, and sleeping as much as I could. I had to be in the lobby at 7pm for our van to the airport, so I went a little early so I could go to the gift shop and find something to help me get through my flight. Much to my horror and surprise the Dayquil I found in the gift shop was $12!! Can you believe that? Is it even close to that at the stores? I haven't bought it in so long, but I can't imagine it being that much. I really didn't have a choice so I bought the Dayquil and $5 cough drops. I met up with the rest of my crew, and found out that they had a blast, met up with 2 other airline crews, took over the back room of some bar and partied like rock stars!! I felt so left out!

Our van ride to the airport held an unexpected treat...we saw a Moose and her two babies! Our driver pulled over and they were only about 30 ft. from us. My crew whipped out their camera's and got some great shots...I was feeling so bad at this point that I couldn't even pull out my camera...they all promised to e-mail me their photo's. I promise to post, when and if this happens...you never know...we're all best friends at work and then you get home and the intentions to keep in touch etc. are there but you get caught up in your everyday life at home...and then usually about 4-5 years later run into these people you meant to e-mail, or call.

My crew did ROCK though, especially the woman I was working FC with. She pretty much handled it on her own while I sat out the service. I though about calling out sick and staying in Alaska but we had minimum crew, and without me the flight would have been cancelled. I'm sure our full flight was happy I showed up.....sick or not: )

The good news is I'm home...still feeling lousy...but home...and somehow that makes it all a little better!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY TO THOSE DADS OUT THERE WHO CARRY THE "MOTHER LOAD"

2009-06-21T10:51:00.003-05:00

This was during our five hour "delay" Lucy was about to pass out: )

WHY YOU DON'T WANT TO FLUSH AIRPLANE TOILETS WITH SMALL CHILDREN AROUND

2009-06-20T22:47:00.002-05:00

This is funny....we used to do this all the time...very entertaining to passengers...well, not all...but most find it funny: )

LIFE LESSONS LEARNED AT 31000 FEET

2009-06-19T22:54:00.011-05:00

I found this list at The Secret Life of a Flight Attendant. I've been reading Katie's blog since she was in the hiring process for becoming a FA. She has been on the line a couple of months now and I get the biggest kick out of reading about her new adventures. I wish blogging was around when I started flying! Anyway, here are some of my favorites from her list of lessons learned at 31000 feet:

When an airplane is going back to the gate due to a mechanical problem with the air conditioner there is no way to answer, "Why can't we just open a window?" with a straight face.
Your crew really can set the tone for what kind of mood you'll be in for the next 2-5 days.
If you piss off crew scheduling you'll find a six leg a day trip in your near future.
In-flight management must have already forgotten how challenging this job can be on the body, heart and soul of a reserve.
That air sick bags are my new "duct tape"....1001 uses and counting!
What crew juice is (see my previous post) the different names for it as well as several recipes
That oxygen bars are Gods solution to hangovers.
That it is always the little old women who know they can't lift their bags that pack the heaviest.
That business cards are a must because cocktail napkins are to easy to lose.
That a seal-a-meal I bought is the best $45 I'll ever spend.
That you can heat seal-a-meal bags inside an airsick bag full of hot water and actually eat a hot meal on the plane.
That the view from the flight deck is breath taking.
That even though the aft lav says "PUSH" on the door, people will still pull out the ash tray thinking it is the door knob.
That the forward lav attracts everyone from row 1-31
That you should never tell a 5 month pregnant lady that her flight has been canceled unless you plan on calling security.
That layover hotels do not like skinny dippers!

For the full list go to katiecoffey.blogspot.com

(air sick bags photo courtesy of Man met bril's photostream)

HIP COMPASS "ESCAPES" SUMMER ISSUE

2009-06-18T23:36:00.003-05:00

The new issue of Hip Compass "Escapes" Magazine has hit the virtual news stands. Hurry! Head over and get your copy now! You'll can find my article, "Life Styles of the not so Rich and Famous" on page 20. It's an in depth look at my life as a Flight Attendant and how it has evolved over the years from being young, single and free to travel the world to fitting my lifestyle as a mom today.

This is the second issue of a great new publication where you'll find an interesting group of travel writers. Check it out and let me know what you think!

"SIR, YOU NEED TO SIT DOWN RIGHT NOW!"

2009-06-18T13:21:00.003-05:00

Check out this post from Lucky's blog, "One Mile at a Time" over at the boardingarea.com, he is a college student who flies over 200k a year, I love his perspective on flying and this one gos along with Wednesday's Q&A...also check out part one of this eventful flight..."passenger pisses off Flight Attendant, no really!" I'm happy I wasn't working this flight!

(post pic from Lucky's collection at Flickr.com...one of the many showing how frequently he really does travel!)

BRING BACK THE STEWARDESSES

2009-06-17T10:34:00.006-05:00

I came across this post last night and I just had to share it with all my insightful, intelligent, supportive readers. I left the first comment and then linked it to twitter as a result he ended up with more Flight Attendant comments than he probably wanted! It got such a huge response I thought I would pass it on to those of you who are not on twitter...Of course I would love all thoughts: )

by Robert Coram:

"The biggest airline in the world, Atlanta’s own Delta Airlines, is in serious trouble: a $125 million hit this quarter, reduction of system capacity by ten per cent this year, and the loss of 8,000 jobs in the past 12 months. But I know how to fix all this and, at the same time, advance western civilization: bring back the stewardesses and impose on them an upper age limit of 30.

One of the most bizarre marketing ploys in history was when the airlines dropped “stewardess” and picked up “flight attendant.” It seems that “stewardess” was demeaning and that “flight attendant” more professional. The job did not change, only the attitude. Think nose dive. And by the way, how do you attend a flight?.......

To read more go to: Likethedew.com...yes, there's more!!

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO KNOW....WEDNESDAY

2009-06-16T23:13:00.007-05:00

This weeks question comes from Mark Lawrence:

"What is the most ridiculous excuse you have heard from a person who just could not stay seated?"

This one stumped me because I've heard all the "regular" excuses...have to go to the bathroom really bad, back aches, recent leg surgery etc...but nothing really ridiculous, so I called on my friends over at Twitter, who are awesome by the way, and here is what they came up with:

"Worst ever had was pro football charter & several guys were in too much pain to sit. They were really nice about it but some wouldn't even sit for landing!"
BethanyinFL

"Last one I can recall, Was the "Praying" Excuse, Then kept hanging out in the Galley moo-ching drinks, *Eye Roll*"
FlyAArmy
upupnaaway.blogspot.com

"I forgot to turn my phone off, while fumbling thru the overhead bin!"
BlondieDC
myviewfrom30000feet

"I'm in a hurry", "I'm a diamond stellar status member", "I have a pilot's license" "I can't understand English"-oh really?
TraytablesTrvls
Incaseofemergency

"I have a bladder problem, I have to go to the bathroom every 5mins"
Dennis9295

"I can't stay seated because then my pants will be crinkly for my wedding later today."The guy wore sweatpants BTW
CBI28

"When I'm having a drink,(alcohol),I like to stand."...what???!
tallicarules

Best excuse I've heard was "I'm a fighter pilot, I'm used to flying." We hit some moderate turbulence & he spilled his soda.
navyaircrewman
navyaircrew.com

Number 2 for take off Woman gets out her seat to open overhead bin I ask her to sit down she says "My lucky shirt is in my..bag." My response, "Well if this plane takes off with you up your not going to be so lucky...please sit down!"
DGNY

-This just get me every time. "The agent said if there were open seats in F/C, that I could sit there!!"
-"Oh I Thought The Seatbelt Sign Was Off"!!
-"my kids are sitting in F/C and I have to keep checking on them"
Dennis9295

"Once as F/O I got called to the back for this. A kinda large lady said she just had ASS surgery."
IIballcane

"ants on a plane" - my next screen play -> "stay in your seat!" "no, there are ANTS on this plane!" "ayyyeeee!"
flyddw mix.epicfu.com

"How about...I REALLY REALLY need to use the lav...?"
leaky_tiki flickr.com

"~~~~Securty made them check their....donut, :-)) ~~~~"
Twitter/N304TT

(Post photo by Tommy Gakenwan)

FLIGHT ATTENDANTS MAKE BETTER PARTNERS BECAUSE...

2009-06-16T01:20:00.008-05:00

Facebook has a Flight Attendant Group and I found this list on their site, "Flight Attendants make the best partners (bf/gf/wife/husband/spouse/defecto..whatever..)because..."

Here are a few of my favorites:

"Because we can set up for a party in a half an hour, make airline reservations inside of twenty minutes, cater an affair for 30 out of a closet, talk to a total stranger about his most pressing problem and not remember it a day later, carry lunch for a Crew of five in a grocery bag, and look like a million bucks from a dead sleep to the wheel of a car in 19 minutes. We take it in stride, cry later and go on. Unfortunately, we tend to be independent, self starting, and after a while we don't put up with much. Good people? Yes. But we have extremely high standards and we won't take a back seat to anyone. That's a bit intimidating for most potential partners."
Patricia Sund

"...we show faith daily (that mechanics have fixed things and our sig others don't stray), know where the cheapest restaurant is in every town, have tolerance that rival saints, and can get our partners to places they'd never dream of going to... and know how to say "you're an IDIOT" with a smile on our faces and NOT get in trouble."
Heather Ragle

"Domestic Partner Flight Benefits!!!!"
Jonathon Lack

"..they are never home!!"
Vimyr Romarez Reaid

"unlimited amount of hotels soaps and shampoos."

Steve Walden

"We always have a great dress-up outfit to wear!!@#$Ultra sexy..!!!"

Adriana Oliver Yanez

"...because you can drink have cocktails in New York, lunch in Chicago, shopping in San Francisco, go clubbing in LA, and recover from your hang over in Miami :)"
Oscar Daniels

"we tell it like it is!"

MaryJean Maglio White

"because our lifestyle is like the rich and famous people."

Anita Diaz

"because you marry me and fly for free. Stand by of course!!"

Tina Stocks Ruvalcaba

" I'm an FA and so is my gf. The best part about seeing each other is that we can get up at 4pm and enjoy each other's company until dawn the next day. (even if it's a Tuesday)"
Mike Gill

"…because FAs are great problem solvers...and generally... great diplomats as well! :-)"

Jorge Carmo

LEAVE A LIGHTER FOOTPRINT

2009-06-15T00:01:00.008-05:00

Travel Green

A guest post by Deborah at www.puremothers.com

School is out and summer vacations are calling. Some will stay close to home, some will travel by car and others will take to the blue skies in search of some well-deserved R & R. If you want to take your green way of living with you on your vacation there are several things you can do. Firstly, choose an airline that has a high green rating. Greenopia recently rated the airline industry and gave Virgin America and Continental high accolades. The ratings were in the areas of fuel conservation, alternative types of fuel, recycling programs, green building design, green food options and carbon offsets. You could start by choosing to fly with either of them.

Pack your own reusable water bottles to fill up at the airport, once you've gone through security. If you must purchase bottled water at the airport, look for recycling bins to discard or take them with you until you find a recycling bin. I've tucked a bottle or two into my bag or car until I got home to dispose of properly. Take your own utensils with you and avoid plastic utensils offered at the airport. To-Go Ware makes a cool bamboo set with a recycled plastic or cloth pouch for carrying. If you need a jolt of caffeine while you're waiting for your flight and decide to wait in that long Starbucks line, opt for the organic, fair trade coffee- sans plastic lid. Just drink the first few inches down so you don't spill it while you walk.

We all know that once you get the "okay" from the flight crew you can use your electronic devices. Why not give the batteries a rest and read a book? Have you been to a bookstore lately? There is something for everyone. If you can't find something of interest to you, then you really do need this vacation to find yourself. My point is - electronics use energy. Save it and find other activities to occupy your time on the flight. Sudoku anyone?

If you're traveling with children, it's easy to look to convenience items, especially for meals. Instead make a batch of muffins and sandwiches at home to bring with you on your flight. To-Go Ware also makes great stainless steel tiffins to store food. I pack mine with sandwiches, fruit and yogurt. Just make sure there are no liquids in yours. It will ruin your vacation if it gets confiscated. Always be sure to check the airline's website for rules and regulations regarding items allowed on the plane. If you're a cloth diaper user, you score extra green points, but if not, you can think about switching over after your trip. In the meantime, be as green as you can and remember to put the poop in the toilet before you wrap up the diaper to discard. Some people are not aware that it is actually illegal to throw human waste in the trash. It needs to go into the sewage system where it can be treated properly. The greenest wipes on the market, short of making your own with cloth, are from Nature Baby Care. The wipes and the packaging are 100% biodegradable.

Once you arrive at your destination you can continue your green vacation. Did you choose a green hotel? These environmentally friendly hotels have chosen energy-saving measures, like low-flow shower heads and toilets, recycling and avoiding wastefully packaged products. Check out www.greenhotels.com to book your vacation.

Here are a few more things you can do to leave a lighter footprint. Because, the only footprint you should leave is from a walk on the beach!

-Share meals so you don't have leftovers to take from a restaurant. They're usually in plastic clam shells or Styrofoam. Or - bring your stainless steel tiffins from your flight and put your leftovers in those.
-Skip the plastic straws in your margarita. Get it with salt and lick the rim (my personal favorite).
-If you have a kitchen at your destination and need to do grocery shopping, bring your own bags and skip the plastic and paper. EnviroSax makes really small bags that roll up and fit right in your pocket.
-Rent bikes and share cabs.
-Eat organic, local foods when possible (I mean that's why you're there, right?)
-Shut the lights off in your hotel room when you leave.
- Reuse your towels.
-Keep the television turned off. You can watch TV at home.
- Be moderate with the A/C and turn off when you leave. If appropriate to your place of stay, open windows and turn on fans instead of A/C.
- Always throw litter and recyclables in the proper trashcans.

Enjoy your green vacation!

INSIDE THE LIFE OF A FLIGHT ATTENDANT

2009-06-13T23:46:00.003-05:00

By Dan Pimentel:

"For as long as there have been commercial airliners hauling passengers to Grandma's house, there have been members of that flight's crew managing the cabin, serving meals and refreshments and soothing the jitters of scared flyers. Long ago when big airliners still had propellers, they were called "Stewardesses" or even the less respectful "Trolley Dollies", neither of which stuck, thankfully.

Today, the women and men in that profession are called Flight Attendants, or FAs for short. We see them on every trip to the airport, often waiting for their next leg to begin, often looking quite bored. As I watch them moving through endless airports towing their well-worn suitcases, I often wonder just what life as an FA is like.

Recently on Twitter, I mentioned that curiosity to Sara Keagle, a veteran FA with a major carrier which shall remain unnamed. She offered to answer for publication any questions I had. I took her up on this offer, and the results follow. I hope you find this as interesting as I did, it really is a look into what that profession really is like".......

Head over to Dan's Blog, "AV8RDANS WORLD OF FLYING" for the complete interview.

HIDEAWAY VILLAGE COTTAGE AND OUR WEEK IN PICTURES

2009-06-12T22:26:00.007-05:00

We made it home, and I am happy to report our trip back went smoother than the flight up. We gave ourselves plenty of time...enough time to enjoy Legal Seafood's Crab Bisque at the airport...only to find out, it is seasonal: ( So, everything but the Bisque worked out. We had 3 seats together and Lucy slept for the last two hours. It was a busy vacation for us we had a wedding, a graduation, a cookout, and a memorial service to attend all in the first 3 days!We were able to slow down a bit and enjoy the last 4 days hanging out at the many beaches Cape Cod has to offer. I know of a couple nice, slightly off the beaten trail beaches, if you are ever headed to the Cape e-mail me and I will share some secrets: ) And as promised here are some details on our cottage rental. The first 5 pictures are of the cottage we rented and the little village it is in. As you can see it is a cottage....about 400 sq. ft with a bathroom smaller than some closets.In fact if you have not been to Europe, Asia or New England it is possible you have no idea what I am talking about but trust me it's small. The good points are it is clean, extremely affordable ($400-$500 per week depending on when), it has a gas oven and stove and is centrally located between Boston and Cape Cod. The trickier aspects are the fact that it is BYOB (bring your own bedding) Another crazy New England phenomena, a lot of people who stay are coming down from Boston for a vacation so it's easy for them to bring bedding and towels. We are fortunate to have family near by because I was unaware of the BYOB policy. If you are interested in renting the place just contact Freeflyingmom...my mom...I'm sure she'd be happy to help with the linens: ) The pictures below are of beaches within a short driving distance from where we stayed. As you can see, they're beautiful, not crowded, and the star fish were in abundance this week. You can see Lucy below helping one back to the ocean. If you have any questions about the area or renting here just send me an e-mail, I'm happy to pass the information along!

I'M BACK....

2009-06-12T17:50:00.002-05:00

Posting will resume tonight after Lucy gos to sleep; ) Here she is sitting in the FOs seat before our flight home. The Captain was so nice and when he asked her what she thought about flying she took her shoe off to show him her "pink" toes!

IF I'M NOT HERE....I'M AT THE BEACH

2009-06-09T17:34:00.002-05:00

No WiFi...be back Thursday: )

VACATION: DAY ONE

2009-06-04T08:02:00.003-05:00

4am: wake up to get ready for a 7:25am departure

6:26: leave for airport...yes, extremely late.

6:45: arrive at The Parking Spot...yes, we live that close to the airport.

7:00: arrive at the airport....very long line at security...not looking good.

7:05: explain to gate agent that we're late...we're checked in...but printer didn't work so we don't have boarding passes, therefore unable to be in the short line (baggage check for pax w/ tickets)

7:07: Agent helps us...get tickets, head for long security line...chased down by "bag nazi" who claims we have too many bags. (we have 6 bags, 2 each and Lucy's car seat) when she sees I am an employee, the harassment gets worse...TSA agent had to explain to her we are right..."bag nazis" day probably ruined!

7:12:through security...ruuuuunnnnn really fast to our gate.

7:16: arrive at our gate to find out the flight is closed...here is my conversation with the gate agent:

Me: "We're here!"

Agent: "Flights closed."

Me: "You closed it 9 minutes early?"

Agent: "It's a head start flight...it's closed."

Me: "I thought you could only close a flight 5 early?"

Agent(now speaking to me like I am his child): "It is 5 early...and you know better...you need to be here a lot earlier than this." (he closed 10 early)

Me: " It's only 7:20 right now...and yes, thank you, I know that I need to be earlier. I guess you've never been late? But, thanks for the comments." (couldn't help it...the "bag nazi" already had my blood boiling, didn't have time to take it out on her and my biggest pet peeve is to be spoken to like I am 5)

and so the adventure begins....next flight at 11am.

(photo courtesy of: Caribbs photostream at Flickr.com)