My month with Captain DAVE

I have had the opportunity to fly with many memorable and not so memorable cockpit crews during my career. Here is one unforgetable story!

Once you become a line holder, you are usually co-paired with  the same captain an first officer for a month.  Which can be a good or bad thing depending upon how you look at the situation.  If you have good chemisty with your pilots, you can usually count on a month full of laughs, late nights spent at a local brew pub during layovers, and an all around fun work envirnment.  Though if you find yourself stuck with a crew that is anti-social or self absorbed, you're in for a long lonely month.

Luckily for me, that was not the case in August, during my month with "Captain Dave."  Dave was a 14 year veteren of out company, but unlike most captains with his similar senority, Dave still liked to have fun, and enjoy work, ESPECIALLY at the expense of others!  He was also one of those pilots who actually enjoyed giving enroute P.A.'s to the passengers.  After giving the normal weather, time remaining ect, he would usually tell the passengers a little bit about me, and my former career before being a flight attendant!  In the course of the month, I had been a character for Disney World, a four year High School volley ball champ for a local high school.  I was also flight attendant of the quarter.  I was getting my masters in meterology to leave the airline industry to be a weather girl on the Weather Channel, also leaving to be a back up singer for Britney Spears!  There are too many more to mention, but I think that you get my drift. 

I don't know how he did it, but he was able to plan his P.A. for when I was right smack in the middle of the isle, doing my beverage service, so that I had nowhere to hide.  I was mortified at first, but came to be amused with all of the looks that my passengers would give me, especally after he told them that I would be a back up singer for Brittany Spears.

Noone was safe from the clutches of Dave!  You can always tell who had flown with him in the past, because when you would mention who you were flying with, everyone had their own unique story to share!

Travel Tips for venturing across the big pond!

Here's a few tips that I have learned from all of my travels:

*Don't bother going to a currency exchange to exchange your Euros for the
USD, or vise versa.  When you get to the States, or wherever you are going to, all that you have to do is withdraw money from an ATM.  That way you don't have to pay the outrageous fees that the F/X charges.  Also use your credit cards whenever possible.  (This is what I do whenever I go to Canada, and it saves me alot of money and hassle.)

*During your flight to and from the U.S. drink PLENTY of water.    By preventing dehydration, you also cut back on alot of the effects of jet lag as well.  Wear loose fitting shoes and clothing.   Also make sure to stretch inflight to prevent deep vien trombosis. Use ear plugs to reduce the plane noise. 

*Remember it's an 8 hour flight to come across the pond, being comfortable is the key to happiness.  I suggest upgrading to at least business or first class if available.  There is a world of difference between coach and first class on international flights, and I always find it to be money well spent! 

*Have an extra certified copy of important documents like your birth certificate, proof of citizenship, ect.  Just in case... 

*Remember that you can't bring any perishable foods intoor out of the US Especially  not any meat products.  We don't want foot and mouth disease in our country!

*To clear US Customs you will need your passport, a completed US customs declaration card and a i94(if you are not a US citizen) form.  Depending on the mood of the customs officer, they may or may not stamp your passport.  If they don't, you can ask them to stamp it for you. If you want a US stamp in your passport! (I ask for a stamp whenever I go to Canada...  Hey why not right??)