Some of my Favourite things:

In my line of work, I have encountered people from all walks of life. 

 

You would think that my favourites would be the business travelers who fly as much as I do, but it's not.  The vacationers are my favourite passengers, because they remind me of my life before I became a flight attendant.  The sparkle in their eyes, the smile on their face and the new outfit that they bought specially for the plane ride, brings a smile to my face even if I have had a long day.  Their excitement about being on an airplane is both intoxicating and contagious.  Their wide eyes, please and thank-yous are a pleasant change from the usual, "DIET COKE.....  NO ICE!"  I know that in a small way, I am part of what will make or break their vacation, and I try to make their time with me a pleasant one.  I know that some of them have probably been planning their trips for weeks, even months.

 

It reminds me of when I used to fly to California every summer, in high school, to see my god-parents.  I was sooooo excited about being on an airplane, that I almost jumped out of my skin.  I loved sitting by the window, because I could see the earth with a bird's eye view.  I had my intinerary memorized as soon as the tickets arrived in the mail.  My outfit was planned out, as was everything that I needed in my carry on.   

 

I was once a twice in a lifetime flyer who dreamed of a jet set life.  Being at the airport in the middle of all of the hussle and bussle, made me crave more.  Airplanes, airports, travel, ect. fascinated me.  I knew that there were more places out there than just my little town in Montana that I grew up in.  I hungered to see things for myself, not just on TV.

 

Even today as much as I travel, whether it be working or for pleasure, I never get tired of looking out the window, and seeing my office view!

Precious Strikes back

I guess everyone has to have an opinion!  It's easier to sit back and point fingers at others rather than to look at one's own faults...

 

Thanks for the response.

I'm just disappointed by your repeated complaints about people
who use Priceline or find discounted fares. It works both ways. By your
standard, you're even worse since you generally pay nothing for your
tickets. And, boy, do you ever complain.

Of course, it's true that novice travelers are going to make some dumb
remarks. They don't know any better. What's your excuse?

Precious,  

So is it safe to assume that you are both a NOVICE traveler, and someone who uses priceline?   

I must also assume that you just love your JOB so much that you can't think of anything at all that you could change or complain about it?   

So I am even worse because I have the ability to travel for next to nothing?  What bothers you more?  That I fly to more places in one week, then you have been to in your entire life, or that I can walk up to any gate, and hop on that flight?   

You must be one of those people who sit in coach fuming because you know that there are airline employees sitting up in a first class seat, while you paid good money for a ticket in coach.  You must be one of those people who treat the flight attendant like a servant because you feel entitled merely because YOU bought a ticket.    

 

Where do these people come from, and why do they always seem to find me?  It amazes me what procures when jelousy rears its ugly head!

An interesting E-MAIL

The following is an amusing e-mail that I just got regarding my BLOG...

 

Gotta love the irony.

A flight attendant gripes about the problems traveling for free via
standby, then trashes passengers for buying tickets on Priceline and then
daring to make a peep.

If pax are rude, that's a problem. But what difference does it make how
much they paid for the fare?

 

Dear Precious,  

Every flight attendant has stories/complaints about passengers.  I just choose to make mine available for everyone to read!  

I applaud anyone who can find a cheap fare...  But you have to have some common sense.  You can't pay 50 bucks for a ticket from Grand Rapids, MI to Green Bay, WI, and expect the plane to be a 777.  I can do many things, but making planes bigger isn't one of them!  Though it's been my observation that cheap tickets and rudeness seem to go hand in hand, let alone being completely socially inept.  It's the quirkies, who are only one my plane because it was the cheapest fare, that keep my job interesting.    

I have been writing lately about my adventures in non-rev travel, because I get a lot of questions about how WONDERFUL it must be to have flight benefits.  I wanted to show people the reality of what it is really like to fly NRSA.  What can happen to you even though you think that you have a backup plan for getting where you need to go.  

Most people who have a sense of humour, find my stories entertaining... 

Seriously people, I write this BLOG for entertainment, not to rid the world of stupidity! Feel free to e-mail me with any comments you might have.  Be aware they may be made available for the rest of the world to see!

TOP TEN QUESTIONS

The top ten silliest  questions that I get asked about being a flight attendant:

 

10. Do you get hit on all the time by pilots and passengers

 9. Do you get to travel for free?

 8. When can I see you in your uniform?

 7. So do you have a guy in every city that you fly to?

 6. Are you loyal?

 5. Can I see a pic of you in your uniform?

 4. So do you travel alot?

 3. My buddies are going to Vegas, can you give me a pass?

 2. Have you ever caught anyone joining the mile high club?

 1. Are you a member of the mile high club?

In case you were wondering the answer to all of these questions is a simple: NO!

Thanks to one of my IM buddies for the inspriation!!  You know who you are!

Can You Call Ahead??????

"I have a tight connection, can YOU call ahead and have them hold the plane for me?"

The answer to that question is plain and simple....  NO!  Chances are there isn't a way to call ahead and have them hold your connection for you, and here is one reason why:

Let's put you in someone else's shoes for just a second.  Imagine that YOU were already on the plane, and had a REALLY tight connection to make, when you reached the destination.  Now they are holding the flight for some twice in a lifetime flyer, and YOU are going to miss your next flight.  So when you finally reach the destination, they hold your connection for you, but there is someone else, on your next flight, who has a connection to make at YOUR final destination...  As you can plainly see, holding flights for people has a snowball effect on the sequential ones after it, all because you booked a 30 minute connection in ORD. 

If airlines held flights for people who misconnect all of the time, then nothing would run on schedule. The airline's small thread of dependability would be thrown out of the door.  If you have ever taken Amtrak anywhere, then you know what I am talking about.

It is something that I expearience on a weekly basis.  I fly up to 6 flights a day.  Let's say that I have a ground delay on flight #1, I can bet on being late to my overnite,or getting home to my hungry kitties, on leg #6, because of the dominoe effect of one slight ground delay.

As a passenger, you only have to think about yourself, and what affects you in the end result.  The airline has to consider what is the best for the majority of passengers on every flight, every day.  They have to what is best for everyone, not just one passenger.  As frustrating as it may seem to you.   Letting one or two passengers misconnect and be rebooked on a later flight is at times a lot easier than delaying a flight, only to have it escalate into a far bigger problem later down the line.

Sit back, relax, and enjoy your flight...  Next time don't book a thirty minute connection!

 

Someone IS listening!

So someone wants to feature me and my blog in a local article?  Here's what I have to say about that!  

So what is going on in my life come April?  I don't even know what's happening in my life next week except for the fact that, I go back to work on the 4th of January, and I have weekends off!  LOL  I like to keep my life as simple and low key as possible.   

As you may have read in my blog, my life is far from glamourus!  The reason that I started my blog in the first place, was because I was getting random IMs and e-mails from people (ok mostly men with a stewardess fetish) who wanted to know all about my job.  I was sick of answering all of the same silly questions over and over.  The typical, oh you must travel all the time on your days off, and about funny stories I had to tell, or what I did and didn't like about my job. That's almost worse than hearing, "What do you have?" over and over again!  

Out of pure laziness, my blog was born.  My goal is to someday compile enough of my stories to publish a book like, Plane Insanity or Around the World in a Bad Mood.  The difference of my tale being that, I work for a regional airline, and ping pong back and forth in and out of ORD all day long.  It's amazing to me how much people are enamored with the idea of jet setting off to the far corners of the world, or the idea getting to fly there for next to nothing.  That's what drew me to this crazy life 5 years ago, though it's not why I have stayed at a regional airline.  I have learned that you don't have to go to some far off exotic location to have a good time, sometimes it's right out your back door!  When I tell people the reality of what my life is really like, they don't want to hear it.  At the end of the day, even flight attendants are human beings too...  We are no longer the swinging sex symbols of days gone bye.  

The "Coffee, Tea, or Me?" days have long since passed.  Though there is still that sense of mystique about a job that is today in fact really a flying vending machine with heels!  Everyone assumes that I fly on the big planes and have layovers in London or Paris.  In fact to this day I have yet to go to either of those places.  I'd rather sleep in my own bed with my two cats!  

So in a nutshell, this is what will be happening in my life from now, until at least April...  Our flight attendants have been in contract negotiations for a new contract for almost 4 years now, with no resolution in sight.  Unlike mainline flight attendants, we didn't take any concessions because we are still grossly underpaid.  It's sad that it has come to a point that we have to fight even for basic human rights.  

I posted an except from this e-mail on my blog, because I have already gotten several e-mails from people who want to know if I am going to be doing the article...  I figure why not?  As long as I have a union rep along, I think that my 15 minutes of fame is almost due.  LOL

More info on becomming a flight attendant

The following is an excerpt from another letter that I wrote to a girl who wants to become a flight attendant.  I thought that this added information might be helpful to others who are interested in a career as a flying cocktail waitress...

The minimum age requirement is between 19 to 21, with most major airlines being 21.  I work for the largest regional airline in the US.  Our minimum requirements are: 19 years old, 2 years of customer service experience, being bilingual is preferred, and able to pass a criminal background check and drug test....  ect.   

It's not hard to find work as a flight attendant today post 9-11-2001, but the only airlines that are currently hiring are regional airlines like the one that I work for.  Working for a regional airline is a great place to start to see if you really like the job.  You can start at a regional, then when the majors start hiring you will be more marketable because you are already a flight attendant.   

Well having a degree isn't really necessary in my field. (I don't have my degree)  Stay away from places that offer flight attendant training and job placement.  They are just a waste of time and money.  Every airline has their own training program. Though I feel the classes that I did take in college that really helped me were:   

Anthropology classes, (anything to do with culture will help you to understand differences and make it easier to interact with people from all over the world)  

Foreign Languages, are you bilingual?  You should be if you ever want to work at a major airline.  French, Spanish, German or Japanese are the most desirable.   

Public speaking, and interpersonal communication, I wish that I would have taken public speaking in college, because it would have prepared me for the interview process.  Communication is a good course to take because you learn how to interact with others, and read body language.  

First Aid and CPR, that was a health credit that I took that really came in handy during training.  It also looks really good on your resume.  Though they will qualify you in training with the CPR and first aide training for a flight attendant, it will be easier for you, because you already know the basics, so adding in the oxygen and AED will be a piece of cake.  

English, having correct grammar and punctuation is important, but more important is being able to speak well.  Looking, speaking and acting professional is key.  

 I hope that this helps you out...  Please keep me posted on getting a flight attendant job.  If any of you out there have questions about becomming a flight attendant don't hesitate to e-mail me!

It's not a cake walk, but I love it!   

Merry Christmas to ME!

OK, So I spent Christmas Eve with my family, which is a really important day for us.  I had to fly back on Christmas day, which is what you have to do sometimes when you are flying Non-Revenue Space Available. 

Getting to and from where you want to go, is half the battle!  I did have a great Christmas, as I always do with my family.  Because it's such a chore to fly to and from RDU, I don't make it over there, as much as I should!  This year I feared that I wouldn't even make it there at all, as you have read in the entry before this one!

When I was flying back home to Chicago, I was even able to get a DIRECT flight!  What a shock!  I sat up in first class, because coach was really full...  Full flight on Christmas Day, what's not right about this picture?  The flight attendants were really great, cheery and up beat!

Here's the real kicker, somewhere in the RDU international airport, I LOST MY CELL PHONE!!!  Not like it's a BIG deal or anything, but it's the ONLY phone I have, as I do not have a lan line.  Happy Christmas to me, not only am I broke, but now I need to pay $200 for a new cell phone.  I'll get some of the money back, but alas Sprint doesn't offer an instant rebate anymore!  Though that really doesn't help me, when I don't have the money to begin with in the first place!

A day in NON-REV purgetory!

So you think that having flight benifits, and being able to travel all over the world for next to nothing is cool?  Why don't you try it sometime and see how far you REALLY get!!

Ahhhh....  Thursday morning, December 23rd.  I know,  It's the last minute before Christmas, I should have left the day before.  I checked the flights Wednesday night, and they were pretty wide open. For once I thought that I was going to be able to fly direct to RDU, instead of going clear across the country, just to go home to see my family.  So I wake up Thursday morning, and check myself in for my flight four hours prior to departure.  Unlike most other airlines, who go by seniority date for standby, ours is first come first served!  I checked to see where I was on the standby list.  I was number 14 on the standby list on a flight that only the night before had about 20 open seats.  It was now oversold, along with the one after it.  I didn't worry that much at that point though....  It was time for my back up plan...

I checked out other alternative flights, thru different cities.  It looked like Washington Regan, DC was going to be the best choice.  The flight to DCA was wide open, and the flight to RDU had enough open seats that I could get home, only about 2 hours later than the direct flight that I had wanted to get on.  It was better than sitting at O'Hare all day, hoping to get home.  I also checked the next couple of flights to RDU from DC, just to make sure that I had a back up.  Though i didnt think that I was going to need them.

The flight from Chicago to DC, was easy, almost too easy.  I even got first class!  When I got DC, that's when all hell broke loose.  I get there, and find the gate for RDU.  Out of couriosity I check the standby list to see where I was.  To my horror, I was number 9 on the flight that HAD open seats, now booked solid.  I wasn't going to get on. 

So I just sat there, and waited, and waited, and waited.  The flight was delayed, so all that I could do was just to wait around.  I heard them start to call for boarding for the flight to RDU, but I didnt hear them calling any standbys.  So out of couriosity I looked up the standby list again.  I saw that they had GIVEN someone below me a seat!  I SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN ON!  I asked the agent why she gave someone below me a seat.  She said that I didnt respond when she called my name!  I WAS SITTING RIGHT NEXT TO THE FREAKING PODIUM!  I almost started to cry, because I knew that by not getting on that flight, that at that point, it wasn't looking good for me to get home to RDU, at all that day. 

I sat back down, and noticed some non-revs sitting near by.  I asked them if they were trying to get to RDU as well, and they were.  The next several hours were spent, waiting and bonding with eachother.  What else did we have to do, except wait?  We were all in the same boat going nowhere fast!  In spite of the situation, I had alot of fun chatting with everyone!

The flights that at one time had open seats, were now full.  The USAir crews were calling in sick  in droves, and their passengers were getting rebooked on our flights!  Where does that leave me and my six new best friends?  Out of luck!  I was sooo frustrated, that at one point I had considered just throwing in the towel, and going back home to chicago!

To make a long story short, the agents finally started turning away USAir passengers, and some of us started getting on flights.  I made it on the very last flight to RDU, along with my new best friends.  The flight was delayed due to weather and ATC, so I didn't get into RDU untill 1am.  My dad got in at pretty much the same time, so I was lucky in that respect.

For those of you who think it is sooooooooo cool that I can travel anywhere in the world.  At times it CAN be, except when you want to get somewhere.  Going home for the holidays when you are flying standby is like playing Russian Roulette.  Or as Forrest would say, just like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are going to get.  I could BUY a ticket, just like everyone else, but that would defeat the point.  For me, it's not just about getting from point A to point B, it's the adventure that I come across along the way!

Happy HELLidays and Season's Greedies!

This time of year brings out a most interesting cast of characters who have chosen to share ALL of their holiday spirit with ME! 

I have dedicated this entry of my Blog, Happy HELLidays, and Season's Greedies, for all of my fellow crew members out there, who know exactly what I am talking about!

Christmas time...  Time for families to come together once a year to celebrate the joyous holiday season!  A time when the dust of the olive green samsonite, and venture out, with the five screaming kids, to see grandma in some small town in Ohio, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, Minnesota, or wherever my airline takes you.  This is the time of year, when the twice and a lifetime flyers make their way from out of the rock from which they live...

Here's a sampling of some of the quirkiness that happens during the holidays!

"But it fit on the LAST PLANE!!!!!!!!!"  Now I understand that it may have fit in the overhead bin the last time that you flew.  But I am sure, that 20 years ago, it was a 727, with 4 swanky stewardesses, not a regional jet with just me in charge of your safety.  I am sure that your dirty undies are very precious, and breakable, but it doesn't change the fact that your bag isn't going to fit on the airplane.  Arguing with the flight attendant, isn't going to make your oversized bag get any smaller.  I am not by any means trying to be mean, or pick on you, I am just ensuring that FAA and company policy is adheared to.  If they tag it at the gate, then it has to ride in the back.

"What are they planning to do with all of the snow that is on the wings?"  It was almost impossible to keep a straight face, when not one , but TWO different passengers, asked me the same question while I was boarding my Milwaulkee flight Tuesday morning, after a nice long 9 hour overnite.  (that equates to about 4 hours of sleep for me)  Here was my synical answer to both Einsteins who asked me the question:  "It's called Deicing, and Anti-icing fluid.  We can't spray it on the aircraft, until the door is closed because the formula is caustic.  Which means that it is really harmful to you, if you come into contact with it!"  I can understand peoples' concern, but there comes a time when you don't need to ask obviously redundant questions.  Has anyone ever taken off from an airport in an airplane that is covered with fresh snow?  I know that I haven't.

"Can I have another_________(insert, pop, or snack here)?  Mind you that I have already given everyone a WHOLE can of soda, and a bunch of snacks to each passenger, which is very rare now a days...  ESPECIALLY for an hour flight!  I only have SO much supplies for EVERYONE on the airplane, and if you need MORE carbs than the other passengers, then by all means bring some extra with you!

The following is a typical occurance:

"What can I get you to drink?" 

"What do you have?" 

"What do I have?????  Coffee, water, juice, and Soda."

"What kind of Soda do you have?"  

"I have Coke, Diet Coke, 7up, Diet 7up, Pepsi, DR. Pepper and Ginger Ale..."

"Do you have Mountian Dew?"

"No... I have....  Coke, Diet Coke, 7up, Diet 7up, Pepsi, DR. Pepper and Ginger Aaaaaaaaaaa..."

"How come you don't have Mountian Dew?"

"Honestly I do not know...  How about a Coke instead?"

"Nooooooo....  I'll have tea.."

"I am sorry, we don't have Tea...  How about Coffee?"

"Noooooo...  What kind of juice do you have?"

"I have....  Orange juice, Cranberry Apple juice, and Tomato juice."

"Oh.... I will have Apple juice then!"

"I have CRANBERRY apple juice, not apple juice!"

"I think that I will have a Diet Sprite....."

"I have Diet 7up, is THAT ok?"

"I GUESS, it will JUST have to DO!  CAN I AT LEAST get the WHOLE CAN?"

Yikes, and just times each of those by fifty, and you wonder why flight attendants get so crabby!

 

 

Have a happy and safe Holiday everyone!

From the kindness of strangers

Ok...  So not everyone that is on my airplane is a self-absorbed precious!  This story disproves all of my previous theories about passenger conduct...

 

What a pleasant surprise, a real human being was on my flight to Albany, NY last week!  I was boarding the flight just like everyother one, saying, "Hello, how are you?" and getting ignored for the most part like usual.  This nice couple steps on board, and stops right in front of me.  I say, "Hi, how are you?" to the woman.  She replys back to me, "Hi, I have something for you, let me get it before I forget! I always like to give something to my flight attendants during the holidays!"  And with that she pulls out of her sack, a box of hand made chocolates, just for ME!  I was so stunned by the act of kindness, that I was barely able to mumble a thank you. 

That simple act of kindness really made my day!  I shared a few of the chocolates with my pilots.  They were too yummy to keep them all to myself.  This only goes to prove what I have said a million times, that just when you think you have seen everything, someone goes and shocks the hell out of you!

So YOU want to be a flight attendant?

The following is an excerpt from an e-mail that I sent off to someone who was interested in becoming a flight attendant.  I thought that maybe more people might like the same information!  

 

For those of you that read my BLOG regularly, you know that  I am pretty candid about what my job is really like.  Also I would recommend that you read, PLANE INSANITY, and AROUND THE WORLD IN A BAD MOOD.  Both were written by flight attendants recently, and give a realistic view of what it's really like.  If you go to Amazon.com put out a search for books about flight attendants.  There are great books about interviewing successfully.  I recommend getting at least one of them.  

The flight attendant interview is a lot like a beauty pageant.  It's been five years since I went thru the interview process....  So I really can't remember what all they asked, ect.  Anyways, be prepared to stand up in front of everyone and tell them about yourself, and why you want to be a flight attendant.  Your answer should be that you like people and travel, but not those exact words.  Research the company that you are interviewing for, and tell why you want to work for them.  If you have an interview with let's say, Southwest, have you seen the TV show AIRLINE on A&E?  That's the kind of passengers that you will be dealing with!  

I won't lie to you, my job isn't easy by any means.  Dealing with the traveling public can be a real pain.  People check in their brains with their luggage.  Long hours, five six maybe even 7 flights in one day, short rest periods, weather delays, cranky people, it's all something that you have to take with a smile!  Yes, that's right up to 7 legs a day.  I talked to a group of flight attendants from another airline during a layover once who told me that it wasn't uncommon to fly 6 to 7 legs in one day!    

But I couldn't imagine doing anything else.  It's a challenge.  Even with all of the bad stuff, it's a fun job for the right person.  

Here are some typical interview questions that you may be asked during a one on one interview:  

Why do you want to work for our airline?  That's when the research that I told you about earlier would have come in handy!  

Are you willing to relocate?  There is only one answer to that, and it is YES of course!  The aspect of moving anywhere in the US, is exciting!  (Remember if you already live in a city that is a base, you can always commute until you get your transfer back home!)  

What do you like, and or Dislike about your current job?  If it is the dislike question, make sure you turn a negative into a positive.   

Why do you want to be a flight attendant?  We all know its for the travel benefits!  But be creative!  I am bilingual, and I told them that I wanted to be able to use my French skills on a daily basis.  I wanted a challenging work environment where every day was different.  

When can you start?  The standard answer is the same with any job, after you give 2 weeks notice.   

I am sure that I am forgetting some questions...  Keep checking back, because if I think of anymore, I will be sure to post them!   If any of YOU out there, have any questions, feel free to e-mail them to me!

Sending a woman, to do a man's job!

I never thought that a simple flight to Stewart, New York would have been so much fun!

This flight started out, just like everyother flight that I had that day!  It was my last one of the day, and I was happy that my flight wasn't full.  I was looking forward to an uneventfull leg to my overnite, for some much needed relaxation.

There was this rather jovial woman, who was sitting towards the front of the plane, conversing with the two gentlemen sitting across the isle from her.  Whatever they were talking about, she seemed very animated.  When it came time for the beverage serivce, she asked for some wine.  When she later asked for the second one, I jokingly asked her if she was driving home.  "BELEVE me, I am NOT driving!"  She said laugingly.

Towards the end of the flight, I was walking through the cabin picking up trash.  She motioned for me to come talk to her...

"Hey I have an important question to ask you.  Are you single?"  She asked me.

"Ummmm....  Actually, as of just recently, I am single.  Why?" I replied.

"Well you see that gentleman sitting across from me, next to the window?" She asked.

"Yes, what about him?" I laughed.

"He thinks that you are cute, and he was wondering if you had a boy friend or not!"  She whispered.

I laughed and said, "Well you can tell him thank you, and that I am single!"

She laughed at me, and went back to  chatting with the two gentlemen.  As she stumbled off the plane when we got to SWF, she made a point of again telling me that the guy behind her, thought that I was cute.  I said good-bye to the poor guy, as he walked off the plane behind her.  I think that he mumbled some sort of good-bye.

I told me crew what happened, and they thought that it was extremely funny.  They thought that it was so cute that I have strangers trying to set me up, and make a love connection! 

I quickly put the expearience behind me, when we got to the hotel.  My first officer and I desided to go to the diner next to our hotel to have a few drinks, and unwind.  We walked into the diner, and just as we got inside, I looked to my left, and the two guys were sitting down at a booth.  I elboed my first officer to look over.  He just started laughing as we walked passed them.  He told me that the did the typical, omigod, that's her, stare when we walked by.  I kept my eye on them.  They would look over at us, but my fanclub didn't have enough guts to walk over to say hi.  Sending a strange woman in to do your dirty work, and then not even talk to me?  What's this world comming to!?!  If a guy can't even muster up the courage to start a conversation, then his loss!  LOL 

Around the East in 7days!

What's a girl to do when she suddenly finds her self single, yet again?  Road trip of course!  Ok well in my case it's gotta be a plane trip!

 

Last Saturday my best friend, John Carlos, called me during my much needed shopping therapy.  He wanted to see if I wanted to blow Dodge City, and come to Rochester, NY for the weekend, instead of moping around my apartment.  Well I didn't have a reason to stick around Chicago for the weekend, anymore.  So I rushed home, threw some stuff in my bag, and hopped on the next flight up to Rochester.  I have to admit that I am very proud to say that I made a new NON-REV record...  From my house to John's in 3 and a half hours!  When things go my way, membership definately has it's perks. 

Upon my arrival, John began to inform me of all the single straight guys that I would be introduced to whilst I was there.  John and I have always differed in our taste in men, but what did I have to lose?   Bartenders, soccer players, students, ect...  I don't think that there is anyone in the city of Rochester that John doesn't know!  John has always had a passion for telling everyone who wasn't of the homosexual persuasion about his best friend, Heather!  I think that my favourite was the bartender, on Saturday nite, at the bar downstairs from John's place.  In between my free shots, I got to stuff singles down his shirt... What red blooded American Girl wouldn't enjoy that?!?!

On Monday, John and I had planned on going to Chicago for our information picketing session at the airport.  We got on our flight to chicago almost too easy.  Just as we were getting ready to take off, the plane's deicing system failed, and we had to retrun to the gate.  The flight wound up cancelling, and we missed the whole picketing thing.  John was fit to be tied.  He was supposed to give this HUGE speach to the media. 

Instead of getting to go home and take care of some stuff before I had to go to RDU to see my family on Tuesday,  I had to figure out how I was going to get therenow!  It was the start of the holiday rush, and flights were full.  I think that I was about to have my record for the longest time to get from point A to point B!  I wound up having to take the very first out of Rochester, Tuesday morning, to ensure that I would be at the top of the stand-by list for my flight to RDU.  I had to wait 5 hours at O'Hare for my flight, after I got out of Rochester.  Even then I would have to wait for my mom to be able to pick me up from the airport.  I think all in all, it took me 12 hours to get from ROC to RDU.  My record for longest non-rev trip. Twelve hours...  It's takes less time to go to Paris!!!!!  Well at least I didn't have any trouble getting back to Chicago to my empty apartment, on friday!

REVENGE of the Armchair Pilots, Road Warriors, and the Occasional Precious!!!!

An armchair pilot is someone who thinks that they know everything about running an airline, just because they bought a ticket off Priceline.com!

Passengers are an endless source of amusement for me.  It never ceases to amaze me, how you can take a person with above average intelligence and stick them inside an airport, and they go from Einstein to Rainman, from the time it takes them to check in their baggage, untill they step on board my airplane.  Most armchair pilots act as if they have never been outside their homes, let alone seein a "real stewardess" up close and personal before!  It must be a real shock to their system, when they find out that their $100 Priceline.com ticket that they paid ALOT of money for, doesn't buy them a first class seat with steak and champaign!

Nevermind the pretentious pricks who feel that the FAA rules simply do not apply to them!  (OH... and you know who you are too!)  The one's whos only joy in life is to attempt make others around them miserable, to gratify their own pretention and self-worth.  Those are the passengers who I refer to fondly as "Precious," and I make it a point EVERY time I walk thru the cabin to make sure that they have everything they need.  (i.e. pillows, blankets coffee, tea, ect...)  I usually am in the cabin about every 5 minutes or so!  What are they going to do, write a letter to my company saying that I was TOO NICE?  HA!

Though I can't forget about the handful of my elite passengers that I have come to know on a first name basis.  When I am lucky enough to get one of my favourite Road Warriors on my flight, it makes my day.  It's always great to see familiar faces, especially in my line of work.  These are the kind of passengers that I wish were on ALL of my flights!  These individuals travel as much or more than I do on a weekly basis, and still have a pleasant and upbeat attitude.  For that they have my utmost respect!

So next time you travel, which kind of passenger are you going to be?  An Armchair pilot, Road Warrior or one of my Precious Passengers?