...But I don't want to date you!

...Nothing says, "Don't even bother hitting on me," quite like cubic zirconium!

 

It's happened to me once or twice over the course of my career as a flight attendant, but nothing like what I am about to tell you.

Coming out of White Plains early in the morning.  The flight was pretty full, but nothing out of the ordinary.  One passenger stood out right away with his black clothing and matching barret pulled over his short blond curls.  He was sitting right in front of the exit row, acting rather peculiar.  Actually, he was being a down right weirdo.  He had his bag in the middle of the isle, all in disarray, along with his feet, contently reading some book.  After asking him several times to move himself and his belongings out of the isle, until he finally got the hint. 

During the beverage service, I got the pleasure of offering him something to drink.  At first he wanted alcohol, at 9AM mind you, which we didn't have.  After I told him that we didn't have anything of that sort, he told me, "Never mind..."  and went on reading his book.  He then decided to ask me for a bottle of water when I was in the middle of taking more drink orders from other passengers.  He wanted a small bottle of water.  When I offered him a glass of water, he again told me, "Never mind!"  So I went on my merry way filling the rest of the passengers drink orders.

After my #1 flight attendant and I had moved the cart up to the front of the plane, Mr. Never mind proceeds to come up behind me and ask me why I didn't give him the water that he asked for.  He had told me 3 minutes before that he didn't want anything!  So I asked him to hold on a second, and I filled the rest of the drink orders of the row that I was working on.  I then gave him his water, and sent him on his way, back to his seat where he had the contents of his bag in the isle again!

To make a long story short, after the service, Mr. Never mind proceeds to ring his call button several times.  When I came up to answer his call, he didn't want anything, that is, until my co-worker made her way through the isle.  After asking for two more glasses of water, and wanting her to sit next to him so that he could tell her a "funny story."  (Which she politely refused) 

 He then made his way to the back of the plane, where the two of us were, and asked my #1 flight attendant for her phone number.  When she tried to explain that she has a boyfriend that she has been dating for over five years, Mr. Never mind, exclaims: "I don't want to date you, I just want to talk to you when you aren't at work!"  He proceeds to tell her that he's rich and doesn't have to work, and that he is an activist for some Dr. Martin Luther King, something or other... 

I don't know why she didn't want to give up everything that she has with her boyfriend, for this winner!  (get the hint of sarcasm???)

If that wasn't the icing on the cake...  When we finally get to Chicago, the reserve first officer that we were flying with wants to take my #1 out for coffee.  At first she thought that he wanted to grab some coffee with her right then and there.  The 23 year old kid, had other ideas.  He wanted to take her out for coffee when she was in recurrent training the following week.  She tried to be honest and give him the boy friend speech, blah blah blah.  He then proceeds to tell her, "But, I don't want to date you, I just want to go out for some coffee!!!!"

Sometimes you just can't win, but what else can one do in that situation?  When she asked me how I handle those sort of situations, I told her that I kill the opportunity before it has a chance to present itself.  I showed her the ring that I was wearing on my ring finger that I recently got off of eBay!  (pictured above)  It's not a real engagement ring, but someone just looking for a good time, doesn't need to know that.  It's a trick that I got several years ago, even before I met my boy friend, to keep the weirdos from hitting on me. 

A ring on is a visible sign that you DO NOT want to be available, to those who may be on the prowl.  Taking my advice, I think that my co-worker is going to invest in some fine cubic zirconium!

Independence Air will shut it's doors on January 5th!

As of January 5, 2006 Independence Air will cease operations...

https://www.flyi.com/Default.aspx

 

To my fellow union brothers and sisters you will be in my thoughts on Thursday.  You guys lived the dream of regional airlines, if only for a short time.

If you need advice about who is hiring, resume help, ect.  Please e-mail me, and I will offer everything that I know.

Good luck!

The ZEN of Diet Soda...

Ok...  As I have said before, you can't please everyone and sometimes you can't even please ANYONE.  That can't be further from the truth this Holiday season. 

Full flights and under stocked galley carts seem to go hand in hand.  I am convinced that people don't realize that I am NOT a waitress.  It isn't my job to keep their diet coke over flowing, especially when there are only THREE diet cokes to go around for an entire flight.  Other than safety part of my duties include providing A service.  Just one, and if time and supplies permit, then re-offer.  When most of my flights are about an hour, then time permitting doesn't come into play. 

I know that there has been alot of buzz about flight attendants not giving out cans anymore.  Well here's my take on it...  There is only so much space in the galley carts for XYZ cans of soda.  When stocked with more Z and Y soda than the more popular A or diet B soda.  There's only so much to go around.  When passenger Q wants a whole can of Diet B soda, and the flight attendant knows that 20 passengers behind passenger Q will want the same, and there isn't 20 other cans of Diet B,  he or she has quite a pickle. 

If you were in their high heels, would you:

A)Make one greedy person happy and anger the other twenty people?

B)Try to supply as many people with the drink that they want as possible?

C)Keep all of the Diet soda for yourself, and make all your passengers who paid dearly for their tickets drink...  water?

D)Throw in your apron and quit because your feet hurt and you aren't cut out to serve diet coke at 35,000 feet?

 

The same equation can be applied to pillows, blankets, peanuts, pretzels, and overhead space.  You get the hint. Well ladies and gentleman we apologize for the inconvenience, but we can't give you what we don't have.  Flight attendants aren't as equipped anymore to provide you with every little minute thing that your heart desires.  Keep in mind that we are just along for the ride too, and don't set out to make your life miserable, after all it's just DIET COKE, not rocket science!

In the beginning...

I was chatting with a friend and co-worker the other day, about how we vowed that we would never become one of those flight attendants...

I remember thinking to myself when I first got my wings, I was really going to make a difference in my passengers travel expearience.  I didn't want to be one of those seemingly cold and indifferent flight attendants that everyone complains about.  I wanted to make everyone happy, and glad that they were on my plane.  My friend and I agreed that we had the same dream.  So what happeneds when reality hits?

The truth is, you can not please everyone.  Sometimes you can't please anyone, no matter how hard you try, especially passengers.  One can go out of their way to please someone, only to be slapped in the face with ingradititude so long before they realize that all their hard work is in vain.  Getting blamed for weather delays, yelled at for this that and the other, threatened, over worked and under paid, and sleep deprivation takes its toll. 

I asked my friend how long her "new flight attendant feeling" lasted.  She told me right up untill the first passenger yelled at her for something trivial that she had no control over.  That's pretty much the same feeling from most flight attendants that I talk to.

A hard lesson that I have learned is that you do not have to give every inch of your soul, to make someone happy.  Besides getting done with work on-time with no delays, the greatest joy for me is seeing someone walking towards me to leave with a smile on their face.  Knowing that I made someone smile is the best.  Working with as many new hire flight attendants as I have recently, I have been reminded of when I started flying almost six years ago.  I see the look in their eyes and the joy in their voices because they are flying.  It keeps me in perspective to why I am still here...

FAN MAIL

Hi love your  Journal logs about your Job I know your from Chicago and I'll be traveling to Chicago in late March I was wondering if you could tell me does it snow at that time in chicago or is it nice weather at that time keep those Journal logs going there great                                                              Littlelull    

 

Thanks littlelull for reading my blog.  

March is a tricky time of year for weather in Chicago.  I think in late March you should expearience some nicer weather.   It's an amazing time of year when we Chicagoans emerge from hibernation after a long cold winter.

Other than watching the weather channel before you come out here, I would strongly suggest that you pack to dress in layers.  I always take a sweater or jean jacket with me, whether or not I need it when I step outside my door, because you never know.  The closer you get to the lake, the more the weather is affected by it.  

Even with all of that, spring time is a wonderful time to be in Chicago, whether on business or pleasure.  Fly safe, and I hope that you have a wonderful time in my home city!

Thanksgiving travel tips

Here are some tips that might come in handy if you are planning to fly for the holidays!

I have noticed non-seasoned travelers putting more undue stress on themselves then they have to.  Here are some things to keep in mind the next time that you fly.

Saving Time With Check-in: 

Most airlines allow you to check in online and print out your boarding passes from home, for domestic flights.  This saves you from having to wait in line at the ticket counter, and if you don't have any checked bags you can go straight to the security check point. 

If you DO have checked bags, I would suggest that you use the skycap, if available.  For about $2 a bag, plus a small tip, you can check your luggage at the curb, and not have to mess with dragging them thru long lines.  But with most smaller airports, like the ones that I fly into, long lines don't seem to be a problem.

Don't have access to a computer?  Use the self service machienes.  The advantage in using the self-service machienes is that you can choose where you want to sit!

 

Getting Thru the Security Checkpoint:

Please visit www.tsa.gov for an up to date list of items that you can not have in your carryon or checked luggage.  For example, lighters, lighters lighters!

You must remove your shoes to have them x-rayed, so make sure that you wear shoes that can be taken on and off easily.

Put all loose change, wallets, belts, chewing gum, keys, in your carry-on instead of your pockets, untill you get thru the check point.  Not only does this save you time, but it also keeps you from loosing your treasures.

Keep your boarding pass and ID ready, you'll have to show it several times before you get to where you need to go.

Also, on a side note, CREW MEMBERS and other airport employees, are allowed to go to the front of the line.  You can't go anywhere without us, and the extra 30 seconds it takes me to clear security in front of you, will not make you miss your flight.

 

Traveling Smart:

If you are traveling on a legacy carrier this year, you might want to bring your own travel pillow and blanket.  To cut costs, some AAirlines have done away with pillows and blankets completely.

Also we are getting into the winter season which means that de-icing the aircraft is possible.  This could mean some waiting time.  So pack a bottle of water, and some snacks in case you encounter some delays during your journey.

Also I suggest that one always packs in their carry-on: a bottle of water, snacks, band-aids, pain reliever, lotion, any special medication that you need, pillow and blanket, and some reading material.  Having these things with you will make your trip alot smoother.

Also if you choose to bargain shop for your airfare this year, be wary of cheap fares that cause you to use 2 or more different airlines to get where you need to go.  Each airline is only responsible to get you from A to B, and if you miss your connection to another airline, you are pretty much on your own.  Also keep in mind that if you are going from one airline to another, that you will have quite a walk.  In most airports, each airline is seperated in different ends.  Also pay attention to connection times.  Try to aviod a 30 minute connection, especially this time of year.  It's better in the long run not to have to run a marathon to get to your next gate!

 

Good luck and have a safe holiday!

Back and better than ever...

Folks, I appologize for the inconvience, I expect to be updating this journal shortly...

 

I just got my laptop back from Dell...  I will spare you the details about THAT drama!  If you buy an extended warranty from them, make sure it's the IN HOME service!  Now I am back, and better than ever...  Well, maybe the same. 

Things have been crazy the past few weeks.  I had to have emergency oral surgery on the 4th.  All that I have to say is, don't wait around, take care of your teeth.  Neglect with only cause you more problems in the long run.

For those of you who were concerned about me living in a gang infested neighborhood, fear no more... We moved into our new apartment on the 5th in the Lakeview area.  Luckily we hired movers, especially after my ordeal with the oral surgen the day before.  That's the best money that I have ever spent!  Four hours later, we had everything in our new place.  I now live in a 3 bedroom apartment, on the third floor, with NO BARS on my windows, and everything WORKS!!!   Ahhhhh....  It's the simpler things, like a working sink, that make it all worth while.

I am also stuck working on the Embraer this month, so that I could have Thanksgiving off.  Little good it does me, because all the flights to RDU are full, and with my company taking most of the flying to and from there, home for the holiday is pretty much hopeless.  You can't jumpseat, if there is no jumpseat on the plane.