I WANT YOUR NAME!!!!

This month has been trying enough on my patients...  That is untill this morning in Des Moines, where it went over the top.

As I have said many times before, I am not a morning person.  Throw in reduced rest on top of that, well....  I am pretty much a walking navy blue zombie.  There isn't enough Mountian Dew on the plane that can revive me from this state. 

Passenger walks on board my plane this morning and mumbles something about noone taking her ticket.  I look down at her boarding pass, and see that she has electronic printed on the bottom.  I assumed that she was talking about that, so I said, "You're fine, you have and electronic ticket."  Then she sat down.

Come to find out what really happened is that she just walked DOWN the jet bridge while the gate agent's back was turned or something, without him running her boarding pass in the EGR.  She was physically on the airplane, but the computer system didn't think that she was.  After the gate agents made several calls in the gate area, they took them off of the list, and pulled her bags aside.  It would have been caught right away if my #2 flight attendant had counted the passengers correctly rather than just matching the count to what the gate agent had.  So up comes the missing passenger from her seat with her boarding passes stating that there was NOONE at the gate, so she just walked down the jet bridge. 

The agent takes the stubbs of her boarding pass, and asks her why she JUST went down the jet bridge.  She then points to me and said that she told ME, but I did nothing.  So now everything is MY fault, and the other flight attendant is NO help because he doesn't know when to keep his mouth shut.  So we sit her back down, the agent was going to put her back on the flight in the computer, and have the ramp quickly reload her bags. 

After the safety demo, I do my compliance check.  I make my way through the plane, and there's the other flight attendant talking to the woman, and she is very upset, demanding my name.  Here is my other flight attendant telling the woman over and over again....  "WELL YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE JUST WALKED DOWN THE JET BRIDGE WITHOUT SOMEONE THERE!!!!"  Not even listening to the women who was upset that her bags may or may not make it to her destination.  Granted it wasn't a very smart move on the woman's part, just walking down a jet bridge, but that's beside the point.  Not only NOW is everything MY fault because I  allegedly REFUSED to help her when she claimed to have come to me for assistance, now she was pissed off because of what the other flight attendant was telling her, and is threatening to write us up.  That is something that I take very seriously regardless of who's right or wrong.   

It is now time for us to take our seats for take off, so I was going to have to let this poor woman sit and get more and more angry untill we got up in the air.  I knew that I would have to put my fatigue aside and put myself in this woman's shoes and come up with an appology.  To put insult to injury after we got in the air, as the other flight attendant was walking forward to the galley to help me get things ready for the beverage service, he informs me that he talked to the woman AGAIN, restating what he had already said!  I was livid.  I told him not to say another word to her, that I was going to have to undo the dammage that he had already done...

To make a long story short, after we had completed the beverage service, I went back to the woman and kneeled down in front of her, an appologized for not being more alert, and addressing the situation.  I also explained that the only excuse that I had for being absent minded was the 4 hours sleep that I was able to get last nite.  Being tired shouldn't be an excuse, but it does effect how I am able to handle situations.  Suprisingly she accepted my appology, and said that she would be upset if her bags didn't get there when she did.  I then told her that she had every right to be concerned and upset.  I appologized again, and her face started to soften.  Whether or not she will write a complaint letter remains to be seen, but now I have to fill out a report to cover my behind, just in case....

I hope that May will be a better month, at least I will be working with someone else whom works harder than Ido!

Blah........

I am sorry that I have been lacking on my entries.  It's hard to be inspired to be whitty and write about my boring life, when noone seems to e-mail or comment anymore...

 

 

Comment of the Week...

That is great that you enjoy your job. Most people have jobs that they can't stand, so it's really wonderful that you have fun at your job. Do you ever get tired of flying all around though?
Comment from danyalesmith01 - 3/21/05 5:31 PM

 

Yes of course I get tired of my job at times.  There are days that the last thing that I want to do, is put on my uniform, makeup, wings, and smile. 

There are some days that I work up to 5 or 6 flights.  That makes for a long day.  Sleeping in a different hotel more nights than I sleep at home.  Living my life out of a 22 inch roller board isn't easy, but it has taught me to relish and value the simple things. 

Eating food while it is still hot, sleeping in my own bed, and wearing normal clothes are all things that normal 9 to 5 people take or granted.  I don't get a lunch break, so I am always grabing food on the go.  It may have been hot when i bought it, but not when I get a spare minute to eat it.  Eating a hot meal that I MADE myself...  Well that makes for utter heaven!

But do I get tired of flying around all day?  No, it's in my blood.  I have never been a nine to five person.  Every flight is different, and I never know what to expect from the people who step on board my plane.  Since most Americans spend a majority of their time working, to find a career that I have a passion for far out weighs the minor inconviences that may pop up time to time.

It comes down to the million dollar question that your High School councilor may have asked...  "What would you do if you had a million dollars?"  I would travel.

Another voice about connections...

Connections -- unfortunately most connection times are set by the airlines' own computers and it can be difficult or impossible to arrange a trip without short connects.  I prefer 60 minutes, too, but it just doesn't always work out that way.

This is true to a point, but depending on the fare rules of the price that you are paying, you do have SOME flexablity for the flights that you are able to take.

What a lot of people don't realize is that a 30 minute connection gives you only 15 minutes to get to the gate.  At any point after 15 minutes prior to the scheduled departure standbys can be processed (i.e. your unoccupied seat goes to someone else) and the door is closed (and they are unlikely to reopen it for you!).

This is SOOOOO true.  I have preached about this time and time again.  It is very rare that a flight will be reopened for you if you can't make it to you connecting gate on time!

Sometimes when I'm going to a strange airport I print out maps of the concourses, which often help.  The major airline magazines (which they invite you to take with you) usually have those maps in them somewhere, too.

This is something that I do on a regular basis as well.  I went to Boston a month ago and I was meeting a friend of mine on his layover.  He works for another airline, and I had to find out where is airline was located.  Printing out a map of the entire airport was helpful.  Come to find out, I had to go clear to the other side of the airport.  If you do a google search of the airport name, each airport has their own website with maps, and terminal information.

Thanks for the great tips!!!

Comment from backtonorway - 3/28/05 8:14 PM

A good piece of information...

Most airlines have dropped the free baggage weight limit from 88lbs to 50lbs total.

I don't recall a free 88# limit ever. For the 2 airlines I fly regularly (Northwest and Delta) the checked bag limit for coach passengers is 2 bags up to 50 pounds each on domestic itineraries. International itineraries are controlled by tariffs, e.g. for trips between the U.S. & Europe the limit is 2 bags up to 70 pounds each. I can't find any evidence that any major carriers have recently dropped below these limits. If you fly at least 25K miles/year, chances are that your airline will allow greater limits, e.g. my wife & I both can check 2 bags up to 70 pounds each on Northwest (and a 3rd when we are upgraded to FC). We usually just travel with carryon rollaboards these days. I can't imagine even approaching the limits on checked baggage but some people must do it! Comment from backtonorway - 3/28/05 8:03 PM

This is a good piece of information, thank you for taking the time to inform. 

Though a majority of my readers who asked for my travel advice, never travel 25,000 miles a year, nor do they make trips to Europe in first class.  There are different standards for premium and top tier passengers, that's a given.  I was giving general information for those who may only travel to and from grandma's house every couple of years, that they may need to be aware of.  There are alot of my readers who have small children, so it's pretty much impossible to just carry on.

When I started flying FIVE years ago, the checked baggage limit was 88 pounds total, because I had to make sure that my baggage that I brought to training did not weigh more than 88 pounds.  With belt tightening and increased fuel prices, airlines reduced the check baggage limit.  Before the reduction there was a variance from airline to airline for domestic checked luggage.  From what I observed now, it's pretty much standard.

Doing the Non-rev Gamble.....

I went home to North Carolina to visit my family for Easter weekend.  I don't mind sitting in coach anymore, now that I no longer have to pay a service charge.

 

Spring Break has SPRUNG! (Traveling Tips Part #3)

Spring break is here.  What better time then to pass on more of my traveling tips to make traveling this spring break and on to summer easier for those who do not live in an airport like I do.

In my last traveling tips entry:

Tips part two (dated 1/10/05 in my journal archives)

I focused on getting through security without a hassle.  The Trasportation Security Administration has added some new prohibited items to the already lengthy list that you cannot bring into the airport.  For an up to date list, visit: Transportation Security Administration.  This website has a wealth of information for those of you who travel seasonally.  For example, as of April 15, 2005 lighters will no longer be allowed in carry-ons.

Most airlines have dropped the free baggage weight limit from 88lbs to 50lbs total.  That's not each bag, that's both checked bags.  So to avoid an additional fee for packing too much stuff that you don't need, planning is key.  Also pack important things in your carry-on in the unlikly event that you get stranded in an airport on your way to your dream vacation.

Some smart things to pack in your carry on could be:  Toiletries, asprin, band-aids, bottle of water, snacks (most airlines still do not provide inflight meals), any medication that you need to take, a book, magazines or other things to occupy time, EAR PLUGS, neck pillow, eye mask, lotion (to keep your skin hydrated), spare change of undies, hairbrush, just to name a few.  These are only to give you some ideas to think about.  An hour layover in Chicago, could turn into all day.  Being prepared for the unexpected will reduce stress, and make your life alot easier.

 

Also, if you are traveling with children, elderly, or do not travel enough to be familiar with airports, keep that in mind when you are booking your reservation.  Thirty minutes is not enough time to connect from one plane to another, when you have children and bags to contend with.  If possible, I suggest that a minimum of 60 minutes.  Especially at busy airports like, Chicago, Boston, New York, Atlanta... basically any major hub that you connect thru.  Once again, thinking ahead will save you time, and make your trip alot less stressful.

Now sit back relax and enjoy your trip...  Make sure to bring me back something good!