My World As A Flight Attendant

We face various challenges in traveling, and one of them is waiting for our delayed flight.  Traveling has changed over the years due to technology and security issues.  The advanced technology that runs the aviation industry is one of the great things we experience. Most transactions are done online. I know some people (like myself) don't want to do everything online. I like talking to a real person (not a machine!) Yes, things can be easier and faster doing them on the computer, but glitches and complicated processes for the "old school" people like me are why I don't rely everything on technology.   The pandemic has dramatically changed the travel industry, and we are coping with those changes.  Now, people are back traveling, and the demand is high.  Waiting for a delayed flight is a hurdle. Weather, maintenance, and staff issues are the common reasons a flight is delayed. Some things are out of control.  If you're a frequent traveler, you're used ...

  Have you had an experience when you're trapped somewhere? The feeling must be awful.   I remember one incident years ago when I felt trapped in a ferry's wheel ride with my kids.  It was a wrong decision, and I know I won't be doing that anymore. My fear of riding a ferry's wheel or a roller coaster is enormous. During the ride, all I did was scream, and I was begging to stop it so I could get off. Of course, it didn't happen, so I felt trapped! No one wants to be trapped. These poor birds in the airport had made their way inside but couldn't find their way out.  I am glad they found each other. Speaking of birds, we all remember the US Airways flight to Charlotte, North Carolina, on January 5, 2009, that struck a flock of birds shortly after taking off from New York City's La Guardia Airport and ditched in the Hudson River. There were five crew and 155 passengers on board the aircraft with no fatalities. They call it a "Miracle on Hudson." Accor...

  Do you have any travel plans or goals? Dalai Lama, spiritual leader of Tibet, said, "Once a year, go somewhere you have never been before."  This is one of my favorite quotes I used for the I Love Flying journal.  The biggest perk we have as flight attendants is the privilege to travel the world. I always say that if you love traveling, the flight attendant job is for you. Of course, our chance to travel for free or discounted rate depends basically on the availability of open seats that we can use. Flexibility in our travel plans is required.  Flight attendants are always on the go. Many of us have our luggage packed with clothes for personal travel after finishing a work trip. Some will do this if they don't have enough days off to go home. I've done this a couple of times. In October 2018, I wrote in our company newsletter about my trip with my friends to China. The trip was magnificent. Here's the link to my What A Beautiful World blog  China Adventure S...

  ` Yes, you see that right! Three bags to maneuver on this tiny isle. When I was a new flight attendant, my bags were heavier. Throughout these years, I've been hoping to have a lighter load to lessen the weight of carrying and stowing it in the overhead bins.  Because I usually do 4-5 day trip, the amount I have every trip is the same.  It's eight years now that I've been carrying my luggage, including one bag for personal items with my laptop and a small pouch for food. My right shoulder has started to wear out, especially when I work many hours.   Being a flight attendant is a physical job, at the same time, mental. Multi-tasking is needed to perform this job well. You need to do things quickly and safely. Decisiveness, assertiveness, and alertness of mind are also crucial to our job. I sometimes joke that carrying, maneuvering, and stowing my luggage is the hardest part of my job. I'd say, physically, it's the most challenging part. You must embrace this pa...

  "Happy anniversary to us!" Makeda exclaimed when she saw me at JFK airport.  Wow, I didn't realize it's today, May 15! Congrats to us and me for passing the recurrent training. Speaking of training, my hope is always to get a perfect score. Being here for a while, I should have no excuse.  But you know what, I was happy I passed! I think that's most important. The perfectionist and over-analytical in me make me nervous and why I am always paranoid with this yearly training.  How long more can I do this job? Not sure.  Being passionate about what I do, I know I will miss this job so much.  I told myself before that this would be my retirement job, and I would do this for as long as possible.  Eight years is not too long. I know flight attendants who have been doing this job for a long time - 20, 25, 30 + years. I always say I salute them ! Sometimes I hear them say they never expected to last that long.  Time flies so fast.  I vividly remem...

  I've never had mac and cheese this good! A long layover means time to go outside and enjoy a nice meal. Sometimes the whole crew would decide to go together, especially in nice weather. I join most of the time but don't mind going alone when no one wants to go.  This long layover in Wichita, Kansas, is a good one.  The hotel we stay at is right across from the Old Town Marketplace, and this River City Brewing is where I found the best mac & cheese! They are also the first brewpub in Wichita. Handcrafted beer and fresh food in a relaxed atmosphere are what they are famous for. Just sharing a few facts about Wichita: They are known as the Air Capital of the World and the birthplace of Pizza Hut and White Castle fast food chains.  So don't miss this best mac & cheese when you visit Wichita. 

What's your favorite cocktail drink? Mine is this Boarding Pass cocktail I discovered at Bowlero in New York, a bowling and entertainment place. When flight attendants have a long layover, we can drink as long as we are legal to do it.  For my employer, we should not consume alcohol for 12 hours before reporting for work. Drinking responsibly should be our mantra when on a trip.  Yes, we do have random alcohol and drug test. Being under the influence of alcohol concentration of .02 or greater will be subject to disciplinary action or immediate discharge.  I am always paranoid about drinking during layovers and conscious with time. I don't want to get in trouble because of irresponsible drinking.   My curiosity had me research what makes a Boarding Pass cocktail. For those who want to know, here are the ingredients: Bacardi coconut rum, watermelon puree, pineapple juice, lemon-lime soda, and of course, garnished with a cherry! Cheers to my bowling strikes!

Every day is different in the life of a flight attendant. There are days when we have a "sit," meaning we wait for an hour or two or maybe longer for our next flight.  Sometimes, we stay on the same plane, and sometimes we sit at the airport.  We call the time when we sit at the airport "airport appreciation."  Yes, sitting in the airport or waiting for hours can be frustrating.  Most of us find it unproductive.  A good amount of sit is favorable; we use that time to eat. It's a joke I always say that  the more I sit, the more I eat. I know, don't condemn me.  I need to have discipline. On days when we have long sit, I use the time to work on something on my laptop. But when I work with a friend, like Evelyn, we play around and have fun.  It's making the best use of our time.  It was snowing in Burlington, Vermont, this first week of December.  I love winter when there is only a little snow that I can play with and when the cold is tole...

The rise of airline passengers' misbehavior has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic.  What is your opinion? Is the pandemic a significant factor?  Back in October 2021, I was interviewed by Cristina DC, Pastor of  The FilAm, A Magazine for Filipino Americans in New York,  about this issue.  Flight attendant Lia Ocampo has had her share of defiant airline passengers chortling in disdain when told to wear face masks while boarding the plane. Some travelers with ‘attitude’ tell her to her face “just let me go home” in an angry tone. So far, she has not figured in a situation where a passenger has been verbally or physically abusive. Media reports have streamed instances where flight crew are bullied, yelled out or violently attacked as when a Southwest Airlines attendant lost two teeth in a physical assault by a passenger in July of this year. “I never confronted a passenger about vaccine mandates. Flight attendants don’t deal with that information,” said Ocampo...

  Speaking of life lessons and wisdom, I love reading motivational words whenever I see them.  Often, I take a photo and use them as my wisdom for the day.  I commend the Starbucks at Raleigh Durham airport for putting this board at their store. Wondering how many passengers by or customers read this. I guess it doesn't matter; they are doing a great job. What's important is that they put out the message for someone and that someone is me.   You never know when your words of encouragement or compliment will motivate, heal a person, or make a difference. Even a stranger you meet can benefit from your kind words.  Be generous yet sincere with words of encouragement and compliments. It doesn't cost you anything to share your wisdom.