Not-so-lonely layovers....

One of the things I miss the most from American Eagle, the regional carrier I used to fly with, is being co-paired with the Flight Deck. Co-paired is when the Captain, First Officer and Flight Attendant(s) all have, basically, the same schedule for the month.


When the bid is awarded, everyone can see who they are flying with--and in a base like Eagle's in Chicago (ORD), we all pretty much knew each other. If I didn't like my "Flight Deck" or if I was scheduled to fly with a Flight Attendant I didn't care for, I could trip trade out of that trip and into another one. And, vice versa. If someone didn't want to fly with me (impossible, right??) they could do some trip trading themselves. Of course, vacations, sick time and training affected our schedules, but, generally, we would fly the whole month together.

I really liked it because there was always someone looking out for the other. Did your First Officer oversleep and is late for the early morning hotel shuttle to the airport? A quick phone call would remedy that. Want someone to have dinner with? Your crew is there for you. Going through Security at the airport? Your crew waits until the last person is through and all walk to the aircraft together. Captain going to get coffee? He'll usually ask what everyone else wants and offer to buy, as well. Feel like slam-clickin'? Your crew-family can appreciate it.

On a lot of the domestic trips here at my mainline airline, we change crew members more than underwear! After our Flight Attendant briefing with the Purser, we board the aircraft and start the trip with meeting our Flight Deck, and the Captain usually gives us his briefing prior to our passengers boarding. But, when we get to our first destination of the day, the Flight Deck could change--maybe this is their layover, but we're going on. One of the Flight Attendants may be getting off at the next city, and we pick up someone new, who is just coming off her layover...Or, I may be on a "meter," also referred to as the "extra stew" and be the one who keeps changing planes and flies a totally different crew and plane for each leg of my trip. (This happens not infrequently, since I am on Reserve.)

Having been co-paired at American Eagle for so many years, it was culture shock to me to be given a meter to fly when I first started here and be the extra stew. I remember a 4 day meter where I changed planes and crews at just about every leg. I went to my layovers alone. I ate dinner alone. I went to the airport alone. And through Security alone. I hated it. Despised it. Contemplated quitting over it.

I much prefer to be with a crew who is flying the exact same trip with me. Usually, one of us has been to this layover city and knows a great little restaurant near our hotel, or knows which way to the funky little art district, or knows that the hotel restaurant has a separate crew menu with reduced prices for us. We venture out in a new city together, find the fun things to do together. We can sit around the table and always have something to talk about: our jobs and the people we work with. (Flight Attendants can talk for hours about our jobs--it never seems to end--and we all understand. "Well, there was this one flight I worked that...." and "I had a passenger that...." "You did? Me, too, except my passenger did......" Weird, isn't it?)

Having worked a few of these extra stew trips now, I have learned to have an appreciation of them. I just look at it as a few days to myself. On a lonesome little layover, I can finish a book, walk around a garden and appreciate the solitude. I can bring dinner to my room and enjoy a DVD, or watch the TV shows Norm won't watch with me (like Survivor--can you believe he won't watch this show??) I can arrange the pillows all around me on the bed and curl up and channel surf if I want to. Or call my friends and yak . Or even--get to sleep early.

Flight Attendants tend to be very social people. So, while I prefer flying the same trip with the same crew, I can really appreciate a good meter!

My View 1 Year Ago: My favorite refrigerator magnet!
My View 2 Years Ago: Celebrity On Board

How did I end up here?

Ever wonder why Flight Attendants are working the particular position they are on the aircraft? Why is the mean one working in YOUR cabin, or how did that really sweet one end up in the Galley, where she barely interacts with passengers at all?

At some airlines, the Flight Attendants are awarded their positions based on how they bid. Basically, they will bid for the Purser, Galley and Aisle in a certain cabin (First, Business, Coach) on a certain aircraft (777, S-80, Airbus 320, etc.) They know what position they will be flying all month long.

At my airline, the line-holding (read: more senior) Flight Attendants bid for International or Domestic, and within those two, they may or may not bid for the Purser position. (The Purser at other airlines is also known as the "Lead" or the "A" position.) And, none of this takes into account Reserve Flight Attendants--but, then it gets complicated.

So, the Purser at my airline is generally known in advance, especially on International flights. These Flight Attendants complete a separate training program and can be differentiated by the big ol' wings with the giant letters that say "Purser."

Our positions are chosen by seniority in a "briefing." The Purser conducts the meeting--usually this is in one of the small briefing rooms in the domicile, but sometimes it is done on the aircraft.

The Purser will introduce herself, and we go around the room and follow suit. She then gives us basic info on the flight we are just about to work: video in seat 34G doesn't work, we have three wheelchairs (passengers needing assistance), the plane is in remote parking (meaning everyone, passengers and crew, takes a bus to get to the aircraft.) She will also tell us who the Flight Deck crew is, what time we are expected to begin boarding, what the aircraft number is (used to know which part of our manual we use for our safety checks), what the passenger/standby load is, who the language speakers are, what the block time is (time between closing the door and opening it again at our destination) and the expected flying time.

Then, using a computer generated seniority list, we go around and select the position we want to work. The Senior Mamas pick what they want to work and it goes around to usually the last position on the list that is leftover for me.

Since I am on Reserve, and very low on the totem pole, I never know what position I am going to get. I really don't care what I work. To me, the best positions, generally, on a three cabin aircraft, are in First Class. There are fewer people to take care of, so it is easier, I think, to anticipate their needs and be of service to them. Of course, different strokes for different folks--and a lot of people enjoy other positions, for a variety of reasons.

One of the most dreaded or most desired positions is the Business Galley on an International flight. It is a ton of work, and has to be timed just right: cocktails, hot nuts (I'm sorry, I mean to say cocktail snacks!) hot towels, load the meals into the ovens, take the lids off the salads and appetizers, line the baskets, oh! get the rolls in the oven, how many pastas do we have, where is the silver for the coffee service, I can't find the oven mitt, I think we are running out of orange juice, 15 B needs more red wine and the cork puller isn't working, gotta set up the dessert/cheese & fruit/coffee/liqueur cart, has anyone seen the port?

And on a 777 with 49 people in Business, your head can be spinning in several different directions if the service starts to slow down or gets screwed up. On top of that, you can have bitchy Flight Attendants working with you in Business Class that would rather be a part of the problem instead of helping to smooth things out. I have been blessed with liking the Business Galley position, as well as having super Stewardesses that jump in to lend a hand the moment they see help is needed.

(Click on this to see it bigger.)

So, positions get picked, and Duty-Free is also chosen. The Senior Mamas generally like to work the Duty-Free carts because they earn a small commission off the things that are sold. I have never worked it, and suspect I may go the rest of my flying career without working it.

All of this information is written down on a briefing sheet, like the one I had from a trip last month, from Frankfurt (FRA) to Washington (IAD). You can see I worked as the #7. I was the very last person to pick my position and I worked the Galley in the Economy section. The briefing sheet also tells me that during passenger boarding, I am assigned to be somewhere in the Left or Right (L/R) aisles in Rows 17-30. It also tells me where my jumpseat is (4L--the last, or 4th door from the cockpit on aircraft left.)

Once we complete our 10-15 minute briefing, we disburse into the airport. Some stop by Starbucks or an ATM, while most just go straight to the aircraft. Once onboard, most of us open our Flight Attendant Manual to the specific aircraft we are flying, to locate the safety checks we are responsible for-which correspond to our position on the aircraft. Since the vast majority of our Flight Attendants are qualified on every aircraft in every position, it is imperative that we look up our Safety Checks. Looking up these positions also shows us exactly where we are to store our tote bag and suitcase, and where we have to be for the safety demo. It also tells us what our responsibility is in an evacuation--every position is different.

And, before we know it, the Purser makes an announcement over the PA: "Boarding!" which lets us know she sees passengers walking down the jetbridge to the airplane. Then, we all get into our wanted-or-not positions and our real work begins. Welcome Aboard!

Hmmmm...and Uh-oh....

I'm just back from visiting a Flight Attendant friend who is living in South Florida temporarily. I "jumpseated" down to Fort Lauderdale (FLL) on Delta Airlines Sunday morning. The term "jumpseat", when applied to our standby travel, is sorta misleading: we don't sit in the actual jumpseats on other airlines--there has to be an empty passenger seat. My airline has negotiated many "jumpseat agreements" for our Flight Attendants--and while it isn't nearly as comprehensive as the agreements the pilot unions have negotiated--it is a great benefit to have available. (Especially since my airline does not have much service to the South Florida area.)

So, I jumpseated down to Atlanta (ATL) then on to Fort Lauderdale (FLL) with Delta. Had a car reservation at Budget Rent a Car. At the Budget counter, I gave the guy there my driver's license and my credit card. He is busy clickety-clicking on his keyboard. "Hmmmm," he says. Clickety-click, clickety-click. "Hmmmm," I hear again. "I'm new here," he says as he picks up the phone and calls a manager-type lady to help him figure out his "Hmmmms."

The manager-type comes up, clickety-clicks on the keyboard and says, in a very loud voice, "Have you had any moving violations in the last three years?" "Why, yes-I had a speeding ticket in the last year." "Well, we don't rent to people who have had a moving violation within the last three years."

"B-b-but, I made the reservation online and there was nothing that said I couldn't rent a car with you." And in a louder, more condescending voice, she booms: "Sorry, ma'am, we don't rent to speeders." With that, the manager-type walked away, leaving me with the new guy working the counter.

"Ma'am," he says, "you can go over to Willy-Nilly Rental Cars (named changed to protect the helpful) and they will rent you a car. I used to work for them, and they only check to see if you have had a DWI*--you haven't had a DWI, have you?"

"No, no I haven't--and thank you very much for that information--I appreciate your help!"

I made my way over to the Willy-Nilly Rental Car counter, where a very nice lady helped me. I handed over my driver's license and credit card and she started the rental car process.

We chatted about this and that--and when she asked me where I worked, and I found out that she used to be a Flight Attendant in the early 70's-she flew charter flights back in the days of girdles and white gloves. Then she said, in a most dreadful voice, "Uh-oh."

Uh-oh?

Yes, uh-oh.

She handed me back my driver's license and let me know that it had expired last week on my birthday. Uh-oh, indeed! Dammit, girl! (I knew it was expiring, but I thought I had until the end of the month.)

Well--what do I do now? I need a car to drive up to West Palm Beach to visit my friend-who is without a car while she is there. A cab both ways would surely cost $100 each way, plus a cab to lunch and back. Nope. Not even an option.

The lady at the counter says, "If you have a laptop, maybe you can renew it online."

Brilliant!

Because I already had an online account with the Department of Motor Vehicles, I found a corner chair and using my laptop and the airport's wi-fi, was able to renew my Virginia driver's license online.

Yippee!!

A quick conversation with the Willy-Nilly Rental Car Manager and showing him the web page that proved I had a valid license (since my actual physical license did not reflect that it had been renewed) and I was on my way!

Lunch, a little shopping and two haircuts later--it was good to see my friend! We had such a great afternoon that I stayed longer than I had planned to. While driving back to Fort Lauderdale, I realized I was not going to get back to Washington (DCA) that night--it was going to be too late and there were no more flights. I could make it to ATL or Charlotte (CLT) but decided to stay in Fort Lauderdale, where I used to live and it was "low season." My daughter, Casey helped me make a hotel reservation and I settled in for the night.

Yesterday morning, I had plenty of time to drive East on Sunrise Boulevard and then South on A1A, which gave me a spectacular view of the post-sunrise Fort Lauderdale beach, the wave wall and the palm trees against the morning sky, before I drove to the airport.

After dropping off the barely-obtained rental car, I headed over to US Airways in Terminal 3. Caught a flight to CLT, and then onward to DCA. Always good to be home, but it was terrific to see my friend! I am so grateful for these jumpseat agreements!






*Driving While Intoxicated

Birthday cruise

What a great 50th birthday we celebrated this week!

We started out last Friday meeting in Miami--my kids had a surprise for me--an old friend that I haven't seen for almost 28 years! It was a great start to our week!

We boarded the ship the next morning and began to take a look around the world's largest cruise ship-- Liberty of the Seas is massive!


A bunch of us went:




My Dad and his girlfriend, Edith flew in from San Antonio to be with us.



The only bad part about this picture is that Casey is not in it! She is in school this summer and could not come with us. (As I reminded her, it isn't our last cruise!)







My son Chase with my oldest daughter, Jennifer.
















My dear friend Taneesha and her fantastic boyfriend "Duce." I ♥ both of them!















My son-in-law, Liam and my daughter, Jennifer.








No cruise is complete without the obligatory towel animals on your bed in your stateroom every night!














This video is of Taneesha on the Flowrider, which is on the back of the ship--Chase and Duce also did it several times!


































(In my best Hermes Guzman voice:)

"Well, wha' ha' happened' wuz..."

Duce being silly with "Molten Lava Chocolate Cake" on his teeth...













Chase and my Little Cherub Prince, Brendyn.











Norma, our waitress at Johnny Rockets, was the nicest, most sweet woman! I just loved her! (Yes, there is a Johnny Rockets onboard the ship!)













The Nelson Brothers did a tribute show to their Dad, Ricky Nelson.















Matthew and Gunnar Nelson














Jenny bought a CD and got an autograph. She was a happy, happy girl since she had been such a big fan of the Nelsons.











In Saint Martin, we wanted to go to the airport at Maho Beach after we snorkeled, but our snorkel trip was too late in the day to make it over to the airport and back. Had we made it to the airport, we would have seen stuff like this.







Next time, for sure! (As well as a visit with Sheila, who lives aboard And So It Goes, and writes about it on All ABout Boats.)








Just a quick scan of the pool area as we were leaving SXM--with the tiny Disney Wonder still at the pier....(I'm jus' sayin'...)














The soon-to-be-setting sun as we left SXM.











Air hockey with Brendyn...

My little Prince Devil got a little big in his britches when he said "Bring it, Old Lady."

Oh, no he di-in't....


So, I had to smoke 'im in our match--no one calls me Old Lady and gets away with it--not even my gran'baby!

Game on!




7-5, Granny wins....

Take that, Shorty....












All of us went onto Labadee, Royal Caribbean's private oasis on the coast of Haiti. Divine, awesome, paradise, heavenly
are some words to describe this lush beach playground. Beach chairs, boats, jet skis, parasailing, a kid's aqua park, BBQ lunch for everyone, hammocks in the shade, icy drinks, snorkeling and diving--you name it, it was here. Including a 2,633 foot zip line over water, from 500 feet up.


First we had to "suit up." (Will they ever invent a rig that doesn't make your ass look bigger than it is??)











Chase and Jenny
























Duce takin' his picture--bet it's his new Facebook profile picture!

In this room, they gave us instructions...








...then took us up to a mini zip line of about 300 feet, to get us acquainted with the the sensation and the smack at the end when the brake system they have set up slams you to a stop.





















A truck ride later, we were at the top of the platform, where we had this astonishingly beautiful view of our little slice of paradise!












Breathtaking!





















Duce went first....



I went a few minutes later--I was concentrating so hard on maintaining the starfish position they wanted us to, that I forgot I had my camera for a bit. Then, towards the end, I had to raise my arms up for the braking--then you see how hard I hit when the camera gets to swingin'...it was a lot of fun!











SMACK!



























Norm even managed to make sure I had flowers for our room...









At dinner on our last night, our waiter brought a birthday cake to the table and everyone sang "Happy Birthday" to me. (Thank you, Norm!)





We all flew home and made it there safely yesterday. So much luggage, we needed a cart.












Of course, I--being a Flight Attendant--was able to pack every thing I needed in my rollaboard and tote bag...


(The last two sentences are complete fiction--one of those big suitcases is mine, and one is Norm's.)






I think everyone had a great time. I don't think I will ever take a cruise in high season again--too many kids-teens-were out of control on the ship. And, hot! It was omigawd hot in Saint Martin and San Juan...but, it was just fantastic to have people I love with me on this cruise.  Norm. And my Dad. And Jenny. And Chase. And Taneesha. And Liam. And Tim. I think you get the picture! It was the best ever!

Ahoy, Mateys!

We were in Sint Maarten yesterday--here is Chase, Tim, Jenny, Brendyn and Liam when we went ashore.

Wipe out!

Family and friends are with us on Royal Caribbean's Liberty of the Seas. We have spent the last two days out to sea, having a blast doing nothing and everything! This morning, Chase, Taneesha and Deuce tried out the Flowrider...here's Chase, wiping out...