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There’s a reason for airline rules.

There’s a reason for airline rules.

by | Mar 9, 2022 | 0 comments

As a former flight attendant, I have seen many travelers take offense to a flight attendant’s request to follow an airline rule.  I can honestly say that flight attendants do not try to make passengers unhappy.  In contrast, happy passengers make for a comfortable flight for everyone.  Flight attendants are simply doing their job, and that job comes with rules and regulations they must follow and ensure that you do as well.  Not enforcing the rules exposes flight attendants to fines and loss of employment.  Here are a few reasons for the rules some passengers take offense to.

Seatbelts.
Although it may be comfortable not to wear a seatbelt, there is an excellent reason for ensuring that passengers wear their seatbelts during the flight. One of the most compelling reasons is air turbulence.  There are times when turbulence occurs without warning.  If this happens and a passenger is not wearing a seatbelt, they can be severely injured or killed.  One of the reasons this does not occur often is because flight attendants ensure seatbelts are worn.

Exit seats.
Airplane exit seats are desirable because of the extra legroom.  However, many passengers conveniently forget that the extra room is there to get people out of the airplane in an emergency quickly.  This reason is why young children and disabled people are not allowed to sit in the exit row.  Imagine a young child trying to open and throw a 70-pound window exit or someone unable to get out the exit quickly.  Flight attendants are required to ask before every flight if a passenger is willing and able to assist in the event of an emergency.  Moreover, there is no time to rearrange seats in an emergency.  Therefore, even when the exit seat is available, there may be a reason a passenger is unable to sit in it.

The seatbelt sign.
Passengers must be seated before the aircraft can leave the gate and stay seated until the seatbelt sign has been turned off.  This rule is not an airline rule but an FAA rule.  Although there are rare cases, flights have had to stop on the runway suddenly, and if not seated, passengers can be hurt.  In addition, airplanes can occasionally collide, which is another chance for passenger injury.  However, these occurrences are rare, and so often, passengers think walking around to be of no danger when that is far from the truth.

Disruptive passengers have become more and more common recently.  However, passengers should understand that flight attendants are doing a job that requires them to enforce the rules.  Not following these rules can impact passenger safety and jeopardize a flight attendants’ job.  Challenging flight attendants on basic rules is simply being rude.  By sharing this information, I hope that the reader will be just a bit kinder to flight attendants next time they get on an airplane and merely follow the rules.

Must have travel Apps.

Must have travel Apps.

by | Feb 20, 2022 | 2 comments

Almost every person has a smartphone and a mobile App they use every day.  Many travelers use their phones no matter the destination.  But now, more than ever, travelers take advantage of mobile Apps to help them through the travel process.  Whether planning a trip or getting help during a trip, some Apps can help you save time and money and make the travel journey much less stressful.  Here are three Apps I think every traveler should have.

Airline Apps.

Airline Apps have significantly improved over the past few years.  While they are not often used to purchase tickets, they are most assuredly used to enhance the travel experience.  Airline Apps allow you to see your travel itinerary and essential information such as booking codes and ticket numbers.  This information is often overlooked but can be crucial when discussing your travel with ticketing agents.  The airline app will also allow you to check in for your flight, change seats or select meal preferences.  In addition, the App will have up-to-date travel information, sometimes even before it displays on airport information screens.  Travelers can also opt-in for travel alerts to notify them of flight delays, gate changes, or flight cancellations.  Some airline Apps even allow you to watch airline entertainment from your mobile device.  These are just a few of the advantages of having the airline App when traveling.  So, if you plan to travel, check if the airline you plan to travel on has an App and download it before you go.

Flight booking Apps.

Plenty of flight booking Apps are available that all claim to help you find the best trip at the best price.  The best perk of a flight booking App is that it compares many flight options all in one place.  The best flight booking App depends on the travelers’ preferences and priorities.  Some Apps will help you with the best time to book and purchase a ticket.  Some are better if you want a guaranteed refund in the event of delay or cancellation.  Most importantly, travelers can set alerts for price drops and can take advantage of flight bargains when available.  Like airline Apps, flight booking Apps also keep all your flight information in one location, even previous booking information.  In addition, many flight booking Apps will also provide options for hotel or rental car information and suggest tourist trips or destination information.  Whether you have precise flight booking needs or flexibility with your travel dates or destination, a flight booking App is a great place to start.

Hotel Apps.

Hotel Apps allow travelers to create a more customized experience and a convenient way to discuss their hotel needs with the hotel.  Many hotel Apps now have a mobile check-in and check-out process and mobile key cards for hotel room access.  With some hotel Apps, hotel guests no longer have to interact with front desk personnel or stand in line for check-in or request a room upgrade.  The hotel App may also link other hotel services such as ordering room service, booking dining reservations, making spa appointments, or requesting your car from the valet.  Like the airline and flight booking Apps, hotel Apps allow guests to have all their booking information in one location.  If you plan a hotel stay, see if your hotel has an App, and take advantage of the many benefits it may provide.

These are just a few of the available travel Apps and I did not name any specifically because I think preference is personal.  If you want a more customized travel experience, travel Apps may help you realize a better service experience.  Do you use any travel apps?  Comment below and let me know.

What your flight attendants may know about you when you board an airplane?

What your flight attendants may know about you when you board an airplane?

by | Jan 23, 2022 | 0 comments

 

In my years as a flight attendant, I have had passengers try to claim premium seats, embellish their airline status, and even claim to have paid more for their ticket than they did.  Passengers do not realize that the flight crew is provided a passenger information list (PIL) or passenger manifest list before the plane leaves the gate.  That PIL has a wealth of information on passengers.  Here are a few things your flight attendants may know about you when you board the airplane.

Name.

You must provide identification before boarding an airplane.  Before that airplane leaves the gate, a passenger list is provided to the flight crew listing everyone on board by name.  This information is often utilized in premium cabins to personalize the flight experience, but it is available for everyone on the airplane.  Immigration also uses this information to prescreen arriving and departing passengers.

Seat assignment.

Recently a flight had to be returned to the gate because passengers refused to leave premium cabin seating.  Although there may be empty seats on the airplane, they are not for the taking.  Seat assignments are allotted by ticket pricing, airline status, and other factors.  Flight attendants do not assign seating, the gate agents do, but flight attendants have some leverage in reassigning seats while on board.  Often passengers are asked to accommodate other passengers traveling together.  However, once you are assigned a seat, you do not have to give up that seat assignment unless requested by a flight crew for a specified reason.

Airline status.

Depending on your airline status, you may be entitled to certain perks onboard the airline.  Many were the days when I had passengers declare themselves to be “million” milers, platinum passengers, or VIPs demanding a particular service.  That information is available on the passenger manifest, so claiming a status you are not is often a waste of breath.

Flight itinerary.

One of the initial reasons for the passenger information list was to assist passengers with connecting flights while onboard.  Before landing, the flight crews are provided with connecting gate information.  When traveling in a premium cabin, passengers are often individually given connecting gate information before the list is relayed to main cabin passengers.  This list also helps flight attendants request other passengers’ patience to allow connecting passengers to deplane first.  In some cases, if seats are available, the flight crews can move passengers closer to the front of the airplane for faster deplaning.

Travel status.

With the many security matters that have arisen since 9/11, flight crews now can know if you are traveling alone or with a group, if you have or need medical assistance while onboard the aircraft, or even if you have been a problem passenger on a previous flight.  If a problem arises and authorities meet the flight, they will already have your information when the flight lands.

I hope you realize that you are far from anonymous when you board an airplane or travel in general.  The flight attendant can note your behavior, bad or good, in your flight itinerary.  It’s not all to your detriment however, I remember wishing passengers a happy birthday, congratulating couples on their wedding or anniversary, even upgrading passengers for special milestones, or assisting grieving passengers.  Were you aware of how much your information is shared?  Please comment below and let me know.

No retirement regrets

No retirement regrets

by | Nov 3, 2021 | 0 comments

Since retiring from my flight attendant career, my most asked question is, do I miss it?  I do, but not in the way most people expect.  My flight attendant career gave me some of the most incredible memories of my life.  However, as I think about the job and the realities that flight attendants face now, I have no regrets about leaving the career.

Recently, a flight attendant was assaulted on an American Airlines flight and may have had her nose broken.  The assailant claimed that the flight attendant “hit her nose against the palm of his right hand” and claimed he had “psychological damage from the injury.” I have read and listened to stories about the incident, but few from the flight attendant’s perspective involved or any other flight attendant’s perspective.

According to reports, the issue began when the flight attendant informed the flight attendant of the Fasten seat belt sign.  She was doing her job!!! Contrary to what many people think, the primary duty of a flight attendant is to save lives.  They train continually and yearly for the career, guided by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) rules.  Not advising the passenger of this obvious fact was putting her job in jeopardy.

Flight attendants, like many others, are not self-employed, and they have families and loved- ones that depend on their ability to provide. Their job is governed by the rules and regulations not only of the airline but of the FAA.  Most importantly, interfering with the duties of a crewmember violates federal law.  Recently the job has brought more risk than reward.

An airline ticket is valid only to and from the cities on your ticket or trip record.  An airline will provide service as they see fit, and the flight crew does not determine that service.  The flight crew performs the service provided by the airline.  They cannot deliver items or services not provided in advance by the airline.

A flight attendant may have several flights in a day and be on several different airplanes within the same day.  Sometimes their duty days are more than 10 hours, and rarely is there time to get off the aircraft and purchase food.  More so, once duty starts for a flight attendant, there is usually no designated lunch break until the duty day ends.

The realities of Covid have not only increased stress for air travelers but flight crew as well.  Flight crews are not provided meals in many cases, and if they are, individual dietary needs are not acknowledged.  Before Covid, many airlines cut back on service, and passengers were advised to purchase food at the airport or bring their own.  

The career I left provided many opportunities to travel the world.  Currently, airplanes are more crowded, services are fewer,  and people are more frustrated by wearing masks or being told to comply.  In addition, the stress of airport security and baggage fees or allowances make the travel experience much more stressful than it ever has been.

The next time you travel, I hope you have no regrets but, more importantly, cause your flight crew to have no regrets as well.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/man-charged-after-alleged-assault-on-american-airlines-flightattendant/ar-AAQf6cP

Behind the scenes- Airline agents

Behind the scenes- Airline agents

by | Oct 13, 2021 | 0 comments

My last blog post tried to prepare travelers for the reality of Covid restrictions and holiday travel.  I want to focus on holiday travel and travelers’ role in the overall experience in this post.  We have all heard the horror stories of unruly passengers and the obnoxious behavior that affects many others.  Here are a few behind-the-scenes realities of airline agents I’d like you to be aware of next time you travel.  I hope your knowledge will make you a kinder traveler.

Airline ticketing agent.

This person is probably your first point of contact at the airport.  The ticketing agent checks your bag or handles any airline-related issue before you are even through security.  Ticket agents are responsible for ticketing, baggage, complaints, cancellations, lost luggage, weather delays, and other traveler problems.  They enforce rules made by the company, and they don’t personally make up rules just for you.  And yes, they can be fired for not following the rules.  So, when it comes to their livelihood or your demand, guess which takes priority?

Here are a few things I think they would like to tell you but can’t.
  • No, we can’t just give a free upgrade, it’s a computerized system, and big brother is watching.
  • Don’t be late and take responsibility for your poor planning and actions.
  • Saying no is not being rude. We are following the rules made by the company, not by us.
  • You get more with honey than vinegar. Treat me right, and I will do the best I can.
  • If you’re rude and yelling, do you think I want to help you?

Gate agents.

The gate agent is the person who, as the name suggests, works your departure gate.  If you have traveled recently, you may have noted that there is usually only one or two gate agents at the departure gate.  Due to airline cost-cutting, gate agents often work alone.  They must meet the inbound flight, coordinate unaccompanied minors and wheelchairs, answer passengers’ questions, clear the standby list, process upgrades, and board the plane.  If this seems like a lot of work, that’s because it is! Additionally, gate agents are also required to get the airplane out on time. This means getting every passenger onboard and seated before the airplane doors can be closed for departure.

Here are a few things I think they would like to tell you but can’t.
  • We can see everything about your ticket, including how much you paid, when and where you paid. Lying about how expensive your ticket was or that it was a first-class ticket is pointless.
  • On an oversold flight, we do have the discretion to move passengers to first class. However, the choice is usually automated and based on fare price or elite status. In rare cases, your behavior or the way you are dressed helps inform my decision.
  • My boarding time decision depends on plenty of factors. Is the airplane clean? Does it have enough crew members? Does air traffic control have a hold on the boarding process? There are many other reasons, and staring at me or crowding the boarding area will not make the decision faster.
  • We are accountable for getting the flight out on time except in the cases of weather or a mechanical delay.
  • The computer system shows how many people are connecting and their chances of making the flight. Delaying the flight for just a few passengers is often not an option as the airplane must be at its destination at the designated time.

I know that traveling is stressful for passengers, but it is also stressful for the agents who work with hundreds of passengers daily. The airport is fast-paced and hectic, and there is rarely time for bathroom breaks.  Give grace and practice kindness to your agents next time you travel.

If this has made you think differently about your previous airport experience, let me know.

Covid Restrictions and Holiday Travel

Covid Restrictions and Holiday Travel

by | Oct 10, 2021 | 0 comments

Recently a friend traveled from Washington DC to Egypt. She discussed with me the harrowing experience of trying to get a required Covid test for travel. With recent federal guidelines, the need for Covid testing has increased, and availability has decreased. As the holidays are a busy travel season, it stands to reason travelers needing testing during the holidays will also surge.  Here are a few things to think about regarding Covid testing and the holidays.

A surge in Covid testing

Many of the issues involved with the current availability of Covid testing affect the recent executive order requiring Covid vaccination for federal employees. Companies with over 100 employees will be required to comply with the order or face significant fines. As expected, there are many questions regarding the order and implementation that need an answer.  However, the demand for Covid testing has risen, and so travelers need to prepare.

Thanksgiving travel

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and it’s usually one of the busiest times for people to travel.  In 2020, many suggested curtailing travel during the Thanksgiving holiday, and many ignored that suggestion.  In preparation for the upcoming busy Thanksgiving travel season, the U.S. Air Travel Public Safety Act may require all passengers on domestic airlines to either be fully vaccinated, tested negative, or fully recovered from Covid.

The World and Covid

Preparing for holiday travel

In essence, travelers should be aware of travel restrictions and Covid guidelines. They should know where their Covid testing sites are. Find out if they need to have Covid symptoms or can test as a precaution. Research the timing of their test before seeing friends and family as exposure varies. It’s also good to know the different Covid test options, PCR or antigen.

As with any travel experience, preparation is critical.  Stay safe this holiday season and if you choose to travel, do it safely.