No retirement regrets

No retirement regrets

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

Why choose a bespoke holiday?

Why choose a bespoke holiday?

A bespoke holiday is one crafted to your needs. In most cases, it is synonymous with luxury travel and excellent service. Because I have traveled for many years, I believe some things or experiences can differentiate between a good trip and a fantastic trip. My recent African safari was one from the Elewana Collection, and here are a few reasons I chose this bespoke holiday.

The Elewana Collection is known for its unique and iconic locations. One of my recent blog posts discussed my stay at the Elewana Treetops, but each place I stayed was equally impressive. My bespoke trip to Tanzania included:

The itinerary of my safari was custom designed and well thought out. Its primary focus was to provide unique experiences in the places visited. Although the itinerary was tailored for me, I could change it at any time. All activities were well organized and timely, and options for bespoke experiences were limitless, including sunset dinners on safari, beach, and other ideal locations.

The trip included all accommodations. Because the trip covered all Elewana properties, the only check-in was on the first day. Every stay after that, we were escorted to the room by our butler. All requests went through the butler, who handled our requests efficiently and timely. It was like having a personal concierge service.

Drinks and meals were all-inclusive. Premium drinks were available for a charge, but the drink selection offered was more than adequate. In addition, the trip included all transportation to and from the lodges and camps, Kilimanjaro airport, and Zanzibar airport. All the scheduled game drives had a personal English-speaking guide for the duration of each destination.

There was no need to overpack as laundry services were available at every destination. The package also included emergency evacuation insurance. However, it did not have travel insurance. Other items not included were gratuities and tips, visas for Tanzania, and flights into Tanzania and from Zanzibar. The resort in Zanzibar provided a driver and guide, but trips to the city were at an additional cost.

If you’ve never had a bespoke travel experience, I would highly suggest one. Not having to worry about different accommodations, making travel arrangements within the country, and sorting out guides and transportation was priceless. It is so worth the expense and can be a most memorable time.

Are you interested in a bespoke travel experience? Check out my trip on Levantr and create your own bespoke travel experience. Let me know.

Travel snack ideas

Travel snack ideas

In a few weeks, my colleagues from the airline industry indicate that some limited food and beverage services will soon return for airplane travelers.  It’s always a good idea to travel with your snacks as airport food is expensive, delays are unexpected but a regular occurrence, and you may have your own dietary needs.  Here are a few snack ideas to keep in mind when you plan your travel to save you money and are healthy for you.

Fruit

Fruit is one of my go-to travel snacks.  Whole fruits like apples, pears, and bananas are great to have and travel well if packed correctly.  Cut fruit is also a great choice, but it should be fully drained of liquid and chilled the night before departure.  Another great idea is to freeze grapes, and they can also serve to keep the other cut fruit chilled.  For security screening, clear Ziploc bags are best.  Please remember that most fruit and vegetables are not allowed into international destinations. You are subject to fines, so please dispose of all your fruit before leaving the airplane to be safe.

Vegetables

Vegetables are also a great idea. Carrot, celery, cucumber, and broccoli are great choices.  However, dips will have to be in containers less than 3 ounces to go through airport security, even if unopened.  Salads are also a great choice, but they do not travel well.  If your travel is over long distances and especially in the summer months, this is not a great travel snack idea. Like fruit, vegetables are also not allowed in many countries so remember to finish or dispose of them before you land in an international destination.

Smelly snacks

Avoid smelly snacks at all costs, and remember you are traveling in a confined space.  Hard-boiled eggs are an easy snack to travel with, but I would not recommend them.  Similarly, meals like smoked salmon and tuna can also be quite smelly and not great choices for travel in public transportation.

Sandwiches

Sandwiches are another excellent choice as a travel snack.  Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are great, but if you want to make other sandwiches, it would be advisable to carry disposable condiment packages like mayo and mustard to use when ready for your snack.  Additionally, wrapping fillings like lettuce, tomato, and pickles separately makes for a fresher sandwich when you are ready to snack.

Air pressure and gas

More than anything, remember that air travel often creates gassy conditions for most travelers.  Most importantly, if you know how your body reacts to certain foods, please refrain from them on the airplane.  It creates a better environment, not only for you but for the travelers and flight attendants who have to contend with your problems. Also, many people have food allergies like peanuts, and they can be dangerous for them, so please be aware of how your snack choices may affect others.

I hope this blog post has given you pause for thought in your travel snack ideas.  Have you had any experiences carrying or having to deal with other travelers’ snack choices? I’d like to know.

Why I Stayed at the St Regis Aspen.

Why I Stayed at the St Regis Aspen.

As I wrote in an earlier blog post, when planning a trip, there are many considerations. For me, staying at top tier hotels and resorts is an essential part of ensuring I have a pleasant travel experience. Here are the five reasons why my stay at St Regis Aspen, Colorado, did not disappoint.

1.Service was outstanding. When I landed at the airport, there was a hotel representative in baggage claim who took my bags, and I did not have to struggle with luggage from the airport to the hotel. At check-in, I was welcomed with an acknowledgment that it was a birthday trip. The hotel provided complimentary champagne that was delivered to my room the night before my birthday. I was presented with a box of macaroons and truffles at breakfast the morning of my birthday. From the front desk, the hotel staff, to the concierge, everyone seemed to know who I was and why I was there and made an effort to make sure I had a wonderful stay.

2.Car availability. The hotel offered a BMW 7 series for a 4-hour test drive period free of charge upon request as long as it was available. Usually, this service is provided once per stay, but due to COVID, it was available upon request and availability. I was able to use the car service twice during my stay, which was great considering I did not have to worry about car rental or parking.

3.Breakfast credit. Due to COVID and dining restrictions, the hotel offered a breakfast credit to dine in the hotel’s modified outdoor dining tent. I could have a full breakfast every day of the trip before my day of activities and a nice fluffy blanket to keep you warm while dining.

4.Airport shuttle. The hotel provided a shuttle service to the airport every thirty minutes, and the hotel personnel loaded my bags onto and off the shuttle from arrival to check-out. I did not have any concern with carrying my luggage to and from the hotel.

5.Heated pool and steam caves. After a day of snow activity, it was a pleasure to sink into the heated pool at the end of the day. The ability to be in the pool in the middle of winter with snowfall was an incredible experience and one I would thoroughly recommend.

Are there any hotels you love? I’d love to know, so drop me a line.

5 Flight attendant annoyances

5 Flight attendant annoyances

There are many things that flight attendants find annoying. Some are more annoying than others, and some may not be an annoyance based on the individual flight attendant. The following are some that I still remember as being annoying to me. For disclosure, these are from my lived experience as a flight attendant.

1.Coffee: Having been raised and based in New York as a flight attendant, if a passenger said, “regular coffee,” I understood it to mean coffee with milk and sugar. If they said, “light and sweet,” I like most flight attendants had no idea how light to make the coffee or how many sugar packets the passenger needed. Some passengers meant just a drop of milk, and others wanted half milk, half coffee. Deciding how many packs of sugar meant sweet to a person you’d never met was a pointless guess at best. Like passengers, flight attendants are people from all over the country and the world; knowing each passenger’s specific coffee requirements was most times an exercise in futility.

2.Aisle Passengers. Most passengers prefer aisle seats because of the ability to have a little extra room. This preference was often a perception that overlooked the fact that the aisle they assumed to be extra space was the flight attendant’s working space. Airline service carts could be a hundred pounds or more and somewhat challenging to maneuver. Weighted down with beverages or food to serve the number of people on board, often proved a challenge for a flight attendant to operate. Aisle passengers often extended their body parts into the aisle, and it was not uncommon for the cart to inadvertently hit a passenger. In many cases, the passenger got angry at the flight attendant without considering that the service cart was at least 3 feet long and even higher. Hence, the flight attendant seeing over the cart, and the extended body part was unreasonable at best.

3.Touching. Passengers often think it is ok to touch or poke a flight attendant to get their attention, which is often very annoying to flight attendants. A flight attendant call light is within every passenger’s reaching distance, and using this is much preferable than to be poked. Moreover, a hand wave or similar gesture is universal regardless of language. Having your body nudged several times a flight could be rather annoying.

4.Lavatory doors. They are not automatic, and standing in front of them will not make them open. Often passengers would stand in the lavatory area waiting for flight attendant instructions on how to open the door or be told whether it was vacant or not. Bathroom doors, like every other bathroom door elsewhere, has a lock. Unlike most bathrooms, airplane bathrooms have instructions, and most often, if not in the native language, there is visual signage. Along with signage, airline lavatories also have an occupied/unoccupied sign, which in most cases are red and green and are universally understood to mean the same everywhere. To be seen as a bathroom attendant is very frustrating to flight attendants.

5.Asking “where are we?” Flight attendants walk up and down the aisle, usually positioned several feet above the window level. Furthermore, like most passengers, they cannot pinpoint locations 30,000 feet above the ground. Yes, several landmarks are apparent to some, but flight attendants do not have the luxury of sitting and looking out the window on flights, nor do they have an inner GPS. Your guess is as good as theirs.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this glimpse behind the scenes. These are perceptions of my lived and actual experience as a flight attendant. I hope they’ve been eye-opening and will make for more happy travels.