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Blogger Heather Poole
Introducing Gadling's newest blogger, Heather Poole. Stay tuned for an upcoming series about her life as a flight attendant for a major U.S. airline.
Where was your photo taken? In Carmel, California - one of my favorite places to go for a quick weekend getaway.
Where do you live now? Los Angeles, California. Near the beach.
Scariest airline flown: Sunjet International Airlines (No longer operating). I was actually working on the scariest airline I've ever flown. It was my first work trip for Sunjet and I kind of had a feeling something bad might be happening when the airplane started rocking side to side while the cabin lights flickered on and off and the passengers started screaming and crying, while lighting up on a nonsmoking flight, as the computer in the cockpit sounded off with, "Pull up Pull up!" Needless to say, I sent my resume off to another airline shortly after that. But I have more crazy stories working three months at Sunjet than I do working thirteen years for a major US carrier.
Favorite city, country, place: Wherever I can call home, because, as most of you I'm sure already know, there's no place like home. Especially when you travel for a living. However, I did just return from Positano, Italy, and that, I have to say, was heaven. I'm ready to go back!
Most remote corner of the world visited: Tokyo Japan. Though lying on a hammock watching a herd of skinny cows walking on the beach in Playa Blanca near Zihautanejo felt pretty darn remote.
Favorite guidebook series: I buy them all whenever planning a trip, but I always make sure to get a copy of Frommer's.
The most unusual food I've ever eaten: Turtle on a stick at a gay street fair in San Francisco a bzillion YEARS ago. And I still get sick thinking about it. In fact, I feel sick right now.
On your next trip, you are forced to schedule a 24 hour layover, you have $200 to spend: Where do you spend the layover and why: Las Vegas of course! Because I'll take that $200 straight to Harrah's and spend it on the slots, turning $200 into at least $500, and then I'll take a couple hundred and throw that on the roulette table where I'll win even more money. I'm lucky like that. And to the crew who tried to have an intervention for me at the casino at the layover hotel in Puerto Rico right before I won a ton of money, you're welcome for the dinner I bought you.
Favorite travel book: The Old Patagonian Express: By Train Through the Americas, by Paul Theroux.
First culture shock experience: Moving from Texas to New York in the middle of a winter storm and having only three days and $2,000 to find a place to live.
Filed under: About The Bloggers, Galley Gossip












Reader Comments (Page 2 of 2)
katecopsey Jun 6th 2008 9:22PM
I am not sure how I came across the blog, but I enjoy it and keep coming back. I am always the passenger but with kids on international flights, I have used the hostesses for sanity (and beer) and i have never found an nasty one.
The kids now have ipods, but I prod them, when the drink cart comes round.
Kim Auer Boykin Jun 8th 2008 3:42PM
I enjoyed reading your take on what it is like to be a flight attendant. After 15 years at a major airline, I can relate. Where is all the glamour, anyway?! I never could find it - oh well, I do agree that it is an awesome job and in a different world I would still be doing it. Thank you, though, reading some of your anecdotes brought back some memories I had filed away. Stay safe out there! ;)
David Jun 9th 2008 1:22PM
Hi. I just read your stuff and I have to say.......I LIKE YOU...ALOT! Please let me know where and when I could read you. David
Seni Jun 9th 2008 2:51PM
i love your F/A pet peeve #1story that my bestfriend emailed to me. i am constantly telling her bizzard stories that i encounter in the airport or aircraft. with your story i can really relate to those times when our airline gave free sodas and snacks. i work for a no frills airlines you buy EVERYTHING. from checked luggage, to where you will be sitting on the aircraft, bottled water, sodas, snacks, EVERYTHING!!! NO CASH! (credit cards only)
by mentioning the above the company gave the f/a's cards with answers to daily questions a pax may ask the f/a. my favorite one... if a pax asks, "Is there anything that is free?" our answer on our card states, "We smile for Free!" and we are allowed to give that response to the paxs.
looking fwd to reading more of your galley gossip.
Scott Macbride Jun 10th 2008 11:17AM
Hi Heather, I left NY and in SC MYR hope LAX is still good. Congrats on the web site.... Scott the Snow board instructor
Sue Chehrenegar Jun 15th 2008 7:59AM
Heather, You gave us your worst experience on an airplane, and a fond memory of a stay at an airport. Can you recall your worst lay-over at an airport?
Heather Jun 15th 2008 11:16AM
SUE - I guess the fact that I'm sitting here saying to myself, worst layover at an airport over and over as I try to think of the worst layover at an airport means that I haven't had that many. By layover, do you mean sit time? Of course I dislike a lot of sit time but I don't think I have a worst story. Usually I use that time to get a coffee, something to eat, do a little reading, and that, to me, ain't so bad. Delays, now that's another story, especially when you have a mechanical, and end up moving to another aircraft, only to get to the new aircraft and have another delay - now that's bad.
Bob Jul 8th 2008 5:55PM
Heather, the blog is fantastic as a frequent flier I can relate to a lot of the bad passengers and thankfully on very rare occasions the bad flight attendant. Thanks for making another dreary business trip a little more fun!
JLM2278 Jul 10th 2008 2:37PM
Heather,
Sunjet International Airlines is a name I did not think I would ever hear again. I worked in the reservations department for a year. If the passengers were half as bad to you on the flight as they were to those of us on the phones you deserve a medal. Keep you the good work.
Mary Jul 19th 2008 12:13PM
Luv,luv,luv your blog!!
Being a 35 yr. flight attendant (hired as a Hostess),
I'm getting a kick from your very well written, truthful
observations of us and our flying public.
Kudos!