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Galley Gossip: Airline Bashing, bringing the world together
"So what do you do for a living?" asks...oh...whoever it is asking that day, which on this day happened to be a client of my husband, a very important client with a very impressive job.
"I'm a flight attendant," I say with a smile.
The two second pause, that's usually the initial response from the person asking the question about my job. During this never ending pause, I always find myself holding my breath, because the pause is always followed by one of two responses, and nine times out of ten it's not the good response.
- The good response: Is full of excitement and ends with an exclamation mark. It goes something like this; "I've always wanted to be a flight attendant!" or "My sister is a flight attendant!" And always leads to a very nice conversation about travel, which then leads to other interesting topics related to travel.
- The bad response: Always starts with the same four words, "On my last flight..." which is then followed by another pause, accompanied with a weird look, which of course leads to a very bad story about the last flight. Needless to say, the conversation usually doesn't go so well after this. How can it? I've now been linked to the worst flight this person has ever had. No matter how well we'd just been getting along.
"Computers," said a friend, and CEO of a well known watch company that I worked for thirteen years ago. "I always tell people I'm in computers and then they leave me alone. Try it."
"Oh I hate telling people what I do for a living," said Mark, a fellow coworker, as we stood in the first class galley of a New York to Los Angeles flight, a flight I wasn't working. We were talking about the job, and what people tend to think of those of us who do the job, which is the main reason Mark hates talking about the job with those who work on the ground.
Flight attendants aren't the only ones who dread talking about it. On a flight a few years back, when things weren't nearly as bad as they are now in the aviation industry, a super 80 co-pilot once confessed, "I never wear my uniform outside the house. I don't want my neighbors knowing what I do for a living. When I get to the airport I change clothes."
"Really?" I asked the first officer who, at the time, seemed a little...well...weird. I mean this was a pilot - A PILOT! Something to be proud of.
Now, years later, I often think of that guy when I'm dressed in my uniform and not on the airplane, the guy who may not have been so weird after all. Perhaps somehow he knew something about the future of aviation we could not imagine back then when things were...well...good, even though back then we still didn't think things were all that great.
Like most flight attendants, I miss the good old days, but I still love my job, even if I'm selling sandwiches down the aisle and constantly apologizing because we don't have this and we don't have that to a full flight of miserably cramped passengers. Otherwise I wouldn't do it. I certainly don't have to do it. Really, I don't. I want to do it and I like doing it. Which is why I'm going to tell you something I told my husband five years ago while we were seated across a dimly lit table from each other on our second date. I won't quit. Ever! Oh yeah, I'll be one of the ones using the drink cart like a walker forty years from now. Why? Because I love my job, remember? So it's a shame that talking about the job has become such a sore spot with so many people.
"You're the new whipping girl," said Margo Candela, one of my few friends who does not work at 35,000 feet for a living. She said that after I had told her how people usually react when I tell them I'm a flight attendant.
"Whipping girl?" I repeated, because this was news to me. I'd never been called that before. In fact, I've been called everything BUT that, so whipping girl sounded nice, for a change, and also kind of exciting. "Whipping girl," I said again, because I just liked saying it, and couldn't stop saying it, as I imagined myself, the girl, actually holding the whip, as I stood in the aisle surrounded by passengers. "So what do you mean, exactly, by whipping girl?" I asked Margo, even though I had a pretty good idea what she meant, which I knew wasn't at all like what I was fantasizing about.
"What I mean," said Margo, the writer. "Is nowadays the dislike for airlines and ticket prices are the only thing people can agree on. It brings the world together. Trashing airlines, customer service, you name it, is a fairly safe and enthusiastic topic of conversation. For instance, I won't talk religion or politics with some people, but airline complaints are fair game."
It was an ah-ha moment. Everything Margo said made sense. And guess what, she actually made me feel better, so much better, in fact, I could go on with my day and face whatever negativity that might come my way with a first class smile on my face.
So go ahead, say what you like about me, my job, my coworkers, it's okay. Because we're doing great things with our lives. Yeah, I said it, great things, people! I mean how many of you are actually bringing this crazy mixed up world together by creating a unified hatred not based on religion, race, or political belief, but by working in an industry that's struggling just to stay afloat? I mean who would have thought that one job could spark so much emotion? From so many people. And from all walks of life!
Now seriously, why can't we all just get along?
Please!
Because we're all stuck in the flying tube together.
Filed under: Food and Drink, Airlines, Transportation, Galley Gossip
Reader Comments (Page 3 of 6)
agonzo Jul 8th 2008 4:14PM
Bless your hearts--flight attendants have a job like a nurse--the last one you met determines what you think about all of the others! You have a tough job, getting tougher every day. But every one of you--and I fly a dozen times a year--have a smile on your face (mostly) and handle those ill-mannered, stupid passengers as an angel. Hats off to you!
marie Jul 8th 2008 4:16PM
If you are happy with what you do for a living no reason to hide it, in todays economy it is not the fault of the flight attendants customers are not getting the same benefits as we have in the past and if people cannot understand that then that is their problem the only thing you can do is provide the best service possible and feel good about your job because of it.
Kelley Jul 8th 2008 4:26PM
You know Jack, it is because of lawyers that we, as flight attendants, feel the need to be on seatbelt patrol everytime you get up to use the bathroom. (Just ribbing you a bit) I'm not going to tell someone they cannot go to the bathroom, but I am required to tell you the seatbelt sign is on. If I were to tell you it's okay to get up during turbulence and you injured yourself, I'd be the one who told you (in my professional opinion) that it was okay. I would be awfully sorry you were injured, and I'd have to attend to you, and possibly divert the flight. But then you would have the right to turn around and sue my company for your injury. Surely, you can understand why I would not want to expose my company to a lawsuit, or you to injury or death.
If the courthouse suddenly dropped 500- 1000 ft you would be a little cautious too! In the last three years I have a friend who broke her arm when she tripped over a passenger in turbulence, a co-worker who impaled her leg on a cart latch, and another who lost his eye on the edge of a cart in sudden turbulence. So do I seem a little caustic? Yeah, maybe. Only because I don't want to see any of it happen on my watch to any of my passengers or friends. Try not to take it personally. I know that most people are tired of hearing it from us. But please keep this in mind, when you are on board an aircraft, every rule and regulation we insist you abide by has come at the expense of someone's life at some point. That's how the FAA works- rules get past when someone died.
Ted Jul 8th 2008 4:26PM
I am a retired claim adjuster with a major insurance company. I used to hide it during conversations because I was blamed for all the wrong in the world. Then I decided to come clean during conversations and stand up for what I did for a living because I enjoyed the work and was proud of the service I provided. The interesting thing was that the conversation would usually turn to interesting cases that I had. And afte learning of my work, many would not tell theirs.
BRUCE Jul 8th 2008 4:37PM
I'D BE EMBARRASSED IF I WAS STILL FLYING AS WELL. (SEE MY PROFILE)... NO RESPECT, NO PAY, NO BENEFITS, NO PENSION....YOU GUYS ARE FLYING FOR FREE....HOW CAN ANYONE RESPECT YOU?
1.2 TO 2.4 MILLION DOLLAR PENSIONS....ALL GONE... IF THAT'S NOT FLYING FOR FREE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS.
SIGN ME OFF AS EARLY RETIRED AT 54.
RETIRED 777 CAPT Jul 8th 2008 4:44PM
I'D BE EMBARRASSED IF I WAS STILL FLYING AS WELL. (SEE MY PROFILE)... NO RESPECT, NO PAY, NO BENEFITS, NO PENSION....YOU GUYS ARE FLYING FOR FREE....HOW CAN ANYONE RESPECT YOU?
1.2 TO 2.4 MILLION DOLLAR PENSIONS....ALL GONE... IF THAT'S NOT FLYING FOR FREE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS.
SIGN ME OFF AS EARLY RETIRED AT 54.
Greta Jul 8th 2008 4:51PM
A friend who travels a lot and likes to be left alone by "talky" seat mates has the best answer ever when asked what he does for a living " I am a fund raiser for a religious cult" Shuts them down immediately and can be used as a "occupation cover" by anyone
toughhill Jul 8th 2008 4:56PM
Nothing wrong with being a flight attendent, but a TSA person--yuck, they're the lowest of the low, maybe below lawyers. The dress like slobs, act like they're doing you a favor to allow you on the flight for which you have paid. They can barely speak properly and assume that all 160 headed for your flight are terrorists. Worse, they're government employees and can't be fired.
Ted Jul 8th 2008 10:18PM
And just what toughhill do? If it weren't for the TSA folks you may be dead. If the TSA folks seem cold and unprofessional it just might be because of folks like you.
ME Jul 8th 2008 4:55PM
I'VE BEEN IN THIS 'BUSINESS' FROM THE GLAMOU DAYS,41 YEARS AND I TOO LOVE MY JOB BUT WE HAVE BECOME THE WHIPPING POSTS. I WISH THE PASSENGERS WOULD UNDERSTAND THAT THEY'RE PAYING A TON MORE AND WE'RE MAKING TONS LESSAND WANT NOTHING MORE THAN TO GIVE THEM ALL THEY ASK FOR, WE JUST DON'T HAVE IT AVAILABLE BUT I STILL WOULDN'T GIVE UP THIS JOB AND IN THREE YEARS WHEN IT'S TIME TO GO, IT'LL BE LIKE LOSING A DEAR FRIEND OF OH SO MANY YEARS.....................
Marilyn Porto Jul 8th 2008 5:12PM
I was fortunate enough to fly in the "golden age" of flight when it was movie-star status to be a stewardess and, especially, one who flew with Pan Am, which flew the world. I was proud to wear my uniform and the wings and intensely loved my career. I thought of my passengers as guests in my home and treated them as such. I was proud of the service we provided. When I fly as a passenger today, I can understand the feeling of not being proud of the food for sale and cramped, uncomfortable seats. It was a wonderful era in which to be passenger and, more so, a stewardess!!
tracey Jul 8th 2008 5:10PM
I work in the lost baggage office for a major airline. Now that we're charging to check bags, I am the worst person alive when those bags don't show up on the bag belt. Imagine taking a claim for a person who paid the $25 to check in a bag containing their wedding dress, only to land and find out their bag was misloaded to the other side of the world and they're getting married this weekend. Or a bag belonging to a couple who's only child is gradutating tomorrow from college and the video camera is in the bag in another country. How about the person (stupid as it may seem) who checks their diabetic or heart medication in a bag that misconnects for two days....yeah flight attendants have it bad...but in the airline industry, they're 30,000 feet in the air and we all know when a bird S**ts it's gotta land somewhere on the ground....:)
RetiredStew Jul 8th 2008 10:51PM
Tracey, I have always had the upmost respect for my fellow airline workers that support our flights and aircraft. If we (flight attendants) ever fail to say hello, excuse me, and/or especially thank you - I'm saying it now.
Maria Jul 8th 2008 5:16PM
I was coming back from SFO/Recurrent Training (in uniform) and was given a First Class seat. The businessman next to me spent the hour flight telling me how lucky I was that I didn't have to pay for my seat (even though I told him my trip was work related). I even put on the headphones and turned on Channel 9 (pilot talk) and he was still talking to me!
carey tomas Jul 8th 2008 9:07PM
oh oh oh. do i ever know hat she is talking about! I am an executive chef have been for many years. My favorite is when they ask me what do you cook? not what kind of cuisine do i favor or what kind of establishment do i work at. No what do you cook? I know chefs do cook, but when you reach upper level management cooking is the last thing you get to do in your busy day. Just a pet peeve i guess. I never thought to actualy lie about my job. may be head dishwasher or as it is more commonly known as executive steward.LOL because I spend more time worrying about dirty dishes & pots than any thing else. Its not like people are going to ask, what do you wash?
Ciao
Dana Jul 8th 2008 9:43PM
The Service Industry was your career choice; unfortunately your choice was an industry that has continued to depreciate since the late 1970's in both value and service. When humans are regarded as cargo to be moved from one point to another instead of as paying customers whom your job depends on, it is not likely your career choice will be respected anytime soon. Perhaps instead of looking for sympathy you would be better served discussing the issue with your fellow servers and try to come up with a way to create a better perception from the public, maybe get rid of the "us against them" attitude that I have overheard being discussed by flight attendants on many occasions. Thank God Flight Attendants are not paid through gratuities like other service industry workers, you would have a real problem.
H Jul 8th 2008 5:17PM
Talk about not identifying your employer.....I used to work for the Internal Revenue Service. While working in my yard one day, I took a break and ran to the local pizza shop to pick up lunch, totally forgetting that I had my IRS softball shirt on (with IRS across the back). When some guy in the pizza shop asked what it stood for, I replied that I was a secretary for International Roofing Services (okay, a poor answer, but all I could think of....) To which he replied, "Hey, I'm a roofer! Where is your company?" Moral of the story? Be prepared if you're going to fib about your job!
K Jul 8th 2008 5:22PM
Ditto being an attorney and / or paralegal. You'll either hear "I bet you try a lot of interesting cases" or the reverse "I hate lawyers. Mine charges me $300 per hour and doesn't take my calls. There is no justice in this world ... can you listen to my case for an hour or so..."
I say "I'm an analyst." "What do you analyze?" "Human Behavior."
No one has ever probed further.
PT Jul 8th 2008 5:24PM
When people ask me what I do for a living, I say (without missing a beat) "drug dealer." From then
on the flight for me is very tranquil which assures
wonderful seat mates. (PS. Actually, I'm a middle
aged retired female cop.)
Lou Jul 8th 2008 6:46PM
PT - love your sense of humor. I am sure it got you a long way in life. Perhaps if more of us tried that approach there would be less violence in the world. And, just maybe, we would be able to tolerate the flight conditions we now endure that make us snappish. Like fa’s who get drunk on the flight, fa’s who will not answer a call button ring or light, fa’s who treat passengers like they are a major PITA. I could go on, but why? My point is that a sense of humor like yours is a treasure worth more than gold! May you live long and prosper. God Bless you.