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Galley Gossip: Gifts for the flight attendant (and frequent flier)
Here it is, what you've been waiting for, my 2008 list of holiday gifts for that special flight attendant (or frequent flier) in your life...
1. STARBUCKS GIFT CARD - Because there's a Starbucks in every city - and every airport. Most travelers I know can't start the day without a good cup of coffee. Note I said good. The coffee on the airplane is not good, and you know it, so don't act surprised when I pour you a cup. It doesn't matter which airline you fly or whether the flight attendant double bagged it or not (double bagging is the act of leaving an extra coffee packet in the bottom of the pot), it's just not good and that's not the way to start your day. Last year my mother bought me a $100 gift card and I'm still using it, and I'm always glad to have it on those early morning and late night departures.
2. HAND LOTION - Do you find yourself washing those hands with soap and water in the airplane lavatory quite often? That explains why your beautiful hands have aged 20 years in the last few hours. Moisturization is key at 35,000 feet. I don't know a flight attendant who doesn't carry a fruity smelling antibacterial hand lotion. Me, I prefer anything with Shea butter.
3. BUBBLE BATH - When you spend your days cramped inside a germ infested flying petri dish, and your nights showering in nasty ankle deep water at your hotel, there's nothing better than a nice hot bubble bath at home to wash it all away. My bubble bath of choice is Milk Bath, by Fresh. Add the matching soap and lotion, as well as a candle, and you've got yourself one happy flight attendant. Remember, when your flight attendant is happy you're happy.
4. AIRLINE CRAP - Most of the travelers I know have some sort of airline collection hidden somewhere. I've written about my own personal airline museum, so you already know about the bottle of wine that makes a perfect flight attendant gift. But anything airline related will do this holiday season. I've got my eye on a cute bag tag from Ann Taintor, as well as a bag handle wrap in red that reads NOT YOURS, designed by binhog.com. I'll just add the tag and the wrap to the REMOVE BEFORE FLIGHT thingie that my husband brought home from a motorcycle convention last weekend, a thingie that has already been attached to my bag.
5. SOMETHING TO READ -You know you're going to need a distraction during flight, especially if you get stuck seated next to a crying baby, or even worse, an adult baby who wants to cry about everything that's wrong with your flight. Or what if your flight is delayed due to a mechanical or bad weather this holiday season? It happens. It's that time of year! So please come prepared for the worst. That means you need to bring books and magazines, and a lot of them, and when the flight is over please don't forget to leave behind the good ones in the seatback pocket in front of you. The Old Patagonian Express, by Paul Theroux is an old favorite of mine. It's about traveling by train, not plane, which is something you might want consider next time you travel. One of the items on my book wish list is a set of books, the Louis Vuitton City Guides, which is the perfect gift for the traveler who has it all.
6. MASSAGE - A must for the one who spends too much time cramped inside confined spaces. Whenever the husband returns from an International flight, I always book a massage for him as soon as possible. There's nothing worse than a cranky traveler bringing all that crankiness home with him. As for me, I actually own a Homedics foot massager. It works great. I love it so much the husband finds it disturbing.
7. IPOD - Though The Shuffle is nice, the one that can play movies is even nicer. Leave that DVD player at home and forget about lugging that ginormous laptop. Don't you know less is more, especially when you have to cram everything into that one carry-on bag, the bag that now weighs 50 pounds, the bag you'll be dragging from city to city.
8. LAPTOP NOTEBOOK- Now that we have internet onboard some of our flights, a laptop will make the hours pass faster. Oh I know you already have a laptop, that ginormous one I mentioned above, but what you need is one of those new teeny tiny machines like the Acer notebook. I just bought one for $350 at Walmart. It makes the perfect gift for those who want to keep in touch with loved ones while on the road. Plus being able to do those trip trades on a layover without having to take the crew van back to the airport an hour earlier doesn't hurt. I mean what flight attendant can't use an extra hour of sleep in the morning?
9. NICE WATCH - Flight attendants have to wear a watch because people are constantly asking, "How much longer?" And because some of you may actually have a heart attack onboard, we need to time how long we've been doing those chest compressions. (Please don't make us do the chest compressions!) One of my favorite watches is the IWC pilot's watch. Yes, I do own one, even though I'm a flight attendant, not a pilot. While it may be a little big and look ridiculous wrapped around my wrist (and goes off at security), I love it and that's why I wear it. Need to know the time, ask me!
10. A HOME COOKED MEAL - Because let's face it, when you spend your days and nights on airplanes and in hotels, there's nothing better than the comforts of home.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
sere Dec 22nd 2008 3:04AM
Contrary to what many might think, I'm sure you don't have the most glamorous job in the world. However, it's the field you have chosen and, in so doing, you need to be a little kinder. I was an ICU nurse for forty years. A ten hour day was considered good and a twelve was the norm. I, too, encountered every conceiveable type of behavior known to man. Not only patients but, family as well. I travel about four times a year and the most noticeable change is not the passenger but the flight attendant. About ten years ago F/A's seemed to cop an attitude that all 'geese' were exactly the same and should be treated as a herd. This is far from the truth. We are individuals just the same as you are. We have different needs, wants, etc. We may be annoying, overbearing, etc. but, just like my patients, our safety lies with you and the crew, so, maybe, we're also a little scared. Remember, most of us are control freaks and flying is one time we're not in control. Bear with us for a few hours and we'll gladly get out of your life. So, the biggest gift I can offer this Christmas is the gift of compassion. It never wears out. Thanks and all the best in 2009.
Heather Poole Dec 22nd 2008 10:23AM
SERE - As far as I'm concerned, nurses have the same exact bad rap as flight attendants. I can't tell you how many bad nurses I've encountered, as well as wonderful nurses, and therefore I try not to stereotype.
Ron Dec 22nd 2008 8:47AM
@sere:
hmmm. let's see. You falsely accuse Heather of not being kind. Then, you unjustly lump her in together with flight attendants you feel have "copped a 'tude'" with you. Then, you try to justify unruly, intemperate, and worse passenger behavior by saying "we passengers are control freaks, get over it." THEN you give us the long, sorry song and dance about how you did such and such for 40 years, and you had to walk to school 2 miles up hill both ways, always in a cold headwind; all apparently in an attempt to justify your boorish condescension.
And THEN you have the nerve to admonish Heather to be more compassionate! Unbelievable! Would you kindly point me to the "compassion" in your post?
Heather Poole Dec 22nd 2008 10:21AM
RON - Thank you, Ron!
Ron Dec 22nd 2008 10:58AM
Anytime, Heather.
Keep on telling folks like it is.
The idea that flight attendants are to be "seen and not heard" is an idea that never should have seen the light of day.
Your blog gives flight attendants a voice. Keep on keepin' on!
Rich Dec 23rd 2008 12:54AM
Heather, thank you for another great post.
I just wanted to make a quick comment. Am I the only one or were you a little shocked when you first ready what the #2 gift was. I had to stop before I read on... thinking to myself "oh no she is not... is she?"
Anyways, these are great ideas!
Thank you!
frank96 Dec 23rd 2008 12:52AM
Sere, read on
To the Flying Public: We’re sorry.
We’re sorry we have no pillows.
We’re sorry we’re out of blankets.
We’re sorry the airplane is too cold.
We’re sorry the airplane is too hot.
We’re sorry the overhead bins are full.
We’re sorry we have no closet space for your oversized bag.
We’re sorry that’s not the seat you wanted.
We’re sorry there’s a restless toddler/overweight/offensive smelling
passenger seated next to you.
We’re sorry the plane is full and there’s no other seats available.
We’re sorry you didn’t get your upgrade.
We’re sorry that guy makes you uncomfortable because he “looks like a terrorist”.
We’re sorry there’s a thunderstorm and we can’t take off.
We’re sorry we don’t know when it will stop.
We’re sorry you’re crammed into a space so small that if you were an animal PETA would protest.
We’re sorry a Super 80 has no music or video entertainment for your 3 hour flight.
We’re sorry we ran out of your favorite soda.
We’re sorry there’s no more sandwiches.
We’re sorry that Budweiser costs $6.
We’re sorry we don’t have diapers for your baby.
We’re sorry we don’t have milk for same baby.
We’re sorry you can’t hang out by the cockpit door waiting to use the bathroom. We’re sorry you can’t hang out at the back of the airplane.
We’re sorry you have to sit down and fasten your seatbelt.
We’re sorry you have to put your seat up for landing.
We’re sorry we don’t know when we’re going to land.
We’re sorry we don’t know whether your plane to (substitute any city in the world) will be waiting for you when we land.
We’re sorry we’ve been diverted because we ran out of gas waiting to land.
We’re sorry for these and so many other things that we have absolutely no control over but which we are held accountable for EVERY SINGLE DAY.
Please understand. Flight attendants are not the enemy. We share your space. More than anyone - we want to have a nice, pleasant travel experience.
There is a reason behind everything we ask you to do. It may be a FAA directive. It may be security related. It may be a company procedure.
We don’t just make stuff up. We don’t spend 8 weeks at the flight academy learning how to pour a Coke. There are many things that flight attendants are watching for constantly on every flight FOR YOUR SAFETY.
It’s not because we’re bored or so controlling that we just enjoy telling people what to do. I, for one, would like to have one flight where I didn’t have to repeatedly tell people to put their seats up for landing. Seriously.
Can’t you just do what we ask sometimes? Without the glares, eye rolling and disdain? For the record - putting your seat up for landing may not seem that important to your personal safety. However, it is very important for the person sitting BEHIND YOU. If you have ever tried to get out of a row where
someone has their seat back you know it can be a challenge. Try grabbing your ankles (emergency brace position) or getting out of that row quickly with smoke in the cabin.
Understand a little better now?
Many of the things we ask passengers to comply with are FAA directives. Like carry-on bag stowage and exit row requirements. When we can serve drinks (in the air) and when we can’t (after the aircraft door is closed or on an active taxi-way). We are only allowed to move about the cabin during taxi
out for safety related duties. We can’t get you blankets then, or hang coats, or get you drinks. It’s not because we don’t want to. It’s because we are held personally responsible if we fail to comply with FAA directives.
Meaning that the FAA can fine us personally up to $10,000 if we fail to comply or enforce an FAA Directive. Like no bags at the bulkhead. No children in the exit row. No one moving around the cabin during taxi.
Perhaps now you know why flight attendants get a little testy when people move about the cabin when they’re not supposed to. It’s not the company that gets in trouble for that. It’s us.
Personally, I wish the airlines would show worst case scenario safety videos. Like what happens if you walk through the cabin during turbulence.
There could be a guy who has just fallen and smacked his face on the metal armrest and now has a bloody, gushing broken nose. Or an elderly lady who now has a broken arm because someone walking to the bathroom fell on her.
Maybe a passenger with a broken neck because somebody opened an overhead bin during turbulence and a suitcase fell out and onto the person sitting beneath it. These things can easily happen in a fast moving, unstable air environment.
Please just trust that we are looking out for your best interest and stop fighting with us about everything we ask you to do. It is exhausting.
Finally, please, please direct your hostility and frustrations in the direction where they will be most effective: The customer service department. They are the ones equipped to handle your complaint and
implement procedures for CHANGE.
Think about it. Complaining to the flight crew about all your negative travel experiences is about the same as complaining to the office janitor because your computer isn’t working. It may make you feel better to vent about it - but it really won’t fix anything. More than anybody we are already aware of the lack of amenities, food, service and comfort on the aircraft. Please share your concerns with the people in the cubicles at corporate who need that information to make better decisions for the flying public.
It’s frustrating that so many people are in denial about what the travel industry is about now. The glory days of pillows, blankets, magazines and a hot meal for everyone are long gone. Our job is to get you from point A to point B safely and at the cheapest possible cost to you and the company. So be prepared. If you are hungry - get a sandwich before you get on the plane.
If it’s a 3 hour flight, anticipate that you may get hungry and bring some snacks. If you are cold natured - bring a wrap. Think for yourself and think ahead. Otherwise, don’t complain when you have to pay $3 for a cookie and are left with a crusty blanket to keep you warm.
We hear often that the service just isn’t what is used to be. Well, the SERVICE we provide now isn’t what it used to be.
When I was hired, my job was to serve drinks, meals, ensure that safety requirements were met and tend to in-flight medical issues.
Since 9/11 my primary job is to ensure that my airplane will not be compromised by a terrorist.
9/11 may be a distant memory now to many, but be assured that EVERY DAY a flight attendant reports to work he or she is constantly thinking about 9/11. We feel a personal responsibility to ensure that something like that never happens again. We can never relax. We can never not be suspicious about someone’s intentions.
It is difficult to be vigilant and gregarious at the same time. Especially when most of us are working 12 hour days after layovers that only allow 5-6 hours of sleep. Not because we were out partying and having a grand time on the layover - but because the delays that you experience as a passenger also affect us as a crew, so that what was a 10 hour layover is now 8 hours which doesn’t leave a lot of time to recover from what has become an increasingly stressful occupation.
Despite everything, I still enjoy being a flight attendant.
I am writing this letter because I do still care about my profession and about the public perception of flight attendants. In the increasingly challenging travel world it is becoming more imperative than ever for people to just be decent to each other. I can go through an entire day without one person saying anything remotely civil. I will stand at the aircraft door and say hello to everyone who enters and maybe 50% will even look at me and even less will say hello back.
I will try to serve someone a meal who can’t be bothered to take their headsets off long enough for me to ask them what they want. Most of the time the only conversation a passenger has with me is when they are complaining.
Is it any wonder why flight attendants have shut down a bit? After suffering the disdain of hundreds of passengers a day it’s difficult sometimes to even smile, much less interact. We are human. We appreciate the same respect and courtesy that passengers do.
The next time you fly, try treating the flight attendants the way you would like to be treated. You may be surprised how friendly your flight crew is when they are treated like people.
Sarah Dec 26th 2008 11:40AM
frank96 - a better post I have yet to witness. Excellently said, sir, and my hat is off to you and all those who share your occupation.
Frank Dec 26th 2008 12:03PM
I'm by no means the author to that written composition. I, however, believe it's written very well and trully portrays the reality of my profession. I've seen it posted on several boards and have watched the vernom of frequent flyers reply to it. Some calling that flight attendant, mad! I say, the flight attendant simply vented. Something that passengers think they have all to themselves. Ha.
Pam Dec 25th 2008 6:50AM
I am disabled, need to use a walker or a wheelchair. I used to pride my self for being able travel by airlines. My last two experiences were horrendous.
I tip profusely to get help from airport employees and that part has been OK. Airline employees are another matter. Flight attendants and gate agents treated me as a nuisance. My husband was a corporate pilot,and I have been flying for 40 years, several times a year on airlines for business. I have watched the decline. The last couple of years I have seen a huge drop in customer service. Partly, I am sure because of under-staffing. But I have not taken a trip in over a year because I just can't face being left in cold
gateways in my wheelchair or insensitive airline employees. When I was left for over 45 minutes, after a long flight, I needed the loo. I ended up crying and the gate agent handed me a roll of toilet paper in place of kleenex and said somebody will be along. (I wasn't flying over a holiday or busy time) I have received more help from other passengers than from staff. If airlines want to stay in business, maybe they should remember customer service. Flying used to be fun. I felt as if the airline staff wanted it to be a pleasant experience. No longer.
Ron Dec 28th 2008 7:26PM
Pam, you have touched on the key: Understaffing.
Please bear in mind that staffing levels are not determined by the staff -- i.e., the gate attendants and flight attendants. Therefore, you would be better off making your views known to airline management, as opposed to airline staff. Similarly, venting on a flight attendant's blog is unlikely to bring about the change you seek.
Also bear in mind, and I do not know if it applies to you yet, but there does come a time in people's lives due to age or disability, or both, that it is time to quit flying unattended; or even quit flying altogether. My wife's mother came to that point, and so whenenver she flies (maybe once or twice a year), she is accompanied by a family member. You should carefully consider your situation in light of this fact of life, as opposed to berating flight attendants who, collectively, are doing the best they can.
Kimy Dec 29th 2008 12:09PM
What magazines do flight attendants read?
partnerofapilot@yahoo.co.uk Feb 5th 2009 8:58AM
I really sypathise with how hard your job is. I always feel so sorry for the hosties on Bf's flights if they are rushed off their feet, but I have seen some simply horrible abuse of the power that some of these hosties have too.
It never seems to be the senior ones in general, but if I'm honest, on 40-50% of the flights I do, there seems to be maybe one crew member with an attitude problem. Thankfully it has never been directed at me, but I see it and cringe internally. I can only imagine how much of an impression that these few people leave on the passengers who witness it, even the ones at whom it's not directed.
I admire you guys. I KNOW that I'd be no good at the job. I KNOW I'd be the one losing my cool with passengers when they ring the bell the fourth time asking you to tell off their obnoxious child for refusing to wear their seatbelt, that is why I would never apply to do it.
I watched vividly remember one member of cabin crew verbally berrating a man, in the way an over-bearing, sarcastic mother might scold a child, when he walked accross my extra leg room space to get to the loo, and he looked totally humiliated. It was annoying that he'd done it, but I do think that this particular lady went way overboard.
It feels like any complaint that's made on here is met with defensive annoyance, when maybe open honesty that sometimes the industry does get things wrong would be better. We are only human after all!
That said. I enjoyed reading your post, and thanks for the ideas!