Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.
Recent Comments:
Galley Gossip: Blocked ears - how to ease the pain in flight {Gadling}
Jun 13th 2010 3:20PM Gabi, it's a fact of life that at somestage of a flight, someone'sears are going to hurt. It's a consequence of changing altitude. The same thing happens in elevators as well. It's got nothing to do with flying 'properly'. At certain stages of flight, if they went any slower they'd crash!
Galley Gossip: Blocked ears - how to ease the pain in flight {Gadling}
Jun 13th 2010 2:28PM At my last aviation medical, my specialist told me to discontinue advising passengers to use the Valsalva. He said it is a LAST resort, and better suited to scuba diving where more force is needed due to water in the ears, not so much for alitiude-related pressure.
At one of the airlines I worked for, we were actually forbidden to even mention it. Ditto for the cups on ears and anything involving hot water. Best method is the decongestant and/or yawning as you mentioned.
I personally find that yawning while moving my jaw from side to side seems to have the best effect. Obviously everyone'sears and face shape are different so the 'magic spot' where you get the most effect will vary.
Galley Gossip: Advice for flight attendants in training {Gadling}
Mar 3rd 2010 10:59AM Wow, you're right about the paranoia, Heather! I think it's a bit harsh to say instructors are just looking for a reason to boot trainees. Airlines spend a lot of money on training & only a serious reason would justify getting rid of someone. In my experience, all of my instructors have been very supportive to help us get through, while not putting up with laziness or incompetence.
As for advice- don't feel like you have to conform with the group. Some will want to party instead of study, but it's up to you to decide what you're willing to do and how much timeyou'l study. Having said that, try to study as much as you can, using whatever method works for you. And make sure to schedule 'break time' so you don't go crazy!! Good luck
Galley Gossip: The Bachelor - airline employees, spouses & why Vienna is perfect for Jake {Gadling}
Feb 9th 2010 5:56AM Tenley can't change her voice but Vienna can stop being a bitch. As for Tenley being "a baby"... well at least she seems to be sweet and considerate, which goes a long way in a relationship. Ali also seems like she is a good match but I don't think she's there for entirely the right reasons...
Galley Gossip: The Bachelor - pilots, fashion & a few pilot fashion tips {Gadling}
Feb 8th 2010 10:09AM There's an unwritten rule here in Oz... no "wanker bars" in shops, gas stations or pubs. IF a newbie pilot goes into a bar wearing epaulettes, the generally accepted consequence is buying a round for the bar. (They only do it once)
Galley Gossip: The Bachelor - airline employees, spouses & why Vienna is perfect for Jake {Gadling}
Feb 8th 2010 10:06AM A little immature? Puhlease, that girl acts like a 12 year old who doesn't get her own way. I bet underneath that act she puts on she's just a high-maintenance girl who if she ends up with Jake, will be whining on the phone that he's away all the time and not spending time & attention on her when she knew full well what his job was when she dated him. I've seen it happen to guys I know and the girls were exactly like her. Let's not mention the ex-husband/boyfriend and what happened there.... yep, REAL nice, Vienna... you see little moments here and there where she thinks the camera isn't on her and her facial expressions say it all. She thinks of herself as the underdog but I believe she looks down her nose at the other girls as much as they are "catty" to her.
I go for Tenley. I see myself in her and believe me, heartbroken or not she will give her all to make it work. I can't really see Vienna doing the same once she gets bored. Will be interesting to see who he chooses, my personal opinion is if he picks Vienna, he deserves everything he gets!
Galley Gossip: The first class / orange juice passenger responds to what happened in flight {Gadling}
Dec 12th 2009 9:51PM Glad to hear the 'full' story. Obviously Helen had some isues which need to be addressed for her so she can sort out whatever it is that is going on in her life.
The only thing that I could think of (I am by no means condoning what she did) is that the written warning seemed to appear after the passenger refused to speak with her in the galley. In Helen's apparent confused mental state, my guess would be that she interpreted this refusal as the part where the passenger is accused of 'interfering with a flight crew member/or refusing to follow a crew instruction'.
That's the only thing I can think of that the passenger in question did that Helen might have felt justified in using against him. (I don't blame the pax though, I wouldn't want to go there by myself either!) I guess perhaps the airlines should have a policy that if the FA needs to sort out a matter like this that they ask the pax and a companion to come speak privately, and the FA also has one companion, so that each has a witness and does not feel threatened.
In my years of flying I've worked with some 'weird' flight attendants (you get weird in every job) but never one that would act like this! If I saw a a colleague acting in this manner I'd have to go higher up the chain as I would suspect either some type of incapacitation or a serious problem. Wouldn't have any hesitation in bringing it up with the crewmember concerned & if they didn't calm down I'd go the captain. Totally warranted in a case like that.
Galley Gossip - Miss Oklahoma, Pop Rocks, a ripped skirt & other strange things on planes {Gadling}
Nov 25th 2009 11:49AM Nick, we do carry spare uniforms,, but it's much easier (not to mention quicker) to just do an on-the-run repair as the spare uniform is generally crammed inside our bag and would be far too wrinkly to wear right out of the case :)
In a pinch, one can use bandaids from the first aid kit or even catering stickers if the situation is desperate!
Galley Gossip: 5 tips for getting through airport security quickly {Gadling}
Nov 19th 2009 11:34PM Ron that might be the case in America but there's no such thing as 'Elite lines' for security in Australia. Immigration, yes, security no.
We are always polite and say 'excuse me' before we cut in the line, most people are fine with it because there's no separate crew line line there is in many other countries. But I've been sworn at by several passengers just for doing what the airport tells us to do. (There IS signage to say that due to no separate crew lines, OPERATING crew ONLY may join in front of the queue. And it does say 'Thank You' for allowing us to go in front. I always say thanks to people.
If you're going through security when your crew arrives, may I suggest that maybe you're not at the airport early enough... crew generally arrive to the aircraft at or after the time that check-in cuts off for that flight...
Galley Gossip: 5 tips for getting through airport security quickly {Gadling}
Nov 17th 2009 8:31PM Sure, if the TSA want you to do it that way... but the TSA are not at every airport, Europe and Asia for example. I'm speaking from experience with Australia and Asia... your stuff has to go through the scanner as you are walking through, so it's best to time it as I've described above... simply placing the last tray in as you are about to step through yourself.
Also as mentioned by others, picking up your trays and/or sliding them to the END of the 'pick up' queue.... I HATE getting through the arch only to find a group of people standing at the front of the conveyor. As crew, we can cut the line, but it's still the same line and it's no help to us to have to stand there for 5 minutes waiting for everyone to move so we can pick up our bags.
PS- can people please stop abusing us for using the allowed line cut just so we can be on time? We're trying to make YOUR flight on time!
