Find a Courteous Seatmate with AirTroductions

I first read about AirTroductions on Steve Rubel's blog, Micro Persuasion.

Basically, the concept is to connect travelers.  As the website says: "Whether you're looking for a date in Los Angeles, a business networking partner in Tokyo, or just someone to share a cab from Kennedy to Midtown, look no further."

While I think that the initial idea may have been a new twist in the online dating concept, the service may also be a way to increase the odds that your seatmate on your next flight is not one of the boorish ones we've been discussing.

I'd love to hear from anyone who has given this a try.

 

Technorati Tags : travel

 

 

 

Happy Birthday Grenade

A friend's birthday is coming up, and, once again, I am in a quandry over selecting the perfect gift. 

 

Imagine my appreciation, then, to the Northwest Flight Attendant who helped to narrow down my search when she was arrested for attempting to bring home a birthday gift for her son -- a grenade.  The grenade was NOT active.  You can read all the details in a SunHerald article.

 

While I don't profess to remember everything that is on the TSA's list of prohibited items, I'm pretty sure that I wouldn't forget that a grenade (or replica thereof) was a big No-No.

 

For now I'll just keep searching for other options for the perfect gift.

 

Technorati Tags : travel, aviation, flight+attendants

 

 

 

Rerun: Barefoot on the Plane

You can go barefoot in the park, the backyard, on the beach, in the house, even in the steam room. But don’t ever, EVER go barefoot on the airplane!

I know that it’s tempting while you are sitting in your seat to slip off those uncomfortable shoes, and in limited circumstances it’s okay to do so. Here are the rules: No stinky feet (if in doubt, leave your shoes on). No holes in socks (if in doubt, leave your shoes on). Do not allow your bare or stocking clad feet to ever, EVER touch the floor of the airplane under any circumstances whatsoever.

The carpet on the airplane is a terrible, terrible thing. It has gone miles without a thorough cleaning, meaning miles of spilled food, vomit, soiled baby diapers, garbage, disgusting germs and other leave behinds from previous passengers. The airlines say that the carpet gets deep cleaned about once a month. I’ve yet to see evidence of that.

And what’s up with going into the lavatory without your shoes on? Barefoot, stocking foot, I don’t care. It’s disgusting! It’s like you’re saying that you haven’t had enough germs around your seating area, so you want to walk down the aisle collecting more as you go. Then, because you still haven’t had enough, you now step into the lavatory, and walk into the mess left there. Do you wonder why your feet or socks are wet after that? Keep this in mind: That’s not water on the floor in there; it’s someone’s bodily fluids!

Next time you travel, look around. Do you ever see flight attendants with their shoes off? Of course not! We keep our shoes on – and so should you.

Delta's Bankruptcy Uniforms

Airlines in bankruptcy want dramatic concessions from their employees and their vendors.  They want to re-negotiate deals, nullify contracts, and rearrange financing.  And, apparently, they want to provide their flight attendants with brand spanking new uniforms designed by Richard Tyler.
 
Claiming that they were looking for a "timeless elegance" in their new uniform, Delta refuses to acknowledge what the price tag is for this elegance.  Hopefully, someone who follows bankruptcy proceedings can get a handle on the actual cost. 
 
Uniforms are an expense for an airline as they must constantly be replaced.  We generally have a number of uniform pieces, i.e., a pair of pants and a couple skirts, or a dress and a couple pair of pants, blouses, etc. 
 
Our wear and tear on clothing is horrific, and I understand the budget line for uniform costs must be high.
 
However, the cost for rolling out a new uniform program must be exorbitant.  Every flight attendant must have all new uniform pieces. 
 
I looked at the pictures of the new uniform, and am not sure that I'd call the look timeless.  Dowdy or just plain ugly seems to fit better for me.  But I'll reserve judgment until I see them in person.
 
What do you think?  I'd especially love to hear from DL flight attendants.
 
 
Via CNN
 

Poll: Most Annoying Passenger Behavior

It seems that annoying passenger behavior is the hot topic this week. 

 

Here's your chance to chime in, by voting in the "Most Annoying" poll in the sidebar.  I've culled the past posts and comments to gather a fairly extensive list, but I've still left room for "Other."  If you do choose other, please take a moment to list your "most annoying" in the comment/discussion section of the poll.

 

I'll keep the poll open for a week, and then post results.

 

 

Technorati Tags : travel, airlines, aviation, flight+attendants

Looking for Help

What's the point of having your own blog, if you can't occasionally help out a friend.

Flight Attendant Gal Pal is looking for an intimate, yet cool, restaurant to take a Guy Pal to. Location: Greater Washington DC area ('burbs are okay, too). Vibe: Intimate, somewhat romantic (but NOT in that we're getting engaged kind of way), great food and service. Other info: ethnic cuisine preferred, but not mandatory; Guy Pal is a bit of a foodie, but not a snob about it; needs to be intimate enough to sit close and have good conversation; somewhere nice and somewhat upscale, but doesn't have to be a white linen tablecloth kind of place.

If you have any suggestions, please email them to me. To get to my email, just click on my profile and follow the link. I'm turning off comments for this post as I don't want it to turn out to be a restaurant advertisement.

Thanks for your help!

Flying Hot and Cold

I'm one of those people who is always cold.  Indoors, outdoors, and especially on a plane.

 

When I wear my uniform pants, I also have on heavy tights and a pair of silk underwear beneath them.  I'm not still warm enough.  Even when I'm up at moving around the cabin doing my service.  Still not warm enough.

 

So it was with great interest that I read "Hot Tips for Cold Fliers" on Tripso.  James Wysong, a former (and possibly current) flight attendant, lists a variety of ways to make sure passengers can keep warm on a flight.

 

His best tip, and the one that makes the most sense, is to be prepared by dressing warmly.  Like all clothing recommendations for cold weather, layering is key.

 

His worst tip is to demand heat.  If you've been following any of the posts, here or elsewhere, you know how vigorously the subject of airline etiquette is being discussed.  Hopefully, by now you've also realized that demanding anything is going to ensure that you are ignored.  Asking to have the heat turned up is perfectly reasonable.  Asking repeatedly, also reasonable.  Keep the demands for a true emergency.

 

Read all of James' tips and keep warm on your next flight.

 

Technorati Tags : travel, aviation, flight+attendants

 

 

Airplane Etiquette

How interesting.  The New York Times runs an article about the lack of civility on flights shortly after we have a lively debate here about what is and isn't acceptable passenger behavior.  Wouldn't it be nice to think there was some relationship between the two?!

Take a read:  "Flying in a Snit."

I wish that I could say any of this surprises me.

-----------------

Via Today in the Sky

Rerun: Get the Hint

A reader recently asked me if I would outline some specific behaviors that are annoying to flight attendants.

 

I've combed through my archives, and have found a few earlier posts that answer this questions square on.  So, just like your favorite television series re-runs a popular episode, I'll be re-running some of my previous posts over the next couple weeks.

 

Here's the first one, originally posted August 18th, 2005.

 

-----------------------

 

Here’s a hint: If you put your bag in the overhead compartment, and it sticks over the lip of the compartment, it’s not going to close. If it doesn’t close, it’s not going to be able to stay that way. So do everyone a favor, and make sure your bag fits before you sit down. Everyone will appreciate it.

And while we're at it, here’s some other hints:

We really do need you to put your seatbelt on. We don’t say this to harass you, it’s our job. The FAA makes us. We don’t want to get a personal fine or get fired for not doing our job. So just buckle up. It will make life easier for both of us.

Turn the damn cell phone off. You’re not that important! It really can wait till you get to your destination. Besides that, we're not going anywhere until you do.

If you are a person of size, please ask us for a seatbelt extension. Don’t pretend like you’re buckled in. We have to make sure that you are, so when we look, it’s just as embarrassing for us to look at your fat body as it is for you. Help us out here and make everyone a little more comfortable: ask for an extension.

When we come through the cabin with the beverage cart, it might be a good time to start thinking about what you’d like to drink. The beverage cart is the big 300 pound thing that we are struggling to push down the aisle. It takes us a long time. When we get to your row you need to be ready to answer the question of the day: What would you like to drink? Please don’t ask us what we have, because we know that you don’t really care. Just tell us what you want. We’ll let you know if we don’t have it. And for goodness sake, if you’re wearing those sound elimination headsets, take the damn things off. You can’t hear us, and we just get annoyed that you don’t realize that there’s a 300 pound cart parked right by you, and that you don’t understand we are talking to you. We are. Yes, we are talking to YOU!

If the answer to the beverage question is coffee, we’ll give it to you. Gladly. And then we’ll move on. If you want cream, sugar, and/or sweetener, just tell us when you order your coffee. We’ll give it to you. Gladly. But it really pisses us off if you wait till we’re two rows away and you wait till then to let us know.

There are other things that really annoy us. But that’s another post on another day.

 

 

How My Brain Works

So this is how my brain works ----

Your Brain's Pattern

Your brain is always looking for the connections in life.You always amaze your friends by figuring out things first.You're also good at connecting people - and often play match maker.You see the world in fluid, flexible terms. Nothing is black or white.

What Pattern Is Your Brain?

Embracing controversy

I received a couple of emails from friends wondering why I wanted to stir up a little controversy yesterday with my post.

After thinking about it for a bit, I realized that there really isn't a good answer. Sometimes I just like to generate a little lively discussion. I learn a lot from hearing other's views, and I'd like to think that maybe someone will learn something from mine.  It's not about setting out to change anyone's mind; it's about being willing to talk about "hot" topics.

I've never found much sense in the idea that if someone doesn't like something they should leave. I've never been one to runaway from a fight (and I'm using that term figuratively here).

 

To me, it's about character -- standing up for what one believes in, acknowledging and accepting differences, being willing to be an agent for change, questioning and challenging the status quo in the belief that the world is stronger and better for it. 

 

Whether it's about my industry in specific, or the world of business, politics, or relationships in general, I don't want to stand on the sidelines watching the world go by.  I'm going to be in the fray.

 

"You may say I'm a dreamer. . . . "  (John Lennon)

Technorati Tags : airlines, travel, flight+attendant

Paying My Salary or Subsidizing Your Travel

When I was first hired as a flight attendant, one of the things that I always kept in the back of my mind was that the passengers were paying my salary.

 

While that didn't justify outright abuse, and I set firm boundaries about what was and wasn't acceptable passenger behavior, it did help me overlook the little annoyances.  I smiled at some of the complaints, and listened without rolling my eyes.  I never took blame for something that wasn't of my own doing, but I was more than willing to take responsibility to find a solution to a problem.  Passengers, no matter how tedious, annoying or simply wrong, were paying my salary.

 

The times have been a changin' though!

 

While I still smile and try to help solve a problem, I no longer have the "customer is always right" point of view.  Sometimes they are simply wrong.  They have unrealistic expectations of air travel.  They want something for nothing.  Outrageously bad behavior will not be tolerated.  Drunks are dealt with quickly and firmly.

 

Flight Attendants are often blamed for problems out of our control.  We have less and less resources available to us to help solve a problem.  The tightening of rules and regulations in our work environment means that we no longer can help in ways that we might have been able to in days past. 

 

In fact, I also don't think of the passenger as paying my salary any longer. 

 

The airline executives have chosen to deeply discount fares to a dangerous level, and have slashed employee salaries to subsidize it.  That's a business choice.  We have to live with it.

 

But think of it this way (and this won't be popular with a lot of people):  Try being nice to your flight attendants.  They took pay cuts to subsidize your travel.

 

Technorati Tags : flight+attendants, travel

 

 

Registered Traveler Program

After hearing about it for a few months now, it looks like the Registered Traveler program is getting ready to launch.

Today in the Sky, a USA Today blog, reports that the program will debut on June 20th.

Already controversial, the program will allow registered travelers (who have paid a fee and submitted to a variety of background and security checks) to forego certain security processes.  Not the metal detector and screening, of course, but travelers will be able to avoid removing coats and shoes.  It is also rumored that laptops will not need to be removed from bags going through the screen.

Now, my questions is a personal one.  Since crew members have already gone through this background check and security clearance will we be given that same courtesy?

Technorati Tags : travel, aviation, flight+attendants

 

 

 

Podcast Questions

Thanks to everyone who's written after listening to the podcast.  Here's what everyone seems to be asking about:

 

Yes, it was fun. 

 

Yes, I was nervous.

 

Yes, I probably am available for other interviews.  Just contact me via email and we'll see what we can work out.

 

Technorati Tags : travel, flight+attendant

 

 

Fly Girl Podcast

My friends over at Inflight HQ (one of my favorite travel blogs) have now posted a an interview that I did with them last week.

 

It was my first podcast, but Teresa made it fun, even though I was still a little nervous. 

 

Check it out, and while your at it take a look at their archives.  They have some great information.

 

 

Technorati Tags : travel, flight+attendant, airlines, inflightHQ

 

 

Pizza Delay

Today was a day full of delays.  It started out badly, and it never got any better.

 

The first flight was plagued with a mechanical of unspecified origin.  The first thought was that it could be fixed rather quickly, and we'd be on our way with a minimum of delay.  Most likely something that would be made up during the actual flight.

 

We weren't that lucky.

 

In the middle of the boarding process, things went awry.  Not sure the mechanical explanation for it, all I know is that it meant we weren't going anywhere.  For a rather long time.

 

Since we already had boarded a couple of passengers, the flight attendants weren't allowed to get off the plane.  The captain and first officer left, either to take care of paper work or because they had a better offer.  We asked the passengers if they'd like to deplane and go back into the terminal.  They said no.  So there we were.  Stuck on the plane, facing a now rather lengthy delay, no food, no ability to get off and get food, and no idea of when the problem would get resolved.

 

And so, the clock keeps ticking. . . ticking. . . .

 

Once again, we asked our two passengers if they'd like to get off.  We encouraged them, explained that we had no food, urged strongly.  But no luck.  They liked remaining onboard.  Never mind that the crew's access to food was now cut off as we couldn't get off.  Never mind that we weren't getting paid for the delay (we only get paid for flight time).  Never mind that our stomachs were grumbling and our tempers getting shorts, we're happy to provide a lounge for you to relax in.

 

And the clock keeps ticking. . . ticking. . . .

 

Nearly three hours later the issue is resolved.  The passengers started boarding, and we kept our fingers crossed that we would be underway within a half hour.  We were tired and hungry.

 

But a very big THANK YOU to the couple who brought a pizza to the crew.  We hadn't had any food, and had no prospects of getting any.  When we talked to them, they said they when they ordered a pizza for themselves, they though of us and ordered an extra one.

 

Your thoughtfulness in thinking of us was greatly appreciated.  I'm often asked how passengers can ingratiate themselves to the crew.  I've always said that it's about treating us, and all people, with basic courtesy.  The pizza was a classic example.

 

Bob and Helen --- thank you!

 

 

Technorati Tags : travel, flight+attendant

 

What's Your Favorite Travel Blog?

I'm getting ready to update my side bar and include some more of my favorite travel blogs.  If you have one you'd like to recommend, please let me know.  I'm hoping to review all of them and make the site changes later this week.

 

Technorati Tags : travel

 

 

Favorite Airline Poll Results

OTHER was the runaway favorite airline in this past week's unscientific poll.

From feedback I've received, this seems to be because the airlines listed were all U.S. carriers.  I apologize for not thinking to include many of the fine international airlines.  It was a good wake-up call to think a little more globally.

Full results follow:

Other - 28%

Southwest - 17%

United - 10%

Delta - 9%

Continental - 9%

Jet Blue - 8%

American - 6%

Alaska - 6%

Northwest - 3%

US Airways/America West - 2%

 

Thanks for voting.  Look for another poll coming soon!

Technorati Tags : travel, airline

 

Favorite Airline Poll Closing

I'll be closing the Favorite Airline poll tonight.  So if you haven't voted yet, go to the sidebar and vote now.

 

 

That Man in First Class

Sometimes, I wish I had a camera with me when I was working.  That way, I could take pictures of famous people doing stupid things, or looking ridiculous, and sell them to the Enquirer, allowing me to then retire to my villa in Tuscany.

 

Yesterday was one of those days.

 

A well-known individual from the sports industry was on my flight, sitting in First Class.  He was well-groomed, dresssed well, and many people would find him to be quite handsome.

 

His personal demeanor, however, was that of a prima donna.  While I expected this, I didn't expect that he would be quite so abrasive and rough around the edges.  He seemed to offend most of the people around him -- and that was before we closed the door and took off.  It just got better and better from there.

 

The high point was when I noticed that he had removed his coat, sweater and shirt, and was sitting in the cabin in his grubby wife-beater t-shirt.  I shouldn't have to say it, but here goes:  This is not a good look for a guy.  Especially not in public. 

 

As I walked through the cabin, trying to provide good service to everyone, my inner-voice flight attendant was screaming "NO CLASS!"  I smiled and was gracious, however, but I wondered how much the Enquirer would pay for that kind of photo. 

 

And what does a villa in Tuscany cost?