Blog Post 3 Gwen Simonalle

One important (although not often featured in the news) person in the world of aviation is the flight attendant. For a median annual wage of $37,240 (May 2012 statistics), these men and women work a demanding schedule of evenings, weekends and holidays – a schedule highly subject to change – which takes them away from home two to three nights weekly. Those of us who have flown in airplanes before may well remember the tirelessly smiling faces of these dutiful pretzel-and-soda-servers, as well as their politely feigned unconsciousness that most, if not all of, the passengers are talking, sleeping, or daydreaming while they perform the same monotonous safety demonstrations that they have performed a thousand times before.

However, a real-life airline attendant from Kentucky, in her blog, points out some significant perks of the job: all-expenses-paid world travel, negotiable vacation time, the excitement of unexpected aircraft situations, and the chance to meet people from all corners of the globe. However, she adds that there are downsides: having to commute or move to fit the needs of the airline company, extreme changeability, missing out on a good deal of family life, dealing with grumpy passengers, strained relationships, and, finally, spending an inordinate amount of time in airports, whether waiting for hours or running to catch the next flight. And don’t forget who gets to clean up all the used barf bags after queasy passengers!  

Taking all things into consideration, the job is difficult but can be worth it for the right kind of person. On my most recent plane ride, a nine-hour international flight between Paris and Chicago, I had the privilege of meeting a man who had rather obviously not allowed his job to suck the joy out of his soul. Not only was he smiling and efficient, but, with a twist of comedy, he had created what he called, “The Pen Book,” a fourteen-volume, still-running record of all the persons – personnel or passengers – who had ever asked him to borrow a pen (in my case, I needed to fill out my customs form!). Flipping through the pages, reading the funny, touching or even humdrum stories of the human beings who had left their mark there over the years, was an unforgettable experience. So many smiling faces looked up at me through the photos, I totally forgot to be stressed and tired.

Thanks to this flight attendant, I learned that flying can be not just a means of getting from one place to another, but also a means of connecting with others and hopefully pouring a little love into their lives. The pilot may guide the plane, but it’s the flight attendants who make the trip bearable!  

“Flight Attendants.” Bureau of Labor Statistics. January 8, 2014. January 17, 2014. http://www.bls.gov/ooh/transportation-and-material-moving/flight-attendants.htm

Dorsey, Fran. “So You Want To Be A Flight Attendant?” Being Frank. October 24, 2012. Web. January 17, 2014. http://www.frandorsey.com/2012/10/so-you-want-to-be-flight-attendant.html