welcome aboard!

its official! I was pinned with my flight attendant wings yesterday! It was so sweet and everyone was so glad to be done with training. My mom and nana came to watch and took some sweet pictures.


My OE (operating experience) flights are to Tampa on the 717 and then to San Francisco on the 737. I am very excited/a little nervous since it will be my first time actually working the entire flight. A check flight attendant will be with me making sure i am doing everything correctly and to be there in case i have questions.

I am confident that I will do a good job! Now all i need to do is get my dress hemmed and show up Monday!

the home stretch

lots to catch up on.

Sunday I had my FAM(familiarization flight). Basically it is meant for us to observe and get a little hands on training after we've learned all of the procedure and know what to look for. We have our big OE (Operating Experience) coming up and that is the big deal when we actually work the flights for real and a senior mama checks us off and shadows us the whole time.

So, I get to Hartsfield-Jackson around 6:40 Sunday morning and got my boarding pass and went through security with no problem. As I stroll up to gate C3, my classmate who is riding with me is pretty much freaking out. I got to the gate around 7:05 (our flight is at 8:15). When he asked why I was so late, I didn't realize he was under the impression that we had to be at the gate at least 2 hours early. I assured him that he must have misheard that because there is no logical reason to ever be at the gate more than 45 minutes early (the VERY earliest a plan can board).

I am not an early bird. at all. not a chance i would be at the gate 2 hours early. never. it wont happen.

So we board the flight and there are literally 26 people on board, 9 of who are crew members flying non-rev. So my classmate and I sit in the exit row after chatting with the flight deck and the f/a's on board (super sweet p.s.) We watched and took notes and talked some more. Then, they let us do the in-flight service. It consists of drinks, snacks, and refills. Also getting anything else like earphones or alcoholic drinks. Since the flight was at 8:15 a.m., we didn't sell any drinks, but I did get some really good practice working the cart. Its a little tricky getting the brake in place and judging how much fizz a coke will produce, but its fun and easy. Luckily, since the flight was so empty, we were not rushed at all. Usually the f/a's work at a really fast pace to be sure they take care of everyone. We took our sweet time though and that helped me not to be nervous.

We got to Newark and had about 25 minutes for a turnaround. I had just enough time to look out of the window at the terminal to see NYC and make a quick phone call. Then, we boarded the 717 and flew back to Atlanta.

It was cool to see everything fall into place and see how everything works all together. When that plane is on the ground there are about a million thing going on. My airline is huge on leaving and arriving on time, so the f/a's have to corral people to their seats and get the safety demos done quick. Its all about timing.

It was also great to see everyone in uniform! So cute! I can't wait to get mine in 3 days! :)

BEND OVER! HEADS DOWN! STAY DOWN!

Its the middle of week 3 and we just finished land and water evacuation drills. I actually enjoyed the drills because we were in the mock cabin and actually go to practice hands-on. Luckily, I am naturally loud and stay calm easily so I did well during the drills. :)

Another part of our emergency evacuation lesson was watching detailed videos of crash landings and aborted takeoffs. We also watched several videos of planes getting struck by lighting and severe turbulence... awesome.

although very scary, it is actually statistically safer to fly than walk across the street... I'll keep telling myself that when the aircraft starts shaking violently. gahhhhh

half way finished!

We are officially finished with week 2 of training meaning we are half way finished! yay!

Yesterday, we had an eaaarrrllllyy morning. We had to meet at the training center at 0430, meaning I had to wake up at 0300!! I don't think I have ever woken up that early in my entire life. I was surprisingly pretty chipper for being exhausted...

We had a wonderful tour of a Boeing 717 and 737. I was SO pleased with the condition of the planes. Not that I was expecting them to be falling apart or anything, but they were beautiful! So new and nice and clean and pretty!

One of our instructors, Lindsey, told the class a story about how important it is to be attentive to the passengers. She said one time, a single mother with 2 children boarded the airplane and she could just tell that the woman was stressed out and having a hard time. Lindsay went up to her to offer help and to let the woman know that she was there if she needed anything. She found out that the woman was on her way to a funeral and the kids were tired and fussy and hungry. After helping the lady (bringing extra juice, holding one of the kids while she went to the bathroom, being there to hear her story) the woman called her over one last time. With tears in her eyes, she thanked Lindsey for being there. In an otherwise miserable situation, having the flight attendant's help made her trip so much easier.

Hearing that story was so encouraging to me. For the most part, almost everyone will ignore the flight attendants and sit quietly during their trips; but every once in a while, we can really touch someone and help.

I am maybe a little sappy, but I am looking forward to being a bright light in someones otherwise dark sad day.

ace!

100 on my second test! whoop.

everyone was freaking out about the test, but i think most of the class passed! we are learning a lot of new info, so that is alllll building up to the FINAL. yikes

square or oblong scarf, that is the question

So today my class had corporate orientation; we learned all about employee benefits and different company policies. I am SO excited because my benefits are baller. I fly for free on my airline and for free on about 6 others (and almost free on about 12 others). I also get around 60% off a ton of hotels and 75% off Hertz rental cars. Its awesome. Also, both of my parents fly for free and I get a companion (my brother has been begging me to give him my pass). I also get 12 buddy passes a year (they cost about $40 each, but that really is not bad).

We also had our uniform fittings today! I was presently surprised of the cuteness of the uniforms. I got one dress (obv.) and a skirt/blouse/vest set. Both are pretty feminine and flattering! I am excited. We also ordered 2 neck scarves, an apron, a winter trench coat and a rolling luggage bag.

Big test tomorrow so I am off to study...