A.  It may seem like I’m always traveling, but really, I have quite a few days off at home every month!

But, to get to your question, keeping in touch with people is important to me, whether I’m traveling and keeping in touch with people back home, or if I’m at home and keeping in touch with friends that I’ve made while traveling.  Since I’ve become a bit of a geek, most of my keeping in touch involved technology of one sort or another, and honestly, I can’t remember the last time I sent a postcard or an actual letter.

Phone:  At home I have a VoIP service, which saves a lot on phone bills.  I also have an iPhone, and use my minutes freely.  When I’m in the car, stuck at an airport, or otherwise have fee time, I’ll pick up the phone and call someone.  Nothing beats the occasional pang of homesickness like a call back home.  And when I’m lying on a beach somewhere, basking in the sun, it’s also a bit of a treat to talk to someone back home in rainy Seattle.  If you travel a lot, spring for a phone plan with a decent amount of minutes so that you can keep in touch.

Email:  This is probably my primary means of communication, because it doesn’t involve coordinating schedules or time zones to make a connection.  While some may see email as impersonal, it’s often the best means to catch up with me.  It’s also a perfect way to share photos and say “wish you were here with me” or “hey, I’m lying on a tropical beach where it’s sunny and I hear it’s still raining back in Seattle.”   Since I always travel with a laptop and my phone, it’s easy to get a message to the people I care about.

Skype:  This is my primary IM service, and I use it daily.  I have a couple of Skype chat groups that I belong to, and popping in from the road helps me continue to feel a part of what’s going on.  I recently downloaded the Skype app to my phone, and gave it a try earlier this week.  I had a bit of a trauma going on, and joining in the group chat was a way to keep me focused on what I could control rather than what I could not.  Skype is also great for international calls that can typically rack up big charges.  Calling computer-to-computer is FREE, and calling land lines or cell phones has very cheap rates.

Text Messaging:  I’m not a big texter, nor is my circle of friends.  We’re far more likely to just send an email or pick up the phone and call.

Twitter:  I generally don’t Twitter when I’m traveling, and this is for a variety of security reasons.  Like not alerting all my followers that I’m not at home.  I will occasionally live tweet an event, but found that I’m far more active on Twitter when I’m at home.

Facebook:  While traveling in Europe earlier this summer, I posted photos and updates on Facebook.  Since I get to approve who sees the information, I was comfortable sharing where I was and what I was doing.  I tried to update with photos every day or so.  Some people asked if it was a hassle doing all of while on vacation.  Not at all!  It was fun for me to load the photos onto my laptop, take a look at them, and choose which ones to share.  I had a great time with it.

I rarely feel like I’m cut off from the rest of the world.  How about you?  What tools do you use for keeping in touch while on the road.

Post from: Fly Away Cafe

Q.  Where are you vacationing next?

A.  This is a question that every Flight Attendant loves to talk about, because there are usually so many places on our list of places to visit.

Here’s how my travel calendar is shaping up for the rest of the year:

• October will probably be a long weekend in southern California (most likely Palm Springs, but possibly San Diego instead).  I have vacation time coming the end of the month, so there may be time for another short trip somewhere close to home.
• In November I’m heading off for London for a week or so.  I’ll be taking in a couple days of WTM, and the rest of the time will be spent exploring, wandering the streets, visiting museums, going to the theater and shopping.  I’m very excited for this trip, so if you have a recommendation of a must-see (keeping in mind that I’ll only be there for a week), please leave a comment or send me an email.
• December will be about sticking close to home here in Seattle.  A few local hotels for a weekend, discovering some of the new restaurants around town, and finding all sorts of way to get into the holiday spirit.

Next year’s plans are still in various planning stages.  I’ve got three weeks for a Europe visit, that will mean one week back at La Montalla, with the rest of the time undecided.  I’m considering a return to Croatia, or maybe discovering something new in Turkey or Greece.  It seems a shame to be in that corner of the world, with so many interesting places, and not explore somewhere new.

I revise travel plans every time some new place or opportunity comes across my radar screen.  Remaining flexible, and open to change in plans, is part of what makes travel exciting and fun.

Post from: Fly Away Cafe

Q.  What is deadheading?

A. In aviation speak, deadheading is a phrase used to position a flight crew member as part of their scheduled trip.  The term “positioning” is also used.

A Flight Attendant who is deadheading is on duty, that it, s/he is traveling on a particular flight under orders of the company, and is not a pleasure travel.  They may or may not be in uniform, that policy varies among airlines.  They will likely occupy a regular passenger seat on the airplane, although on some carriers they may be in a jump seat.  Some airlines allow deadheading crew members to sleep, others do not.

A deadheading leg may occur at the beginning, end, or in the middle of a scheduled trip.

Here are some examples::

• The first leg of a trip (flight) is deadheading to Hawaii, and then the following day, work the trip back to your home domicile (where the trip started).
• The first flight of the day is working from your home domicile to San Francisco, and then you deadhead the next leg to Oakland, and then fly from Oakland back to your home domicile.
• The first flight of the day is working from your home domicile to Chicago, and you then deadhead home (back to your home domicile).

In essence, deadheading is a way of getting a flight crew member where they need to be to work a trip, or to get them home at the end of a trip.

Post from: Fly Away Cafe

Q.  Is there anything I can do (that might be more of a secret) to get a better seat/1st class?  I fly 1st as often as possible, but sometimes it’s just not doable.  I know it’s a silly question but I’ve always wondered.

A. It’s not a silly question at all, and is one that gets asked all the time!  And the answer has changed a lot since I first wrote about scoring an upgrade over three years ago.  Upgrades are getting harder to come by, but they aren’t impossible.  Here are a few of my recommendations:

• Frequent Flyer status – This is the number one best way to score a flight upgrade.  But you can’t just join ever program and expect it to work for you.  Take a look at who you usually fly on, taking into account your home airport and the destinations that you most often go to.  Then look at the airlines that fly those routes.  Once you know which airlines you have to deal with, take a look to see if they share a frequent flyer program.  Take a few minutes a map it all out, and hopefully you can find one (or two at the most) who cover most of your usual flying.  Then be sure to use that same number for all your flying.
• Change from the competition – If you have an elite status on another carrier, many airlines are eager to woo you away.  There are lots of programs in place that will grant you elite status on a new carrier if you have that status on a competitor.  Be prepared to substantiate your position.  This wooing frequently involved upgrades.
• Buy your tickets from the airline – Most airlines will meet or beat any price out there, so I’m not sure why everyone is rushing to all the third party sites any more.  Buying directly from the airline will mean that you’ll be in compliance with all the rules regarding making a connection, and if you run into any problem you’ll be protected.  And when it comes to an upgrade, agents will look first at people who dealt directly with the airline.
• Be nice – Given a choice, most people will opt to upgrade someone who is nice to them rather than someone who is not.  I know regular flyers who bring candy or some other small item to the agents.  They swear it helps.  You probably won’t find a agent that will admit to that, since it violates policies of some sort or another, but it can’t hurt.
• Let people know if there’s a special occasion.  But be honest and credible.  Agents can spot a scammer a mile away.
• Dress well – No one wants to put a slob in first class.  You don’t have to be in a suit and tie, just be neat and well-groomed.
• Ask politely – There’s nothing wrong with politely asking if an upgrade is available.  It helps to have frequent flyer status, but don’t let that stop you. A few things to keep in mind, however, are that not all fares are eligible for an upgrade and not all upgrades are free. Know what you would be prepared to pay for an upgrade so you can make an instant decision.

The above list are things that happen before you ever get to the plane and see a Flight Attendant.  If you haven’t been successful, your odds of scoring an upgrade are lower once onboard, but still not impossible.

• Ask politely – This is really just a follow up in case there’s an extra seat in first class or someone no-shows at the last minute.  Just let the Flight Attendant know that if there’s a vacant seat that you would be interested in an upgrade.  Most of the times this won’t happen, and again it helps to have elite frequent flyer status, but we’ll try to accommodate you if we can.
• Recognize airline policy – Some airlines have policies that prohibit Flight Attendants from upgrading a passenger, and there may be punitive measures taken for ignoring the policy.  If you run into that, don’t push the issue.
• Be helpful and polite – If you see that the Flight Attendant is trying to get a family together or working to help people sit by one another, offer to help out if you can.  Sometimes, if they ask you to move, they are asking you to move to first class.  We’re most likely to move someone who is nice to us.
• Be a nice guy or gal – What doesn’t work is to threaten or try to intimidate.  Such phrases as “do you know who I am” or “I know the CEO” or “do you know how many miles I fly on your airline” don’t impress us.  If we don’t know who you are, you aren’t that important.  We know the CEO as well.  And we fly more miles that you do.  If you’ve had a bad day, or it’s a special occasion, feel free to mention it, but don’t take it out on us.  We want your flight to be pleasant, and if you’re trying to make it so on your side of things, chances are we’ll do the same.

If it didn’t work out for you this time, prepare for the next time with a few actions:

• Write a complaint letter – This is where people sometimes get turned around, and think that writing a flaming complaint letter will get them tons of free tickets or an upgrade.  That scam has been tried by a whole lot of people, and the “something for nothing” letters can be spotted.  If something has gone wrong, and it’s the fault of the airline, by all means set forth the details in a polite, but firm, way.  The airline needs to step up and address what went wrong, and there is nothing wrong with you holding them accountable.  Be honest, realistic, and don’t make something up.  It’s easier, and more justifiable, to reward and recognize good behavior than bad.
• Write a praise letter – Everyone loves a happy passenger!  So why not be that person.  Write a letter talking about the things that went right with your experience.  Mention people by name and talk about how they’ve made a favorable impression.  If it’s your first flight, mention that, and that you’ve joined the frequent flyer program and are anxious to experience some of the perks (upgrades of the program).  If you’re not quite at elite status, or are between levels, mention that, and that you’re positive experience is what keeps you coming back to fly that airline.  If you’ve just switched over, or were going to put stuck with it, mention that as well.  It has to be credible, don’t make things up, but who wouldn’t want to reward a flyer who’s thrilled with the airline.

It’s not always going to work, and there are going to be times when that upgrade just doesn’t come through.  A little thinking ahead, though, may make a world of difference.

If you’re a frequent flyer and have had any of these tips work for you, I’d love to hear about it.

If you’re a Flight Attendant, please chime in with whether you think these will work on YOUR airline, and add anything that I’ve missed!

Post from: Fly Away Cafe

Q. I’m a 28 year old male based out of Phoenix, Arizona. I’m interested in becoming a flight attendant. I have worked most of my life in the golf industry so I have plenty of customer service experience under my belt. I’m fluent in French so I would love to work for an international airline. I understand that this is a career where you don’t really get to choose what you want at first, however my goal would be to work for an airline that goes to France often. If you could give me some tips on where to start I would appreciate it.

A.  Given the current state of the economy, and current events in general, this is not the best time to try to break into the business.

Most airlines have Flight Attendants on furlough (laid off) or on voluntary staff reduction leaves.  Before any new hiring is done, all those employees would first be recalled.  How long the furlough lasts will impact the likelihood of whether those Flight Attendants will return to flying or if they’ve moved on to other jobs and will leave the airline.

With those cautions in mind, there are some airlines that are hiring, mostly commuters and airlines needing very specific language qualified Flight Attendants.  French isn’t on that list, though.

So what should you do?

Everything in the industry is based on seniority – meaning when you were hired.  Obviously then, you want to get hired as soon as possible.  And, you don’t want to be job hopping, because every time you change airlines you start at the bottom of the seniority list and pay scale.  But – there is nothing wrong with starting out with a commuter airline, seeing how you like the lifestyle and work schedule, and then moving on to a major.  (That’s what I did.)

I’d recommend that you keep an eye on which airlines are hiring.  The Association of Flight Attendants tries to keep an update status page on which airlines are hiring Flight Attendants, and covers both union and non-union carriers.  Do your research and identify your ideal carriers, then follow their hiring information and guidelines.  Most have a jobs section on their website.  As you track the industry, you’ll put yourself in a position to be at the front of the line when hiring begins once again.

My prediction – Absent some major economic change, I doubt there will be hiring by the majors for about a year.  Until and unless schedules and routes pick up, current furlough levels will continue and possibly increase.

Good luck!

Post from: Fly Away Cafe

Q.  I can’t believe you can pack so light.  What do you take in your carry on?

A.  This varies based on whether I’m traveling for work or pleasure.  If it’s work, there are some additional things that I have to carry, and when I’m in uniform, I’m exempt from the no liquids rule.  Since most of you will need to be in compliance with the no liquid rule, here’s a run down of what’s in my carry on if I’m flying away for a getaway weekend.

• Netbook – I downsized to this for my trip to Europe this year, and boy did it free up space and weight!
• iPod
• Camera and FlipCam
• Gadget accessories – chargers, mouse, extra cards
• Notepad and pens/pencils, envelopes, file folder with trip info in it, miscellaneous stuff to collect additional information while on trip
• Make up and toiletries
• Bag of liquids – deodorant, toothpaste, perfume, cleanser, moisturizer, mascara, lipstick and gloss,and small-sized hair products
• Change of clothes – usually just another t-shirt or blouse, underwear, socks, and a swimsuit (if I’m going somewhere warm)
• Sleepwear
• Snacks – I’m a big fan of packing something healthy to eat on the road
• Jewelry
• Kindle

And that’s it!  Everything else goes in one roller bag that I check.

My carry on contains the essentials that I’ll need so I’m not bored during the flight, keeps my valuables with me, and with a change of clothes can get me through an overnight if my bag is delayed.  Really — I CHECK MY BAG!  I made a few modifications for a three week trip, but the basic framework for my packing is always the same.  And if I’m on a ticket (rather than flying on a pass), I always check my bag.

What do you pack in your carry on?

Post from: Fly Away Cafe

Marty asks:

Q.  I was wondering what flexibility you have, if any, in choosing what hotel to stay at?  I’m imagining that you probably have to stay at the airport location for whatever hotel chain that your airline has designated?  Is it the same chain in every city?  And can you stay somewhere other than the chain’s airport hotel?  Also, are there situations where the airline might give you an allowance to seek more permanent accommodations in a city that you are often having layovers in?  i.e. enough to get a shared apartment, etc?

A. Hotel costs are a huge budget item for airlines, and, as you can imagine, every effort is taken to save every single penny that can be saved.  It’s the ultimate standoff – with the people who are staying in the hotels wanting comfortable, well appointed, and conveniently located hotels, and the people paying the bill for the hotels needing to crunch the numbers and to negotiate the lowest possible contract rates.

While the process is handled differently, depending on the airline, the over arching issue is the same.  At most airlines that I’m familiar with, there is a Hotel Committee of Flight Attendants, of Pilots, and a counterpart for the Airline.  These three parties each have a list of what they require in a hotel (often set by contract) and what they’d like in a hotel.

Word is put out to hotels to determine who might be interested in having flight crews stay there.  Not everyone wants us, as it usually is at a seriously discounted rate.  In return, however, the hotel is guaranteed a number of booked rooms each month.  When there is a list together of interested hotels, representatives from the Flight Attendants, Pilots, and Airline will schedule onsite inspections.  Additional considerations will include the distance from the hotel (travel time will eat into crew rest), transportation to and from the airport, availability of restaurants, etc.

After all that, it will come down to money.  Sometimes a hotel will offer a lower rate if you choose their property in several cities.  Sometimes you want locations in a city, but can’t get it.  It varies tremendously, and there really isn’t any consistency.  It’s all about the money.

You are not generally required to stay at the crew hotel.  For example, many Flight Attendants commute to a base other than where they live, and bid for layovers at home.  However, the crew hotel is the only place where the airline will pick up the tab for the expense.  The airline direct pays for the hotel.

That’s the basic process, and although there will be some variations, it will essential be the same from airline to airline.

Thanks for the question, Marty!

—

Is there something that you’d like to know about the job or lifestyle of being a Flight Attendant?  You can email me your questions, and I’ll answer them in a future Flight Attendant Friday.

Post from: Fly Away Cafe

Q.  Do you use your travel benefits?  Where do you go?  How often?  How do you decide?

A.  This is not quite as easy of a question as it might seem.  Much depends on how much time is available, the time of year, if I’m traveling with a friend, alone, or with a group of people, and, of course, the available budget.

For quick getaway weekends of only 2-3 days, that probably means sticking close to the west coast.  Favorite cites for that would be:  Las Vegas (great shows and restaurants, nice hotel resorts, and something to do 24/7), San Francisco, or Phoenix.

For extended weekends (4-5 days), some additional favorites include New York City, Washington DC, Hawaii, Boston, and I’ve even done Paris in 5 days.  Yes, I had 5 days (including travel days) and went to Paris.  It was great!

Deciding where to go is tougher than it sounds.  In addition to considering where I’d actually like to go, and what I’d like to see, I have to take into account passenger loads on the flights that I want to travel on.  Since we fly “space available,” if it’s a time of year or destination where flights are full, it’s going to make it complicated.  I look for flights that aren’t booked full, and try to travel at off-peak times.

Travel passes are a GREAT airline perk, and once you figure out how to use them, are a great benefit.  But if I really have to be somewhere on a set schedule, especially if I’m flying with a group of people, it’s easier to buy a ticket.

Where do you go on a short getaway weekend?  What about a longer one?

Post from: Fly Away Cafe

He asks —

Q.  How do couples with a FA or pilot partner survive such a lifestyle in the beginning of their relationship as well as during their married life?   How are their schedules made?  Are they all made at the last minute depending on reservations?

A.  This is a great question!  Relationships with a Flight Attendant, and their crazy schedule, hours, and lifestyle, can be a challenge for the non-crew side of the relationship.  Flight Attendants are quick to understand, appreciate, commiserate, and accommodate another Flight Attendant’s schedule.  Even when that person is at a different airline, we “get” the issues.  When you don’t come from the business, it will take you some time.

Far be it from me to give relationship and dating advice, but here are some things to consider if you’re getting involved with someone in our business.

The scheduling side of things varies by airlines, but involves a process where Flight Attendants bid for their schedule based on seniority.  If you’ve been around awhile, you’ll hold more desirable trips and days off.  If you are at the bottom of the food chain, you may find yourself sitting reserve.  Reserve is when you don’t have a fixed schedule for the month, but are waiting for scheduling to call you to cover a sick call, misconnect, or some other scheduling problem.  It doesn’t matter if you’re just sitting down to Thanksgiving dinner, if you get the call on reserve, you put on your uniform and go.  We generally know our schedules for a month at a time, or about 6 weeks out at most.

On top of the scheduling process, is the ability to trade trips around.  This means that you can always try to better your schedule.  Again, the more senior you are, the more someone will be interested in trading.  But regardless, it can seem to the outsider like your schedule is always in flux and never settled.  This can drive people crazy!

You need to ask yourself if you can handle this flexible schedule, and wait out the period of time that it takes for a partner to become senior enough to hold a good schedule.  Someone in a 9-5, Monday-Friday, job may have problems with this.  On the other hand, relationships can be easier to balance when at least one person has a more consistent schedule.  Be honest about how flexible you really are.

Another question to ask yourself is if having a partner available on weekends and holidays is a deal breaker.  If it is, you need to have a long talk about scheduling.  For many Flight Attendants it can be years before they hold weekends off, and sometimes a decade or so to hold Christmas off.  If you can adjust your thinking about what’s a weekend, and learn to celebrate holidays on the road or on different days, you can make it work.

For many people, travel is exotic and exciting.  When you have to deal with a partner’s travel schedule it may be more frustrating.  It’s nice to have someone to talk to when you come home, and if no one is home, you have to be careful not to take it out on the absentee partner.  When they do come home, they’ll be tired and exhausted.  They need time to breath and relax before you hit them with information about car trouble, the cat at the vet, the dryer needs to be repaired, and asking if they paid the electric bill.  You’re ready for conversation and interaction.  They’ve been doing it for days, and just need a little personal space.

Finally, you need to ask yourself if you are a jealous person.  We work with lots of people and we form relationships.  When we are on the job, we must rely on our working partners to have our back – and sometimes that can mean saving our life.  We’re close.  And while there certainly are relationships that form in the workplace, in the vast majority of situations, we’re just good friends.  Is it going to bug you if you find out your partner is having dinner with a co-worker?  If they’re not at the crew hotel, are you going to jump to conclusions, or are you going to understand that any number of things could happen that could result in them being at a different hotel.  Or even a different city.  Can you deal with not being able to talk to your partner without worrying that they’re cheating on you?  Jealousy and jumping to conclusions can just get ugly.

I wish you well, and hope you find happiness with your Flight Attendant.

Post from: Fly Away Cafe

Since I am just back from three weeks in Europe, this questions was bound to come up.

Q.  You seem to be traveling all the time.  How much vacation time do you get?

A. Ah, vacation!  I do love my vacation time.  I get 5 weeks of vacation each year, and this is as a result of 20+ years of employment.

In addition to annual vacation time, my flexible schedule allows me to add “days off” onto that vacation time, just like with an office job you get to add on weekends.  One difference, however, is that my “weekends” aren’t necessarily Saturday and Sunday, and I often have more than two days off in a row.

By way of example, I was off on “vacation” June 15th through July 7th.  That’s a total of 23 days, of which 10 days were vacation.  The rest of the time off consisted of several regular days off, and a few more were as a result of reducing my flying (and corresponding pay) for the month.

This time off and schedule flexibility are two key reasons why people enjoy working as a Flight Attendant.

Post from: Fly Away Cafe