I would like to introduce myself by sharing my story.
I am a 47 year old wife and mother. My first flight was when I was nine. I loved it. Then over the years the more I flew the worse I got. I just knew those planes were going to fall out of the sky. Every little bump, noise, or ding, I would cry. The last flight my husband took with me he vowed to never fly with me again. I would have to get Valium from the doctor just to fly. Then I had to drink a couple of drinks on top of that! When 9/11 happened, I knew I'd never fly again. In 2003, I started working as a gate agent at PIT. I kept seeing the same crews come back and forth. What? Didn't they all fall out of the sky??? I had a very nice flight attendant tell me I should apply with her airline because I'd make a great flight attendant. HA! She had no idea, but she did plant a seed. I was working with a furloughed mainline flight attendant, and she started telling me about all the fun she had on various trips. I made up my mind to apply to different airlines. When I told my husband, he just rolled his eyes. He is a private pilot and took me up with him once. I was so afraid (and crying! lol) he thought I was going to open the door and jump.
Long story, short. I am a month away of celebrating my one year anniversary with a regional airline as a flight attendant. I'm based in Kennedy and commute to work via yet another airplane. We fly the CRJ50's, 70's, and 90's. I prefer the 50's since I'm the only FA on board. What scared me five years ago thrills me now. When we have moderate to severe turbulence, I think back on the days we had a speed boat and would jump barge wakes. It's the same difference. LOL When this happens, I usually have 50 pairs of eyes drilling holes in my forehead. I can spot the "old me" in my passengers. I try to spend a little more time with them. When they find out I used to be worse than they are, it gives them some optimism that maybe their next flight won't be so scary.
I think people who have a fear of flying as bad as I did should see what inflight crews go through. Our training is grueling. Had I known more when I was that fearful, I may have been able to have better flights. I'm not sure there was one thing that got me over it, but a lot of it stemmed from 9/11. When I was a gate agent, a scared passenger asked the captain waiting for his plane to come in if he was scared of terrorists. His answer has stayed with me: "Lady, I have 50 people behind me just waiting to get even." Flying out of JFK, I have a lot of middle eastern passengers. One particular gentleman was acting really strange on a flight to DCA. I kept my eye on him closely. It turned out the poor man was extremely scared of flying. I sat down in the seat across the aisle and shared my story with him. It calmed him immediately.
On your next flight, tell the FA how afraid you are. Many times we can't tell. He or she WANTS you to have a good experience. Well - okay - We've all been on some flights where an FA isn't the most pleasant. They are few and far between. If I ever have you on my flight, you'll forget about your fear. I usually joke around with my guests and make them laugh. When they deplane, I always get special thank-yous and good-byes.
Please feel free to contact me. I'll be happy to answer any and all questions related to the flight attendant position. I'd like to make your next flying experience a little easier.
I am a 47 year old wife and mother. My first flight was when I was nine. I loved it. Then over the years the more I flew the worse I got. I just knew those planes were going to fall out of the sky. Every little bump, noise, or ding, I would cry. The last flight my husband took with me he vowed to never fly with me again. I would have to get Valium from the doctor just to fly. Then I had to drink a couple of drinks on top of that! When 9/11 happened, I knew I'd never fly again. In 2003, I started working as a gate agent at PIT. I kept seeing the same crews come back and forth. What? Didn't they all fall out of the sky??? I had a very nice flight attendant tell me I should apply with her airline because I'd make a great flight attendant. HA! She had no idea, but she did plant a seed. I was working with a furloughed mainline flight attendant, and she started telling me about all the fun she had on various trips. I made up my mind to apply to different airlines. When I told my husband, he just rolled his eyes. He is a private pilot and took me up with him once. I was so afraid (and crying! lol) he thought I was going to open the door and jump.
Long story, short. I am a month away of celebrating my one year anniversary with a regional airline as a flight attendant. I'm based in Kennedy and commute to work via yet another airplane. We fly the CRJ50's, 70's, and 90's. I prefer the 50's since I'm the only FA on board. What scared me five years ago thrills me now. When we have moderate to severe turbulence, I think back on the days we had a speed boat and would jump barge wakes. It's the same difference. LOL When this happens, I usually have 50 pairs of eyes drilling holes in my forehead. I can spot the "old me" in my passengers. I try to spend a little more time with them. When they find out I used to be worse than they are, it gives them some optimism that maybe their next flight won't be so scary.
I think people who have a fear of flying as bad as I did should see what inflight crews go through. Our training is grueling. Had I known more when I was that fearful, I may have been able to have better flights. I'm not sure there was one thing that got me over it, but a lot of it stemmed from 9/11. When I was a gate agent, a scared passenger asked the captain waiting for his plane to come in if he was scared of terrorists. His answer has stayed with me: "Lady, I have 50 people behind me just waiting to get even." Flying out of JFK, I have a lot of middle eastern passengers. One particular gentleman was acting really strange on a flight to DCA. I kept my eye on him closely. It turned out the poor man was extremely scared of flying. I sat down in the seat across the aisle and shared my story with him. It calmed him immediately.
On your next flight, tell the FA how afraid you are. Many times we can't tell. He or she WANTS you to have a good experience. Well - okay - We've all been on some flights where an FA isn't the most pleasant. They are few and far between. If I ever have you on my flight, you'll forget about your fear. I usually joke around with my guests and make them laugh. When they deplane, I always get special thank-yous and good-byes.
Please feel free to contact me. I'll be happy to answer any and all questions related to the flight attendant position. I'd like to make your next flying experience a little easier.
