Up Up & A Gay – A Flight Attendant Blog

Aborted Normality

Posted on November 10, 2009 by Bobby

I was on day 2 of 4, working Seattle to Los Angeles, back to Seattle, then once again, back to Los Angeles. I was flying with a crew that I knew but haven’t flown with before. I actually did one of their IOEs a year ago. Having that faith in her really came in handy.

We were getting ready to land as usual in Seattle from LA, nothing was out of the ordinary. Suddenly, we hit moderate to sever turbulence on our final decent. The aircraft was banking left, right, up, down, the tail was swinging as the front turned.. it was a very rough ride. The looks on the passengers faces in first class was a look of nervousness.

The landing gear came down, and the flight attendants received our two minute warning. I took my jumpseat, content as usual – knowing that all of my safety checks were done correctly and my cabin crew was seated. Thank god.

As we started our short final, things got hectic. The aircraft hit wind shear and we were again experiencing moderate to sever turbulence. As we got closer to the airport, I began to see the lights from the runway, I knew this was going to be a rough landing. Seconds before the aircraft would have been fully on the ground, wind shear again. Both pilots, in unison, decided to abort the landing. I expected it. I was prepping myself for an emergency had we landed. Yes, it was that bad. We had actually touched our main landing gear to the runway, and the wind shear then blew us off the runway onto the grass.

As we shot back to the skies like a rocket, and the airplane was making noises airplanes shouldn’t make.. I sat there.. smiling. 1A was having a panic attack. She kept screaming “its not safe to land” “its not safe to land” to which I screamed over the bulkhead “we’re not landing!”

Finally, after stabilizing our altitude the Captain came on the PA to address the passengers.

As you can see, Seattle is a little windy tonight. We didn’t feel comfortable putting the plane on the ground in that wind… so we’re going to go around.. take another look at it.. and it’s safe.. we’re going to land. If not.. we’ll worry about that when it happens — but air traffic control is saying it should be okay.

Then my phone rang. The Captain explained to me what had happened.. the main landing gear had touched the runway and the wind sheer blew us off course, and off the runway. We were going around, the landing should be normal and fine and if I had any questions. I didn’t.

I then called to the back to make sure the other FAs were holding up okay and heard the information the Captain announced over the P.A. They both said they were doing fine, the passengers seemed okay, and they were enjoying the ride.

As I hung up the phone the passenger in 1F looked over at me and mouthed “we’re going to be okay, right?” I said, yes. Though, reviewing my commands and prepping myself for the worst I too wanted to hear everything was going to be okay.

As we started on our go around.. and went back through the turbulence to line up to land, again, I started to watch the people in first class become friends with each other, pray, and some began to cry.

After a few minutes we received the signal from the flight deck to take our seats and prepare for landing. We never stood up, anyway, it was entirely too bumpy and unsafe, so we were ready.

As began our decent we hit the same wind, rain and wind shear we did the first time, making me feel uncomfortable about a second attempt at landing. The passengers were beginning to cry louder and hold hands. Finally, the landing gear was deployed again and we were going to give it another shot. We landed, safely. And it was the smoothest landing I’ve had in a long time.

Trying to make light of the situation, and reassure everyone that they’re okay and the aircraft is still in tact, I get on the PA and said “well……..welcome to Seattle” and closed it by saying “We hope you’ve enjoyed your experience with us today.. and we look forward to seeing you soon!” As the passengers were getting off the plane each and every one of them stopped to say thank you to me and the flight deck. Some said “thanks” some said “thanks for saving my life” and some walked right past us without saying a word.

I looked to the back of the cabin and saw that were was 2 pax still in their seats. So I went to back to the back and there was an elderly woman, probably in her late 60’s who was visibly shaken up. She was crying, shaking and didn’t want to move. I had one of the other FAs grab me a bottle of water and told her I would be bring her bag to the front so that whenever she was ready, she could walk to the front. Once I got to the front of the aircraft I also had ground support order her a wheel chair.

I look over, across the aisle from this woman, and there was another woman, this one was laying on the floor. I asked her the same thing, got her some water and the other FA moved her bags to the front. I kept telling both of them “its okay, we’re on the ground now.. everything is fine.” For some reason I didn’t think they believed me.

As the elderly woman walked off the aircraft she did get in the wheelchair. She was feeling weak in her knees and didn’t want to walk.

After the passengers were all gone the Captain came out of the flight deck for a debriefing. That’s when we were told about how we were blown off the runway, and how the decision was made to go around. He then asked us if were okay or if we had any questions. None of us had any.. we were all pretty calm because we never got up out of our seats.

In retrospect, we should have done a quick walk through to make sure everyone was okay, but I really don’t think it was safe enough.

Anyway, a few minutes after our debriefing .. one of the gate agents comes down to the aircraft and said “Are you ready to board?”

And that quickly you have to forget about what just happened, could have happened and might happen.. put the fake smile back on your face and work one more flight before going to bed.

Filed under: FAs, InFlight, Passengers | Tagged: aircraft, airline, emergency, flight attendant, landing, weather, wind | 3 Comments »

Work hard. Eat Right.

Posted on November 3, 2009 by Bobby

I’m finding it harder to eat right when I’m at work (and when I’m home for that matter). As you know from reading my past posts (because you all subscribe and read the blog religiously, right?) my airline gives us crew meals. Well, in a way. We’re allowed to eat meals that would have been for sale in the main cabin, if they’re not sold toward the middle-to-end of the flight.

Knowing that this food is there, makes me want to eat it. Knowing its free, makes me want to eat it. I might not be hungry, but I’ll eat it.

Being an ex-fat kid you would think that I would have built up some will power in fending off bored eating, but I haven’t.. and lately its been worse.

I do pack food, and good food, in my eBag crew cooler but a lot of the time I forget that its even there, or I’ll use that food for my layover to save me from spending money on an over-priced airport or hotel restaurant. Furthermore, I’m running out of ideas on what to pack and bring with me.. what stays good for four days? how do you keep it cold?

I think I need to do some research into proper packing of a crew cooler for a four day trip, even if some passengers like Carlitos, don’t want flight attendants to carry crew coolers or bags in the cabin overhead bins.

Something else I need to work on is my drive to go to the gym when I get to my layover hotel. I usually have high ambitions the morning of whatever flight I’m about to work. I tell myself ‘when I get to Los Angeles, I’ll go to the gym.. run for an hour.. and I’ll be good’ but the second I see that bed in my hotel room, all bets are off. I don’t even necessarily have to lay on it, it just signifies relaxation after working a 6.5 hour flight, and I do nothing but play on the internet, write on here or for my other websites.

How do those hot, good looking flight attendants do it? Where do they get the drive to eat right and work out on the road after a long flight?

What motivates you?

I’m thinking I’m going to try to motivate myself by forcing myself to post the measures I’m taking to lose weight.

This way, I can see the progress I’m making and maybe I can motivate someone else to do the same, and can use the support from whoever reads this blog to further me along. I’m guessing I can afford to lose 15lbs or so. That shouldn’t be too hard. [easier said than done, I know!]

So for starters, for those of you reading this.. what kind of food do you pack? how does it keep? what motivates you to go to the gym on your layover?

Filed under: General | Tagged: airplanes, flight attendant, fly, travel, weight loss | 5 Comments »

Flight Attendant Bags in the Overhead Bin

Posted on October 27, 2009 by Bobby

First off, I’m kind of mad at what I’m about to show you, and at the same time, I find it kind of funny. Below is an excerpt from USA Today’s Letter section where readers are commenting about an article written about the recent spike in carry-on luggage in aircraft cabins:

Apply carry-on rules to crew as well as passengers

Paco Martinez-Alvarez – Arlington, Va.

USA TODAY’s article “For air travelers, a ‘fight for the overheads,’ ” failed to mention the many times that flight attendants disregard their airlines’ own rules by bringing on roller bags, large purses and zippered lunch bags (News, Cover story, Thursday).

It is not uncommon to see first-class and front-coach overhead bins filled with bags labeled “crew.” I have yet to see crewmembers check their carry-ons at the plane door so that paying passengers can store their bags. Perhaps airlines need to start monitoring their own staff to help reduce overcrowding.

Dear Mr. I Don’t Know What I’m Talking About Martinez-Alverez,

Hello, sir. Welcome aboard. I’m glad you decided to fly with us today, and furthermore, decided to join us in First class. What do you mean there’s no space for your bag…the overhead bin above your first class seat isn’t reserved, its preferred space. Please feel free to put your bag after of the First Class cabin.

Mr. Martinez-Alverez, though we chose to do be a flight attendant because of the benefits and work schedule, when we are at work – we are also away from home. We’re away from home for up to 5 days at a time domestically, and maybe longer if flying internationally.

When you’re traveling, what do you pack? I for one pack a supply of clothes, shoes, beauty necessities, my laptop, and maybe book. My company requires me to carry a flashlight, a passport, a manual (that’s over 800 pages, so it’s big!), a wine opener and other items which need to remain in the aircraft cabin in the event of an emergency. Oh yeah, also, I pack food. Though my airline supplies meals to the cabin crew, it’s always the same meal — it gets old. Therefore, I travel with 3 bags.

Luckily, for us as cabin crew, the “one plus one” carry on requirement (one carryon + one personal item) doesn’t apply to working crew members. Why? Because we live and work out of our luggage. Your suggestion to have cabin crew check our luggage at the plane door, so YOU can put YOUR bag there wouldn’t work. Here’s why.

All bags “checked” go down to the cargo hold, which means that when you reach your arrival city, they are sent to baggage claim. If I had to go to baggage claim and wait for my bag after the flight I worked, which happens to be the night before the flight you’re scheduled to take, and it doesn’t show up – how happy are you going to be the next day when your flight is cancelled because a crew member is missing their manual, uniform, or other required items? I’m guessing from the tone of your original letter: not very happy.

I invite you to take a look at the Flight Attendant RV section of my blog and look at what we do travel with. It’s nothing excessive, nothing over the top- just the necessities to get by while at work as well as our required items to make sure you make it to your destination safely.

One other question, if you’re in “first class” or the “front of coach” you should be in one of the first boarding groups to board the aircraft, so, why were the bins full when you boarded? Oh wait..let me guess, you’re the one person we were waiting for– one minute prior to departure, weren’t you?

Sincerely,

Your Flight Attendant

Filed under: Airline News | Tagged: airplane, carryon bags, flight attendant, luggage, travel | 21 Comments »

Why hasn’t NW188 decended yet?

Posted on October 26, 2009 by Bobby

Much like the rest of the country, I’m confused about what really happened on Northwest Airlines (Delta) Flight 188 from San Diego to Minneapolis.

For those that might not have heard, the pilots were having a “heated” discussion about company policy and procedure and were distracted enough that they managed to fly over the Minneapolis airport by 150 miles. However, there have been mixed reports about what actually happened from within the aircraft cabin.

Initial reports stated that the passengers and the cabin crew didn’t even realize that they had flown over their destination. As the day progressed, stories began to change. FOX9 in Minneapolis quoted a passenger on board the aircraft as saying

A couple of people I overheard said I thought we were landing at 8 or 8:15…That was where it was a little bit different. The captain came on and said after some back and forth bickering, we should be landing in 15 to 20 minutes.

That story contradicts what The Star Tribune, also in Minneapolis, reported

Brent Bjorlin and his fellow airline passengers didn’t have a clue something had gone wrong at 37,000 feet until federal officials with badges and guns boarded the Northwest plane after it landed in the Twin Cities on Wednesday night.

I can only assume that Brent wasn’t sitting near Amy. Anyway, the burning question remains: what finally made the pilots realize they overshot the runway, and what were they doing before hand? According to the Associated Press controllers on the ground, pilots of other planes, and even a flight attendant tried to alert the flight deck as the Northwest airliner flew past Minneapolis at 37,000 feet.

Many articles and blogs quickly jumped to say that a flight attendant wouldn’t know how far an aircraft was to their destination, and immediatly discounted that report. I say, not so fast.

Flight Attendants and Pilots are required by FAA regulations to have a pre-flight breifing before every flight. In this briefing, information such as flight time, weather enroute, and possible delays are relayed to the cabin crew. The flight time reported to the cabin crew is from “wheels up,” which means actual flying time from when the aircrafts wheels leave the ground. If the pilots tell me that the flight will be 5 hours and 30 minutes, the second the wheels are off the ground I calculate, to myself, our expected arrival time. Of course, things change and weather happens, however, it shouldn’t deviate that much. Though the flight attendants may not have known they flew past Minneapolis airport they may have realized that the flight is taking longer than expected and were calling the flight deck for an update. I call and ask the flight deck about every hour to check on them and our arrival time.

The Wall Street Journal is now reporting

According to the recollections of the Northwest crew, a flight attendant’s question on the intercom demanding to know why the jetliner hadn’t started its descent startled them out of their distracted state, according to one person familiar with the matter.

The Pilots of NW188 seem to be very stern saying that they weren’t sleeping, but I don’t believe them. Latest reports from interviews with the cockpit crew say that they were without radio contact for about an hour and fifteen minutes. Do you mean to tell me that you were so involved in an hour long conversation about company policy that you blocked out the radio in the background repeatly attempting to gain contact with you? Mind you, Pilots do have the ability to change the volume in which those transmissions are received, but what Pilot would knowingly turn the volume down to the level in which they cannot be heard, period.

I almost primarily fly the Airbus A320, the same model aircraft in this incident. When the cabin crew makes a phone call to the flight deck, the noise heard in the cockpit is very much like an alarm clock. It sounds almost like a digitized alarm / phone ringer and is annoyingly loud. It is very possible, in my view, that the phone call from the flight attendant questioning the time of decent woke up the pilots.

Many airlines have procedures in place to have the cabin crew call the flight deck on a regular basis to ensure the pilots are okay, and to check on their needs. Procedures are also in place in the event contact between the cabin and the flight deck can not be obtained.

We need to remember that a situation with pilots sleeping happened just last year at Go! Airlines. The Official NTSB report determined that the pilots were fatigued. It might be time that the FAA step in and raise the limits for minimum rest on layovers. Remember, a crew members required rest begins from “aircraft door open” at your arrival city until “aircraft door close” the next morning leaving that same city. It does NOT account for time passengers are getting off the plane, walking to the terminal door, getting in a van to the hotel, checking in, and/or eating. At the current time the “minimum” rest set by the FAA is 8 hours.

I truly hope that the truth surfaces during this investiagtion. We can only learn from our mistakes, and the result of this mistake, might save lives down the line.

Filed under: Airline News | Tagged: flight attendant, northwest airlines, pilots, travel | 1 Comment »

The Infamous Delay

Posted on October 23, 2009 by Bobby

Since I’ve started flying I’ve been fascinated with the traveling publics reaction to the word “delay.”

For me, “delay” means running behind schedule, fixing a problem, and/or taking a little extra time to ensure everything is working and looking the way it should. To a passenger, “delay” means something to complain about.

Weather delays are the most baffling for me. When you’re on your way to the airport, do you not check the weather in your destination city, in addition to taking notice to the weather outside your own window? It always seems to come as a surprise to passengers waiting in the terminal when the agents announce that the inbound aircraft is delayed because of the monsoon currently hitting the city. Most are quick the blame the airline saying “they’re never on time!” or run right over to the gate podium and proclaim “but I have an important business meeting!” Do you not realize what has happened? The weather has caused a delay here, not the airline or the flight crew. Frankly, we don’t care that you have a business meeting and there’s no way we could have kept the operation on time with hurricane force winds and enough water to turn the aircraft into a cruiseship. Chances are your flight crew and the agents working your flight are just as annoyed with the delay. The agents are stuck working overtime and the delay has cut into the flight crew’s already short layover. Though some pilots seems to think so, we are not god. We cannot change the weather.

Mechanical delays for me, are like a double edged sword. Yes, it is an airline caused delay and yes the airline shouldtake responsibility for it. However, would you rather the airline NOT take the delay and knowingly allow you to fly on an aircraft that has a mechanical issue? These types of delays usually invoke the worst response from passengers, which amazes me. The overwhelming sigh is heard throughout the terminal. As the passengers board, you can easily pick out the ones who understand why they were delayed and roll with the punches, but those that board grumpy and upset have to realize that an aircraft is a machine and machines break. Life goes on… (probably thanks to the delay!) Your flight attendants and pilots have family too, and we’d like to go home to see them just as much as you want the flight to land safely.

Also remember, the delay on your flight could be caused by a late arriving aircraft; but that aircraft could be late because it had a mechanical issue. The passengers on that inbound aircraft deserve just as safe of a flight as you do.

The delay which affects me most is a Crew Rest delay. A crew rest delay is usually caused by one of the other delays I mentioned above. When we arrive into a city late because of weather or a mechanical a flight attendants layover is reduced. The Federal Aviation Administration has strict laws governing how many hours of “rest” a flight crew must receive and when.

Remember: “rest” is defined as the aircraft door opening upon arrival, and closing again the next day for departure. It doesn’t mean the actual amount of hours sleeping through the night.

The FAA says the minimum amount of rest we can receive is 8 hours, no less. Therefore, if we arrive into a city late, and it cuts down our layover past 8 hours; our flight out the next morning will be delayed to compensate for the 8 hours. This type of delay infuriates most passengers, which drives me absolutely insane. Usually, the agents announce to the passengers what is going on, and why the flight is delayed — and then, during boarding, we’re faced with the on going “so did you get enough sleep?” – “are you well rested now?” – and “its about time you woke up” sarcastic comments. Folks, do you REALLY want a pilot to take your life in his hands on less than 5-6 hours sleep? Do you really want to trust a flight attendant to evacuate an airplane in the event of an emergency without enough sleep? The delay wasn’t caused because we overslept or didn’t feel rested “enough” it was caused by us not being able to get even 5 hours of actual rest.

The traveling public needs to remember that we are human beings. We are not onboard simply to serve you a coke and pick up your trash, we are there primarily for your safety in the event of an emergency. Sadly, the public doesn’t realize this until an event happens such as US Airways 1549 and the Air France crash in Toronto a few years back where the flight attendants save everyones life.

The next time you’re delayed try to look at the bigger picture of what exactly is going on. Ask yourself the question: “if the delay wasn’t taken would my flight take off and land safely?” Aside from those rare instances where an unplanned or unexpected emergency occurs, wouldn’t you rather the answer be “yes?”

Filed under: General | Tagged: delay, flight attendant, travel, weather | 1 Comment »