Up Up & A Gay | A Flight Attendant Blog

5 Right and Wrong Ways to Get Your Flight Attendant’s Attention

Bobby Laurie — Mon, 06 May 2013 10:00:00 +0000

Your flight attendant is a very popular person! With fewer flights comes fuller planes and a smaller flight attendant to passenger ratio. In fact, the FAA regulates that ratio and says one flight attendant is needed for every 50 seats on a plane. With most aircraft carrying around 150 people, that's only three flight attendants to tend to everyone's drink, food and special requests on your flight. So, I talked with a few flight attendants and came up with the top five right and wrong ways to get your flight attendant's attention!

WRONG (and probably the WORST): Keep your hands to yourself
You shouldn't poke, slap or tap them to get their attention. Can you imagine walking through a cabin and having someone at every row poke you on either side, on your back, tap your shoulder or even, slap your behind? You can't? Well I can! On a recent flight that's exactly what happened while I was walking through the cabin picking up trash. Trust me, we're not going anywhere! We're stuck in the same metal tube going 500mph together. I will get around to getting your trash and I know you're there! I became increasingly frustrated as I was being treated like the Pillsbury Dough Boy but only resorted to verbally acknowledging everyone saying "I know, I know, I'm coming! I'll get there.. I see you!" but on a recent Air China flight to Shanghai a passenger was arrested for slapping the behind of a flight attendant with a newspaper. He later told police that he wanted her to move so that he could get to his seat.

Keeping your hands to yourself doesn't mean it's okay to snap your fingers to get their attention, either.

RIGHT: Be Aware
Flight Attendant Sam Ward told me that the best way for someone to get his attention is to be aware of what he's doing.

"If I'm helping another passenger or clearly appear to be busy, please just be patient. We are more than willing to assist you and your needs, but we have many duties and many passengers to deal with at the same time."

Of course, it's okay to interrupt and make yourself known if it's an emergency situation.

WRONG: Misusing the Call Button
Sam says:

The use of the call button is like nails on chalk board to FAs because it's abused. Use it when it's something urgent.

Ringing the call button to have the flight attendants collect your trash will probably have you being told "I'll be right back," which in flight attendant speak means: "I'll be back in about a half hour with a trash bag." The flight attendants I spoke with concurred that it should be used for urgent situations (unless of course your flight attendants aren't doing their job and walking through the cabin checking up on everyone).

RIGHT: Be Polite
This might surprise you, but most passengers don't say please or thank you. Being polite and courteous to a flight attendant will net you everything you want, as quickly as possible. Cabin Crewmember Autumn Jensen stated

"I would like to assume that people would like to be treated with respect, so I would like to be treated with the same respect. Please, thank you, may I, and other such phrases will never go out of style. As with anything in life, it's all about how you ask. Politeness will get you everywhere.

Ian Funderburg agreed

I always acknowledge when people politely make themselves known and let them know I will be there to help as soon as I am able to.

WRONG: Galley Invaders
Your seat is cramped, the aisle is narrow and the galley seems to be the only place where you can stand - that's okay, but don't over-extend your welcome (and please don't perform galley yoga: the art of bending and stretching right in the flight attendant's faces as they're eating or sitting). The galley is the flight attendant's work space, kitchen, sitting area and cafeteria. If it's a busy flight the flight attendants may be prepping drink orders, snacks and food for other passengers and your being there might be in the way and slow down the process. Going to the galley to request a beverage or a snack is okay, but be respectful of the work they're already doing, in other words, be patient, the requests they're fulfilling at the moment come before you.

Is Being a Flight Attendant the Worst Job in 2013?

Bobby Laurie — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 15:50:22 +0000

It seems as though the flying public has become a bit fascinated with the role of a flight attendant. In years past it was a glamorous position, which nurses held to attend to the needs of the elite who could afford to fly, and as the years flew by changes to the position developed. On board service was cut by the airlines to save money, flight crews were tasked not only with looking after on-board safety but now also security, and the airlines were deregulated setting off fare wars and the fight for customers.

In recent years we've witnessed flight attendants blow emergency slides and quit (ala Steven Slater), flight attendant's have nervous break-downs on board and rant over the public address system and we're about to see an airline dress their cabin crew as maids and butlers as a marketing ploy, so where am I going with all of this? CareerCast just released a "study" of the worst jobs for 2013 and being a flight attendant is number 10.

Now the evidence would suggest that a flight attendant losing it and blowing a slide and ranting over the PA is stressed and overworked... and at some airlines they are! Each airline operates differently with their own policy and procedures based on the foundation of what the FAA regulates.

Here's what CareerCast says about the job:

High stress, low pay and a shrinking job market all contribute to flight attendant's inclusion among the worst jobs of 2013. The BLS projects virtually no change in job prospects, as airlines continue to consolidate and reduce staff.

Now, let's go through these claims.

High Stress -- Yes, there is high stress in the job... sometimes. Boarding is stressful, you need to get the flight out on-time otherwise you have some explaining to do. Irate and unhappy customers also add to the stress of the job, but they add to the stress of any customer-facing position out there; not just flight attendants. As much as some flight attendants don't like to admit it, we are on board for service/customer service and safety. Sure, we're there "primarily for safety" but we also have a role to play in making sure our passengers are happy, taken care of and chose to fly with the airline again in the future. Security adds to the stress as well, the thought of 9/11 is in the back of everyone's mind and being situationally aware at all times can be a burden. Let's remember that flight attendants are the first responders for any situation that happens on that airplane and they're trained for those situations. In fact, yearly, flight attendants return to training for recurrent lessons in evacuations, CPR, and other emergency scenarios.

But is it always stressful? No! There's a lot of downtime on trans-continental and international flights (ever wonder why the flight attendant never throws your magazine in the trash bag? They're reading it themselves!), if a flight attendant works for an airline with more than two cabin crewmembers on board their co-workers can help solve passenger concerns and problems, and their overnights are their time to explore, eat, and enjoy the city they're visiting... all stress-free!

Low Pay -- Now here's where it gets tricky. Yes, generally speaking, the starting pay for a flight attendant is low. And, I'm not just saying low... I mean... very low. Regional airlines usually make less than legacy airlines (or the majors) but even the legacies start out flight attendants around $18-20 per flight hour (every hour the door is closed). Flight attendants are not paid during boarding, deplaning, or delays. Some will argue that their "per diem" (an hourly rate that the airline pays to help in covering the cost of eating and entertainment on the road) counts as pay. But, for the most part, that per diem payment is $2 an hour. I don't know about you, but I wouldn't call $2/hr getting "paid."

With that said, the longer you stick with an airline the better your pay will be. Every year your hourly rate will increase, your seniority will improve (at some airlines this will happen more slowly than at others) affording you better flights, schedules and lifestyle. A flight attendant blogger, The Flying Pinto, also posted about this study and said:

Am I rich? Yes, in terms of freedom and lifestyle. How many people can build their own schedule and work as little or as much as they want or need to?... How's my actual pay check? As good as, the higher end of a nurse's salary.

And while her seniority allows her to build a schedule that fits her needs (as does mine, in full disclosure) I cannot discount those flight attendants hired after me that don't have the seniority to build their own schedules yet (junior flight attendants are usually on call in the event a senior ones calls in sick), they don't have a say in where they go, what time they leave, or what days they have off. Further, to say that the average flight attendant salary is the higher end of a nurse's is a bit bullish. You may earn that amount if you fly 120+ hours a month and take only eight days on the ground. But, the longer you stick with the airline the more livable the wage, and in time, if the airline a flight attendant is employed at grows, so will their job opportunities and salary.

That brings us to the final note from CareerCast, the shrinking job market. A little research will show that the airline industry is bouncing back! All of the majors and most of the low cost carriers have hired new flight attendants this year. To say that it's shrinking shows their lack of information.

So, is being a flight attendant one of the worst jobs in 2013? That depends on you. Everyone is different. If you're willing to devote the time and "pay your dues," and wait patiently as every year you move up the pay scale and seniority list the end benefits are amazing, like The Flying Pinto described. However, do your research before just applying to any airline. Each one of them has a different definition of how and what your seniority means and how it'll affect your life. Make the right choice for you.

Hang Up The Phone

Bobby Laurie — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 22:31:28 +0000

Part of the reason why I haven’t written much in my blog is because, well, my flights have been uneventful! Shockingly enough, I haven’t had much happen on board over the last couple of months. Some of that is probably thanks to the fact that I don’t fly as much as I used to.

However, that all changed. All of a sudden I was a magnet for the crazy people, flights and anything that could go wrong. I recently worked a Cancun turn. I can’t hold the overnights yet — and the turns are norotious for being a pain because one flight in one direction is always hellacious and the other easy. Knowing that one flight is going to suck — I still bid them.

On push back from Los Angeles a call button at 11 Left goes off. I make my way through the cabin filled with people watching the safety demo video and as I approach row 11, a pair of 20-something year old girls start pointing at the 40-something year old lady sitting in the aisle seat. They hold their thumb to their ear and pinky finger to their mouth as if to symbolize a phone and mouth to me “She’s on the phone!”

I look at the lady on the aisle and see her holding a phone to her left ear and ask her to please hang up the phone and power it down. She then says to the person on the other side of the call:

So, hey, I have to go. The punk girls next to me ratted me out to the flight attendants for being on the phone.

She hangs up.. looks at them and says “REALLY?” and I walk away.

Situation: Over. Right? Wrong!

We take off and right after we cruise through 10,000ft I get a phone call from the aft of the plane and one of the other crewmembers asks that I come to the back to assist in a situation with an upset passenger.

I make my way to the back and the lady who was on the phone is standing there, physically shaking. I ask her what’s going on and she says

I just…. I just can’t believe it. I’ve never had anyone be upset with me, not like me.. or anything. But those…. girls.. those 18 year olds sitting next to me.. just called a BITCH! A BITCH! I can’t believe it.. I’m so shaken.. no one has ever talked to me like that.. I don’t know what I did to have them hate me so much.

Okay.. seriously? You’ve never had someone call you a bitch before — yet you were throwing the word “punk” around like it was nothing? I find that hard to believe. But, she continued:

And.. as for the phone.. I really didn’t know it had to be off. And yes, I didn’t know because I wasn’t listening and I was talking — I own that.

Okay fair enough.. but.. she was shaking because someone called her a bitch. So I offered to allow her to move her seat away from the girls, as there wasn’t really anything else we could do. We couldn’t exactly go over to the girls and ask them to apologize for calling her a bitch, it’s none of our business.. it’s between them.

She returned to row 11 to grab her belongings and move them up to row 4.. and before she even reached her row she started yelling at the girls. “You’re mean women.. both of you! Just MEAN!” The girls responded by yelling “buh bye! MOVE out! Get going!” and waved her goodbye as she departed from row 11.

The girls later came to me and apologized for ringing the call button and turning this into a situation — though I didn’t accept their apology. They didn’t do anything wrong. A 40 year old woman was just upset she was caught, and then further upset when the girls responded to her to verbal attack.

Needless to say, neither of them had any alcohol for the flight. We were too afraid to see what might happen next.

Introducing: Bobby’s Blog

Bobby Laurie — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 20:38:19 +0000

It’s no secret I’ve been neglecting the blog. I’m sorry. I truly am! I’ve been quite busy since the start of the year and, frankly, haven’t had many “crazy passenger” stories to share recently. I guess that’s both a good and bad thing.

However, with the amount of traveling I’ve been doing in my off time for Daytime and The Better Show I wanted to add a new section to the blog, mine. Aside from the flight attendant stories that you’ve all come to love, I want to blog about my travel experiences and the behind-the-scenes of our television segments that we’re so grateful to be able to produce for two amazing talk shows. Doing this will also ensure I update more frequently as I travel more as a travel correspondent now then I do as a flight attendant.

We’ve had some crazy things happen while on the road, stayed in some — different — hotels and done some amazing activities that I never would have thought of doing. I wanted a place to share all of that, and rather than starting a NEW blog (something else to handle) why not blog about travel on my travel blog?

So, introducing: Bobby’s Blog. This section will be updated on-the-road with photos and reviews of the places I’m staying in, things I’m doing and the antics that Gailen and I get into while filming. We’ve got a lot of travel on tap too — we just left Palm Springs and Phoenix, we’re headed to Tahoe next followed by Dublin, Germany and then Switzerland.

I hope that you’ll continue to support this website and blog and will follow along for the ride with me. Without your support and readership over the past few years I wouldn’t be where I am today.

Thank you.

The Charter

Bobby Laurie — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 20:23:09 +0000

For a change of pace, at the end of December I bid a three day trip. Now, as most of you know I usually only fly turns. I like being at home every night, in my own bed (soon to be upgraded to a queen from a full, mind you) but I have grown out of the “partying” on my layovers phase and in flying turns I can get my minimum hours in a short period of time.

Anyway, as I was explaining, I bid a three day trip with my two friends who you’ve all come to love Brad & Patti. This three day, wasn’t a normal one, by any definition of the word. We were working a round-trip charter flight to the Dominican Republic. Have you ever been? I’m wondering if my experience was normal or if we just had a plane full (both ways) some of the worlds most difficult people.

First of all, we were leaving from the East Coast at the end of December. That means snow and deicing. Two things I don’t usually deal with while doing my turns. As the plane was tugged over from a hard stand all we heard as the door opened was “Retard. Retard. Retard” over and over and over again. The plane’s computers were frozen and pilots nor the mechanics could fix the retarded plane until it warmed up. That took about 45 minutes.

In the meantime, the cleaners were prepping the plane and catering was delivering our food for the round trip, and we were learning the ropes as to how service was to be accomplished and what other differences there were from our normal ops and this charter flight.

After 45 minutes of thawing out and prepping the plane, the deicing truck arrived to partially deice at the gate to help us get in the air as quickly as possible since we’re now running late. A few things then happened: The truck ran out of fluid, then the new truck broke, then the even-newer truck broke too.

This morning wasn’t off to a good start. Once we get in the air, things have to be better, right?

Wrong. You should have known that was coming. At first the flight to the Dominican was cake. There was only 60-something passengers, how hard can that be? But as the flight soared across the sky about two hours into our journey, everyone decided to stand up. Everyone just got up.. stood in the aisles, paced through the plane, and decided to move into empty rows to sleep. One woman decided to move her children into the exit row so they could lay down. Patti then informed the woman that her kids couldn’t sleep there and the passengers response was: Well, I’m not moving them. Uh, okay. Patti, as graceful as she is, then explained why the kids weren’t allowed to sit there hoping that the passenger would understand where she was coming from. But no, she didn’t. I’m not waking my kids to move them out of the row the passenger said, even louder this time to Patti.

Finally Patti had to be a bit stern with the passenger and let her know that it wasn’t a request that the children be moved, it was required. After that, the kids were moved no problem.

That was the only situation we encountered on the flight into the Dominican Republic. Easy enough to the point that the three of us said we would bid this trip again because of the long layovers and the fact that the three of us could hold it and fly together. All of that, however, changed on the flight home.

Boarding was a mess. There weren’t any jetbridges and buses left our passengers on the tarmac while one lady verified boarding passes and passports allowing them to board one by one up the air stairs. Needless to say, this process took forever since 150 people had to board, we were full.

Keep in mind, flights from international destinations back to the US have that ‘stay in your cabin and use your own restroom’ rule. This little notation will come in handy.

Once inflight I quickly learned that one of the passengers in first class, 1A, had about 20 family members in coach, and though this was a charter flight, our food in coach is still “for sale.” So, she took matters into her own hands. She cut up her complimentary first class meal into 20 different pieces. Dessert and leaves of lettuce included, placed them onto napkins and started to distribute her food to her family. When I asked what she was doing she explained Well, my family has to eat too! Okay. It’s as simple as paying for a sandwich, but okay.

I walked through the main cabin to help Patti and Brad with the masses and the second I left the forward cabin 1A’s family decided to come up for a visit. I quickly went back to first class and explained that they weren’t permitted up there. They left. I headed back toward the aft, turned around.. they were back. I went back up there and explained again that they had to remain in coach class for the rest of the flight. They understood and returned to their seats. As I answered a few call buttons from coach and was preparing drinks for the passengers 1A’s family decided to play a game of peek-a-boo with me. I came out from behind the curtain to find a guy in his 30′s standing there talking to his relative in 1A. I barely opened my mouth to once again explain that no one was allowed up there when he said Yeah, yeah, I know. I’m not supposed to be here. So, shocked, I said So, why are you here? — Well, there’s more room to stretch out up here. Right, that’s why folks pay to sit here. I understand that Sir, but unfortunately you cannot stand in the forward cabin to stretch, please do that in the main cabin. He left.

This family put us through hell for 4 hours. Even worse, our tally showed we answered over 200 call button and passenger requests throughout the flight home.

The icing on the cake? As we passed out immigration forms for our entry back into the US 1A asked me for a pen (after I mentioned on the PA that, unfortunately, we didn’t have any) and I said I’m so sorry, but I don’t have any. Then she busted. First my family has to pay to eat, then they can’t come up here to visit me, now you won’t give me a pen? Do you know where I’m sitting? I said Yes, 1A.

That’s right. She said. First class, and do you know how much I paid for my ticket? I told her I didn’t and since it was a charter flight I didn’t even have a guess. I paid $79 for my one way and $100. ONE HUNDRED dollars to upgrade to first class — and you’re telling me I can’t even get a pen?

Yes, ma’am, sadly, the cost of a pen wasn’t included in your fare.

Your Plane, A User’s Manual

Bobby Laurie — Thu, 27 Dec 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Flying during the holidays can be a stress-filled adventure even for the most seasoned traveler and especially those who only travel during the holiday season. I teamed up with Shawn Kathleen, the flight attendant behind Rants of a Sassy Stew, to put together the top 10 flying tips from flight attendants. We want you to be comfortable, but we also want other people to be comfortable. The soul of air travel is, thus, compromise.

Can you count to 50?: If you can count to 50 you should have no problem finding your row. Most domestic airliners have 35 or less rows and just like you learned in kindergarten everything begins at one. Believe it or not many passengers walk to the back of the aircraft to ask a flight attendant where row 3 is. First class wouldn't be called "first" if it was in the back, it'd be called "last class." Know Where You're Going before getting on board.

Remove Your Boarding Blinders: More than likely you won't be the only passenger on board so standing in the aisle to unzip and comb through your luggage in search for a magazine and your iPad will result in a traffic jam of epic proportions. Pack accordingly and be prepared to get out of the aisle as quickly as possible. Make sure the items you plan on using inflight are easily accessible and not shoved into the bottom of your bag.

Power Tripping: It's not a power trip for us, it's a simple power down for you. Just do it. You know what we're talking about. The time has come. Just. Turn. Them. Off. Hey, you! Not airplane mode... OFF. Thank you. If you start to experience traumatic withdrawal symptoms, we have an app..I mean.. first aid kit for that.

Focus On Time: Not a lot of time! Just like you learned in tip number two, you're probably not the only person on board. The passengers in the back of the plane are slowly dehydrating as you as you enlist the flight attendant to become your personal menu by naming every single beverage available on board. Have a realistic choice in mind (chances are you're not going to find diet root beer, cream soda, Mountain Dew, RC Cola, Hi-C, Tab, Cherry Coke, YooHoo, coconut water, Squirt, pineapple and guava juice, or Tang on board).

The Diet Dilemma: If you're thirsty, you better think long and hard about ordering a Diet Coke. In the amount of time it takes for the foam to subside after the flight attendants pour a glass you could have drank five bottles of water.The lesson to be learned here, if you want a drink as soon as the flight attendants reach your row, choose something else.

Back to Bathroom Basics: Accessing the lavatory is not as difficult as one may think. Typically a door with a knob..you know..just like the kind you have in your home, is operated by turning said knob. Yes, it is, in fact, that easy. Many passengers can't seem to figure out how to get in the bathroom. Rubbing both hands on the door, tapping the door and pulling the ash tray doesn't work. Moreover, flushing the commode is as easy as pushing the button labeled "flush." That's right, there isn't a bathroom attendant to do your dirty work.

Take A Back Seat: If you are seated in the back of the plane, it isn't necessary to jump up and stand in the aisle as soon as the seat belt sign has been turned off. If there was a fire, trust me, you'd be the first to know and we would get to use that fun inflatable slide thingy. You may want to buckle down and rest those dogs for a few more minutes while the 100 people in front of you hang from the overhead bins like monkeys and start deplaning. You won't be moving for a while, enjoy the show.

Dirty Deeds: If you feel the need to leave us special gifts such as your clipped fingernails (toenails too!), soda bottles, half-eaten sandwiches or dirty diapers, we will have you paged to come back to the aircraft and retrieve your belongings. The flight attendants are constantly making their way throughout the cabin during your flight while holding large trash bags. This is where your trash goes. Kindly utilize this service.

See the Signs: Before you ask a flight attendant or gate agent: "Which way to baggage claim?" just look up! As you walk out of the jet bridge the large sign that says "Baggage Claim ->" follow it! Airports are well equipped with signs.. everywhere.. that'll lead you to the destination of your choice.

Unity: We're all in this together. Air travel can be a stressful, cramped, and wallet-emptying experience but in the end we're all flying at 500MPH in an aluminum tube trying to get from point A to point B safely and without tearing our (or your seatmate's) hair out.

By following the tips above you'll be rated as an A+ passenger by your flight attendants and will quickly realize that's the key to being treated like a rock star.

Drink Service is about to get Easier!

Bobby Laurie — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 06:53:58 +0000

As my co-worker and I move the drink cart through the cabin I get asked numerous times by various passengers: “What do you have?”

I run through the usual options pretty quickly (because I say it so often): coke, diet coke, sprite, diet sprite, ginger ale, club soda, orange, apple, cran-apple and tomato juice, water, coffee and tea.

And usually, after much deliberation, which holds up the back of the airplane from receiving their drink in a timely manner, the passenger decides on water.

But there’s a new robot in town that will increase the options available, but also lessen the time it takes for everyone to get a drink. It’s called the Skytender.

A few airline passengers in Germany recently got to experience the inaugural flight of the Skytender which can automatically dispense up to 18 different beverage options simply by pushing a button. Skytender has the ability to mix up both hot and cold drinks from prepackaged syrups which means that airlines would no longer have to stock individual drink cans or keep coffee makers in the aircraft galley. Each cart can also carry 30 liters of water so that flight attendants don’t have to go back to the galley for refills or extra bottles of water.

Though the Skytender allows airlines to offer more beverage options to passengers (and in the United States, at most airlines, it’s one of the only “free” items you still receive), and it also speeds up the inflight service because the automated cart pours the drinks for the flight attendants. Airlines could even offer more “premium” beverages for purchase allowing the Skytender to manage inventory.

Though most passengers wouldn’t mind a robot replacing surly and sassy flight attendants, we’re not quite there yet — you’ll still need crewmembers to place a cup under the spout that the drinks are dispensed from.

I can’t help but wonder could this be the start of inflight self service? Can the cart be set up in the aft galley allowing for passengers to obtain their own beverages? I wouldn’t put the idea past some low-cost carriers which may actually entertain it.

But for the time being, if this concept takes off (yes, the pun was intended), you may get to experience a much faster, and refreshing, inflight beverage service. Dare I say maybe even an extra-pass through with drinks or two?

Are Airplanes The Next Phone Booths?

Bobby Laurie — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Earlier this week the Federal Communications Commission reached out to the Federal Aviation Administration asking them to allow passengers the right to use more electronic devices:

"I write to urge the FAA to enable greater use of tablets, e-readers, and other portable electronic devices during flight, consistent with public safety," FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski wrote in a Dec. 6 letter to Michael P. Huerta, the acting administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

The letter goes on to talk about how such devices are woven into our daily lives and should be allowed at all times while traveling.

Passengers and crewmembers alike have questioned the FAA's ban on transmitting devices for years, but because it's the "law of the land" passengers are supposed to obey the rule and the flight attendants are required to enforce it. But doing so can sometimes cause a lot of friction in the cabin. Does the name Alec Baldwin ring any bells?

In the year 2012, how many people actually board a plane not knowing that these devices need to be turned off? I say if you have a smart phone you should have the smarts to know what is and isn't allowed. But in the event you step foot on board and don't realize that your electronics need to be turned off, during the boarding process passengers are told about turning off (completely off) transmitting devices numerous times.

We flight attendants tell passengers at least twice via public address announcements; the safety demonstration once again reiterates the request. Aircraft manufacturers have even removed the "no smoking" sign (since it hasn't been allowed for years, and won't be coming back) and replaced it with a "Please Turn Off Electronic Devices" light. Yet, as I walk through the cabin doing my final safety checks prior to takeoff I catch about 10-15 people hiding their phones, flipping them over or hitting the "lock" button to darken the screen all in an attempt to pretend that they weren't using it.

Trust me, we know you're using the phone. We know you're sending that last text, tweet or Facebook status update saying "trying to hide my phone from the flight attendants."

Here's how the FAA wants us to handle the situation: If we see it, we have to say something. If you're blatantly sending a text in front of me I have to "remind" you that the sign is on and the electronic device needs to be turned off (completely off) and put away until the use of such device is allowed and "ask for your compliance." But, I can't take it away from you and turn it off. I can't force you to turn it off. However, not obeying a crewmembers instruction is grounds for removal from an aircraft. But, I can't help but think of all of the phones and other devices that are on that we (as flight attendants) don't see and the plane takes off and lands just fine.

With that said, its obvious that a single phone being on (or even a few phones) won't make the flight unsafe, because if it did, no one would fly because planes would have experience frequency and electrical problems everyday. So, should the FAA allow the use of cellphones and other transmitting devices on board?

Since we have airlines providing power plugs, are we ready for the days of sitting next to someone who talks on their phone for a whole six-hour flight without the hope of their battery dying? What about someone using their iPad to Facetime for a few hours? Would you be okay being the passenger next to them while they scream over the vacuum in the background during their conversation?

Or, should the ban be lifted but airlines be allowed to restrict the use of phone conversations in their cabins to ensure everyone has a comfortable flight at their discretion? Can you imagine being a flight attendant at an airline that doesn't allow the use of cell phones when most might? Trying to tell someone to turn it off and the immediate response will be: "Well, XYZ Airlines lets me use it."

Will we soon see "cell phone sections" like we used to see "smoking sections?" For some reason the airlines thought that having a smoking section would stop the passengers who didn't want to inhale the smoke from having to do so though there were no walls... Maybe this will be the return of the phone booth?

And I must raise the question: Is in-flight Wi-Fi not enough? We have access to email, social networking, texting and more 15 minutes after the wheels leave the ground. These are all forms of communication that the passengers around you don't have to overhear.

Maybe the FAA should just allow the use of tablets/book readers and still restrict cell phone use. Is that the happy medium?

This could become the start of a new era in air travel for Americans. Your next flight may sound like an overcrowded coffee shop in the heart of Times Square with no escape until the flight lands, but hey, you won't have to hide your phone from the flight attendants anymore.

What will the "Please Turn Off Electronic Devices" light become next? "Quiet Please?"

How to Navigate Airline Delays This Holiday Season

Bobby Laurie — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 12:00:00 +0000

The holiday travel season is officially underway with the first of the year-end holidays behind us. However, with more holidays on the horizon comes full planes, kids (lots and lots of kids) and also those holiday travelers (you know, those folks who only travel once a year and still haven't figured out that your liquids need to be in containers under 3.4 oz and manage to hold up the whole security line as they argue with the agents to keep their full size tube of toothpaste... yeah, them). But, the biggest frustration during this time of the year for flight attendants, pilots and passengers is flight delays.

In the airline industry, when a flight is delayed it usually means that something is wrong, somewhere. Generally, you're delayed because the airline cannot get you to your destination safely at the present moment, but is trying to work through the issue.

There are various types of delays, and each one comes with its own set of issues and problems, and sometimes the fix is out of the airline's control and all you can do is sit and wait... and wait some more. Before I get into explaining some of these delays, I want to make one other point clear: the flight crew doesn't want to be delayed, either. What most passengers fail to realize is flight crews are only paid when they're... in-flight. So, when they're on the ground they're not get paid. This is why is you're stuck at the gate and delayed over, say, two hours, you may be asked to get off the plane. The flight attendants aren't being paid to answer questions, provide a beverage service or even be the "face of the airline." The airlines expect us to provide that excellent customer service, but don't pay us to do so when it is the most critical.

Mechanical Delay. This is an easy one. The plane has a mechanical issue that needs to be resolved before it can safely become airborne. Now a days, airplanes fly themselves so mechanical delays can be caused by a physical piece of the airplane, a discrepancy in the cabin which the F.A.A. requires to be fixed before flight or a computer malfunction. Computers power almost all of the newer aircrafts out there today. An error message in the flight deck can easily cause a delay depending on what error and what section of the aircraft it's referencing. I once had a mechanical in which a passenger asked me: "Couldn't they have found this before? Why now?" to which my simple answer to explain the situation was: "It's like your computer at home. It starts up,it moves, but once it gets going you get that "illegal operation" message, and the whole thing shuts down. Sometimes you don't find a problem until you're underway." If you're lucky, though, the delay will be found at the gate and you can comfortably await a fix while in the terminal. However, a mechanical delay doesn't reflect poorly on an airline's safety record, and the news of the delay should be taken in stride. They're ensuring the aircraft is operational so you get there safely. Isn't that reason to not complain?

"Flow Control," "ATC Delay," or "Ground Delay Program (GDP") . This is a delay which rattles my nerves all the time, and I know what causes it. A "GDP" goes into effect when an airport is congested, usually due to weather. When weather strikes an airport, the rate of arriving aircraft has to be decreased to ensure each of them have ample time to safely descend and clear the runway. When you decrease the rate of arrivals, aircraft stay airborne longer "holding" until it's their time to land. Well, those aircrafts headed to the destination whom have not yet left their departure airport are put on a "GDP" and held on the ground until a pre-determined time (set by Air Traffic Control, not the airline) where it can safely take-off, hold if they need to (with ample fuel) and land safely. Sometimes if the delay is issued far enough in advance that you will be notified in the terminal but it the GDP issuance can also occur after boarding in which case you may be asked to deplane or, if the delay isn't that long, they will close the door and push back so that the flight crew can begin getting paid. These delays are out of the airlines control.

Crew Rest Delay. This delay usually ends with passengers saying to me: "Did you get enough sleep?" Flight attendants and pilots are required to have a minimum of eight hours on the ground "resting" every night. Mind you, "resting" is in quotes because the literal meaning of "rest" is not being used. The way the regulation is written should spark an uproar in the name of safety, but it doesn't. Flight crewmembers just require eight hours from the time their plane opens the door the night before until the time their plane pushes back the next day. That's our "rest." Deplaning, cleaning the plane, getting off, going to the hotel, checking in, getting up in the morning, getting dressed and going back to the airport is all "rest" according to the F.A.A. Sometimes because of GDP's and mechanical delays, our arrival into a city is late enough that it decreased our rest time under the eight-hour limit. At that point, the flight we work out the next morning is put on a "crew rest delay" to account for the extra time we are required to have on the ground. Please realize if this happens to you, you're not delayed because the crew wanted to sleep in, you're delayed because the F.A.A. requires them to be on the ground for eight hours after a duty period.

Gate Hold. This delay is different than a GDP. Gate holds are issued when the traffic on the taxiways at an airport begins to build and becomes jammed. This usually occurs at airports with many international flights and domestic flights all scheduled around the same time. The hold just means that a plane cannot push back from the gate until an air traffic control operator in the tower clears the plane to do so. These delays usually don't go over 30 to40 minutes, but bad weather can extend these delays.

Now that I've given you a quick "behind the scenes" of some of the more common delays, I'm curious to find out what delays you've encountered during your travels. How was the delay explained and how was the news received?

If you encountered a delay and you're confused at what it meant feel free to post a comment below and I'll explain it the best I can!

From Tampa to Portland

Bobby Laurie — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 00:46:59 +0000

Well our visit to Tampa couldn’t have been better. Before the trip I hadn’t met Gailen’s sister, Kristy, but we’re leaving best friends. She’s a great cook with a ton of great recipe ideas. What you didn’t see on Daytime was once the cameras turned off and we went to commercial break I attacked the eggplant caprese like no other! I literally dove in and started scarfing it down along with Lindsay, it was amazing! That’s something I’ll definitely be making on my own.

The next morning Gailen and I boarded an American Airlines flight headed toward Dallas connecting onto Portland, OR. Luckily, I was traveling under Gailen’s AAdvantage status and we got upgraded to first class. Even though we didn’t get to sit together, a sign of the times, we kept in contact through Facebook using Gogo.

The crew onboard was amazing. The first class service was even more shocking. I was amazed at how attentive they were and how well everything was prepared and presented. Of course they spotted the Alumnium Lady and just had to had her go in the galley to chat, and shortly after I joined them. They were so pleasant to talk to and were really down to earth and genuinely liked their jobs. We were talking about whether or not I was going to quit the airline I’m at currently and go fly for them since they’re hiring.. so, I decided to take a picture with them to see how well I fit in, what do you think?

We landed in Dallas and had a few hours to kill so we went to the Admirals Club relaxed a bit before boarding the flight to Portland. No luck getting upgraded, but thankfully (I know, not the word you’re usually thinking when it comes to this) it was a Super80. We were sitting on the side of the plane that only had two seats together, and we were able to sit together. The crew was also amazing. We chatted with them almost the whole way to the Portland.

Once we landed we got in a cab and headed off to the Hotel Monaco. We found them on Trivago by using the Pet Friendly and Four Star filters. The hotel wasn’t cheap. The Los Angeles Celtics were also staying the hotel that night and the rooms were very, very expensive. But, they were huge! It had enough space for both of us and, of course, Fergie.

That night I did the impossible. I converted Gailen from the iPhone to the Android! He’s officially a Galaxy SIII owner! It didn’t take me long to convince him that he needed one and so far, it seems to me that he loves it.