The Technological Divide

There are four different sections of the cabin on our configuration of this particular aircraft in the fleet.  I made sure to pick up the one that does not have to go to economy class in the event first is not full and steerage is.  When we were headed out of the hotel and getting on the van, the service manager told me I might have to work in the back... "But I'm the 6"... He nonchalantly pointed to the other aisle flight attendant in my cabin, to which I gently sighed and said okay.

P is number 71 in the entire system, and just celebrated flying 45 years.  It would be grossly unfair to the economy stews to send her considering she hasn't worked "back there" since Nixon was president.  To be fair, she was a lovely, hard-working woman and we did a nice service even though we had about ten upgrades and ended up being completely full.  Coach, you know those seats "back there", however, was not.

We had a minor maintenance delay coming out of LHR, and then it took about forty minutes of taxiing around the arrival airport to find a parking spot.  P and I's jumpseats were next to each other and she was worried about making her commuting flight home to Florida.  She had a brand new iPhone and had no idea how to log on to our employee website to list herself standby.  I pulled out my matching brand new iPhone (thanks Santa!), had her enter her information, and completed the booking for her.  I didn't check when I got home to see if she made it.  I figured she'd be at the top of the list, well ahead of all the other crazy commuters at 45 years with the company!

LHR

You know things are bad when London is having better weather than where ever it is that you are.  For example, here there's over a foot of snow on the ground, blustery winds, and the temperature is barely over the freezing mark.  LHR?  Partly cloudy and today's high just about 50 degrees.  That ought to feel like a heat wave.

Business class aisle with a friend of mine in the galley; we've been flying this trip together since 2008.

Makes me feel 23 again...

Alert Like Whoa

As previously stated, I worked a FRA trip. I got it off airport alert (after having been bumped from SNN). I had an afternoon alert the following day; I was off Friday.

K, peeps, and I went out to dinner Friday night. Which was cut short once I found out I had alert Saturday morning at 6 am. Like, in the morning. I didn't even get to sit down and settle in when the phone rang with a SDQ turn. 8 hours to go to Santo Domingo and back. So thankful to have had a lovely crew.

Saturday night I tried to go out but was just out of it. Cranky. So I went home and before putting myself to bed, I checked my schedule to find alert AGAIN at 8 am.

This morning, I settled in, had breakfast, read my book, started a movie and the phone rang about 30 minutes before I was done sitting. DEN turn, deadhead back. Aside from doctors, I don't know anyone else who has 14 hour work days.

In summary, I've been on call for 6 days and I have over 40 flight hours. That's like a normal work week and we all know how I feel about those...

Flying these past few days has been such a privilege. I feel like me again. You never realize how dark it is until the sun comes out.

I'm good for three more days and I'm sure more adventure is out there.

Via iPhone

FRA

First class.
Frankfurt.

Living the dream.

Via iPhone

The must disgusting thing I've ever seen in an airport: bird bath

Chats with Kathy

Mom: " So, where do you think you'll be going when you go back to flying next month?"
Me: "Um... The airport?"
Mom: "Oh good. You passed the test."


Reserve. Airport alert. LHR. The usual.

For the first time in a year.

Supermarket find near my parents' house

And in about a week, maybe, just maybe, I'll be eating the real deal...

Who knows? Dreams do come true.