So here is my story with an ending about how I'm stupid.
On Tuesday, after I got in at 4 am, they didn't call me so my roommate and I went to the mall. Retail therapy was fantastic and we had a blast spending four and a half hours shopping at the outlet mall with designer clothes for cheap. That night I got twelve hours of sleep, which was also fantastic.
On Wednesday, I called my grandmother who lives on Long Island to see what she was doing, which is always cooking, and to see if there was enough for three. Meaning I had pot roast, mashed potatoes and gravy with Italian cookies for dessert that was ridiculously delicious, and made it home to my bed in South Jersey by eleven later that evening. There was a moment of stress there when scheduling called to release me for that day, tomorrow (which is today) and they were moving my assigned break from Friday to Thursday, meaning I go on call Friday and thereby eligible to pick up a trip for today (Thursday) for tomorrow (Friday). She sells sea shells by the sea shore, for sure.
So. Now. Today, I was online at 3:50, waiting for the window to open at 4 and I thought to myself I have a few minutes to see where everyone is transferring to, and then I'll navigate back to the open window page. Well. Because there were so many trips in open time, the page wouldn't load fast enough and I got timed out. More like I'm a moron for navigating away in the first place. So now there are a ton of double BOS turns and 8 leg one day trips worth four hours in open time and my four day with 34 hours in ELP and 18 more in SNA for a Sunday BBQ with SMH is completely out of the question. (I was waiting to see if I got the trip before I called you - I didn't, but I'll call you later... you probably have way more exciting plans than sitting around the OC for Labor Day anyways, like the rest of you reading this... Don't worry about me, I'm sure there will be some sort of parade in Bayonne... whah whah). The moral of this story is once you have logged on to the page, stay there!
On a lighter note, my 18 year old sister is laughing at Hannah Montana and this classic joke:
"Why was six afraid of seven?"
"Because seven eight nine!"
She had never heard it before. She's also been watching Disney Channel all day.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Last Flight of the Day
So, we left from Salt Lake on time, but there were thunderstorms in IAH. We almost had to divert to AUS for more fuel; I wanted to divert to have the lavs dumped because they didn't do it before the plane left from SLC. Not dumping the lavs is disgusting because it stinks like a porta potty, and in the galley which is where I sit and where your food comes from. Anyway, we arrived about twenty minutes late to find our next flight was delayed; we were supposed to leave at 8:50 pm, but left at 11 instead; we arrived at 3 in the morning. I think the hardest part of days like yesterday, well technically this morning, is that it wasn't a trip I chose to work and I'm still good for today, tomorrow, and Thursday. Argh. At least I broke my pay guarantee, and I have off on Friday to pick up my own trip for Saturday! Who knows what will be in open time... long BOS? LAX? SNA? SAN? SFO? YVR? Lord only knows.
Monday, August 27, 2007
The Wonders that is Airplane Food
Right now I'm sitting in Salt Lake City, which is on mountain time in case any of you were unaware. Like myself, when I was convinced we landed an hour early last night. The flight was uneventful, aside from this gentleman who came back to my galley about two hours into the flight, asking for whatever meal had been served. We had pizza and salad, I also gave him a water. He came back moments later looking for a knife to cut the pizza. He was lucky that catering didn't forget to give him a fork, let alone a plastic knife; he was less than pleased. He came back about fifteen minutes later with his rubbish (the other flight attendant was Australian!) and declared that the pizza was not edible. At 35,000 feet, what do you expect? It's airplane food; bring your own if you know you don't like it. Airplane food is one of those things that you either love and think it is a sophisticated delicacy (hello, gained ten pounds since March) or regardless of flight time you bring your own sandwich and bag of Doritos from home. And if you know you're going to be thirsty, invest in your own bottle of water. Maybe you can't bring yours from home, but Starbucks sells them and I won't take it away from you on the aircraft. I promise.
Right now there is a text message marathon going on amongst flight attendants warning our fellow attendants that in flight (aka the boss men/women) are conducting bag checks. This means you can get fired if they find the contents of the liquor drawer in your tote. I'm sure they'll write you up if you have a coke or a carton of milk in your bag too. I think its rather asinine that we have to be subjected to this. It means that there are flight attendants out there who do steal things from the cart, attendants that keep the $10 in headset money and there is no honor left for an honor system. Now, I understand having to switch to a vending machine for dollar beers as opposed to an open cooler with what crews deemed a donations box (and I will NOT reveal which hotel this can be found at). I'm just slightly disappointed in my fellow attendants for their lack of moral code and professionalism. This is why we have to check in before our flights rather than just show up at the aircraft when we're supposed to, like pilots. Clearly we cannot be trusted, like first graders when the teacher leaves the classroom. As long as I do my job and I do what I'm supposed to be doing, I have nothing to worry about.
ps - hi brie :) (that totally just made your day, I know it!)
Right now there is a text message marathon going on amongst flight attendants warning our fellow attendants that in flight (aka the boss men/women) are conducting bag checks. This means you can get fired if they find the contents of the liquor drawer in your tote. I'm sure they'll write you up if you have a coke or a carton of milk in your bag too. I think its rather asinine that we have to be subjected to this. It means that there are flight attendants out there who do steal things from the cart, attendants that keep the $10 in headset money and there is no honor left for an honor system. Now, I understand having to switch to a vending machine for dollar beers as opposed to an open cooler with what crews deemed a donations box (and I will NOT reveal which hotel this can be found at). I'm just slightly disappointed in my fellow attendants for their lack of moral code and professionalism. This is why we have to check in before our flights rather than just show up at the aircraft when we're supposed to, like pilots. Clearly we cannot be trusted, like first graders when the teacher leaves the classroom. As long as I do my job and I do what I'm supposed to be doing, I have nothing to worry about.
ps - hi brie :) (that totally just made your day, I know it!)
Saturday, August 25, 2007
It Sunny Some Place Else...
Yeah, so that 4:30 am airport alert turned into a St. Maarten turn with a two hour delay. I was legal by, oh, 20 minutes. I love 14 hour duty days.
Not.
More to come, when I'm not deleriously tired.
Not.
More to come, when I'm not deleriously tired.
Friday, August 24, 2007
Used and Abused
I have airport alert at 4:30 am tomorrow morning.
Thank you, crew scheduling.
On the plus side, if I don't get called, then it's sort of like having a day off. But only sort of.
Thank you, crew scheduling.
On the plus side, if I don't get called, then it's sort of like having a day off. But only sort of.
Monday, August 20, 2007
Limp Hair, Cold, and Hungry
This past week has been a whirlwind of activity that has led to a severe decrease in quality sleep time. A new car, a red eye, recurrent training, zip sliding with my dad in the Poconos, and a three day with 5 am wake up call every day... missing sleep is inevitable. However, it has caused me to leave my round styling brush at home, my pj's on the bathroom floor in Atlanta, and my white chocolate bread pudding on the air conditioning unit in New Orleans. In that order. Thus, I had bad hair from day two on, it was slightly breezy in New Orleans last night, and I'm missing something sweet to go with my coffee.
Moreover, because I came in early this morning they assigned me airport alert tonight at ten tonight. Fan-freaking-tastic. On the bright side, I'll be there with one of my classmates and I get to leave after all the flights take off, which if all goes well is midnight. I'm also hoping for a personal drop tomorrow so I can go home, have my break light fixed, and attend my high school five year reunion. Oh may the stars align! Oh to live in the magical land of holding a line!
Moreover, because I came in early this morning they assigned me airport alert tonight at ten tonight. Fan-freaking-tastic. On the bright side, I'll be there with one of my classmates and I get to leave after all the flights take off, which if all goes well is midnight. I'm also hoping for a personal drop tomorrow so I can go home, have my break light fixed, and attend my high school five year reunion. Oh may the stars align! Oh to live in the magical land of holding a line!
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Watch the Tram Car Please
There are many people who work in the airport; my favorite are the electric cart drivers. IAH is one of the largest, most annoying airports in our system and home to some of the most exciting cart drivers. There is a gentleman who says in his low man voice "caaaaaaart" as he cruises the terminal; a cute little old lady who screams "'scuse the cart!". My all time favorite cart driver is in Newark and he has a clown car horn with a small Elmo doll that sits on the dash board. Apparently, cart-related injuries inside the terminal is the most dangerous aspect of flying. It never ceases to amaze me how oblivious people are to the world around them in the airport and on the plane.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Warning: Be Ware of Cheese
The freedom that comes with owning your own vehicle is astounding. As I was cruising down the turnpike, listening to Bon Jovi and marveling at the wonders that is the Garden State, it dawned on me that things just don't get better than this. Delicious moments, celebrating pure unadulterated freedom, and living a life that simply put, is all mine just puts a smile on my face and an unexplainable joy in my heart. My only hope for all of you is that you enjoy each day, for the present is one of the greatest gifts this world has to offer.
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Adjusting
I hate days like today. I could have been home since last night, but with no personal means of transportation (read: vehicle) I sentenced myself to another night at the crash pad. And I've been sitting here all day because I was only good for today, they could only call me after one (yay call out line!), and I was request no preference. I called to be released and they declined due to weather. For those of you in the northeast, I'm sure you experienced severe thunder and lightening at 5 am. That was my wake up call this morning (and it didn't even tell me where I was...). I'd love to sit here and bitch some more, but I know that someday, I will live in the magical land of holding a line, even if my line is low time four days that start on Thursdays. Anyway, my days off officially begin in one hour and I will be HOME, at my parents' house in the way South Jersey til Monday. I've been doing this job and living this new crazy lifestyle for almost five months and I'm still not fully adjusted. I'm okay with that though, because for the first time in longer than I care to admit, I'm happy.
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
I found the following article at this address:
http://www.atwonline.com/channels/airlineFocus/story.html?storyID=9795
New York passes 'passenger bill of rights,' first of its kind in US Tuesday August 7, 2007
The New York legislature passed and Gov. Eliot Spitzer signed into law last week a "passenger bill of rights" outlining requirements for airlines during extended ground delays, making the state that is home to busy New York JFK and LaGuardia the first in the US to act on passenger complaints of poor customer service.
Largely in response to the much-publicized incident in which JetBlue Airways passengers were forced to stay on parked aircraft at JFK for up to 10 hr. during an ice storm (ATWOnline, Feb. 21), the new law claims to cover flights at New York airports and mandates fines of as much as $1,000 per passenger for carriers that fail to comply, although airlines question whether it is enforceable under federal law.
The law requires carriers to provide food, water, clean restrooms and fresh air to passengers stranded on aircraft for more than 3 hr. It also requires airlines to provide passengers with a phone number to register service complaints and establishes an "office of airline consumer advocate" within the New York state government.
"This law establishes much-needed consumer protections that will help guarantee greater passenger safety and comfort when severe delays impact their travels from New York airports," Spitzer said. New York State Sen. Charles Fuschillo, the bill's primary sponsor, added: "This first-in-the-nation law will ensure that stranded passengers are. . .not held hostage on delayed flights without basic amenities."
An ATA spokesperson said the organization is "disappointed" by the new law and believes it is "preempted" by federal statutes, adding, "We will review our options, including possible legal challenge."
The Coalition for an Airline Passengers' Bill of Rights, which is lobbying the US Congress to include passenger rights provisions in FAA reauthorization legislation, praised "New York's tough new airline passenger rights law" and called on Congress "to finish the job for all travelers nationwide." The group wants Congress to mandate that airlines allow passengers to leave aircraft after a ground delay of more than 3 hr., something the New York bill does not do and that carriers have opposed strenuously.
"Legislating something with fixed time limits is just unpractical in terms of day-to-day operations," Delta Air Lines COO James Whitehurst told reporters last week in Washington.
by Aaron Karp
Yes, passenger bill of rights. What did you think you were signing up for when you purchased your $50 discount airline (ahem... JetBlu... ahem) ticket? Because it sure wasn't for the award winning service or one who's known as the on time airline. Follow me for a minute - airplanes are like the new iPhone and the FAA/air traffic control basically has two cans and a string. For those of you non-engineers, this is not good and the focus needs to be taken away from airlines (USA Today, why do you hate us so???) and on to the real bad guys who do control the skies - the Federal Aviation Administration. If you passengers are so pissed off, then write your congressman and two senators a letter. They have the true power of the purse, so stop taking it out on me. And stop moving about the cabin while we are on an active taxi way. Thank you.
http://www.atwonline.com/channels/airlineFocus/story.html?storyID=9795
New York passes 'passenger bill of rights,' first of its kind in US Tuesday August 7, 2007
The New York legislature passed and Gov. Eliot Spitzer signed into law last week a "passenger bill of rights" outlining requirements for airlines during extended ground delays, making the state that is home to busy New York JFK and LaGuardia the first in the US to act on passenger complaints of poor customer service.
Largely in response to the much-publicized incident in which JetBlue Airways passengers were forced to stay on parked aircraft at JFK for up to 10 hr. during an ice storm (ATWOnline, Feb. 21), the new law claims to cover flights at New York airports and mandates fines of as much as $1,000 per passenger for carriers that fail to comply, although airlines question whether it is enforceable under federal law.
The law requires carriers to provide food, water, clean restrooms and fresh air to passengers stranded on aircraft for more than 3 hr. It also requires airlines to provide passengers with a phone number to register service complaints and establishes an "office of airline consumer advocate" within the New York state government.
"This law establishes much-needed consumer protections that will help guarantee greater passenger safety and comfort when severe delays impact their travels from New York airports," Spitzer said. New York State Sen. Charles Fuschillo, the bill's primary sponsor, added: "This first-in-the-nation law will ensure that stranded passengers are. . .not held hostage on delayed flights without basic amenities."
An ATA spokesperson said the organization is "disappointed" by the new law and believes it is "preempted" by federal statutes, adding, "We will review our options, including possible legal challenge."
The Coalition for an Airline Passengers' Bill of Rights, which is lobbying the US Congress to include passenger rights provisions in FAA reauthorization legislation, praised "New York's tough new airline passenger rights law" and called on Congress "to finish the job for all travelers nationwide." The group wants Congress to mandate that airlines allow passengers to leave aircraft after a ground delay of more than 3 hr., something the New York bill does not do and that carriers have opposed strenuously.
"Legislating something with fixed time limits is just unpractical in terms of day-to-day operations," Delta Air Lines COO James Whitehurst told reporters last week in Washington.
by Aaron Karp
Yes, passenger bill of rights. What did you think you were signing up for when you purchased your $50 discount airline (ahem... JetBlu... ahem) ticket? Because it sure wasn't for the award winning service or one who's known as the on time airline. Follow me for a minute - airplanes are like the new iPhone and the FAA/air traffic control basically has two cans and a string. For those of you non-engineers, this is not good and the focus needs to be taken away from airlines (USA Today, why do you hate us so???) and on to the real bad guys who do control the skies - the Federal Aviation Administration. If you passengers are so pissed off, then write your congressman and two senators a letter. They have the true power of the purse, so stop taking it out on me. And stop moving about the cabin while we are on an active taxi way. Thank you.
Control Freak
On my last four day, I was in the back galley and I hated it with a burning passion. I was so annoyed because I had a horrible lead who was unsure of herself and didn't know all the things that being lead entails. So this time I decided to pick up lead and now I'm not sure which is more important to me: being in charge of the aircraft or making my actual work environment happy (meaning putting together the cart the way I like it, etc.). I know I can't do both jobs, and I wouldn't want to. Part of it is accepting that there are different ways to do the same job and allowing people to do their job the way they would like to do it. Don't get my wrong, on this four day my aft galley attendant has been awesome and a pleasure to work with... I just want to do things my way! Oh well, just one leg home tonight. Besides, that's how flight attendants become banned to the load position. Does the phrase "does not work well with others" ring a bell???
Friday, August 3, 2007
Oh, Canada!
As you all know, I love to travel. Love love LOVE to be in new places, see new landscapes, try new foods and talk to the locals... which is why I'm excited to be going to Canada!!! I'm about to start a four day trip tomorrow, with layovers in Calgary, Miami (and I'm not even staying at the crack palace!), and Toronto. I'm so glad to have the opportunity to go now, in August, and enjoy the sights before winter comes. Because you know scheduling is going to send me there. During a blizzard.
Stay tuned for my Canada was amazing story, next week!
Stay tuned for my Canada was amazing story, next week!
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Feeling Positively Wicked!
This has been a wonderful vacation. We drank, I mean, ate like kings; we went to the British Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum. We also saw Cabaret and Wicked. London is a cool city, and I'm glad that I've had the opportunity to spend so much time here. Most definitely excited to see the rest of the great European cities, but I'm even more excited to go home! South Jersey in 8 days!
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