A Flight Attendant’s Advice For Parents Traveling With Young Children And A Common Misconception About Her Job

New York. – Since I am a . Am Flight Attendant Being in business for 20 years, it’s easy to get my information tips and tricks who make travel more bearable,

After so many passengers missed major events this summer due to airline cancellations and delays, I knew I had to start over. share that knowledge, Last month I offered nine tips for surviving the journey I’m on today, and I was amazed by the positive feedback and thousands of comments from readers.

After publication, I invited readers to ask more questions and received hundreds of them. I know that for some of you, my work is strange and mysterious. It was fun to hear what they’re asking, how do we look so fresh after really long flights (dimmed lighting) whether you should drink plane coffee (I don’t, but most of my colleagues do).

Next, I present My answers for your selection of questionsSome of which were lightly edited for length and clarity.

-I was recently assigned a seat in an emergency exit on board once. I don’t want to be the responsible person in an emergency. What if a passenger says they don’t want to sit there?

-We want you to express it. The people sitting in that row have a very important job and we should be able to trust the people sitting there. We ask all passengers in the queue if they are willing and able to help in the event of an evacuation, and it is completely understandable that they are not prepared. nothing bad happens; You can change to another free seat or we ask someone to change the seat with you. There’s always someone out there who prioritizes emergency exits to have more leg room.

– What would you like all the passengers to do in the airplane to make the job easier?

Recognizing ourselves as people and not treating us as if we are part of aircraft furniture is a huge progress. It is very discouraging to welcome people on board and ignore us without responding to them. That they smile and kindly ask for things or that they say thanks always lifts our spirits. It’s hard to maintain that perfect hostess smile when everyone is giving you a dirty look.

What are the things travelers do that drive them crazy?

Don’t touch the flight attendant. This is a matter of common sense, but somehow they do not understand it. We don’t like to be poked, touched or caught.

The lack of education in the use of hearing aids drives me crazy. There’s nothing more annoying than trying to talk to someone who’s staring me in the eye and doesn’t care enough to stop their movie or take off their headphones. The funny thing is, I’m usually asking them what they want to drink or eat. I have the courtesy to ask you three times. If I don’t get a response, I move on to the next passenger. Here’s the worst: After about three lines, the same person beeps their call button and asks why we didn’t give them a drink.

-If you’re not working you fly, do you tell your colleagues? Is there a handshake or secret code? Do they give you special treatment?

-Yes. There is no secret handshake, we just say hello and say where we are sitting. We don’t get any special treats other than making a new friend or having a whole can of soda. As a courtesy, we notify the crew in the event of an onboard emergency, so they know where to go if they need an extra hand.

Do you have any insider tips for parents who fly with young children? I am a single mom and whenever I have to catch a flight with my almost two year old son it scares me.

First, and foremost: Your baby will feel your nerves. If you are stressed, he will be tense. Make flying as exciting as possible for kids already. Give them special new clothes for the plane or buy a new book or a box of colored pencils. Let them use the screen for as long as they want. Download and watch new movies or series. Practice using hearing aids before flying so you know how they work. Let them bring their “hand luggage” with new activities for the plane. Allow them to eat or drink something they aren’t always allowed to, such as a cookie, chips or a small soda. We don’t always have them, but you can ask the crew for plastic wings and let us know if this is your first flight.

Keep hand luggage as light as possible and check the rest. Pack some diapers, a change of clothes, some snacks, and any medicines you need. We also love when they take off car seats. I know they’re heavy and hard to transport, but most of the time little kids feel more comfortable because it’s something they already know and it lifts them into the seat so they can look out the window. We like them because they are safe. Finally, it doesn’t hurt to let them run out of energy at the airport before your flight.

I’ve been afraid to fly ever since I lost friends on the planes of September 11th. The turbulence and behavior of the other passengers don’t help. What would you suggest to calm my nerves?

I can’t say anything to calm your nerves after losing friends that day. We all lost something, but it was something personal for you. It goes much deeper than an irrational fear of flying. We all have anxiety about flying, even if we’re not really afraid. you are not alone

Other travelers may add to all of this, but legitimate difficulties with travelers are really rare. I don’t even like flying as a passenger; Being around people on my holidays makes me feel a little anxious. So I understand you. When I travel as a traveler, I’ve started bringing noise-canceling headphones and my tablet full of movies or shows. I start looking at something as soon as I sit down and pretend I’m in my living room. I was immediately engrossed in his program.

If you’re sitting next to someone who causes you anxiety, there’s a chance a crew member will transfer you if the flight doesn’t take off. It is also perfectly reasonable to ask the gate agent if you can sit in the window or aisle before boarding. A glass of wine can also help you relax and enjoy the flight.

It amazes me that you chose to live on a plane for a living. Are you ever afraid?

No, I’m not usually scared. But every time something surprises me. I know all the sounds and sensations of my plane, and I panic when I hear something that isn’t right. If necessary, I call the pilots and tell them what I heard, and they investigate it.

I have always preferred to fly more than drive. Commuting to and from work is the scariest part of my week. I like to look down at the sky. How calm does the world look from above! The window in my office is a welcome respite from the crazy world of traffic and chaos. Try to think about it. Part of our fear of flying is a lack of control: We have to put our trust in two people we don’t know or can’t see. He has to undergo a lot of training to achieve this responsibility. We take it for granted, but flying is really a wonder. Try to ignore the rest and enjoy being able to travel somewhere in a few hours, compared to the weeks or months our ancestors would have taken.

What is the main misconception about your work?

– That our work on the plane is related to customer service. Actually, we are there for safety. Before World War II, flight attendants were registered nurses. The requirement to become a nurse ended during the war as nurses stopped flying to join the fight. Now they give us intensive training to learn how to use all the safety equipment on board and know where it is located on each plane. They train us in basic first aid skills like CPR. We learn how to get an aircraft out of the way in 90 seconds or less in the event of an emergency landing or ditch. We also learn how to fight fires, how to deal with safety hazards and unruly passengers.

The second biggest misconception is that our work is glamorous. Our days are long and our nights are short. Sometimes we get so tired that instead of enjoying our long days of sightseeing, we spend them in our pyjamas watching movies in hotel rooms. However, some nights are wonderful. The funniest thing I can do one night is sit by the sea and have a drink prosecco With fresh seafood and the next I can eat a four day old sandwich in the tiny kitchen next to the bathroom while someone does yoga in front of me. Being a flight attendant is more than a job; It changes your whole lifestyle, but I wouldn’t do anything else.

by Christy Koerbel