How was your last flight? Good? Bad? Fantastic? Regardless of the natural air pockets or weather that you did or did not experience, there are a group of people that always have a direct impact on your comfort and sometimes go without appropriate notice. These are your flight attendants.
Besides the obvious monumental respect and admiration for the pilots and co-pilots, flight attendants are “the face” of your experience while traveling and deserve an equal amount of the upmost respect.
Not only do they have the mammoth task of providing you with your comfort items such as drinks, snacks, pillows and blankets, etc., the behind the scenes tasks regarding your safety and security are the most important aspects of this role.
Most of these tasks you will never notice as they are meant to be, but they are always in motion all around you.
With every single flight there is an ‘ebb and flow’ of events that need to be controlled, maintained, and secured to keep everything running as smooth as possible.
Boarding a flight, pre-flight safety checks, landing preparation and de-boarding have so many intertwined elements that make these portions of any flight the most eventful.
Ask yourself these questions:
These are just a handful of the endless tasks and courtesies that flight attendants provide that a lot of the time go without any recognition. That being said, it’s never that flight crews are necessarily looking to be recognized, but simple appreciation goes a long way.
Flight attendants are the backbone of every flight. The endless things that are done on every single flight that are known and not known, is what keeps every flight running without a hitch time and time again.
While yes, many of the tasks are part of their role, the way they are executed and carried out on a personal level makes all the difference. Being that flight crews are pulled in so many different directions, it can be very mentally exhausting and requires a certain type of person to handle the pyramid of pressures that this role demands.
As avid travelers, we all have tremendous admiration & respect for flight attendants and most would enjoy a true story that demonstrates the true heart and character of a flight attendant.
On flight was oversold and very hectic as you can imagine so the energy on the flight was already a little anxious and anxiety was already present. There were a group of passengers a couple rows ahead of me and this was their first time flying. They were in their mid-fifties it seemed and were trying to laugh about how they couldn’t believe that this was their first time flying at their age and why in the world they were so uncomfortably nervous.
Among the attempts at trying to comfort themselves, it unfortunately was not working. As soon as we took off, they became very noticeably uneasy. So much so, that the one lady almost was hyperventilating. It was almost immediately that these events caught the attention of this particular flight attendant. She calmly approached the group, and the magic that was about to unfold was beautiful.
The flight attendant, was able to get the group talking and she quickly engaged them in such a way that you could tell she was actively trying to lead them away from the state they were in. It was working. She was able to get them talking about where they were headed and the exciting things and experiences they were about to have. They started to share what they were looking forward to and the time that they were going to be able to all share with one another.
The emotion that started to appear was that of joy & happiness realizing the time that was about to be had by all. It was so sincere and genuine; it was hard to not get wrapped up in what was happening. Somehow, this flight attendant was able to get the entire group laughing, smiling and having such an interactive fun conversation; it was as if they had literally forgotten about all their worries.
Well, that’s exactly what happened. Their anxiousness was impressively overturned, and instead you saw a sense of calmness wash over them and fill with appreciation and joyfulness. The conversation was now involving what to do first when they landed and planning the rest of the vacation together. They were laughing, smiling and now looked like frequent flyers.
The group thanked her for turning their flight into one of the best experiences they never thought they would have had at the beginning, and said they hoped to see her on the return flight. She did it. The passengers, unknowingly at the time, were not only comforted but simultaneously engaged to the point of completely changing their demeanor and mindset.
These are the kind of moments that are not part of the job, in the training pamphlet, black and white printed instructions, or necessarily a requirement for flight attendants to become involved in. But more often than not, these are the kind of scenarios that play out on a regular basis. As we exited the flight, I took a moment to thank the flight attendant for what she did for those passengers and told her that its moments like those, in which kindness and humanity remain alive.
She looked at me with a look of amazement as her eyes welled lightly with water and said, “Oh…….well thank you. I was just doing well felt natural and wanted to help in any way I could. I wanted to make their first flight a great experience by doing anything could. I didn’t think I was doing anything special or especially being watched. It just makes me feel good when I can help. Thanks you just made my day!”
It dawned on me that this woman always willingly gives so much of herself to others on a regular basis that a simple thank you from an unsuspected spectator completely took her by surprise.
So much so that it made her emotional, and walk away with a sense of fulfillment. While some might say that this isn’t a big a deal and it was just being nice.
The fact is, to those passengers it was a very big deal and the amount of kindness she showered them with created a lasting impact. Many times, it’s the small things that matter most.
It’s amazing how simple acts of kindness, respect, and appreciation can go so far and affect so many so easily. Try it.
Not only will you have a lasting impact on them, but the way you feel in return is one of the best human feelings you can experience.
Thank you flight attendants, You Rock!!
(images:Hainan Airlines, Cabin Crew Germanwings, easyJet A321 Cabin, Tom Purves, Paul Stocker, Alex Indigo)