Up, Up And Away

 

I hope you enjoyed the recounting of my first round the world adventures in my last four segments here... I thought it only fitting to continue with one more airline blog before moving on. I wrote previously about the aviation industry and gave a brief history  here in Come Fly With Me but I really only scratched the surface and regretted when I wrote it that I did not go into better detail... well here is a chance to right a wrong.

I said in one of the previous entries that the Pan Am round the world experience helped me land a job that I never really wanted.. but like most other things in my life I'm happy that it happened because I was exactly where I was supposed to be even if I didn't think so at the time... let me explain briefly. I grew up in a time that we were lead to believe if we worked hard in school and got good grades and graduated from college that we could have a rewarding professional life and meaningful career... well when I got out of school there were not many lucrative choices with a bachelors degree... sadly the best job I could get with a decent salary and benefits was as a flight attendant... at every turn someone was telling me to go back to school and get a masters degree (that came later)... but for now I landed the trolly dolly job that actually required a four year college degree and proficiency at a second language.

I'll try not to repeat too much of what I outlined in the other entry... Before the internet  airlines would run newspaper ads recruiting stewardesses for interviews in major cites served by the airline. By the time I was job searching... you mailed a letter to the carrier asking for a preliminary employment application that you completed by outlining your education, and employment history with three recommendations and two photographs, one head shot  and a full body shot. Luckily for me I had some inside scoop on the process and what the company was looking for. The photograph was to show that you were attractive (but not too attractive just at or slightly below Hollywood standards) with straight white teeth and a clear complexion... and that your height and weight are in proportion. If memory serves a letter arrived a few weeks later that detailed a date and time for an initial interview; you selected a first and second choice and mailed it back and a confirmation letter arrived in about a week with details about the upcoming interview. My interview took place in the companies offices at the Los Angeles International Airport.

I was told by someone with the airline to cut my hair so it did not go past my collar and cut my sideburns to mid ear or shorter. (I didn't have a mustache... they could not extend past your lips) So with my new clean-cut look and a navy blue suit and sky blue shirt and contrasting neck tie (I actually looked like a flight attendant) as I was told this would garner some points. I had a small coaching session before the interview with a flight attendant with the airline. Men in the position were a relatively new phenomenon and I learned they were specifically looking for men to fill several positions at about six bases... I was told to act cool, calm and friendly and to keep that  in mind at all times during the interview process... in addition good eye contact (but not serial killer eye contact) and excellent posture and deportment while sitting, standing, and walking... they were all noted. As was a well modulated voice (luckily I had years of vocal training at this point)

So the morning after a good nights sleep... Off I went to my scheduled appointment  At Los Angeles International Airport with instructions of where to go and who my meeting was scheduled with. 

The first interview was in a large conference room with about 60 or so other people... there was an hour introduction detailing the airlines history, the job outline and requirements and then we each had to stand and introduce our self briefly and explain why we wanted to work for the airline ( I had been briefed on this part in detail.. and was warned not to come off as arrogant, or overly intelligent)... so I  said I had just graduated college the year before and felt the airline and experiences it offered would round out my education while I figured out my life goals  and whether or not I should enroll in a post-graduate program.

We were then broken down into six groups of 10 people and we interacted with the other people in our group and talked more about ourselves while a representative took notes... this concluded the first interview (or so we were lead to believe) we were told thank you for our interest and we would be hearing form the airline by mail in the next week to 10 days... but about six of us were told very discretely to report back after a lunch break at 1:00 pm to continue and not to tell anyone else that we had been hand selected. So after lunch six of us were left ( I was told by my friend with the airline the morning weeded out anyone overweight or not deemed attractive enough by the company)... the afternoon was  several  different group discussions (I think briefly discussing the Round the World Flight 1 experience got a lot of points because I noticed some frenzied note taking while I talked)... and some tests designed to weed out anyone crazy, lazy or too hight strung... When we finally were released that day we were thanked again and said we would be hearing from the airline one way or another about our continued evaluation for the job.

A week later a letter arrived with instructions on how to list for a non-revenue flight to New York to meet at company headquarters for the final interview

... that consisted of drug and alcohol  testing as well as employment paperwork and the schedule for a four week training program that started in a month. Of the six people that I initially interviewed with only two of us made it this far and unfortunately she failed the drug test and was released a week after the final interview.

A letter arrived for me with another travel voucher and what I needed to bring with me for training and that we would be assigned our home base at training and would not be returning back to where we were now and to make all necessary arrangements... it was really the first time all this started to sink in for me... I was starting a new chapter of a new life with new people... or so I thought.

I gave notice on my apartment in West Los Angeles and shipped most of my worldly possessions Including my car back to Hawaii. Most of my friends were not entirely enthusiastic about my career choice but a few who were  said what a great experience and  wished they were coming with me... and so I packed my bags and headed for training in Miami...

I wore my interview suit for the flight and was delighted that they put me in First Class (it was relatively empty) and the flight crew knew where I was going and gave me some insight and pointers... Eventually finding my way to the Miami Airways Motel in Miami Springs Florida, my new home for the next  month...There were about 200 people at the training facility with new classes starting each week... we were told from the start there was a six month probationary period for full-time employment and that a final test at the end of the course sealed your fate... if you didn't pass... you were out... So all of us took it seriously and had courses and lectures starting early in the morning and finishing about 3:00 in the afternoon. We usually spent the time studying at the swimming pool and socializing.The same pool we learned all the water safety landing  procedures...

The classes consisted of classroom lectures, grooming instructions and simulated hands on learning experience...

I could spend a month writing about what was covered so I'l summarize with...Pre-flight, In-Flight and Pre-Landing and disembarking announcements...In-Flight Service Standards ranging from the proper way to serve and clear meals and beverages and timing, knowledge of wine pairings and proper tables cloth and napkin folds and presentation (I still use the napkin fold when I have a dinner party)

Knowledge of meal and beverage service based on flight length and class guidelines... Service included.

• Breakfast
• Brunch
• Lunch
• Dinner
• Nighttime Dinner (abbreviated dinner service)
• Lighter Side (First Class customs who prefer an alternative to the 7 course service)
• Second Service (an additional meal offered on long flights)
• Snacks
• Tidbits (Clipper and First Class snacks served with beverage service)
• Chefs Selection (An alternate entree created by local chefs  for First Class)
• World Class Cuisine (Distinctive menus for World Pass members ordered at least 24 hours prior to departure)
• Standby Meals (Additional meals added to flights just prior to departure)

On Long Haul Flights in First Class there was a Caviar and Hors D'Oeurve cart, a Salad. Bread and Wine cart, a Roast Beef Carving cart, a Cheese, Fruit and Wine cart, a Dessert, Coffee and Liqueur cart, a Second Service Coffee cart... also in First a Continental Breakfast cart, and Afternoon Snack cart, Afternoon Tea Service cart,

I could go on and on but I'll just add there were procedures to follow for offering hot and cold towels, serving and carving roast beef, soup, pasta... in addition to the cooking times for the varied foods as well guidelines for In-Flight Entertainment and Duty Free Service.

But the main function of the cabin crew is safety so...

We learned Standard Safety Practices that included...

Pre-Flight Safety Briefings and performance of the Safety Demonstration, Cockpit procedures, Smoking Regulations (it was a long time ago), Seating, Jump Seats, Cabin Coverage,Passengers with special needs, Oxygen Bottles, suspected food poisoning, Health Regulations, Airline Marketing Programs including In-Flight Surveys... and Non-Routine Operations that covered Charter Flights, Diversions, City Evacuations, Delays, Cancellations and Misconnects and Inoperative Equipment that covered everything from the entire aircraft to doors, slide, lights, heat and air conditioning and jump seats and passenger seating.

Then there is how to handle passengers ranging from wheelchairs, stretchers, pets, unaccompanied minors, adults with infants, passengers in transit with out a visa, deportees, couriers, military personnel, non-revenue passengers, tour groups, travel agents, inaugural flight guests... Then there are VIP's... that range from frequent flyers, well known personalties, and high ranking government officials... then there are titled passengers... From King & Queen  all the way through religious officials and clergy (I don't think this is an issue anymore... but it was then)

Then you learn how to handle problems ranging from displeased passengers, abusive passengers, illegal activity, passenger intoxication, Voluntary upgrade, involuntary downgrade, cockpit pass holders, meal shortages, spoiled food, damaged or soiled clothing.

Now we move on to First Aid and Medical Issues from suspected infectious disease, report of passenger illness... all the way from childbirth, heart attack and stroke and everything in-between of any life threatening situations of shock, burns , heavy bleeding... up to death.

A great deal of time is spent learning about and dealing with an Emergency...

• Loss of cabin pressure
• Turbulence
• Oxygen masks and oxygen deficiency 
• Evacuations (on land or water)
• Life vests and rafts (possible punctured slides)
• Smoke in cabin
• Fire
• Blocked exits
• Bomb threats and procedures (on the ground and in-flight)
• Incidence of aircraft accident

There are procedures for the pre and post-flight paperwork, customs, uniform maintenance, per diem, check cashing... but the big thing before computers was bidding for your flights... It was kind of a drama... I'm not going to go into too much detail, but you got a packet once a month at your base to bid for your flight schedule for the next month... it depended where you were based, and your seniority.

The final week of training we got our uniforms and were encouraged to wear them and a set of silver wings...

We learned what our home base would be (someone whispered something in my ear during the final interview and that's why I put everything I owned on the boat to Honolulu) HNL was my base until Pan Am sold the western routes from Hawaii to Asia and the South Pacific and Australia (my flights during my tenure up to this point)  to United Airlines and the base closed. We graduated with about 30 in our class I was one of 9 men.

Everything you learned in training (and more) was documented in the In-Flight Service Handbook... that you had to take on every flight and were responsible for keeping up to date during and time off or leave of absence...

After our 6 month probationary period was over we were given gold wings... I still have them!

After the Honolulu base closed I was based briefly in London at Heathrow...

I learned a long time ago that change offers a chance to sometimes start over with a new place with new people and experiences... all in all for something I was really never interested in doing... I did it quite well and became and In-Flight Purser and saw the world and made some life long memories and friends... I learned to see the world from a new angle... in the air and on the ground...

Pan Am was having severe financial issues and was desperate to try to reorganize their operations and offered many of the senior employees an early-out package for early retirement to try to cut down higher payroll and expenses with new employees...

From the moment we started training we were told we were elite members of one of the best teams in the world..and we were...they were generous with unpaid leaves of absence so I could pursue other things... and when it ended I looked at it as a chance to pursue a new beginning... I started by moving to the Caribbean and staying with friends and teaching scuba diving and bartending... eventually I went back to graduate school  and have been having new beginnings and happy landings ever since. I took so much with me in terms of knowledge, skills and experience that I'm forever grateful for my high flying adventures.

Oh and one more thing... Every time I fly I think about Pan Am... no one now compares... British Air comes close though...

Thanks for reading... see you next time!