Interview with the Flight Attendant

What is your name and what is your occupation?

Louise. Flight Attendant and Student.

Is it safe to say you have travelled to most countries in your bucket list?

Nope

Which ones are still left?

Moscow, Hawaii, Maldives, Greenland!! Iceland, and Longyearbyen in Norway

And how do you manage to work (and travel!) as a flight attendant and be a student at the same time?

I fly part time, 83% , I fly 100% in the summer and about 50% in the winter.
I study online, so I can bring my books and laptop on layover when I fly to places I’ve been 1000 times, like Charlotte or New York Then I study in the hotel. And as crew we fly a bit cheaper, which is the reason why I am able to travel so much in my spare time.
You have it all mapped out it seems. Have you gone to college/school before being a flight attendant? If so, do you miss having friends/classmates and a dedicated location to go learn from? If not, do you think you missed out by not going or is studying remotely a great experience
I went to college before, I like being able to plan my own time (the only reason it’s possible for me to study atm.) But it’s also soo hard to motivate myself and actually focus! And it’s hard for me to not be able to directly ask a teacher for help, or if I don’t understand something as my study is in German and it’s not my first language.

I miss having “classmates” but I must say, without sounding like something better, I prefer my “new” people I have around me, I feel more level with them, they get my lifestyle, and travel & rest.
Whereas when I go home to my hometown I see my old friends going to the same bars with the same people every single weekend.
And they ask me like “hey you always work on weekends, you’re missing out on so much” and I’m like yeah but I partied in Shanghai Wednesday, saw Taj Mahal last week, and will be in LA Monday🤷🏽‍♀️
So my priorities have changed a lot.

Haha. That sounds amazing. What is next after college? Would you like to live and reside in one of your many visited locations or stay in your hometown.

I really don’t know yet, especially with the situation atm. I am not sure if I get to keep my job… but with the University, I still have at least 2 years left, but hopefully, I can work with that one day if I can’t fly, but I really want and hope that I can always fly.

I only have a few questions left for you. Is there a story you can share about an unruly passenger? If you cant, can you share about things you absolutely despise about bad passengers in general?

One time we had a guy who tried to attack us on board, he was a deportee, but the police had classed him as nonaggresive, so he got to fly without police, so he boarded first, and sat in the last row (they have to) as we are still on the ground and the regular pax haven’t arrived yet, he suddenly gets up and tried to stab my colleague with a piece of sharp plastic he had broken off somewhere. I hit him in the head with a coffee pot and called upfront over the PA, and the police were super quick to grab him again! I think that was the craziest
I haaaaate when pax don’t smile or say hello when we greet them!!
And when the word thanks you is foreign to them!
When they just “swoosh” their trash to the side for me to grab as if I have crazy long arms (and as if I’m a trash servant)
I haaaaate when pax don’t smile or say hello when we greet them!!
And when the word thankyou is foreign to them!

When they just “swoosh” their trash to the side for me to grab as if I have crazy long arms (and as if I’m a trash servant)
When they talk, talk on the phone, keep headphones in etc. During the safety demo!
When they ask “whaaaat?!” 3 times when I ask what they want to drink (and obviously have a big ass drink trolley in front of me) and they THEN decide to pause their music and remove headphones
Or when they think MY galley is their free space to hang, sit, yoga, kids playground. Just entitled people who weren’t raised right and should stay home

What a scary moment! Was everyone from the crew ok afterwards? Did they flight continue on soon after?

I think you may have described actions done by everyone at some point (including myself and anyone reading this!) And I’d like to apologize for my lack of  manners 

The girl at the back with me went home, I decided to fly, (I was hoping we still got to deport the asshole, but unfortunately not) but we flew it with an hours delay.
Oh that’s okay, I also think a lot of people don’t think about it, but I guess to me it’s just become common sense

Last question.
What advice/tips/words do you have for people who fall in love with their flight attendants.

Oh man.. haha Well just go for it! But make sure you’re not in love with “a flight attendant” but with the person. Many passengers make that mistake and don’t like the people as regular people

Good advice. You might have saved me, I mean people, many heartaches.
Thank you for your time!

You’re very welcome!

Say hi to Louise if she is your flight attendant or click here follow her on Instagram to keep up with her travelling adventures!

Writer’s comment

I met Louise while she was a contestant in a beauty pageant in Cambodia and I was working as part of the staff.  That beauty pageant year is in my top 3 because of friendly people such as her. I think she is a fan of emojis