Furloughed →

I was on a layover in Tampa at the end of August, I woke up early and went on a sweaty humid run along the beach came back to my room and made some oatmeal, it was a typical morning of my flight attendant layover life. All I wanted to do was shower and watch a TV show for my remaining time in Florida. When I came back to my hotel room, my phone buzzed with a new e-mail. I knew today would be the day I got the dreaded news, but I was still hoping things would somehow be different. There it was furloughed. In just a matter of weeks, I would be unemployed. I sat in my hotel room and was numb. My friends at work were texting me in disbelief. The job that I have been doing for seven years was saying goodbye to me, at least temporarily. I knew it was coming and I know it won’t last forever, but when I saw it in writing I was crushed.

When I first started my career I had just graduated college and was clueless on the direction my life would take. I had no idea what my life or career would look like as a flight attendant. I wasn’t one of those people who always wanted to be a flight attendant, this is a career that I fell into and one that I fell in love with.

Thanks to a little virus we’d all rather not speak by name (Voldemort vibes), I knew that keeping my job was a question that was up in the air. My job changed significantly during the pandemic, I was no longer serving people, I was now a mask enforcer, which sucked! People traveling were more on edge than ever. The normal travel stressors were complied by additional tension because of the pandemic. I never respected essential workers more, I learned first hand that working during a global pandemic is draining. I would come home from work not only physically tired but also mentally exhausted (don’t get me started on all of the maskne I had).. For the first time in seven years I wasn’t in love with my job, which was a shock.  

I was delusional and hopeful during the month of September hoping a miracle would happen and congress would pass a PSP law that would allow me and 8,000 flight attendants to keep our jobs. I remember calling the Illinois senators and congressmen pleading with them to take action whenever there was a new pandemic bill brought to the table. I went to a picketing event in Chicago to urge congress to pass a relief bill. If you want to hear me be interviewed on NPR, check it out here. https://one.npr.org/?sharedMediaId=911349891:911349892

Towards the end of September I began to lose faith in the government and started to focus on appreciating my last layovers and enjoying my final trips with my amazing co workers. My last trip before furlough was a three day trip with all women who were also getting furloughed. We laughed the entire three days and had the best time together, it was the perfect end of a chapter that I’ll never forget.

Fast forward to now, December.

It’s safe to say looking back that I needed a break. Many flight attendants took leaves of absences during the pandemic because of how exhausting and taxing it was, but I kept on working. I’m actually thankful to have a break from work for awhile, especially during the height of the pandemic. I thought that working March-September was stressful, I cannot imagine what it’s like now with the number of cases being at the peak. I’ll be receiving furlough pay until February (based on my seniority) and I’ve never been more grateful to have this financial cushion. 

If I could say anything about the past year it would be that it was ~unexpected. Could any of us truly predict a global pandemic? (don’t answer that if you’ve read anything ever because yes, it was predicted). But none of us really saw this thing coming. So when I lost my job a bunch of people have asked “what’s next?” Perhaps I should ask them the same thing. The truth is none of us knows. If I could take an ounce of wisdom from the past year it would be to expect the unexpected. Since my last day of work at the end of September my time off has flown by! If you want to see what I’ve been crafting and cooking during my time on the ground be sure to follow me on Instagram :) 

What it’s like to be a flight attendant during COVID-19 +

I’m in my 6th year as an American Airlines flight attendant. I love my job. Really, I’m not just saying that. I’ve been provided with so many new and exciting opportunities. Been able to travel to places I never dreamed I would ever have the chance to visit. This past month things at my job have changed drastically. It’s been a little surreal to wrap my brain around the last two weeks. Only a few weeks ago, my crew and I were discussing which routes we thought would be affected chalking most of it up to media hysteria and people over reacting. If we can learn to wash our hands properly, and not be disgusting, we thought everything would be fine. Everything’s going to be fine.

Hi!!

In January I remember first seeing people wearing masks on the airplane, but not thinking too much about it. February, I went on vacation to Spain and Portugal with my parents and husband. For the first time we all wiped down out seats and tray table (I’m clearly not a germaphobe.) The only thing out of the ordinary was that all flights to China had been suspended along with cancelations to Milan. The first week of March other seasonal flying to Italy had been pushed back…

On vacation in Sevilla

My first work trip back from my vacation was March 9th and wow had things changed. All of Europe was basically in quarantine. We went from people having no consideration of cleanliness on the plane to being hyper aware of hygiene. People were thanking me for coming to work and giving me travel sized bottles of hand sanitizer. Planes were 70% full and life seemed to be moving in a safer more hygienic direction. We suspended the hot towel service and using glassware in the premium cabins; now, we’re using plastic cups. We’re also no longer refilling personal bottles or plastic cups in all cabins.

It was also my first trip in the new uniform, hence the impromptu photoshoot.

There’s a running joke at work that people love to use the bathroom without shoes. I don’t know why this is a thing, but people are constantly going to the bathroom without shoes on. PSA that’s not water on the floor. Now people are not only wearing their shoes, they’re wearing gloves and face masks!

Bathroom selfie showing off the new uniform #AAnewblue

That weekend was St Patrick’s day and all of the festivities in Chicago were cancelled. My husband and I had about 10 close friends over to our apartment for a St. Patrick’s brunch. My next trip at work was March 17th and things had taken a drastic turn! I had a feeling that things were taking a turn for the worst, so my best friend at work traded trips so that we could work together. Thank god we had each other because this is when it really started to hit the fan. My first flight was from ORD-DCA. With a total of 11 passengers, yes ELEVEN! Flights went from 70% to 50% to essentially no one on the aircraft in ONE week.

In flight attendant training American Airlines told us that we are supposed to be palm tree- no matter where the wind blows, no matter what hurricane we end up in, we are supposed to be flexible and go with the flow. But to be honest, this situation is something that hasn’t occurred in the aviation industry since 9/11 and this is much worse financially.

My graduation photo. LOL

The mood on the aircraft is so eerie. People are afraid of everything. They don’t want a glass of water. They don’t want cookies or pretzels. They don’t want anything during the food or beverage service. The real shocker is that there hasn’t been a line for the bathroom in weeks. People are just trying to get from point A to point B as safely as possible.  

@elliotlondon

I picked up a trip on March 20th an easy two-day trip and that’s when panic of furloughs started to set in with my coworkers. There were thousands of layoffs after 9/11 and since this is supposedly much worse than that, we can only assume that furloughs are coming.

@elliotlondon

A furlough is when a company says you’re getting laid off, but whenever we rebound, you will have a job again. You don’t know when you’re going to be called back to work. It could be two months, if could be one year, it could possibly be 10 years. You could get furloughed multiple times. Furloughs are done in reverse seniority order. The shorter you’ve been working for AA the more likely you are to be furloughed. The longer you been working (the more senior) the less likely.

@elliotlondon

I’m trying not to worry about something that hasn’t happened yet. I’m still mentally preparing myself and had important financial conversations with my husband just in case. If I get furloughed, I’ll go from having job security to not having a career overnight, which is why all of my coworkers, especially the junior ones are panicking. 

@elliotlondon

March 24 I was supposed to work a three-day trip with 3-1-1 legs per day. With cancellations it became a 1-1-1. This week I haven’t had a single flight over 20 passengers. The most we had was 18, mostly because of deadheading crew members trying to catch the rest of their trips due to cancelations. At this point I’ve been washing my hands so much that they are starting to crack. Using hand sanitizer makes hands burn because of all of the tiny cracks and cuts, a small price to pay.

@elliotlondon

I used to love long layovers in cities and explore new coffee shops and local spots. Now I’m avoiding them because there’s nothing to do and nowhere to eat. Airports have shut down almost all food options except for maybe a McDonalds (no way am I eating that). I’m food prepping like crazy at home so I don’t have to worry the lack of food options. In certain cities hotels have shut down so the company is frantically calling other hotels trying to find lodging for flight crews. Not only are the planes eerie and empty, but the airports and hotels are as well.

@elliotlondon

 During my trip American announced that we would be temporarily suspending all food and beverage service on board through April 30th on flights under 2200 miles. Full service will resume once the COVID-19 situation has stabilized. On March 27th the first AA flight attendant death from COVID-19 was reported. The severity of being on the aircraft has sunk in at this point.

@elliotlondon

Being a flight attendant isn’t just a job, it’s a career. It’s not easy to become a flight attendant. Not only did I have an application process and multiple interviews, I had 8 weeks of safety and service training. I’m not just there to pour your Coke; I’m there in case anything happens. It’s not like we’re pulled off the streets. We are trained and educated. I put so much hard work into this career. That’s why it’s so surreal for all of us to wrap our brains around this situation. It could all be gone in the blink of an eye.

Jet Lag Tips and Tricks +

Mission: Beat jet lag ASAP and conquer the day!

Definition of Jet Lag (Merriam-Webster): a condition that is characterized by various psychological and physiological effects (such as fatigue and irritability), occurs following long flight through several time zones, and probably results from disruption of circadian rhythms in the human body.

Let’s get down to business and defeat jet lag: For years I have been trying to figure out the best way to crush jet lag and I can finally say I have it down. Being jet lagged can ruin travel experiences so hopefully I can provide some value by sharing tips on overcoming jet lag. I can now confidently say that between quick 24-hour layovers for work and longer vacations for pleasure I have now made jet lag my biotch!

1)    Caffeine: The day of travel I don’t drink any caffeine to try and prep my body for the flight. Likewise, on my 24-hour layover trips I limit or eliminate all caffeine. There is a long-lasting effect in caffeine that will make sleep more difficult when you finally need some shut eye. When traveling I love going to coffee shops so I’ll drink a turmeric latté, tea, or decaf coffee.

2)    Home time: I want to pull my hair out on the crew bus when coworkers say “Oh, it’s 2am at home.” Don’t fall down this rabbit hole! It messes with you! Once you’re in a new time zone that is the ONLY time zone you should concern yourself with.

3)    Limit Alcohol: I know you’re thinking “boooo, this is an opportunity for me to guzzle free wine and beer.” Wherever you’re going I guarantee they have a better wine selection than “white or red.” You can hold off for a few more hours. When you are at a high altitude and you drink a lot of alcohol, the alcohol’s effects become stronger and dehydrates the body faster. Once again, it’s all about precious SLEEP and alcohol will only mess with your sleep and then add to jet lag. If you are going to drink wine on the plane (let’s get real I know you are) then try only drinking one beverage. 

4)    Resist Sleep: I have discovered that you can push your body to disgusting limits when it comes to sleep. When you’re on the plane resist sleeping at the wrong times in the new time zone you are trying to adjust to. If you’re travelling to New York and its noon EST, DO NOT SLEEP! It’s going to be tough and seem virtually impossible, but you can do it! Use a device; phone, iPad, computer. The artificial light from these devices will help keep you awake.

5)    BYO! I always come prepared when flying (especially on lengthy flights). I bring a sleep mask, ear plugs, socks, chap stick, water, snacks, and a hydrating facial spray. I use each of these items on every flight. You won’t regret being over prepared with all of the items that will make you more comfortable and be able to sleep better on the plane.

6)    You can never drink enough water! A rule of thumb is that every time a flight attendant offers you a beverage you should drink a glass of water. And for every alcoholic beverage you should to drink three cups of water. Flying is DEHYDRATING and one way to feel less jet lagged is hydration! I drink 2 liters of water on an eight-hour flight. While you’ll have to go to the bathroom a few times it’s completely worth not feeling like a jet lagged raisin when you land.

7)    Pills: I’ve tried almost all jet lag remedy pills. They’re mostly comprised of caffeine and don’t work for me. One tablet that I tried and really liked is called “1 Above Fly Well, Arrive Ready.” It doesn’t have any caffeine, it only contains vitamins. These tablets always make me feel significantly less groggy. Another suggestion is to pack melatonin just in case you royally mess things up with your sleep schedule. Before I knew of melatonin I would wake up consistently at 4am and go to the bathroom and then be up for 3 hours in the middle of the night. Then I would work the flight back home exhausted. If you need melatonin to stay asleep so you can enjoy your vacation; go for it!

8)    Shower: Usually when I land I haven’t had the luxury of sleeping on the plane because I’ve worked the flight, so I’ll take a two-hour nap when I arrive, but I do not suggest this. It’s near impossible to pry myself out of bed. After unpacking I jump into the shower to try and wake myself up, clean the airplane germs off, and relax. I take a warm shower and then at the end I blast some cold water to try and wake myself up even more.

9)    Sunlight: This is the tip that always helps me the most. Walking around and adjusting my body to the new surroundings helps significantly. Our bodies associate sunshine with daytime and this helps fight off sleepy feelings. On rainy cloudy days I tend to feel groggy longer. Another alternative to sunshine is going to the gym and sweating it out. Don’t work out in your hotel room. I learned this the hard way. While doing crunches on the floor, I was tempted to roll over and sleep.

10) MAN or WOMAN UP! After your first day, it’s very important to stay up until the appropriate time. If you start dozing off at 7pm, you are SCREWED! You will wake up at 4am wide awake and the pattern will continue for the next 3-4 days. You will be exhausted! You need to dig deep and get through this tough period! Navy Seals are asked to stay up for 3 days during their training. You can get through one day. I try not to go back to my hotel room until 8pm so that way I won’t fall asleep any earlier than 9pm.