I am a retired United FA and boy, do I have stories… from a baby croc stashed in a carry-on from Florida (that escaped onboard and bit some ankles), to a stow-away in the crew bunk room from London to San Fran (he was Hungarian and could only translate through drawing stick figures that he was coming to the US to find his son), to the 1st-time-flier-at-the-age-of-80 that thought the wing tip lights were alien spacecraft, to witnessing a Royal Princess get plowed drunk and ‘service.’
Some fellow 1st class pax, to being spat on by a pax that did not like his seat on a 35-minute flight (he was thusly ‘serviced’ himself, by one ME), to the EXTREMELY cool stuff like meeting Colin Powell and his wife (I have never witnessed such poise, charm, and genuine class in my life).
Flying is a crap shoot and can be a treat or a nightmare so words of advice… pee before boarding, pack a sandwich, grant yourself tons of extra cushion time and KNOW… every airline has delays, so if you are dying to get wherever, then you should have left the day before!!!
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I also had the pleasure of flying with Colin Powell, though as a fellow passenger. Definitely one of the most poised, intelligent, and generally cool people I've ever met.
You should share more stories… you must have enough for a book. And your pointers are dead on.
Write your stories and get an editor, too! I'd love to read them.