‘A One-Hour Layover Is Not Enough Anymore’: A Flight Attendant’s Tips on Surviving Travel Now

Twenty years in the past, with my life at a severe crossroads, I utilized to each single airline, and some months later I used to be formally a flight attendant. I beloved my new job, and it got here with a totally new and thrilling life.

However I didn’t join what journey is like this summer season.

The pandemic has modified flying greater than any occasion I’ve skilled in my profession. If 9/11 modified how we board planes and enter airports, Covid-19 modified the expertise on the airplane all collectively. It created a pressure and made everybody nervous. It introduced politics right into a realm that shouldn’t be political.

Within the preliminary days of the pandemic, the airways tried to avoid wasting as a lot cash as they might. They allowed early retirements and furloughed many staff; on prime of that, many different staff give up to be with their households. Now we’ve an worker scarcity. As soon as the masks mandate was dropped, passenger counts began to develop sooner than airways may deal with. Now we’re short-staffed and overworked. Not simply pilots and flight attendants, but additionally floor crews. You could not take into consideration floor crews, however with out them there is no such thing as a one to park the planes, drive the jet bridges so you may board and get off, load your baggage and retrieve them, or scan boarding passes.

One thing that isn’t widespread data is that flight crews have cut-off dates on how lengthy they will work, usually 12 to 16 hours at a stretch. Moreover being unsafe, it’s unlawful for us to fly longer than that. In case your flight crew will get delayed and hits that point, it doesn’t matter when you have someplace to be, we’re completed after we are completed. The way in which issues are proper now, there aren’t many again up crews, so your flight could also be canceled.

Traditionally, summer season is at all times a difficult time to fly, however this summer season is far worse. There have been hundreds of cancellations and delays every week, and there doesn’t appear to be any aid in sight. I’ve seen many individuals miss essential issues like weddings, cruises, worldwide connections and even funerals. The tears are very actual, for very actual causes, and there may be nothing I as a flight attendant can do to assist.

Journey is sweet for the soul. It revitalizes us, and permits us to re-center. Typically that you must really feel sand beneath your toes, odor contemporary pine bushes or immerse your self within the sounds of a brand new metropolis simply to remind your self you might be nonetheless alive. However the important thing this summer season is to journey sensible. Take as a lot of the stress out of journey as you may by planning forward and being ready. Right here’s my greatest recommendation primarily based on 20 years of working at 30,000 ft.

Go early

If you’re happening a cruise, depart the day earlier than. Depend it as a part of your trip. Keep in a lodge in a brand new metropolis and discover. Have a pleasant dinner and a glass of wine and revel in your self. Get up slowly, have some espresso and pancakes, and leisurely head to your boat. The additional cash is definitely worth the peace of thoughts. I just lately labored on a flight that was delayed. A household of eight missed their connecting flight to Rome, which was the one flight of the day. They have been going to a cruise which they might now miss. (Shopping for journey insurance coverage isn’t a nasty concept both.)

All the time fly direct

That manner in case you are delayed, you don’t want to fret about making your subsequent flight. Should you can’t keep away from connecting, don’t ebook the shortest layover, since you’ll be constructing in stress and the potential for lacking your flight. A one-hour layover isn’t sufficient anymore. Thirty minutes, not an opportunity. Usually, three hours is protected.

Fly as early within the day as doable

The primary flights of the day hardly ever cancel. Thunderstorms construct because the day will get hotter, flight crews attain their obligation limits later within the day and visitors builds at busy airports. Sure, that may imply a 3 a.m. alarm, but when your early flight does occur to cancel, there will likely be extra choices to rebook a special flight.

Obtain the app of the airline you might be flying

These apps have worthwhile info. They’ll preserve you from having to attend in impossibly lengthy strains or to try to get somebody on the cellphone if issues go incorrect. You’ll be able to monitor your bag, your incoming aircraft, and in some circumstances you’ll know a flight is canceled earlier than the flight crew even is aware of. The app may information you in rebooking a brand new flight if wanted.

Assume twice concerning the least expensive fares

Flights are full. Should you purchase the most affordable seats you might not have the ability to sit with your loved ones. It says so while you buy your ticket. Flight attendants aren’t there to rearrange the entire aircraft simply so you may sit collectively since you tried to economize on a 3rd celebration web site. Additionally, bear in mind that if a flight is oversold, and nobody volunteers to surrender their seat, the primary to be bumped would be the household that saved a couple of {dollars} through the use of a discount web site.

Pack sensible

Don’t be “that man.” Don’t maintain up boarding as a result of you’ve got your extenders open until they’re bursting and you’ll’t determine the right way to make your bag match within the overhead.

Deliver a sweater

Here’s a flight attendant secret: We typically preserve the airplane chilly deliberately. For individuals who battle with airsickness, warmth makes it worse. We don’t need anybody to make use of these sick sacks.

Don’t inform a flight attendant they give the impression of being drained

We’re and we all know. You could trigger us to ugly cry proper there within the galley.

Deliver endurance

Be good. Our purpose in any respect airways is to get you to your vacation spot. Keep constructive, at the very least you aren’t at work.

Kristie Koerbel is a longtime flight attendant who has beforehand shared her recommendation on Fb.