kybearfuzz: (Pride Purple 2013)
[personal profile] kybearfuzz
I sat in the airport for several hours yesterday, but I managed to keep myself occupied working on the next Bear Patrol issue. The plane finally boarded around 5 PM, a small jet with three seats per row. I was on the side with only one seat, a favorite spot.

The sole flight attendant was a slender African-American woman. She walked up and down the aisle, telling people that they couldn't put a soda in the seat pocket, needed to turn the phones off, etc. She wasn't the warm and fuzzy kind of attendant. She was militant.

After everyone was on board, she stood up at the front and made an announcement without the microphone.

"I need two people from rows 4-8 to move to rows 15-18," she said.

Everyone looked confused and no one answered. It was somewhat phrased as a question, but it was a command.

"I need two people from rows 4-8 to move to rows 15-18," she quickly repeated, "This door will not close until two people agree to move to balance the plane."

The lady in front of me agreed to move. So did I. She didn't say thank you that I recall.

I moved to the VERY last row in the plane and ended up sitting in a double-seat solo, which was fine. However, I couldn't keep the flight attendant's attitude out of my head. At first I was irritated at her and her attitude, but I couldn't deny that she was definitely in control. I wondered if this was her usual demeanor, or was she pissed off because she got stuck with this flight or something else.

She went through her announcement and stated her name was Chanell (spelling was obtained from her tag).

She closed her announcement saying in a stern tone, "if there is anything I could do to make your trip more comfortable, please let me know."

It sounded like a dare. In my current, tired condition, I certainly wasn't going to take that one on.

I wasn't the only one who noticed this I think. I noticed a young lady digging her cell phone out of her apparently bottomless purse. She kept looking over the seat to see where Chanell was, before she pulled it out. Seriously.

The young lady wanted to grab a couple of quick shots of the clouds out the plane window, which she did, and then quickly put it away, again looking up to see if Chanell was in viewing distance.

The flight was relatively uneventful and quick. As I unboarded the plane, the last one to get out, Chanell flatly said, "thank you for flying United..."

I would have been disappointed if she had gone all sweet and lightness at the end.

It's good to be home.

Date: 2013-08-24 02:10 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com
Ah, that explains it ... You were flying United ... home base for surly, jaded, aged flight attendants. You were correct not to challenge her:)

Glad you're home safely.

Date: 2013-08-25 09:40 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] kybearfuzz.livejournal.com
Sadly, I'm always stuck flying United. I guess I should expect more of it.

Date: 2013-08-24 02:36 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] epinoid.livejournal.com
I am amazed that United is in the Star Alliance at times because Chanell is not unusual. I just flew ANA on a business trip and in the past Lufthansa and while the cultures are different the flight attendants were always exceptionally professional and courteous. My flights on United tend to have something go wrong.

Date: 2013-08-25 09:41 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] kybearfuzz.livejournal.com
I've not had the best luck flying of late either. If the flights aren't delayed, I've been bumped.

a wonderin

Date: 2013-08-24 04:02 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] dorisduke.livejournal.com
This is sort of out of context of this situation but I do wonder…

In your description of the flight attendant you say she was an African-American, I just wonder if you know for sure that she was of African decent; after all not all black folk are. I just find it odd to describe someone as such. I mean not one when describing me as Irish-American, if race does come in to it, always white not nationality. So therefore I wonder why we just do not say black.

Re: a wonderin

Date: 2013-08-25 09:42 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] kybearfuzz.livejournal.com
I guess I threw "African American" in there as a descriptor to give folks an image of the person. I could have just said "black" as I don't know where her ancestors are from.

Date: 2013-08-24 05:05 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] barak.livejournal.com
It sounds like she was having a really bad day.

Date: 2013-08-25 09:42 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] kybearfuzz.livejournal.com
I wonder if she was, but she was all business.

Date: 2013-08-24 05:22 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] qbear.livejournal.com
It all made sense when you revealed the flight was United. Worst. Airline. Ever.

Date: 2013-08-25 09:43 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] kybearfuzz.livejournal.com
Yeah, I've not had the best experiences with them myself.

Date: 2013-08-25 02:31 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] maxauburn.livejournal.com
Sorry the flight was so unpleasant.

UA? thanks for the warning! Will never fly with them.

Too bad we can't all turn into rockets and fly places ourselves!
Edited Date: 2013-08-25 02:32 am (UTC)

Date: 2013-08-25 09:44 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] kybearfuzz.livejournal.com
Ah, wouldn't that or having flight rings be GREAT???!

Date: 2013-08-25 10:03 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] maxauburn.livejournal.com
Don't get me started on The Legion, LOL!

The ability to teleport great distances would be pretty cool too!

Date: 2013-08-25 03:46 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] pudgybloke.livejournal.com
She may have been having a shit day, and she was making it clear that she was in no mood to deal with some bitches at 35,000 feet.

Go Chanell!

Date: 2013-08-25 09:45 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] kybearfuzz.livejournal.com
I oddly respect her, actually. I suspect she had dealt with a lot of BS that day. If this is her regular attitude, yikes!

Date: 2013-08-25 07:51 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] changeling72.livejournal.com
I expect she graduated flight attendant school with flyinf colours...

Date: 2013-08-25 09:46 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] kybearfuzz.livejournal.com
Just remember, a doctor with average grades is still called "Doctor."

Profile

kybearfuzz: (Default)
kybearfuzz

December 2025

S M T W T F S
 12345 6
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
28293031   

Most Popular Tags

Style Credit

Expand Cut Tags

No cut tags
Page generated Jan. 9th, 2026 04:12 pm
Powered by Dreamwidth Studios