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Bobby Laurie

Bobby Laurie, author of the book Planely Speaking and television travel correspondent, currently works as a Flight Attendant at a low-cost airline and as a freelance journalist. After graduating from the Pennsylvania College of Technology with a degree in Mass Media Communication, Bobby combined his passion for both journalism and travel by writing about the travel industry through his insider knowledge and personal experiences. You can read Bobby's blog about being a flight attendant and the airline industry by visiting UpUpAndAGay.com.

The Perks of Understanding & Appreciation

This is going to be one of those posts that not everyone agrees with. But, it’s true of any airline.

As airline employees, when we fly or “non-rev” (travel as a non-revenue making passenger), it’s usually in good taste to bring the crew a gift. Whether it be chocolates, candy, packaged cookies, it’s a sign that you appreciate the free or reduced fare ride and thank them for their hospitality in advance.

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Hotel Living: Your Home Away from Home

December 19th was my last day of flying for work before vacation for the Christmas holiday and January 15th was my first day back from vacation. I had been off from work for almost a full month. I was home every night, slept in my own bed, saw my friends, and lived a normal life.

I quickly learned that I don’t like living a “normal” life. I prefer to be on the road.

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Call Button Craziness

You hear them throughout the flight. Sometimes you wonder what it means, but most times you just find it annoying as it interrupts your movie, music.. Or in a flight attendant’s case, our lunch. DING. The flight attendant call button just rang.

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Stuck in an airport? Lucky you.

This time of the year is supposed to be the happiest of them all. With the holidays upon us decorations are going up, gifts are being purchased, pies and cakes are being baked, and families are preparing to be reunited for celebration. This holiday season millions of travelers will take to the air to visit friends and family but with the strange weather we’ve been experiencing, fewer flights and fuller planes delays are to be expected. But, that’s okay.

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Pre-Flight Superstitions

Working first class all of the time has it’s perks. I am able to form a relationship and get to know my passengers because there is less of them, I get my own workspace and galley, I’m able to greet and welcome everyone on board as they enter the aircraft and I also get to see the strange things people do before they actually step foot on an airplane.

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Dissecting Delays: What they Mean

More often than not when I’m working a flight that’s delayed I spot some unhappy passengers as the news is conveyed over the PA on the plane or through the terminal. For the most part, that reaction is truly unwarranted. In the airline industry when a flight is delayed is usually means that something is wrong, somewhere. Generally, you’re delayed because the airline cannot get you to your destination safely at the present moment, but is working through the issue.

There are various types of delays and each one comes with its own set of issues and problems and sometimes the fix is out of the airlines control and all you can do is sit and wait.

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Flying High for the Holidays

As you pack your last sweater, make your final arrangements and head to the airport this holiday season your flight crews are saying “good-bye” to their families and heading to work.

One of the first bits of information passed along to flight attendant hopefuls is “be prepared to work holidays.” Working a holiday comes with the job. People need to travel to visit their family for the season, and someone has to get them there safely.

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Heads Down! Stay Down!

Did you know that your flight attendant goes through training every year to refresh their skills in saving lives and evacuating airplanes?

It’s true. It’s called “recurrent training.”

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Boarding Blunders: Beat the Stress

It’s no secret that boarding is one of the most stressful parts of flying. People crowd the gate area as if the gate agent is giving away $100 to the first 10 people to board. Relax.

You’re all going to get on.

Here are some tips to keep in mind during boarding that can keep the process moving along and make it a bit less stressful.

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Drinking Dilemma: To Mix or not to Mix

Flight Attendant: “Hello, welcome aboard, can I get you anything to drink while you’re getting settled?”

Passenger: “Yes, thanks, I’ll have a guava juice with a splash of tomato juice, and a shot of ginger-ale.”

Flight Attendant: “I’m so sorry, we don’t have guava juice.”

Passenger: “Oh.. Wow, you don’t? Okay then, I’ll just have a coke.”

Flight Attendant: “Okay, great, I’ll be right back.”

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