I am really excited about the newest edition to “The Flying Pinto”….Crew Briefings! I had a great response to my first Brief with Brad. Flight Attendants are interesting people. They are independent, adventurers, who thrive on change and really enjoy people. I know the airlines get a bad rap these days but I still find a lot of joy in what I do and meet a lot of nice people along the way, both crew and passengers. I’m enjoying focusing on the positive side of airline travel…it’s there!

This weeks Crew Brief is with Patricia also known as Calidreaminp over at twitter.

The Flying Pinto: What is your story? How long have you been flying? What did you do prior?

Patricia: My passion for this industry started at the ripe old age of eleven! My first flight on Eastern Airlines…..I was hooked. I watched the flight attendants every move from the announcements to the service, and their uniforms, wow! They were exquisite! I was traveling alone from my home in Pensacola Florida to Cincinnati to visit my sister. When I returned home I sat down immediately and wrote a letter and mailed it to every airline and told them of my intense desire to become a flight attendant and would they please send me all the information they could. When the mail started coming in I was ecstatic to say the least.

FP: Good for you! It sounds like you have a supportive husband! I love that you are the living example for your daughter. You showed her that it is important to do what you love and follow your passions. I love the flexibility of our job what do you love about it? What keeps you flying?

P: As for what keeps me flying the reasons are numerous, I am a girl who loves a challenge!! From the moment I step on the plane and greet my crew and then my passengers start to arrive, I am in heaven. It is a job like no other, it gets in your blood and you can never go back!! No nine to five, no office, no cubicle, never a boring moment. I enjoy people so much, I love to make the experience they have on my aircraft the best it can be. It is a challenge sometimes especially in the current environment. People get on and they are frustrated and tired and mean and I consider it my challenge to change their attitude or at least make them feel silly for having it!! I know I am making it sound like sunshine and roses everyday…NOT! There is a saying we all know and use it sarcastically, when someone asks, “how are you?” we reply, “just living the dream.” It may not always be the dream but to me it beats the alternative! I really like meeting new people in a short time, I can usually tell you a little something about someone on the plane I have gotten to know. My absolute favorite thing though is the camaraderie you have with the other FAs and pilots. They don’t have to be from the same airline! It is like a secret society. i have been in hotels and come in contact with other airline crew and gone to eat dinner, play cards, or have drinks.

FP: What kind of schedule do you hold, what kind of trips do you like to fly?

My current schedule works perfectly f or me, I began to fly part time in January 2009. It affords me the time I need to spend with my eleven year old daughter while my husband is in Iraq and care for my parents. I fly two four day trips per month and it works out very well.

FP: A big thank you to your husband, you and your family for your sacrifice and service! And yes, flexibility is key! This job has “fit” every stage of my life. I feel fortunate to have it! What is your biggest passenger pet peeve? How about biggest crew pet peeve?

FP: That is really funny about the lavs…my crew and I were joking today saying we were going to change our announcement to, “Ladies and Gentlemen please get up from your seats and use the lavs”…we thought we would give “reverse psychology” a try: ) As you know I’ve had some strange happenings on my flights, what is the most bizarre thing you have seen on a flight?

P: My strange experiences in flight range from strange people to medical emergencies and a couple emergency landings from time to time. And of course there are the times (in the early years) I have done charters for college basketball teams! Those are just crazy fun! I have had Ohio State, Florida State, Tennessee and everyone in between! When you stand in the front of the plane looking toward the aft all you can see are legs!! You just never want to have to clean up after them!

FP: What can we find in your carry on?

P: In my carry on you will find a WIDE variety of items, ipod (music is a must), laptop (live by the internet), febreeze (for the times you smell like the plane, ew), shout wipes (I am always cleaning something off my uniform), lipgloss (can’t fly a plane without it) and many various other highly necessary items (well ok maybe not necessary for everyone)!

FP: Can we find you at the hotel bar or are you a slam clicker?

P: Not really a slam clicker (too social a person for that), depending on the length of the overnight and depending on the crew!

FP: What is your favorite vacation destination?

P: My favorite vacation destination is a hard one for me, I consider myself fortunate enough to live in a vacation spot. California, a mile off the coast is my home so to be honest I feel like I am on vacation most of the time. Anything tropical with beautiful beaches and water!! I am not that picky!! I enjoy an20occasional trip to England though. Vegas is a fun vacation spot too, lots of action and even though I am not a cold weather girl in the least, a beautiful place to go in the middle of winter for all the fun cold weather sports is Tahoe. Nothing like four feet of snow and a hot tub!!!

FP: You are lucky! How nice to live a mile off the coast.How does your spouse/partner feel about you flying?

FP: What is your best travel tip?

P: If I had a travel tip for anyone it would be to be flexible! Weather happens, maintenance issues happen, relax and don’t blame people who have no control over the things that can, do and will go wrong!! Don’t stress! Most importantly if possible don’t let anyone book your connections too close because nine out of ten times your not going to make a 30 minute connection!!! And for us nonrevs well you know……….