My Crew Brief this week is with Christy, you can find Christy and all our travel tweeps over at Twitter😉 Come on over and join the conversation. (Post pic of Christy and her Mom in NYC)

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

Christy: I have been a Flight Attendant since Feb 2002. I have a degree in public relations and I had several jobs prior to becoming a flight attendant. I was a 911 Dispatcher for the police department, a Communications Director for a computer software company and also worked part time as a substitute teacher. My favorite group of kids were the Headstart classes, Pre-K.

FP: You’re a Jill of all trades;-) I really think working a few “real” jobs lets you appreciate being a FA all the more.

I love the flexibility of our job what do you love about it? What keeps you flying?

Christy: I love the flexibility of our job too! I don’t think it could get better than that. I love being able to switch trips and maybe someone else pick up a trip from me so that I can have days off for last-minute plans. I really like our job, and I’ve had many to compare it too. I like not having to bring my job home with me. I like all of the neat people that I meet along the way. Each trip and each day, I never know who I might meet on a flight. I enjoy that. Also, having the flexibility that we have has enabled me to start my own business: Christy Care Cards. I make handcrafted cards and I have my paintings printed on cards. It is a fun project that I can work on a little or a lot, depending on my schedule.

FP: Those are all my reasons too. I would love to hear more about your Christy Care Cards, you’ll have to let us know where we can check them out.

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

Christy: I tend to work my line and some extra trips each month. I am a PM flyer. I only work an AM when forced to by scheduling i.e. reroute or reserve assignment.

FP: Me too! I always preach to people, “If you want to avoid delays and you want your travel day to go smoothly, take the early flights!” But, I don’t take my own advice, I work late. In fact I am starting a three day trip tonight and my check in is at 5pm.

What is your biggest passenger pet peeve? How about biggest crew pet peeve?

Christy: My biggest passenger pet peeve..hmmm. I’m sure as soon as I write one then I will think of a different one that I wish I would have said. I think my biggest passenger pet peeve is when I ask a passenger to turn off a phone or ipod and they tell me that “it is off!”, when I can clearly see the screen glowing and know that it is still on. 🙂 Of course, you have to imagine the tone they use and the look of disdain on their face as they say it, as if I am stupid. Not so happy when that happens.

Biggest crew pet peeve: that’s a tough one. I try to get along with everyone. I think my biggest crew pet peeve might be when a flight attendant is telling me a story and he/she says something that we wouldn’t want everyone to hear…and they tell the story in front of a passenger. That can be awkward.

FP: I know exactly the “look” you’re talking about! What is that? Why? Your crew pet peeve is a good one, I hate that too. Sometimes FAs don’t think passengers can hear us on the jump seat. *Note to passengers: next time you’re in the last row of seats don’t complain, you may hear some juicy stories. Trust me FAs bear all on the jump seat!

As you know I’ve had some strange happenings on my flights, what is the most bizarre thing you have seen on a flight?

Christy: So many, I can’t remember them all 🙂 I should have been keeping a daily journal of my flights! Maybe need to start that now. Well, there was the flight that I was working when I heard the sound of all of the bins popping open, and I thought who is opening all of those bins. I looked out to see yellow oxygen masks everywhere and all of the passengers staring straight ahead at me with their mouths open. I wasn’t expecting that!

FP: Wow! Was it a decompression? I was on a flight once, on a 727 and we lost cabin pressure. All the masks deployed and we nose dived to 10,000 feet. Exciting stuff!

Christy: Yes, it was a decompression! My mask didn’t fall..we were completely full and I had to stand/squat in the front row and use the extra mask there..and the PA up front had broken that day…so I couldn’t do PA’s..FA in the back had to make the PA.
Whew! but we made it to the ground safely…great great pilots ..Capt took us to dinner and we debriefed about what was happening up front…very helpful…and I got a horrible horrible migraine that night and could not sleep!

What can we find in your carry on?

Christy: Everything! I am a pack rat. If you fly with me and you need something, just ask, it is probably in my bag. Plastic forks, sewing kit, bandaids, sinus stuff, makeup, makeup, makeup and then some clothes and shoes and at least 3 books. I can never take just 1 book with me. I always have to have a choice because I might be in the mood for easy fiction or I might want to read self help, so I try to be prepared. I really want a Kindle. And, last but not least, my laptop so I can keep in touch with everyone while on my trip.

FP: Christmas is coming, you’ll have to tell Santa you want a kindle;-)

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

Christy: I am both. If I am really tired, then I am a slam clicker. If not, then I might come down to chat with the crew for a bit before going to my room.
FP: What is your favorite vacation destination?

Christy: I love San Diego, Philly, NYC and anywhere in Italy.

FP: Me too, anywhere in Italy!

How does your spouse/partner feel about you flying? If you are single, how is dating as a FA?

Christy: I am single and I think I have dated more people in this job than I did previously, but it’s been tough to make schedules work sometimes. I think it’s easier to date someone who is in the airline industry. They seem to get the whole “scheduling” thing that we do and they have the flexibility to change days off and also have flight benefits like we have.

FP: You’re right about dating as a FA. Dating for me when I first started flying was a nightmare. I’m actually getting ready to write about those adventures in my next article for “Escapes.”

What is your best travel tip?

Christy: Flight Attendants like chocolate?? 😉 Don’t be afraid to ask your flight crew or your hotel staff for good local places to eat or visit. They usually have a lot of very helpful info and it may be more up to date than the travel guide you purchased at the book store.

FP: Agreed, FAs like chocolate;-) Thanks Christy!