TRAVELOGUE

Behind the Scenes: An Airline Insider’s Perspective and Lessons Learned

Don’t forget your underwear

Fueling the plane in Gander, Canada. Photo by Author.

I have made my rounds in aviation — as a flight attendant, a gate agent, a ramp agent, and in ticketing. As a gate agent for American Airlines at O’Hare, folks baulked at my employment history, moving from charter flight attendant for three years to gate agent. “YOU WENT BACKWARDS!” they’d cry as they assessed my mental health.

The flight attendant lifestyle is nothing as you imagine it to be. It’s far less riveting than Cassie portrays on HBO’s The Flight Attendant and your sleep schedule matches Dracula’s. If my time aboard the aluminum cylinder in the sky has taught me one thing it’s to control as much as you possibly can, because once you get to the airport, the airlines own you.

About Your Bag

This better not be your carry-on! Say adios to the sunscreen, you just donated to TSA. Photo by Author.

If you can help it, don’t check a bag. Pack intentionally and you can roll your things along with you in the airport, never waiting at baggage claim.

Pack twice. You would think my history of packing for 18-day trips would make me an expert packer, but lo’ and behold, I continue to pack only mismatched clothing and nothing weather appropriate. My improved strategy? Put everything in the suitcase a few days prior to leaving. Go through your bag prior to leaving for the airport. Unnecessary items will not get by you a second time.
Stop putting liquids in a clear bag. I quickly tired of taking out my liquids (under the regulatory 3.2 oz) that could never fit in one plastic bag anyway. And alas, TSA has actually rifled through my possessions less after eliminating the plastic bag practice.
Roll your clothes.
Choose the suitcase with 4 wheels. It’s maybe less common now to find 2-wheel suitcases but that’s what I started out with and it was hell. Now, my “personal item” bag slips over the handle of my 4-wheel suitcase. Airports are hectic, people don’t know where they’re going, lines for days— make your situation organized and practical.
If you are going to over-pack anything, make it underwear. I have forgotten to bring even one pair of underwear on a five day trip to Miami, going commando by force is anything but sexy.
Things to keep in your “personal item”: An empty reusable plastic water bottle. You won’t be contributing to the landfill and bonus, you won’t have to rely on flight attendants for water during the flight as you already have your bottle — which you filled up at a water station prior to boarding. Headphones for both your phone and the plane’s TV. I have headphones with have an adapter for my iPhone. One book. I’ve been the person who packed 4 books and read none of them, no one has space in their bag for that. It’s great if you have an Audio Book or a Kindle. I’m a hard pass for anything but the solid and musty paperback.

About Your Trip

Folks in Aviation are as real, as solid, as they get. Photo of Author.

My Capitol One Venture card has a travel app that uses Hopper to track flights. Regardless, you can use Hopper. Hopper predicts when to book or when to wait. Don’t forget to turn on push notifications — been there, flight increases by $90 in 3 days, done that. Be aware some airlines are not included on some search engines and you may have to check their webpage (Southwest).
Search Engines are cool but check the airlines website after you’ve seen who has the cheapest flights. IF you can book directly through the airline’s website, do so. This will classify you as a higher class and you’ll be more important to the airline in the event of travel delays/when you need to rebook.
Airline travel is still a luxury for me. If I’m going to pay, I want to be as comfortable as possible while also maintaining my frugality and I don’t like surprises. Low-cost carriers like RyanAir, Sun Country, and Spirit may seem like a deal when you see initial prices, yet you will spend upward of $60 in day-of flight fees if you’re not careful. I quickly tired of the I have to pay how much to put my bag in the overhead bin? And how much for a Diet Coke? I no longer deviate from Southwest and Delta if flying domestic within the U.S.
I still do book Basic Economy. Do your research before flying. Will you be accruing airline miles? Does that matter to you? What is the bag situation? Delta allows one personal item + one carry-on item and you don’t accrue points while United only allows one personal item. The difference between personal and carry-on is the personal item must fit under the seat in front of you. Your seat is often a middle seat assigned once you arrive at the gate.

About Pre-Check and Global Entry

Skip the line. This alone makes this a worthy purchase.
TSA. Anyone else have anxiety going through TSA lines (and this is AFTER you cleared the unpredictable line to just reach TSA)? With pre-check status, you no longer have to take out liquids (officially, anyway), remove your laptop, or lose the belt. No X-ray machine — bye bye radiation. Oh, and while you’re at it, keep your shoes on too.
You will spend about $80. Unless you have perks with your Credit Card. Make sure you check…I knew I had the perk of free pre-check but accidently paid with the wrong CC — there goes my $88! Fill out the application online. You will take your passport to an official agency office and then a few days later you will receive your official KTN (Known Traveler Number). When you book your flight, enter your KTN into your profile. Voila! Your boarding pass reads your status. You’re good for 5 years.
Pre-Check vs Global Entry. Pre-check is good for flights departing U.S. airports, Global Entry includes Pre-Check and is also good for international travel. U.S. Customs and Boarder Protection runs Global Entry, TSA runs Pre-Check. As you may assume, Global Entry is more expensive, around $100, and requires a passport and an interview.

Just another hours long plane refuel. Did you know? Flight attendants only get paid once the boarding door is closed. That means they’re earning nothing as you board and deplane. Photo of Author.

There are aspects of your flight that are carrier- or airport- specific and often just a preference of your own. I am constantly surprised by how long the lines for airport security are at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. However, I recently flew out of Tucson and did not need to arrive more than an hour before departure time. I have been on a few flights as Covid-19 has lessened its chaos and flying has essentially felt semi-normal for me. But then you fly through LAX and anxiety ensues — people breathing down your neck, no seats, and God forbid, no bars open.

After working as a gate agent, ramp agent, and flight attendant — flying continues to surprise me. As you are sitting in sunny Chicago and your flight is delayed 3 hours due to the plane coming from Austin which originated in Tulsa where there are tornado warnings, you will adapt to your lack of control (imagine being a gate agent and fielding these questions for $9.60 hourly wage).

We don’t always have our say and airline employees (sans the pilots) are often underpaid. My advice is to do your research, take control of your stuff, and subscribe to Headspace/Calm/Insight Timer/add-name-of-preferred-meditation-app here — because you’re about to be at the mercy of an airline.

When you work at a small airport in Wisconsin, you learn to de-ice planes. Photo of Author.