Paris: My First, Captain’s Last / Trip Tip: Accountability

Our new bidding & scheduling system is keeping us quite busy until the dusts settles. When trips are posted by 1500 for the next day (future), they’re usually less than exciting for me: early morning departures, lots of legs, 4-days, etc. My domestic favorites are 3-day west coast trips with few legs as possible. I decided to try something different. Instead of getting my trips from future, I called scheduling to put myself on “daily aggressive for international.” The next morning, I stalk Cat Crew (our scheduling system). Many senior flight attendants drop their trips that morning, so it’s ripe for the picking!

I’m going about my day stalking Cat Crew, having breakfast, still watching, took a shower & got ready, checked Cat Crew. PARIS!!!

Scheduling: How can I help you?
Me: Heeeeyyyyy, this is Kim, and I’m on aggressive for international… Are y’all sending me to Paris??
Scheduling: (laughs) Hold on, Kim…
(I’m on hold while they’re courtesy calling people who were in line for it.)
Scheduling: Wellllllllll, looks like… you’re going to Paris!!
Me: AHHHHHHHHH!!! Merci!

Walking to the international terminal, I pass my friend Iris!
Iris: Hey, Kim!
Me: Iris!! Where you going?
Iris: London!
Me: I’m going to Paris!
Lady behind me: Can I go with either of you?

Upon check-in, I discover one of my friends who was in training a week behind me is one of the international managers!! We’re just over 2 years old, and we’re able to move up in the world. I’m so excited for him, but wait – it gets better! Not only do I have an awesome crew, but the captain announces his retirement. This will be his very last flight of his 30+ year career, and his family is joining him on this trip. I get to be a part of this!

It was a smooth flight, and we discovered upon arrival that the men’s championship French Open was going on – hence the giant tennis ball dangling from the Eiffel Tower! During down time on our flights, crew will talk about what they want to do on layovers. There was a group who wanted to hike to some cathedral, another group who went shopping, the captain had his family there, and my group went on a walking tour to the tower, Notre Dame Cathedral, and had dinner in the Latin Quarter. Upon hotel check-in the groups usually confirm the time to meet downstairs.  

Trip Tip: Accountability – Before I went downstairs to go tour, I left a note on my bed pillow: who all I’m meeting, where we’re going, and approximately when I’m returning. This is important in case of any emergency – yes,medical emergencies can happen including something happening to YOU while you are out. On domestic layovers, I text one of my flight attendant BFFs where I’m going, and I’ll text her when I’m back in my hotel. She has all my family’s contact info, and she knows how to contact the company if I come up missing.

I actually took lots of pictures and videos and helped document our captain’s farewell flight. He’s had an amazing career filled with wonderful stories and memories, and mine is just beginning…!