>Ringgggg!<
Me: Hello, this is Kim!
Scheduling: This is Daily Scheduling, and we have a trip for you.
Me: Are you sending me to Paris, so I can work my mother-in-law’s flight?
Scheduling: No, sorry…. 😦
That’s OK because it’s a fantastic domestic trip, and I’m the extra! Most of our aircraft utilize 3 flight attendants. During a trip or a pairing (sequences of legs, times, length of duty periods, overnights), we often have an aircraft swap or a plane change. This includes working different kinds of aircraft. So, when you tell me “My big bag fit on the last plane,” well then, there are different makes and models of planes – just like cars. Maybe you were in a limo! 🙂
The extra position has their own pairing, because we work only on planes with 4 flight attendants, as we are their 4th FA, called the extra or the chaser. On this trip, I have 3 legs the first day, super long layover (36 hours which means I get to spend 2 nights somewhere), then 3 legs the next day. I even get to work with crews from all our bases: PHX, PHL, DCA, CLT. As a CLT-based FA, we work with CLT-based crews for our trips, but the extra can work with any based crews. I get to meet others from various bases, so it’s more fun for me! Not to mention, my final crew for the first day is laying over at the same hotel, so I don’t have to call for pick-up. I love that! I even worked with an FA in which this was his FIRST trip his entire 27-year career working B (in charge of aft galley) on an A321 (Airbus), and we had so much fun teasing him about it!
Coming back on the last day, we go through Chicago, and I’m able to buy a bag of Garrett Popcorn! This is such a treat for me and family, and I love the Caramel Crisp as it’s so lightly sweet, buttery, melts in your mouth, and does not break your teeth with the delicious caramel coating! I also bought an extra bag for my crew, and they went NUTS! They’ve never had it, and now I’ve caused 5 more people to become addicted… (3 other FAs, and the 2 pilots)
Upon coming home, I feel a slight relapse from not fully recovering from my recent sickness. My natural remedy is usually to start eating a lot of oranges. However, it’s a hot summer day, so let’s make a delicious Orange and Banana Smoothie to help get me better!
Ingredients:
2 cups of ice
3 tangerines or 2 large oranges
1 banana
1/4 cup water (or less if you like it more slushy as I like mine more runny)
1 packet of orange Emergen-C or other vitamin C additive
Directions:
Place ice first in Vitamix (as I don’t have a blender). Place rest of ingredients. Start with 1 (lowest setting), then slowly turn to 10, then on high for about 15 seconds. Makes 2 large cupfuls. Enjoy and be well!
Crew Chew 