Flight Attendant at 22
MUSINGS

6 Quirky Habits I Picked Up as a Flight Attendant

October 10, 2021 /

I was 22 when I became a flight attendant — old enough to earn my own money, young enough to be both excited and scared to be called an adult.  My brother was already flying international routes when I followed him to PAL.  Because of him, I had some idea of the life a flight attendant led but nothing except my own experiences instilled some habits that I have up to now.

PAL flight attendant at 22

There are many, but I’m naming 6 Habits that come to mind:

1. Calling servers by their name

2. Automatic smiling and greeting

3. Clearing out a table

4. Leaving the Sink Clean and Dry

5. Using an open palm gesture

6. Applying full face make up in 15 minutes

Picture on the Left:
Taken during a flight to Davao, my last flight as a Flight Attendant

Flight Attendant Habit 1: Calling Servers By Their Name

Happy to be Served

“One of the most beautiful words you will hear is your own name.”

That’s what our trainer used to tell us during customer service training. She reminded us to maintain eye contact with our passengers and mention their name. as much as possible. 

People want to feel special and they fly with us to experience that. That personal touch makes them feel at ease during their journey with us. 

I guess I carried that with me. So much so, that when I’m in a restaurant, I tend to converse with servers using their name.  It makes me feel that that added attention and rapport with them humanizes you to the server. Your needs now become more real to them.  I find that in most cases, they are more attentive and go out of their way to  give in to your request. Wink wink.

Flight Attendant Habit 2: Automatic Smiling and Greeting

make up in 15 mins

During our training days, our instructors would tell us to greet anything that moves. That was drilled into us everyday and we were expected to practice it at all times.  I remember one time, my classmates and I went to a mall and each of us greeted the guard “good morning” automatically. Imagine sixteen young adults in corporate attire, single file, making eye contact, smiling and saying hello to you! It was just after he gave us a bewildered look that we realized we were practicing our greetings even outside the training building! It became second nature to make eye contact and greet, whether onboarding passengers or people you come face to face with. I find myself at the very least smiling politely at people in the elevator and in meetings, even before being introduced.

Flight Attendant Habit 3: Clearing Out a Table

Messy Table

After inflight meal service, flight attendants go back and forth in the cabin with a tray and collect from those who are done.  Passengers want their tray tables cleared and stowed so they can be more comfortable during the flight. Now when I fly as a passenger, I sometimes bring my tray to the galley.  Other times,  I get up and throw the wrappers or whatever rubbish I have on my tray table, on my way to the lavatory.  My cabin crew friends or the crew assigned in my station usually tell me I shouldn’t but I tell them it’s just my way and it isn’t any bother.  “On ground,” what I notice about myself is that I became more particular about servers collecting finished plates, or leaving a wet table top too long. After a certain period of time, I’d call for the server and ask them to clear the table.  In reverse, I want to be comfortable and chat with friends or family across a clean, dry table.  Funny or weird as it may be, I  absentmindedly move the plates around and clean the table up a bit with paper napkins while talking with people I eat with! 

Flight Attendant Habit 4: Leaving the Sink Clean and Dry

Part of being a flight attendant is ensuring that the restroom in the aircraft or what we call lavatory, is clean and dry before and after each passenger uses it.  Now when I fly, and use the restroom. I am conscious of leaving the sink clean and dry before I get out. So as part of my routine, after I wash my hands in the sink, I get tissue and wipe the sink clean. Then of course, I use alcohol on my hands.  Take note, this was even before the pandemic hit haha. I think I do that for two reasons: I used to be conscious of it as a flight attendant and because know how much effort it takes for the crew to make the lavatory clean and presentable for the next person.  That’s why I try my best to leave it as clean or cleaner than I found it. Oh, in case you’re wondering, I only do this in flight. I guess my brain goes on automatic routine mode when in the plane haha!

Flight Attendant Habit 5: Using An Open Palm Gesture

open palm
open palms

Aside from first aid, emergency procedures, inflight service, our intense initial cabin crew training included visual poise, grooming, communication, personality development.  We needed to communicate and present ourselves well to others. 

Instead of pointing at something, we were taught the open palm gesture.  We were told that pointing using your index finger, just like crossing your arms, gives off a negative impression as a service provider.

I also taught that to my students as a personality development teacher.  Years later, I was the one teaching that to the cabin crew as trainer.

When I express myself, I would automatically use the open palm gesture. I also do that when I give directions to someone. Now that I think about it, I probably look as if I were doing the safety demo in flight haha! Which by the way. I could still do with my eyes closed!

Flight Attendant Habit 6: Applying Full Face Make Up in 15 Mins

Cheers

Getting up early morning to be in complete uniform and  make up has drilled that skill in me.  I don’t always  do speed make up BUT if pressed for time, I am able to do full face make up in 15 minutes!

That’s primer, foundation, eyebrow powder, face powder, eye shadow, eyeliner, curl lash, blush on and lipstick. Yes, in THAT order. Oh, and mascara and gloss if I have time to spare.

Fun fact: I’ve been known to be in my parked car, putting on make up. An officemate once told me someone said she already  saw me arrive and my officemate replied, “Oh for sure she’s in the car putting make up!” 

Picture on the Left:

Here’s a sample of me in full make up done in 15 minutes.  I hurriedly left my hotel room to have delicious Cuban food and draft beer. More time for food and drinks less for make up!

smiling PAL Flight Attendant

I know I’d be a different person today if I didn’t apply at Philippine Airlines as a flight attendant.

My short but very memorable stint wearing the flag carrier’s uniform gave my 22 year old self the confidence to face people and converse with them.

The sheltered fresh-from-university me established friendships that lasted decades and went beyond the Philippine shores. 

I guess it’s pretty clear that if I had a time machine to go back to that period in my life, I would still go for the impact interview, rigorous three-month training and all! I wouldn’t change a single thing.

Well…. maybe change my cake foundation to something less heavy!

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