Unsung Heroes: A flight attendant talks grueling schedules, 'commuting' by plane to work and being an avgeek
Anyone who's stepped foot on a plane can tell you filght attendants are unsung heroes of the travel world — and as unruly passenger behavior is on the rise, now more than ever. More than 2,500 incidents have been reported by airlines to the Federal Aviation Administration since Jan. 1, the agency told TPG.
In addition to navigating out-of-line passengers, flight attendants are responsible for resolving a whole host of customer service requests, from seat assignments to luggage issues, to the most important thing: keeping passengers safe during flight. On top of that, for the past year, they've had to navigate COVID-19 while on the clock, putting their lives on the line every single day.
For more insight into the life of a flight attendant, we're sitting down with Compton Fields on this edition of Unsung Heroes. Here, you'll learn a little more about the job and how you can get the VIP treatment the next time you reach cruising altitude.
Unsung hero: Compton Fields, flight attendant for a major U.S. carrier
View this post on Instagram
TPG: How did you get into becoming a flight attendant?
CF: I have always loved travel (who doesn't?), and I had a pretty colorful travel history even before the airline gig: India, Panama, Italy, Chile etc.
A friend had been working for a regional airline and was making the attempt to jump to the mainline carriers. He encouraged me to give it a go as well. I did, and (very) long story short, I ended up at one major airline and him another.
Related: Unsung Heroes: An Uber driver talks how to get the VIP treatment and be a better traveler in 2021
TPG: How long have you been a flight attendant?
CF: I just celebrated my fourth anniversary with my airline in April.
TPG: What does a typical work week look like?
CF: In short, it's always different. Some weeks, I may work five flights, some weeks I may work 25.
A typical week consists of a whirlwind of cities, airports and hotels. Flight attendants quite often wake up in their hotel beds and take several minutes to recall what city they're in. In general, a domestic trip generally involves one to four days of being away from their base, two to four flights per day, and layovers in two to three different cities. Sometimes the layovers are long and we get to explore the city and go out with our crew, sometimes they are very short and it's just enough time to eat, shower and sleep.
TPG: What is your favorite part of the job?
CF: Travel is a given.
This job allows us to travel both on and off the clock. But beyond that, I love the industry itself. I am obsessed with aircraft and airports and airlines. I love the people you meet along the way and their stories. Everyone is traveling for a unique reason, and it is fun to learn about them from my passengers.
TPG: What is your least favorite part of the job?
CF: I love the job. I love the thrill of a new city or new hotel. But I would say one of the biggest struggles for a lot of flight attendants is commuting.
Many flight attendants don't live in their base or hub airport, so they may fly in on one or two flights to get to and from work. The extra flights and nights away from home can be draining, but in the end, it's worth it.
TPG: What's the one thing you wish more people understood about your job?
CF: We often get asked what route we work. Unless we've been with the airline for 30+ years, chances are we don't have a set route.
The most junior flight attendants at an airline are generally on reserve status, which means we sit on call for up to 24 hours per day. Crew scheduling can call us at any time with a day-of trip assignment, and we get ready and head off to the airport. It can be anything from Taipei to Tulsa.
Related: How are flight attendants paid?
As you accrue more seniority with the airline, you gain the ability to bid for certain set schedules, but even those generally consist of different trips and routes each week.
View this post on Instagram
TPG: What's something anyone can do to be a better traveler in 2021 and beyond?
CF: As international travel starts to return, I think it is important to be a good ambassador of the U.S. (or wherever you happen to be from). We are visitors to someone else's land and should be respectful of that and the cultures that exist there.
Related: When will international travel return? A country-by-country guide to coronavirus recovery
Additionally, the most experienced and seasoned travelers tend to have a lot of patience with the process of traveling. Aviation is a complex industry and things inevitably don't go according to plan sometimes.
My advice is to just be patient with the process and the employees along the way; they want to help to get things resolved as much as you do. I was told in training that a single flight has up to 8,000 employees behind the scenes working to get it off the ground, from pilots to ground crew to network operations agents.
TPG: What is something a traveler can do to get the VIP treatment from you?
CF: As I said above, I think simple patience with the process really goes to serve the traveler in the long run.
The aviation industry is complex and there are many moving parts to keep it running smoothly and safely, and every single employee is there to make sure each of those parts is perfectly in place. If something is askew, it may lead to delays. But safety is the top priority, and I assure you, hundreds of people are working to resolve things as quickly and safely as possible.
Additionally, I love to go the extra mile for my passengers, and something as simple as a quick conversation with us or 'thank you' helps us to do that.
Related: 6 things America's top flight attendant thinks about the future of travel
TPG: How does working in the hospitality industry change your idea of travel, or going on vacation?
CF: Being a flight attendant, people are always eager to know where I've been internationally, and, don't get me wrong, I love my international trips and they are the most sought after.
However, one thing this job has allowed me to do is to discover all the small and medium-sized cities across this country, the little nooks and crannies I would otherwise never have seen.
Related: Don't be a jerk on a flight; there are no more second chances this summer
And even though on my days off I have the ability to go just about anywhere, sometimes, admittedly the last thing I want to do is get on a plane. Sometimes it is great to just be at home, go on a hike or a road trip.
View this post on Instagram
TPG: If you could go anywhere in the world on a vacation, where would it be and why?
CF: After a year of no travel, literally anywhere! I would love to go back to South America though. Argentina and Southern Chile. Outdoor adventures and wine tasting, please.
TPG: Tell us about the best vacation you've ever taken, or the best place you've ever traveled.
CF: Work trip: Melbourne.
I had a 72-hour layover there in a gorgeous hotel on the water. My entire crew -- flight attendants and pilots -- organized a wine tour throughout the wine regions surrounding the city. It was a stunning day and such a memorable experience. The next day, I walked all around Melbourne, exploring parks, botanical gardens, breweries, eateries and beaches.
Related: Your Points and Miles Guide to Melbourne, Australia
On my own time: Chile. This one was actually prior to being employed by the airline. I went with my family to Pucon in Southern Chile. It is a renowned "outdoors" town, nestled under a snow-capped volcano. We stayed at a kayak hostel and kayaked, fished, hiked, biked and enjoyed a freshly-caught trout Christmas dinner in the outdoor kitchen.
Photo by Philip Pilosian/Shutterstock
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.