Journey on!

Michael dropped me at SAN and I used the self-check-in kiosk to get my management card to go through security. It is so much easier when you are in uniform. You show your ID and go to the front of the line or use the “crew line”. We still have to take our shoes off and our laptops out of our bags, but we are exempt from the liquid restrictions and we do not wait in line. Just that is already a big plus. I never understood why we have to go through the same screening as the regular passengers in the first place. After 9/11 all employees had a FBI background check. We were photographed and fingerprinted. And still we have to go through security check-points everyday we work. Going through this process does not necessarily annoy me but the fact that not everybody is checked, does. There is no consistency in our operations. In LAX for example, most employees just swipe their ID card to access the secure areas and get to work. Flight Attendants and Pilots are the only ones who have to go through security. In my opinion everybody who has access to an aircraft should go through; from the Caterers to the Cleaners, to the Mechanics and the Customer Service Representatives. You cannot randomly decide who is safe and who isn’t. And what was the purpose of the background check? Look good for the Medias? We will never be safe as long as airports will have different rules and different level of security. The saying “your chain is only as strong as its weakest link” should be the motto.

Except for business travelers who fly as much or sometimes more than Flight crews, most people go through security a couple of times on any given trip. If I work a domestic 6-day trip, I will go through security at least 5 times; take of my shoes, my belt; remove my laptop from my bag… I wish there was an easier way. There are so many things I could use that are already on the aircraft if I wanted to do harm. I would not need to bring anything from home.

In SAN I went through with the liquids in my toiletries and although they were in Ziploc bags, I thought they would be taken away, since I was not in uniform. They didn’t. In SFO when I went through, they told me I was only allowed 1 bag and they took my shaving cream, my moisturizer and my cleanser. I did not get upset. I know they are only doing what they are told. However we have 2 airports with 2 different levels of security. I also had to go through extra screening. I guess buying a one way ticket raised a red flag. I hope it was the one way ticket and not what I look like!!! The lady at the AA counter was really nice. I believe the computer randomly chooses people who will go through extra screening, and “suspicious” passengers are automatically “marked”. The TSA agent, who is from Brazil, was really nice but went through all my stuff. Thank God, I had come here early. My flight is late anyway.

On the flight from SAN to SFO, the crew was at the most “there”. No pre-departure beverage was offered although I was sitting in First Class. I was asleep when drinks were offered after take off but I woke up a good hour before landing and was not approached to see if I wanted anything. Maybe since I was on a Stand-by ticket, they thought I did not deserve a drink!

In SFO, I bought my discounted tickets for AA and AF at the UA ticket counter in no time. There was nobody in line and the agent was nice.

Now I am waiting for my next segment. SFO to MIA on AA. The flight is late and now oversold. I might have to spend the night here in San Francisco. It is not a big deal, but it delays my departure from MIA. No flights get me there in time for a 10:15am departure. So even if I left tomorrow morning, I would have to spend the night in Miami and try to fly the following day. I have 2 weeks off but I hope I will not have to spend half of it in airports.

Part Deux!
I made it on the flight from SFO to MIA. We were slowly moving down the jet bridge and I was thinking of ways to give the crew candies I brought for them (it's not a bribe; just being nice). I did not want to be too obvious and make a big deal of it. We finally got in sight of the aircraft entrance and I was at once disillusioned. The 2 flight attendants were in a deep conversation and completely oblivious of the passengers embarking. I kept my candies. We were on a 757. It is a little different from ours. 22 seats in FC (we have 24) and I think more than 156 in economy. The mid-galley is half the size of ours. There are no jumpseats by door 2L but 2 passenger seats instead. By the emergency window exits there are 3 seats on either side, where we only have 2. I got to my seat, 34A, and settled. The other 2 flight attendants were in the back galley. The crew was not even doing the minimum that is asked of them. I was happy and thankful to be on the plane but my critic mind was going full swing. Never on any of my flights, have crew members been so uncaring and unaware of what is going on in the cabin; and I have worked with some lazy people! The flight was uneventful. Most people, including me, went to sleep right after the beverage service. We landed in Miami around 5:45am.

Part Trois!
The Air France counter finally opened around 7:30am. I get the bad news a few minutes later since I am the first one to check in. I am stuck here as the flight to Guadeloupe is full. I was not expecting this. You just can never tell with those flights. It is only about 10am here so I literally have 24 hours in Miami. I found a hotel by the airport but I cannot check-in until after 11am. I will have breakfast here while I people-watch. Lots of cute guys. If I was a senator, I could check the bathrooms and still do "nothing inappropriate"!!!