Packing Tips

Flight crew basically live out of their suitcases and you will too. I used to completely unpack when I got home from a trip and then repacked before started another one.  But I simplified the process by leaving some things always in my rollerbag.  I always pack the night before, even if I'm not leaving until late.  I recommend not planning to pack the morning you leave. You're far more likely to forget something that way.  

The number one tip I was say is get packing cubes.  They will make things so much easier; both in the packing process and once you get to the hotel.  It's a wonderful to keep everything organized in your bag as well.

You'll find when you're on reserve that you could assigned a trip to any climate.  It could be super hot or blustery cold.  You'll have to be prepared for either so bring a long sunscreen no matter what.  I always pack a swimsuit.  Even in cold weather I might want to visit an indoor pool.  I always pack my flip flops in my side pocket of my roller board.  Some people wear them in the shower as well.  I have them in case I do want to visit that indoor pool or maybe I ordered food delivery that I have to go downstairs to the lobby for.  If I'm crawling out of bed and throwing on clothes to make a free breakfast before it closes, I usually just wear those flip flops as well.  

I always pack a zip-up hoodie even if I'm going to a warm climate.  It can get chilly at night in those places as well.  And I always pack a pair of ordinary jeans.  I keep a pair athletic shoes in my bag at all times at the very bottom.  The one time I decided I didn't need them I regretted it when I ended up wanted to get along walk in.  I have pair that is fairly light weight yet still supportive.

I try and pack clothes that can be mixed and matched.  So basically one pair of jeans and a couple tops that can go with that.  I'll bring a pair of exercise shorts in a solid color that can also be worn just for fun and will go with those tops as well.  And I always bring a second bra.  

My toiletry bag stays packed.  I tend to use refillable travel sized containers and refill them as needed. As mentioned in another post, I discovered certain toiletries and makeup do not travel well.

I bring my bar shampoo and conditioner (below) but use the refillable containers for a little leave-in treatment. Although it's true that hotels tend to provide shampoo, conditioner, soap and body wash I don't like to use the brands usually.  I mean, if there is a nice body wash in there, sure, I'll use that!  But I also bring a small refillable container of my own  This I put it a ziploc baggy,  I don't bother to bring soap or body lotion because I will use those that are provided by the hotel.  I bring my face wash and all my nightly and morning ritual products, a travel sized deodorant and toothpaste and toothbrush in a travel holder.  Even though in uniform you can go through security with full sized containers, trust me, you aren't going to want to.  Bring what you need for a several days only.  I always bring a little bottle of melatonin as well.  I do a lot of red eyes which means napping before hand during the day.  This helps a lot!

In my tote I always have my passport (never take it out because I DO NOT want to forget it), all my chargers for various devices, earbuds, pens, a couple spare trash bags (for during flight as a back up) and several rubber gloves.  I also have eye drops and nasal spray, a few nail files, and extra hair ties.  I keep a bottle of ibuprofen in there as well.  Another one that I refill as needed.  Usually there is a little baggy of cough drops in there as well.  

 

Healthy Eating While Flying

When I first started flying I found myself eating A LOT of fast food.  Frequently there was no other option.  So often there was very little time to grab food between flights and airport options tend to be limited.  Also I'd find the food choices near many hotels weren't the best.  Sometimes I'd find my only other choice besides grabbing a fast food sandwich was overpriced hotel food.  Not only was I going broke doing that but it wasn't the healthiest way to eat either.  Eventually I bought myself an ebags food cooler like the one below.  Later I received a Hot Logic for Christmas one year and my life changed.  Ok that's a little over dramatic.  But it did free from the fast food or high priced food trap.  

There are larger sized lunch coolers as well.  Another investment (but very affordable) was multi-compartment food containers.  My idea of food prepping is extremely simple and usually involves leftovers.  So my meals prior to my trip are chosen according to what makes the best meals the next day.  There is usually a protein, some veggies (usually a simple salad), maybe some cheese, fruit or nuts.  Hard boiled eggs are a frequent food I bring and I really love green olives!  To keep everything cold I either bring my ice bag or ice pack.  Sometimes I don't have the room for my ice bag but they are cheap and easy to find at stores like Walmart, CVS, Walgreens, Target, etc.  Or on Amazon.  The ice bags do come in different sizes as well.

 

I also pick up a box of individual packs of almonds or trail mix for snacks and a cup of plain peanut butter for dipping celery sticks in.   Since I'm pretty basic at my food prepping, here are some links where you can find more food prepping tips, ideas and suggestions.  If you want to make it really simple you can also go to Trader Joe's and purchase premade meals and bring those with you.  Saving money will be important, though, as you begin your flight attendant career so do consider doing your food prepping yourself.  

For Air Crew Who Are Tired Of Feeling Drained: Get a FREE Copy of My Quick & Simple 48 Hour Meal Plan For Sky High Energy

Another flight attendant meal prep for 6 days away!

31 Easy & Healthy Flight Attendant Meal Prep Ideas 

What's in my crew cooler/Flight Attendant Meal Prep 

What's in my crew cooler/Flight Attendant Edition

What's in my flight attendant lunch pail

Sometimes finding a place to plug in my Hot Logic can be a challenge.  I bought a portable power pack.  A very worthwhile investment.

Do's and Don'ts for Flight Attendants

Now that you're out on the line flying, there are some important DOs and DON'Ts you should know about. 

DOs:

Do figure out routines before and during a trip so that you never forget anything.  Your badge should always be put in the same place. Your passport and work device always in the same spot in your tote.  Have a routine for the day you start a trip, which would include how you get yourself ready and dressed and out the door.  When you deviate from this routine you're more likely to forget something important.

Do keep your work device charged on your days off and upload anything you need to as soon as possible.  

If you're assigned CBTs* or Must Reads, do them as soon as you're able to.  It's so tempting to put them off, especially if you have some time before they're due.  But life happens and there is always a chance you'll forget to go back and get them done.

When you get to your hotel room, do prop your door open with your suitcase and check around before coming in and locking the door.  Again, follow a routine for getting settled into your room.  I always come in and put my roller board on a rack if there is one.  I grab my toiletry and makeup bags and put them on the bathroom counter.  Then I'll change and hang my uniform up with my badge attached.  Afterward I set all my electronic devices up to charge.  

Do exchange numbers or at least take note of your fellow crewmembers' hotel room numbers when you get to your hotel, unless you have a method of chatting already set up.  You may need to coordinate for meals or meeting up or just keep each other posted on changes to your trip.

Do drink plenty of water and keep yourself hydrated while flying.  Keep sipping on that bottle of water because your cells need it.  Considering adding a Liquid IV for even more hydration. 

Do bring something warm to wear on your trips.  Even if you're going somewhere tropical, bring a sweatshirt anyway.  Nighttime can still be chilly. 

Do bring a pair of flip flops.  They're lightweight and lie flat and won't take up a lot of room in your bag.  But you will find you're glad you brought them on many occasions. 

Do get approved for FMLA if you or someone you care for has any health issues.  You don't want to rack up a lot of attendance points and occurrences if you can avoid it.  Usually you can't set this up until you've been employed there a year but when you're eligible get the ball rolling on this.

Do read your company emails and join company Facebook pages and flight attendant groups to stay up on important and time sensitive news. 

Do keep spare batteries for your flashlight in your tote.  

Do bring extra pairs of panty hose. 

Do check your iron in your hotel room before using it.  Some have corrosion or substances on them.   The last thing you want to do is smear that all over a fresh uniform piece.   

Do force yourself to nap if you have a red eye that night.  Sleep is vital so get it while you can. 

Do bring lipbalm with you.

Do take something for your immune system, such as Airborne or Emergen-C.  When I first started flying I always seemed to have a cold. 

   

Do check your key card before leaving your room to make sure it's still working.  Sometimes your card will deactivate before you're scheduled to leave and it's better to find out early on.

Do bring an extra long phone cord or an extension cord.  Not every hotel is updated to modern times and there may be no available outlet close to your bed.  

Do consider bringing an extra lock with you for your hotel room door.  You'll sleep better at night if you know you're safe.  Here's the one I purchased:

 

 

DON'Ts:

Be careful of letting passengers know what hotel you're staying at and guard your key and room numbers.  Don't share this information with passengers, even in passing.  You honestly don't know someone's motives.

Don't leave your personal items unattended in an airport public gate area.  If someone isn't nearby that you trust to watch your things, take them with you.

Don't drink on the job!  That should go without saying but I'm saying it anyway.  And make sure you follow your company's alcohol policy  If you can't drink 8-10 hours prior to reporting for duty, then don't drink 8-10 hours prior to reporting for duty.

Don't forget to set an alarm if you head to your crew room for a catnap.  It would suck to arrive on time for your trip but sleep through your report time.  

Don't get caught up in drama created by others.  There is always someone who loves to stir things up.  Steer clear.  Fly below the radar.  My advice: do your job, do it well and keep your nose clean.  

Don't feel guilty about slam-clicking**.  If you don't feel like doing anything except lying on your bed in your hotel room, watching Netflix and ordering Uber Eats, do it and don't feel guilty.  That being said, you really should get out and enjoy some of your layovers, especially if it's new to you.

Don't be rude to hotel employees.   Treat them as you would like to be treated.  Common sense.  Also, don't get sassy with TSA.

Don't be demeaning to new hires.  You won't always be a new hire but don't get cocky when you're more senior to some.  Be as helpful as you can.   Try to remember these days when you were just starting out.

Don't overpost on Social Media.  Be aware of your company's social media policy, if there is one, and don't violate it.  This is also a place where drama will get stirred up.  As tempting as it is, don't get caught up in that.    

Don't leave anything in the galley compartments, carts or carriers during landing.  Everything should be put away prior to that.  Trust me.  You're far more likely to accidentally forget something or catering could show up and take that container or cart away with your items inside!

Don't put your hotel room key in the same pocket as your cell phone.  Even with an envelope around it, it could still get erased.  Nothing is more annoying than finally getting to your hotel room at the end of a long day only to find your key card doesn't work.  Sometimes it's not your fault.  It just wasn't set up right.  But cell phones can erase your card so beware.

Don't violate KCM rules.  Random checks have increased.  Just follow the rules.  It's not that hard. 

There are plenty more and will add them here over time.  These are some things that I've learned along the way.   Feel free to leave a comment with more Do's and Don'ts you live by.

* - CBTs= Computer Based Training.  Training modules that will be assigned to you from time to time.

** - slam clickers are crew members that go in their hotel rooms, slam the door and click the lock.  Then they don't come out until time for the van. That's ok if that's you.  It's me a lot too.

This isn't a Do or a Don't.  Just a note about something I just picked up.  I work red eyes a lot because I'm a commuter and that's helpful in getting me home on my last day (when the trip ends with a red eye).  So I'll nap before that flight.  Sometimes I'll have a red eye to a city and then work another red eye that night.  Few things are as annoying as having housekeeping banging on my door while I'm trying to day sleep.  Some hotels don't provide a Do Not Disturb door hanger.  So I bought my own!  It was dirt cheap and super light so it's not like I have this heavy thing to drag around with me.  I was just worried I'd forget them when I left.  But the last thing I do before walking out my door to head down is grab that hanger from my knob.  This is the one I got.  Just something to think about.

Staying Fit on the Road

Fitness on the road can be a big challenge.  At least it has been for me.  I'm not really a runner.  To be honest, I've never really liked running continuously.  If you are a runner, staying fit will be easier for you because there are trails you can run and many are near hotels you may be staying at.  If not, you should be able to use a treadmill.  This is a great resource for finding running trails near your current location.  It's called Trail link.  They have an app as well.  Alltrails is another great resource.  

If you're more like me you prefer indoor workouts.  Most hotels have a fitness room but many are, well, pretty crappy.  I'm happy if there are a good selection of dumbbells and working treadmills and ellipticals.  That's not always what I get though.  I've been at hotels where there are nothing but broken machines and just a handful of dumbbells . I'm picky about treadmills because my cardio is usually HIIT.  My cardio workout goes like this:

90 second walk  @ 4.0

30 second run    @ 6.1

90 second walk @ 4.0

30 second run  @ 6.2

90 second walk @ 4.0

etc.... I gradually increase my running speed by .1 and usually do 11-14 of these 90 second/30 second cycles.  Then I cool down by walking for 3-5 minutes.  You can increase the run times if you want or so more of those cycles.  I HATE a treadmill that is not responsive.  When I want to speed up or slow down, I want the treadmill to respond to my commands quickly.  

A great gym to join is Planet Fitness.  If you sign up for a Black Card membership you can use one of their gyms anywhere.  Their app will show you where the nearest one to your location is.   You can download their app to help find the closest one.  Or you can download an app called TrainAway that will also show you all gyms that are near your current location. You can get a day pass for many of these gyms.  

Another challenge I found with working out while on a trip was time.  Sometimes the layovers are too short to get one in.  I value sleep very highly and if I've had a super long day and/or have one the next day, I will make sure I'm getting enough rest.  I'm no Spring Chicken anymore.  But when you're really young you can find the energy for working out on those short layovers or after that 13 -15 hour workday.  I remember those days!  I will, however, get off my lazy butt for a in-room exercise band workout.  I always bring a regular cloth band and an extra long cloth body band with me in my bag.  They're super light weight and take up almost no space in my suitcase.  I do both lower and upper body using them.   These are the ones I use by Arena Strength:

They're super affordable and they won't break.  I hate those rubber kind that snap or roll up.  These don't do that.  I'll do donkey kicks, fire hydrants, reclining leg lifts, bridges with abductions and so much more with them right in my room.   You'd be surprised how well these can work too.  They're no joke.  Coming soon I'll be adding a specific glute workout you can do in the privacy of your room with one of these bands.  

Yoga is a great in-room workout you can do as well.  You don't have to bring a yoga mat with you,  I just use one of the bath towels.   Youtube has yoga workouts you can use or you can just do your own.  Pilates is awesome as well and also can give you a great workout without leaving your room or putting on athletic shoes.   

When I'm somewhere that's warm I sometimes will find a bike I can rent for an hour or so.  Sure electric bikes and scooters are fun but if you want to burn some calories use peddle power.  Not only will you get some exercise but you'll be able to get out and explore as well.   I highly recommend doing this from time to time when you're able to.  Always make sure you're in a safe area, though.  Take another crew member along if you can.  

Another thing you can do is download a fitness app.   You can pull up so many different workouts on  your phone or tablet that you can do in your room or in the gym.  These are some of the best ones you can download:

Arena Strength also has their own app you can use with those bands.  You can use those bands with all those other apps as well. 

So don't just be a couch potato in your hotel room all the time.  Get your much needed rest but also get some exercise as well.  Stay hydrated and stay fit!

 

Reserve Life

When you finish training and head to your new base, most likely you will be on reserve for some period of time.  Reserve life can be tough.  I’m not going to lie.  There are quite a few flight attendants that quit or get fired during their reserve time.    For some, it’s just not what they were expecting.  For others, they just didn’t take it seriously.  Some flight attendants get lucky enough that reserve life is basically nonexistent for them.  Some are able to get a line right away or at least very quickly, depending on their base and airline.  But for others, it can be years.

 Financially it can be tough as well.  It would be a good idea to save as much money as you can before hand.  Try and cancel any subscriptions and autoship programs you have that you don't need.  If you don't have a significant other with a good income you may have a year or two where it is pretty tight.  Just know that going in.

Basically, when you’re on reserve, you are awarded a block of days on and off.   You may have up to 6 days in a row when you will be on call.  If there is a trip where a flight attendant has called out sick they will call in a reserve to work that trip.  There are usually some trips that have a spot for a flight attendant that was never filled, and those trips will be in Open Time.  There are also times when they need to “re-crew” a trip.  A crew may be delayed or cancelled somewhere and to finish the remainder of the trip and keep things on time they will call up reserves.   

Airport Reserve or Airport Standby is an assignment you will get from time to time.  Every airline has a different name for it and different rules but basically: crew is needed to be right there at the airport, in uniform, fully packed and prepared to go out at a moment’s notice.  Sometimes you will get assigned something while on airport standby.  A lot of times you will not.  Download some movies, shows and games and bring along a book.  You may have a lot of time to kill. 

 When you are on reserve you will probably be assigned 20-21 reserve days.  Most airlines have a “Guarantee”.  It may be anywhere between 68-80 hours, depending on the airline, but the average is usually 70-75 hours.  You will be paid this amount, split between your paychecks.  You may end up with less than guarantee if you drop any reserve days or call out sick and don’t have the sick time to cover it .  You could end up with more if you are assigned trips exceeding the guarantee or if you pick up flying on your days off.  Some airlines have a rotating reserve schedule where you may have a line one month, and then reserve the next, and it’ll continue like this until you finally have a full line.  A “line”, of course, is your schedule of trips for the month.  Some airlines also have days each month that you will be on reserve, but the rest of the time you’ll have a regular line. But most have just straight reserve until you’re senior enough to hold a line.  Learn everything you can about bidding.  You will bid for days on and off.  Just starting out you won’t have the seniority to necessarily get what you want.  But ask for it anyway.  You may still get exactly what days off you need and the exact call out times.  If you don’t ask, you’ll get whatever is left.  I would also recommend practicing for bidding for a line early on, even if there is no chance of getting one.  It’s good practice and you just never know!

Each airline has their own way of doing things.  Some have 24-hour reserve while others have shifts of 10-12 hours.  Some have a longer call out time and others as little as 90 minutes.  Standard is two hours.  Usually there is a probation period as well during the first six months to a year so you must be on your toes and minding your Ps & Qs if you want to survive this period.  The worst part of reserve for me was the not knowing.  I didn’t know if I was going to get a call at any minute and, if I did, where I would be going to.  Would I get a super easy trip to somewhere fun or have 13 hour day and a short layover?  Or maybe not be assigned anything at all.  Also, as a commuter, my reserve blocks were spent sitting at a crash pad waiting for that call.  I always tried to take a little control by trying to aggressive bid for some trips.  But I wasn’t always successful and sometimes there was literally nothing that I could bid for.  So I spent a lot of time sitting in my crash pad, constantly checking open-time and refreshing my schedule.   If you don’t live close enough to your airport base, you may need to get a crashpad when you’re on reserve.  In the Commuting post you'll find a section on Crashpads and I will be expanding the resource there in the near future. 

There is nothing I could recommend to a new reserve more important than keeping your cell phone charged at all times.  Keep your ringer on and the volume up.  When I was on reserve there wasn’t a Do Not Disturb (DND) feature.  I know from my experience using DND now (which is a lot of the time!) that I tend to forget to turn that feature back off.  So, if you use that, make sure you disable it when your reserve block starts.  I also would recommend putting every number for Crew Scheduling (CS) into your Favorites and enabling Emergency Bypass.  That way if you do forget to turn off DND, they’ll still ring through.  But do not turn down your phone’s volume. Give CS their own special ringtone.  Mine is here.  I still cringe when I hear it.  Find something, though, that will get your attention and you will know it’s them calling immediately.   With most airlines, you have a short period of time to call them back, if you don’t answer the call and they leave a message.  If you can, answer when they call.  If they do leave a VM, call them back right away. 

When you do have an assignment, it should go without saying that you HAVE to be on time.  One sure way to get fired is to be late.  Make sure your alarm is set to the correct time so check the AM and PM  I set my phone to the 24 hour clock so there was no question of what time it was set to.  It’s a good habit to get in to, but if you don’t want to do that, double check that your alarm is set to 6:00 AM and not PM!  Believe me, I did that before but was lucky I woke up in time anyway.  Plan ahead for transit time.  If you’re driving in or taking a train or Ubering, make sure you leave plenty of time for unexpected delays.  It’s far better to be early than late.  Have your uniform ready to go, ironed with your badge on it.  Have your suitcase packed and ready as well.  If you meal prep, plan ahead with that as well.  

In the near future, I will include airline specific reserve rules.  Once you are in training, though, they will spell their specific reserve rules out for you.  Learn it all so there is no confusion as to what is expected of you.  If you’re not 100% sure of something, have your union representative’s contact info or get a mentor at your airline.  Never be afraid to ask.  You will get through the reserve time as long as you’re armed with this knowledge and prepare yourself.  

 

Codes to Learn

 

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