        It's amazing how small the world really is and it's due to aviation. The other day I realized that I had a few days to myself and I should use that time to go see my friend who is completing her master’s degree down in the States. A quick check and her weekend was relatively free... so I jumped on a plane and off I went.
               Anytime I decide to fly, there's always this moment before takeoff where the worst scenarios zip through my imagination... I think the movie franchise Final Destination was the worst movies for me to watch... They weren’t the greatest movies, but my mind flips to them in random situations, like flying. As I sit in the airplane thinking of all the most terrible things that could happen I comfort myself by thinking about flight attendants. How many flights have they been on in their career? I remind myself about the stats between air travel and highway travel, where air travel is much safer. Not only for the fewer collisions, but because you’ve got trained professionals at your finger tips in case of an emergency.
               Grabbing a drink and snack for passengers is a kindness flight attendants do, they’ll bring you a blanket and a pillow, to make your flight more enjoyable, but in reality they're there in case of an emergency. If something happens on the flight they're the ones who are going to calm the masses and walk the traveler through the situation. Although people often liken flight attendants to waitresses in the sky, they are so much more than that. Personally, I feel lucky that I have never had to see one in actual action. I do feel they're underappreciated because of this, we don’t ever really see what their full job entails until there’s an emergency and I know that in that metal bird I really don’t want an emergency situation to develop.
               People get annoyed when they stand up while the seatbelt sign is on and are asked to sit back down. Flight attendants are not just telling you to sit down, just to tell you to sit... They're watching out for your safety and well being. I watched a guy standing in the aisle as we landed in New Zealand a few years ago and watched him struggle to steady himself, it was even a smooth landing, but had it not been what would have happened. Yes, he had a fight with the girl he was sitting with, and refused to take his seat as the flight attendants attempted to convince him to. The attendants sat down and strapped in to avoid being further objects that could be tossed around the cabin. After landing they finally got him to calm down, but had it not been a smooth landing things could have turned out very different and all because someone refused to sit down.
               I've flown a fair amount and in this time I've been very surprised at how flight attendants are treated by passengers. Yes they're there to make your flight more comfortable, but that doesn't give anyone the right to be condescending or rude. I was upset with people on my recent travels for ordering their complimentary beverage without saying "please" and "thank you."
               Yes it may be part of their job, but it's only a very tiny fraction of what they're there for. And really grumpy, sleep deprived individuals at 4 a.m. aren't always aware of the tone they take with others or what they say, well... except for that flight attendant. They worked until whatever time the day before, slept some, and were back at it in the morning working with a smile on their face, with just as little rest as you probably. So do me a favour, decide to give them a smile.
