Aviation Work

*Edit: Several years ago I worked at our little local airport with a company that checked in and loaded planes for both United and Delta Airlines. These were my scattered thoughts written after I came home from a 12 hour shift that started at 3 am. I felt it was good to revisit as summer travel ramps up. Those people behind the counter are as irritated as you that the plane isn't working!

We are encouraged to nap sometime during our work day because of our early hours. A typical day starts at 4 am and lasts till 2 or 3 pm. Sometimes we pull 16 hour shifts when weather is bad or planes arrive broken. Yes... broken.

We work really hard a third of our day, sort of hard a third of our day, and exhausted the rest of the day. Nonetheless, joy is the ruling emotion most of the time. This is because of the firm relationships forged by doing something difficult in a team environment. The airlines attract ex-military personnel because of the feeling of comradeship that is present each and every day. It's the only job I've had that values relationships as much as skills and hard work. People arrive knowing nothing but are given the tools to advance but if they can't forge relationships, they're history.

Working here emphasizes the saying that "everyone is good at something but no one is good at everything." Everyone here is respected for their strengths - usually.

Airports are a place for kissing. Hugging too. Something about hurdling oneself through the air causes one to hold on to those you love. Every day I witness hugs and kisses.

Airports attract crazy people. Stalkers, people who argue with themselves and people off their rocker show up with alarming regularity. Subduing the nutters until help arrives is an unwritten part of the job description. Even normal people do stupid things like wander around the tarmac to take pictures of the mountain ranges while an incoming plane is pulling in. Are they really not aware the propellers can and will take their head off?

We see who you truly are. The stress of travel brings out the best and worse in people. Don't take pride at yelling at that reservation agent. They have the ability to be cruel, kind, or to ban you from the airplane based on your behavior.

One of my first days on the job a woman missed her flight. "I can see it right outside the window!" she screamed at me. "Tell them to come back. You knew I was coming." She then proceeded to throw her iPad at me. Yes, she used her iPad as a weapon. I looked at her a moment. It was tense. I then told her to pick it up and if she proceeded to throw anything else at me she could claim it at TSA as they escorted her out of the airport. My manager was standing next to me. I waited for her to escort me from the building. When I looked at her she was grinning in support and I knew I would love this job.

Everyone here loves a hard day- as soon as its over.

7 Ways to Lighten Up Your Luggage

Many of us want to be that woman with six porters trailing after us with our trunks, boxes and suitcases full of expensive designer clothes while we travel throughout Europe. Many of us want to be that woman...but few can afford the hundreds of dollars in baggage fees! What’s a girl (and by “girl” I mean 40+ year old woman) to do?

Never fear – traveling light has never been easier. From bottle-less haircare to mini laundry stations, we have the know-how for your next trip abroad. Depending on climate, these tips could help you travel weeks with just one bag or pack.

1.     Pick a pack. It pays to find a backpack or suitcase that really fits your lifestyle. The large spinning bag is fun in O’Hare Airport but when you really hit those European cobblestones or find out that the elevator is broken in your backpacker’s hostel, you’ll be glad to have a moderately packed...um...pack. I pack an REI Rutsack modeled here by my daughter.

2.     Roll, baby, roll. And by this I don’t mean use a roller bag. Didn’t you read tip #1? Roll your clothes and you’ll fit more in your pack and find yourself less frustrated when looking for that matching outfit. The concept is simple. Lay out your skirt or pants. Pile all the tops that look good on top of the pants, and then roll them up together. You’ll have clothes that are wrinkle free and easy to find. Look here for more rolling inspiration.

3.     Ditch the suds! Shampoo doesn’t have to come in a bottle (honest!). Lush is well known but there are now many brands of solid shampoo and conditioner that travels better than those bottles that tend to explode under pressure. Learn from my mistake and keep the bottle of conditioner out of your luggage. It takes years to get that stuff out of your bags. Instead enjoy all the amazing beauty supplies in solid form and breeze through TSA.

4.     Teeth tabs help you avoid that breath that follows airplane food. Again, these are great for avoiding long TSA delays. They look like an aspirin or tiny breath mints but, as you chew them they bubble and foam... almost like regular toothpaste! You can easily buy teeth tabs through Amazon.

Queen Elizabeth could really layer it on. They say the Tudors wore a minimum of four layers - so does the modern traveler.

5.     Layers help up lighten up. Think of yourself as an onion… or Queen Elizabeth…you have many layers! Pack outfits that start with a short sleeve top and end with a jacket or sweater that works with other outfits in your pack. Be appropriate for the climate and season. People from a cooler climate don’t need a heavy jacket in Thailand, and Italy can be quite warm in June. Layer light scarves, flowy blouses, and maybe a light cardigan on trips where cold isn’t an issue.

6.     Carry on if you possibly can. I chaperoned a group of about twenty high school kids on a trip to Italy and Greece. We had to switch planes quickly in Amsterdam and absolutely everyone who checked a bag lost it between Amsterdam and Rome. It took five days for those bags to catch up with us and then they disappeared again between Rome and Athens. I warned them to carry on, but would they listen? No. Needless to say, they all had bag envy as I and the few other savvy travelers were able to change into clean clothes.  

7.     Itty bitty teeny weenie laundry machine (OK, hand washing isn’t a machine but with fine French milled SOLID laundry soap and the cutest clothesline ever, you won’t miss the washer and dryer). My little laundry kit holds the basics for clean underwear of for getting out that wine stain. A six-foot cord is perfect for hanging clothes to dry from mini binder clips and the sealable container, found at the dollar store, holds everything perfectly. I created a first aid kit, as well.

A little bit of planning and repressing the impulse to pack every stitch of clothing we own can help facilitate a smooth trip without the needed for all those porters...or even a luggage cart! Enjoy the lighter side of international travel!