Memoirs of a Flight Attendant

Ladies and Gentlement, we have commenced our final descent into Portharcourt international airport…….”
That was me making the landing announcement. But i paused suddenly when i noticed confusion on the faces of the more than eighty passengers and watched them muttering God knows what to each other. whilst wondering what was going on, i sighted my lead crew taking a brisk walk to  the forward Galley and then she snatched the PA from me. “Ladies and gentlemen, point of correction, we shall be landing at the Murtala Muhammed Airport Lagos shortly….”. Ooops..It suddenly dawned on me that i had goofed. I had announced the wrong destination. We were coming in from Port Harcourt that morning into Lagos. My announcement had caused confusion and almost distablized the passengers. Just when they were preparing for arrival into Lagos, they were informed it was Portharcourt.

When she was done with the announcement she told me to return back to my position at the rear. You can only imagine how i felt. I stood fixed to one spot and wished the ground would open and swallow me. I begged her to allow me stay upfront for landing as i felt so ashamed. I couldn’t walk all the way back and face the passengers. But she insisted i return back to my position.

As i made my way to the back, i heard all sorts of remarks and enquiries from the passengers.” Are you the one taking us back to Portharcourt? “Oh she is a trainee”. “Cant you see she is on black and white uniform?”.

It was my training flight and making announcement was one of the onboard duties that must be mastered. But the truth is holding that PA for the first time as a trainee could be unnerving. The fear of not making mistake can actually make one fumble. That was my experience on that particular flight. My thinking was that i would be able to watch and listen to my lead crew make the announcement on few flights. But i was caught napping when  i was called during descent to make the announcement. There i was starring at the PA system. “Joy you better hurry up. we dont have the time”. My lead Crew warned. When she noticed i was still starring at the Pa she took a walk into the Cabin and left me there…Lol….and then i messed up!
After that incident, with more practice i became better at it.

Now lets go down memory lane. What was your experience as a trainee Flight Attendant? Please Share.