The Reality of Being a Flight Attendant Commuter

Flight attendants, pilots, and gate agents all do it: they get on an airplane to get to the airport where they get on another airplane for work. We have both commuted at different points in their careers (Andrew for ten years, Rich for a rough six months of Megabus-and-regional-flight chaos), and this week we break down what it's actually like, from why people do it to what it costs them.

We talk about crash pad life (including the hot bed vs. cold bed divide), why commuting is basically a second full-time job, and our hard-earned "commuter commandments," like befriending your gate agents, packing shelf-stable food, and never walking away from the gate just because the door closed. Plus a round of Would You Rather, a rant about the passenger who slept through his own deplaning, and a favor to ask of everyone listening on Apple Podcasts.


Episode Highlights:
[0:00] Welcome to Episode #54!
[1:16] Rich, the delays, and the sleepy passenger
[3:01] It’s those passengers in the back
[4:59] Drew & a mental health break
[6:56] A 5-star rating would be nice!
[8:36] The struggle is real for closer commutes
[10:35] Base hoppers
[12:33] Each base has its own personality
[14:15] The crazy part about commuting
[15:45] What kind of commuter are you?
[16:45] Flight attendant tip: Take the first flight of the day
[18:04] Commuting is a second full-time job
[20:05] Crash pads
[25:35] Our worst commuting experiences
[27:33] Commuter commandments
[27:45] StaffTraveler: The #1 Nonrev App for commuters
[29:54] Befriend gate agents
[31:49] Snacks are essential
[32:35] Know the weather
[33:47] Never celebrate until takeoff
[35:54] Let’s play: Would You Rather?
[41:43] Is commuting worth it?

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Music by Griefcat