On March 17,2006, I started writing about travel here at Flyaway Cafe.  I knew a lot about travel, but nothing about blogging, technology, social media, photo editing or building readership.  I knew airport codes, not HTML code.  And I knew airline route structures, and how to find a good hotel deal. but not a thing about Digg or Twitter.

But boy did I learn!

Now, after more than 3 1/2 years, and 1,325 posts, Flyaway Cafe is being retired.  Today’s post, my 1,326th, will be my last.

As I write this, there is an incredible range of emotions rushing through me, the first of which is a huge amount of thanks.

I am very thankful for the early days of b5media, and the people who were willing to take a chance on Flight Attendant who loved to travel, and said she could learn all the rest of this blogging stuff.  The people who have helped me along my journey are too numerous to mention, and I know I’d forget someone anyway, so I hope you realize that this big THANK YOU is for you.

My next thank you goes to the many, many bloggers I’ve met over these years.  You have taught me and encouraged me.  We’ve shared hopes and frustrations, common goals and common problems, and more than a drink or two.  I am a better blogger and travel of the world for knowing you.  I hope to someday be in a position to “pay it forward” and help others the way that you have helped me.

And my final thank you, and probably the most important thank you, is to you – all of my readers.  As I’ve learned a little more about blogging, I hope that I have helped you learn a little more about travel.  I hope we were able to create a place to discover new information, share ideas, share a Flight Attendant’s perspective, and have a little fun.  I hope you have tools to be a better traveler, that you are inspired to see something new, and that along the way of discovery, you’ve had a few laughs.  If you have learned even a small portion of what you’ve taught me, then Flyaway Cafe has been a success.

Although there is a little bit of sadness today, there’s lot more excitement and enthusiasm.   As much as I have loved blogging at Flyaway Cafe, I am even more excited about the new projects that I’m involved with

Since January 2009, I have worked with PlanetEye as their Travel Editor,  Earlier this month we’ve launched our fabulous new online travel magazine, PlanetEye Traveler.  I get to work with an exciting management team and a group of wonderfully creative travel bloggers to help bring you great photographs, expert reviews, cool interactive maps, and fresh content every day.  We have over 50 destinations around the world, along with some fun travel specialties, so stop by to see what catches your eye.  You’ll find me there blogging about Seattle.

And. . . of course. . . you know that I have lots more Flight Attendant stories to share with you.  And lots more trips to plan and take, hotels and spas to review, restaurants to sample, wine to drink, products to test and review, and plenty to do that will keep me full of personal travel blogging stories.  You can find me blogging about all those topics at my new personal travel website, Traveling with MJ.  I’ve already got a few posts up, and scads of reviews (including some really great products) and more information on trips to Las Vegas, Croatia, and Italy, that I’ll be posting over the next few weeks as I get settled in.  Please stop by and see what I’m up to, and put up with a little clean up left to be done there.   Of course, you can always reach me by email.

While I may be leaving Flyaway Cafe, I’m certainly not leaving travel blogging.  It’s gotten into my head and my heart, and I look forward to another 1,325 posts.  I hope you’ll come along for the next leg of the journey.

Photo credit: Mary Jo Manzanares

Share on Facebook

I’ve had some email conversations back and forth with a reader who has been extended an offer of a training class with one of the commuter carriers.  It’s not really her first choice airline, and she’s wondering what to do.  Those emails resulted in today’s Flight Attendant Friday question.

Q.  If I get an offer from one airline, but I really am hoping to go to work for another, what should I do?

A.  Ask this question of enough Flight Attendants, and you’re sure to get whatever answer you’re looking for.

Given today’s current events, economic situation, and state of the airline industry, my recommendation is to look before you leap.  If being a Flight Attendant is what you really want to do, I’d say take the best of the offers that come your way.  I’m guessing that right now, you’re not going to get too many offers, so it may be a matter of taking the ONLY offer that comes your way.

Getting hired by a commuter carrier, and later applying at a major carrier, is not necessarily a bad thing.

First, you’ll have a proven track record in the business – and that means you’d better had a great record of attendance and performance – and hiring someone who knows how to do the job is easier than taking a chance on someone who may be a questionable fit.

You learn the job, and can experience the benefits of the industry.  Commuter carriers often offer domiciles that may be closer to your home, and that means a few less upheavals in your life as you enter the business.  You’ll learn how to commute (if that’s what you decide to do), how to make schedules work for you, and a lot of tricks of the trade when it comes to scheduling.  Getting all this experience under your belt may be easier at a commuter.

It you really want to fly – the sooner you start, the better.  Why put off doing something you love while you wait for the perfect opportunity – especially when that perfect opportunity might be a long ways off.  Not many airlines are hiring right now, so waiting for a better offer may mean waiting a long time.

Finally, you may never get an offer from your first choice carrier.  Competition for Flight Attendant jobs is very, very tough.  There are often hundreds of applicants for every available opening.  Don’t spend you life waiting for what might not be when you can be enjoying what you want now.

There are a few downsides to leaving one airline for another.  Many are routine job changing issues, meaning you learn one system and set of rules and you then have to learn another.  You’ll adapt.  And bringing some experience with you means that you will have some advantage in learning many things that can be difficult for a new hire to grasp — things like scheduling, trading trips, using job flexibility to work for you.  Systems may be different, but you’ll find they have more in common that not.

The big downside to changing airlines, is that you once again start at the bottom of the seniority list.  And seniority is everything!  Seniority determines your schedule, vacation (how much and when you can take it), days off, rate of pay, position worked on the plane, and many other benefits.  Starting over after a year or two is probably not a big deal.  But, you many people have found themselves so comfortable at a commuter that they’ve decided to stay put.

Do you have a question about what it’s like to be a Flight Attendant?  Please email your question to me, and I’ll cover it in a future Flight Attendant Friday.

Share on Facebook

“I think, therefore I am.” (Rene Descartes)

Well, maybe that worked for Descartes, but for me it’s:  “I shop, therefore I am.”  (Hey, I’m a Flight Attendant!  It’s part of what we do.)

For me, it’s not about the need to conspicuously over-consume.  Instead, it’s a way to take part of my journey home with me.

Often, in my travels, I find some unique shops, interesting galleries, or have an opportunity to visit some of my favorite stores.  Purchases just seem to have a way of jumping into my hands. 

Today, as I walked around my home, I looked at treasures collected over a lifetime of travel:  A mola from Panama, a painting from Palm Springs, a jewelry box from Mexico, a piece of jewelry from Columbia, my favorite pair of jeans from Manhattan.  Each of these items brings beauty, joy, pleasure, and/or fun to my life.  And each of the items brings back memories — memories of a journey, an adventure, and the people with whom I shared those experiences. 

Today’s shopping suggestion is one I heard about from another Flight Attendant:
 
SpoonFed Art is the brainchild and creative outlet for Los Angeles designer, Karin Collins.  As part of her treatment for an eating disorder, Karin began making one-of-a-kind pendants out of spoons.  When she started receiving compliments for her creations, she realized that what began as therapy was blossoming into a business.

The designs can be seen at a few boutiques in the Los Angeles area, and Karin has recently been getting some great national press.  She has not turned her back on the pain from which her creativity sprang, and her business is a member of the NEDA, the National Eating Disorder Association.

I found the designs to be both lovely and whimsical, and eventually chose the Purple Rose of Cairo.  The designs change frequently, so if you don’t see something you like the first visit, check back again. 

I love the opportunity to find something unique for myself, while at the same time encouraging a small business person and supporting a good cause. 

Share on Facebook