10 Apps Flight Attendants Should Download Right Now

 

1. WinBid — This delightful app is the flight attendant's best friend. Airline crews prepare their bid for their monthly schedule. It displays all monthly lines and their associated trip pairings (and we all know what a pain in the patoot this can be to try to do manually), so there is no need for bulky “bid packages” to carry around. WinBid automatically downloads and stores all your airline’s line and associated pairings off-line. You can view, search, filter, score, list, and more.


2. GateGuru— Enter an airport code and up pops everything you could ever want to know about food, shopping, and any services offered, along with reviews, ratings and maps. Enter your flight number and access flight status, delays and weather conditions all in the same place.


3. Tapped Out— Think of the Sims, only with the Simpsons. Mind blown? The key is patience—the only way to advance in the quests, etc, is to keep playing daily. Darcy got me hooked on this, and I'll never look at a donut the same again.


4. FlightView— Another absolute diamond of an app. It tracks flights and shows you their delays, when they take off and land, etc. You can actually see a real time map of the flight path, in addition to ground information such as the gate numbers where the flight will land or take off from.
   
   [caption id="attachment_554" align="alignnone" width="300"] Where my flight at?[/caption]


5. Amazon Kindle— My sweet parents bought me a 8.9" Kindle Fire HD for my birthday, and its a delightful little gadget to be sure. I rarely (if ever) watch TV, but I read like a fiend, so you can always find me thumbing my way through some new tome. This has made such a difference while away long hours of downtime on flights, or layovers. If you're a big reader, definitely download this app on your phone, laptop or tablet.


6. Mint— Considering whether or not to by that impulse $13 hummus at the hotel because its the cheapest thing on the menu and the nearest restaurant is 9 blocks away? Mint is a wonderful app that sets monthly budgets for you based on your income, debts, bills and expected needs. It categorizes your spending, and you can set it up to text you when you're reaching your limit. In such a busy lifestyle, it helps to know Mint has got your back. I love how all my bank accounts/student loans/expenses are neatly categorized, and I have goals set for my savings and repayment plans.


7. FAAWait—During a oncoming weather delay a flight attendant who also works part time as an air traffic controller told me about FAAWait. It's his favorite app. One click and we knew which airports across the country were also experiencing delays, how long the delays were averaging, and what had caused the delays. In other words, win, win and win.


8. WhatsApp—An Emirate's flight attendant from Bosnia based in Saudi Arabia told me about this app on a flight from Miami to New York. WhatsApp makes it possible to send text messages to friends and family out of the country free of charge. There is virtually no cost to stay in touch with loved ones. You can even share audio and video messages.


9. HappyHourFinder—nobody is better at finding a deal than a flight attendant. Period. We will find out every discount, sale and maneuver to pinch a penny in the book. Just the other day a flight attendant told me that she cooks herself a grilled cheese sandwich with a clothes iron ( albeit well cleaned)!! It doesn't get more Jenny-on-the-spot than that. This is why we take advantage of happy hour specials, particularly ones that include half priced appetizers! Check it out, and see who has specials in your area!


10. Ride—My sweet roomie, Belle, told me about this one a few days ago, and I'm a believer. While its currently for iPhone users only, Ride is a rewards network that gives you points for travel. When you have it installed on your phone, it records the numbers of miles you travel and you accrue Ride points (pretty simple so far, yeah?) They are redeemable for real rewards through Ride, such as gift cards to companies like Amazon, Starbucks, Redbox, etc.
    And who doesn't love free stuff for shameless self promotion?

Flight Attendant Approved Shoes

When I went into flight attendant training, I bought a beautiful pair of comfortable pumps. They were kind of pricey, but I did my research; they were made by a trusted, quality brand (Clarks) and all the online reviews said they were super comfy. However, this turned out to be only partially true.

I'm going to let you in on a little secret:

Flight Attendant feet do not just need a shoe that is comfy for "being on your feet all day"

Flight Attendant feet do not just need a shoe that allows you to walk briskly.

Flight Attendant feet do not just need a shoe that looks good with your uniform.

Flight Attendant feet do not just need a shoe that is in compliance with regulations.

rather:

Flight Attendant feet need a shoe that cushions the foot as your body expands and contracts with the pressure of ascending and descending thousands of feet several times a day in a pressurized cabin.

If you've been a flight attendant for awhile, you'll understand this phenomenon. Your shoes will seem stretched like they were worn by someone 2 sizes larger than you. Your body will feel kind of bloated and your toes will be red and sore.

It's not from the 15 minutes or so that you served drinks, or stood there and did the safety demo. It's the pressure, I tell you!

So, do yourself a big favor and save some time, money and a great deal of foot/leg/lower back pain and buy these shoes!!!

[caption id="attachment_495" align="alignnone" width="440"] image courtesy Dansko.com[/caption]

I was skeptical at first. I thought these Dansko clogs were kind of ugly—like an old lady shoe. I affectionately call these clogs my "Dutch Lesbian" shoes. But now, I'm a believer!

Now I am one of the many ranks of flight attendants who swear by this shoe: it is the most comfortable thing you will ever walk in.  They are used by professionals who stand on their feet for hours at a time—nurses, chefs, waiters, etc. They all love them!

But in addition to being super comfortable on the ground, they move with the natural movement of the foot. This is a very big deal.

In other words, your foot expands, the shoe expands with it. The material and shape of the shoe is extremely flexible. You will thank me for this advice. Forget how they look—imagine yourself with sore tired (but fabulously shod) heels, and ask yourself if its worth the pain.

I've come to the conclusion that any shoe, no matter how comfortable they swear it is, that puts the majority of your weight on the ball of your foot is no bueno. It will be painful. Get the clogs, and nix your vanity. They will be more beautiful than you could imagine when your feet aren't aching like your joints aged 7 decades while in the air.

The best news?

These Dansko shoes typically run $120 in stores (believe me, I did the research for the best deals) but through your airline, you can save big $$$ with a company discount. I bought my shoes for about $73.  That's over 60% off, people!  They last forever, too. I flew with a lady who had owned hers for 10 years, and they were still in great shape! Consider it an investment in you! Check out your company discounts page. Mine had a direct link to the online store, but you may have to print out the discount form and take it to your local Nordstrom, Belk, wherever they're sold in your area. It's absolutely worth it, trust me. They are the most comfortable shoes you'll ever own. And no, I am not getting paid by Dankso to say this. Experience has made me wise!!!