Dear Ms. Surdek, My name is Heather Poole, but you probably know me better as employee 447110. I’ve been a flight attendant with American for 21 years. I love my job and I’ve always been proud to work for American, so much so that five years ago I wrote about it in my book. It…
Read more Open Letter: Why I won’t wear the American Airlines uniform
After President Bill Clinton stated, “I did not have sexual relations with that woman” the world focused on two words, “sexual relations” and what those words meant, exactly, in determining whether Bill Clinton had committed perjury. Paula Jones’ legal team asked Judge Susan Webber Wright to approve a very precise, three-part definition of sexual…
Read more American’s uniform crisis: Airline shirks responsibility as people keep getting sick
Dear Kerry Philipovitch: I’ve been a flight attendant for over 21 years. I’ve loved my job so much that I wrote a bestselling book about it, but that all changed in September when American Airlines rolled out new uniforms for flight attendants and pilots. Now I dread going to work. I don’t know how much longer…
Read more An Open Letter About American Airlines’ Uniform Crisis
Before Sept. 20, 2016, I would have never dreamed of scratching my a — , er, butt cheek in public. Now that’s all I want to do when I’m at work. Usually I’ll start to feel the pin pricks when I’m standing behind the beverage cart in the aisle. They make me want to scratch my boob…
Read more My Uniform Makes Me Sick: (Part 3) Interview with Dr. William J. Rea about toxic clothing
Flight attendants never forget the first time they see themselves in uniform. It’s one of the most exciting moments of their career, even when the uniform is hideous. The first airline I worked for was a low-cost carrier: Sun Jet International Airlines. I was 24, which might explain why I thought I looked great in my…
You’re at the airport. Your flight is cancelled. Nobody knows why. The only answer you’ve been given is totally lacking in information and, based on the number of times you’ve heard it, sounds robotic. “Only 10% of flights have been cancelled.” Would you shrug it off and walk away? What if every time you went…
In seventh grade a group of boys thought it would be funny to lift my blue denim skirt to expose my panties for all to see at a party. The thick material didn’t immediately fall back down when they let go. What I remember most is the laughter that followed, and how I had to struggle…
Read more What I Told My 10-Year-Old About Trump and Pussycat
