This is my story about my journey working for the one of the largest Airlines in the world
Excerpt
Gate 36 Terminal B: Flight 679 Atlanta-Dallas
By now you may have figured out I work for Delta Air Lines. Actually, I retired in 2002 after a little over seven years. I hope this book is interesting as I take you through what was my typical life as a Gate Agent, Ticket Agent, and Baggage Service Agent for one of the largest airlines in the world.
In the scenario in ‘Chapter 2’, it is Tuesday morning and I am on Terminal B setting up my flight going to Dallas, Texas. Normally, there is an inbound due in that will turn around the outbound flight. Sometimes the aircraft arrives the night before and is either at the gate or has to be tugged over from another gate or the hanger. When the flight is coming from the hanger, normally it is already serviced and ready. Sometimes although the aircraft has been sitting all-night it hasn’t been cleaned.
Those of you who have flown at least one time may be familiar with the jet way. The jet way is the ramp that connects to the aircraft and allows the passengers to walk off the plane to the gate area. When the aircraft arrives, the jet way has to be either raised or lowered to meet the aircraft door evenly so the passengers can walk off the plane without tripping. If you are good, as I eventually became, you will have the jet way in place when the aircraft pulls in with only minimal adjustments.
That took skill and lots of practice. I remember when I first learned how to put a jet way on, back then; I can recall several jet ways needing to be fixed. A lot of the time the jet way would go in the complete opposite direction of where I wanted or needed it to go.
Flights Attendants and passengers didn’t take kindly to an agent who couldn’t put on a jet way in a timely manner, after all, they had been on the plane a long time and were more than ready to get off. The passengers got a kick out of watching agents struggle as the jet way went back and forth, side to side as they laughed. I’m a witness to this because I’ve been on planes myself waiting and watching.
Once the aircraft has arrived (hopefully before you open the gate area to check in passengers), there is a lot of paper work to pull up. The Pilot’s paper work consists of their flight plan and weather, and the Flight Attendant’s paper work lets them know how many coach passengers, specials needs, and First Class and Business Passengers.
My next task was to get every one checked in and hopefully not have more passengers than seats. Many times flights were overbooked and passengers had to involuntarily give up their seats.
Hang with me as I walk you through 7 years, 4 months, 15 days and 9/11. This is my story. My name is Lynnette Culbreath.
Join me as we travel together on the road called "Aging." I will be sharing my personal experiences with you and offer ideas on how we can better navigate the complex byways of our older years. Grief, healing, generations, ancestors, and more.
