Galley Gossip: Flight attendant of the month – David Holmes (Southwest Airlines rapping flight attendant!)

by Heather Poole on

Name: David Holmes (AKA The rapping flight attendant)

Hometown: Bay Area and Chicago…I claim them both.

Base: LAS

How long have you been rapping? Was in a group about 1000 years ago, hadn’t rapped after that until flight attendant training

The first time you rapped on a flight were your coworkers stunned? Yes, they thought I was the shy, quiet type.
Offers must be pouring in! Sign a deal yet? No, though there have been a few discussions
I bet! One thing I couldn’t help but notice was how supportive SWA has been towards you throughout all this. Of course SWA is known for it’s fun atmosphere, but were you surprised at all by how your company reacted? No, I felt very comfortable that this was a good reflection of the culture that SWA promotes.
You’re all the talk right now. Your mom must be thrilled! What does she have to say? Unfortunately, Mom passed away in 2006.
Oh no, I’m so sorry to hear that. You know she must be smiling down on you from heaven. How many years have you been a flight attendant? 8 months (August 2008)
That’s it! Wow, and look how much your life has changed in 8 short months – just last week you were on Leno! What did you do before you became a flight attendant? Was a ramp agent for 3 years, personal trainer before that.
Besides flying, what else do you do? Trying to start a non profit organization in honor of my late mother.
Tell me more about that. It’s called aid4mom (www.aid4mom.org). It’s purpose is to provide small amounts of financial aid to single mothers for things such as utilities, gas, groceries, and rent/mortgage assistance. My mother was the inspiration behind this. She worked as many as three jobs to make sure our needs were met, yet was always there for birthdays and school plays. I feel that everyone should feel like they had the world’s greatest Mom, and I would like to help someone else’s mother be amazing to her children the way mine was to me. I recently was granted 501(c)(3) status, which is huge, but have been at a standstill ever since. I cannot do this alone, and am a bit overwhelmed with decided the best way to proceed.

Wow, that’s an amazing thing to do. I’m really impressed. Have you contacted Oprah? If not, I will! So…any advice for flight attendants?A small amount of effort can really brighten someones day.

So true. How many hours have you flown this month? Scheduled for 153 trips.

I can’t even imagine flying 153 trips. That’s crazy. You must be exhausted! Last flight? Friday night flight from SFO to LAS. It was CRAZY! Friday night + full flight + Flight to Vegas + 2 hour delay (drinking time) = Crazy party flight.

Hotel away from home? I’m homeless right now, so all the hotels ARE home.

Homeless? WHAT? Details, please! I was renting a house that went into foreclosure. Moved out at end of March, but haven’t moved in anywhere. I have been flying a lot more, and getting hotel rooms when I’m off. All of my clothes are in my car, everything else was sold or given away. I have no idea what my next move is, not sure I want to commit to living in Vegas for another year.

That’s terrible. If there’s one thing about flight attendants I know, it’s that we’re survivors. Honestly, I think big things are about to happen to you, so maybe it’s a good thing you’re not too settled. That way you’ll be able to pick up and move quickly if need be. That said, I do hope things get better – soon! Best layover city? Pittsburgh and Seattle for activities, ABQ for the food.

Regular Route? No such thing.

Dream Trip? Any flight where a beautiful woman flirts with me.

Too funny! You’re so handsome I’m sure women flirt with you all the time. In fact, my mom keeps talking about how cute you are, and she’s not easy to impress. Nightmare Trip? A full, short flight. You are rushing from the time the doors close, and that’s the time where everyone has special requests!

What exactly is in your rollaboard? Extra uniforms, jeans, workout clothes, laptop, exercise bands in case the hotel gym sucks, and emergency tuna & oatmeal.

I’ve been meaning to learn how to use my exercise bands and you’ve just motivated me to do so. Not that there’s any time on those short layovers. Any packing tips/tricks? I can use some…do you have any?

Well…I always tell everyone to roll their clothes, even though I never do it myself because I don’t really carry that much. When I went to Italy for 10 days all I brought along with me was a tote bag and a rollaboard, so of course I rolled my clothes and I was surprised to see just how much I could get in my bag, so it does help. Also, pack light. Worst Airport? Kansas City – All the food is outside of security

I hate that. A flight attendant has to eat! Favorite Airport restaurant? Paradise Bakery in Denver/Phoenix. Best sandwiches EVER.

I’ll have to check that place out. Favorite in-flight announcement? The opening announcement. If I rap it, I love the looks on the passengers faces.

I’d love to see how they react, especially now that you’re so well known. Most annoying passenger question? “What’s that? (pointing out window)”. It’s funny to me because they think I carry a GPS on me or something.

Okay…so…I’m going to ask because I always ask…ever hook up with a pilot? No

Flight attendant? Once, but it wasn’t on a trip so I don’t really count it.

How about a passenger? Once the flight is over, they are no longer passengers, so…no.

Favorite vacation spot and why?I haven’t done too many vacations, but I vow to change that this year.

You better! Flight attendant pet peeve? Passengers who tap me to get my attention.

Now finish the following sentences:

I can’t fly without my…laptop.

On my last flight…I made the passengers feel better about the two hour delay by rapping.

Once a passenger…. tried to kiss me in the galley. It was the only time I wished I wasn’t a flight attendant.

Once a pilot…bought me lunch, then accepted a high five as payment. Why doesn’t that work on the ground?

Once a flight attendant...took her shoes off in the shuttle van and put her feet in the seat right next to me. Ewww….

Why do passengers…think we don’t mean THEM when we say “turn your phones off”?

If I could be anywhere in the world, I’d …Go to Japan. I lived there for 6 months at the age of three, and barely remember anything!

Any advice for travelers? The bin sizes have not changed, so why do your bags keep getting fatter?

Next flight? I’m on reserve this month, so I won’t know until the day of.

Galley Gossip: Flight attendant of the month – Author Barbara Goodwin

by Heather Poole on

Name? Barbara Goodwin

Hometown? Orange County, California

Base? LAX

How many years have you been a flight attendant? 32

Tell me about your book, Hiding in Plain Sight? It’s a romantic suspense novel about a flight attendant who foils a drug running operation at her airline and has to go undercover with the DEA to find who is the head of the ring. It’s a book for the baby boomers as I think they, too, deserve romance in their lives.

I’ve read the book and it’s good! You’re a very good writer. Hours flown this month? It would be 84, but I have jury duty so I’m not flying 2 trips.

Last flight? JFK-LAX

Galley or Aisle? Galley (as much as possible!)

Thank goodness for people like you! I’m an aisle girl, myself. You’ve got to be organized to work in the galley. First class, business class, or coach? First Class (also as much as possible!)

Widebody or Narrowbody? Widebody

Of course. Favorite airplane? 767

Regular Route? LAX-JFK-LAX

I met you on a flight from LA to NY, only I was commuting and you were working the business class galley. Dream Trip? I’m flying my dream trip. I love the Transcons and have done them for 12 years. I meet the most fascinating people as well as many celebrities and no leg of the trip is the same.

Nightmare Trip? ORD-SFO-ORD. A passenger went berserk, stabbed a pregnant passenger in her arm, the nearest men climbed over seats to go to her rescue and 3 were injured, all stabbed. An older man on the flight had a heart attack watching that unfold inflight.

Oh my, that is the worst “worst trip ever” story I’ve ever heard. And you’re still flying… Just goes to show how much we love our jobs. Moving on, what exactly is in your rollaboard? Lol! Okay, let’s see. Pajamas, undies, 2 blouses, jeans, tennis shoes, socks, sweater. Travel pillow, alarm clock, earplugs, slippers, charging cord for my cell phone, shoe polish.

Shoe polish? I’ve never heard that before. What about your tote bag? Makeup bag, uniform sweater for the always cold First Class galley, galley gloves, passenger restraint tape (actually, duct tape. Hey! I didn’t name it that…), masking tape, water bottle, 3 books, 2 of mine to show or sell, one I’m reading and assorted papers.Any packing tips/tricks? None. I’m still trying to figure out how to pack after all these years. My twin sister even gave me a book on packing for Christmas one year. It didn’t seem to work for me.

I have yet to meet a flight attendant who knows how to pack. Favorite brand of pantyhose? Nordstrom’s.

Best brand/type of in-flight shoes? Monroe

What brand/type of work shoes do you wear through the terminal? Ugly, boring flats. If my feet hurt, I’m not a happy flight attendant, so I compromise and go for comfort.

I hear ya! Any airport routines? Sign in, check my mail box, get a decaf Starbucks and yak with my friends

Nicest Airport? I don’t really have one.

Worst Airport ? Miami

It seems people either love it or hate it. Favorite Airport restaurant? Oops, sorry, none. I’ve only been at 2 airports, LAX and JFK for the past decade.

What kinds of snacks do you carry with you on the airplane? Weight Watchers bars, Trader Joe’s Cliff bars, string cheese, apples, and a thing I make called baked oatmeal. They’re oatmeal squares, easy to pack and don’t get too smashed.

Hotel away from home? The Roosevelt in Manhattan .

Best layover city? New York! When I’m in New York I love to eat at Carmines in Times Square with a bunch of friends from the crew

I’m a big fan of Carmines, too. Their salad is amazing. Favorite in-flight announcement? Flight attendants prepare for landing.

Book / Magazine last read on the jumpseat? Everlasting by Kathleen Woodiwiss

Most annoying passenger question? Are you sure my bag won’t fit in the overhead bin?

If there’s one thing we know, besides uncomfortable seats and bad food, it’s baggage. Ever hook up with a pilot? Yes, many moons ago.

How about a passenger? Never.

Favorite vacation spot? Maui because of the wonderful sunsets. I know it sounds crazy, but I don’t go away on vacation, I love to write my books then.

Finish the following sentences:

I can’t fly without my… iPhone

On my last flight… I closed the galley curtain and didn’t realize I cut off the heat vent so
I froze in the galley.

Once a passenger…. On his way to the bathroom heard me asking another flight attendant if she would date someone much younger. He told me he would have turned off his computer if he’d known we were having such a fun discussion.

Once a pilot... told me that reading a few paragraphs of my book Hiding in Plain Sight was turning him on. That was fun!

Once a flight attendant... decided to read one of my love scenes out loud to some other flight attendants working the trip and turned beet red. I told her the scenes were not to be read out loud!

Why do passengers... tell flight attendants to smile?

When it comes to traveling, I wish... People would have patience with those around them.

If I could be anywhere in the world, I’d … be right where I am, at home.

Any advice for travelers? Check your bag. If they can’t do that…pack light.

Next flight? What else? LAX-JFK!

To read more about Barbara and her books visit her website – barbaragoodwin.com