I was a flight attendant for an international airline for 27 years. Recently, someone asked me what was the most unusual thing that ever happened during my career.
I quickly recalled a flight from San Francisco to London a few years after Sept. 11, 2001.
Everyone at the airport and especially in flight had been advised to watch for anything unusual that could be a problem. We were all on alert. Security in Europe was very strict, and getting through the airport in London — where there had been terrorist activity — was rigorous.
The gate agent working the flight that day came on board and said, “We have an eccentric flying today. It seems she is wearing a wedding dress. She has been checked through the metal detectors three times. If we don’t want her to board, all we have to do is say so.”
The flight attendants quickly asked pertinent questions. After thinking about it for a few minutes, we all agreed it would probably be fine.
Sure enough, we started boarding, and I must say it was about the strangest thing I had ever seen. The passenger was traveling alone, dressed in a strapless, floor-length wedding gown with two large lipstick hearts painted on her face. She looked about 30 years old. The dress looked as though it may have come from a thrift store, as it didn’t fit properly.
The gate agent had found an off-duty flight attendant on her way to London who agreed to sit with the passenger, just to be safe.
Shortly after boarding, I noticed one of the supervisors from the office upstairs had come onto the aircraft, which is unusual. I noticed him and cheerfully asked him what he was doing on board.
“I’m just looking for the groom!” he replied, and we both smiled.
“And I am wondering what I will do for entertainment once I retire,” I said.
The passenger did not create a single problem during the entire flight. We all checked with the flight attendant sitting next to her, and she said everything was fine.
However, the next day, we heard that London’s security would not allow her to stay. They put her on the next flight back to San Francisco.
Now that I am retired, I can look back at those days when I need entertainment.
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