The Rerouted Skytress

Last Monday over 17,000 employees at my airline took either an early retirement package or an opt out package. Many of those employees were Skytresses and Skyters. A few were my dear friends. Who would have known in February when we were the first company in history to break all records for profit sharing, that in a matter of weeks our company would be offering packages to save the airline? In February we were going to hire several thousand more people. In July our company needed thousands to retire so they won’t have to furlough anyone. I read the Facebook posts from fellow employees. I talked and texted with friends as they made this hard decision. I know it has been an emotional, uncertain time for everyone. Seeing one person retire is hard. Seeing fellow co-workers leave en masse is something my heart and head were not prepared for. I know I am not alone feeling this way.

I read many Facebook posts on our retirement decision page from fellow Skytresses and Skyters that I never met. I didn’t need to know their names. They all are part of my airline family. There is a special, unspoken bond between us all. I laughed and I cried as I read each post. I felt their heart ache, anxiety and sadness as they said their goodbyes. I felt their excitement and giddy anticipations for a new journey in life. These feelings were multiplied exponentially for my friends that I do know. I have amazing memories of flying together with my friends. Even greater memories of layovers. Conversations that filled my soul. Laughter that echoes in my head. Even though I could go months, even years, not seeing my friends, I always knew they were out there and it was a pretty good bet our paths would eventually cross. This thought always gave me comfort. Now the reality of their retirement makes me sad because I know I won’t see them in the crew lounge, on a layover or simply passing in the airport….wishing each other a safe flight. But, I am cheering them on as they pursue new adventures. I know they will do amazing things, for they are amazing people.

I also have learned these past few weeks that I need to take more pictures on my flights and layovers. I’ve loved seeing the numerous pictures fellow Skyters and Skytresses have posted on-line. Funny, I used to be great about taking pictures when I carried a regular old camera around. I used to love developing pictures in our darkroom downstairs. Now that I have a camera basically attached to my hands at all times, I rarely take pictures. These past few weeks I have seen incredible career photos from retiring Skytresses and Skyters. Sadly, I have lost many crew and layover pictures on phones that had “issues” and weren’t retrievable. After seeing other pictures that have been shared by my fellow co-workers, I once again wish I had my lost photos. Especially my Alaska pictures. Fortunately, the memories are still very vivid in my mind. I also regret not taking more pictures when Ron and I flew together. We flew together so many times. But, we never took pictures. It was just something we didn’t think about. Silly, I know. We were living in the moment. I’ve done a lot of “living in the moment” throughout my flying career and life. I’m going to try to be better at capturing at least one moment now and then. I promise I won’t post them all when I retire like some of other Skytresses and Skyters have done lately. Although, I admit, I have happily scrolled through 70 plus photos some have posted. So, I may rethink this when my time comes to retire.

I know some of our airline friends have retired because our international flying will be very limited for the next few years due to the pandemic. Our executives have stated we will go back to the number of international flights we had in the early 1990’s. The thought of going back to this type of flying does not appeal to many. Flying internationally never appealed to me. It still doesn’t. I LOVED flying in the 1990’s! I knew my chances of being scheduled to fly across the pond in the 90’s was very minimal. The senior Skytresses and Skyters saw to that. Many airline friends have decided to retire because they have no desire to go back to flying domestic trips. I’m a domestic diva. I love flying to all the wonderful cities in the U.S. When I flew internationally I always was counting the minutes until the plane touched down on American soil. Yes, I still venture out to the islands and to Canada. But, I prefer Charlotte and Chicago. I even had some anxiety when I spent a month flying Alaska trips. I was in the U.S. But, I still had to go through Canada to get home. I knew however, if need be,…I could drive through Canada to get home. This is a prevailing thought of mine since 9-11. I’ve flown with Skytresses and Skyters that have seen countless international cities. But, they have never seen Mount Rushmore, Old Faithful, or the Grand Tetons. I read comments from international Skytresses and Skyters that they didn’t want to fly to Tulsa. Heck, I have wonderful memories of Tulsa. My crew and I won so many prizes at a restaurant one night…it started to get embarrassing. But, the laughter and camaraderie was unforgettable. I know I am a contrarian when it comes to international flying, considering I am in the airline industry. I remember years ago I was looking for property for a vacation home. One of our pilots suggested I should rethink that idea. He said I’d feel obligated to go to my vacation home instead of traveling the world while on vacation. At the time I thought he made a valid point. Then I realized he loved to travel the world. I, on the other hand, love to travel to one place I truly love.

I’ve also learned these past few weeks I need to start thinking more about my retirement and exit plan. Ron had a five year plan. I kidded him I hoped to have a plan in five years. Yes, I’ve been saving and making financial contributions towards my retirement for years. But, I’ve learned I need to decide where I want to plant myself when I retire. I need to consider hobbies and activities that will make me feel joyful and fulfilled. My dear friends that are retiring have given me an abundance of hope for an excellent life away from flying. They have been dear friends throughout my career. I know they will be my dear mentors for my life after flying. Yes, it will be a smaller airline come September 1st when I head back to fly. I will go off to fly and see who among us is still here. I will embrace the challenge to bring our industry back to profitability. Then when I feel in my heart, like so many felt in their hearts these past few weeks,….that it is time…..I will submit my retirement papers. And I know without a doubt, my fellow retired Skytress and Skyter friends will be as happy and excited for me, as I am for them as they soar off to their next life’s adventures.