In the US, they have fat flight attendants

After a few months in the US, I finally had the time to break free and soar (literally) to new heights. My eyes set towards the west coast in Los Angeles, California. It has been a while since I took a long haul flight in the US. Things have clearly changed. The changes start at the check-in counter. In effect, there is no check-in counter, at least not one manned by humans.

Everything is automated. You get your boarding pass with one swipe of your credit card that you will also need to pay for carrying your bags on the flight. I only interacted with a person when it came to my luggage being loaded onto a carousel and getting a baggage ticket.

On the plane, I stifled a laugh as the expression, “There is no such thing as a free meal” came to mind. I flew Kenya Airways often between Nairobi and Bujumbura, a one-hour and 15 minute flight. It did not matter how short the flight was, I was always assured of breakfast or lunch, depending on the schedule.

I was now on a five-hour flight and the flight attendants had an assortment of cheese and crackers and sandwiches, beers and wine—all for sale. I was so thirsty and I asked the flight attendant how much water costs. What a shocker, at least the water was free!

This brings me to my next confrontation with change. I remember growing up in the heady days when Pan Am Airlines existed, flight attendants were the sharpest, most put together people in the world. Their uniforms were impeccable and they had super model figures. Most of them were young and 30 was considered elderly in this career. My memory was a stark contrast to the flight attendants on this LA flight.

As flight attendant Marcia served me water, I caught myself counting the wrinkles on her face. White women are challenged when it comes to ageing. If I went by the wrinkles on her face, I would say that she was a great grandmother. Her co-worker Sheila was as round as a butterball turkey.

These were the juiciest turkeys that every American wanted on their Thanksgiving dinner table. As Sheila moved up and down the airplane, she would bump against my arm that was positioned on the armrest.

However, it was flight attendant James who took the cake – and literally devoured it. This gentleman had to weigh at least 280 pounds. I am not talking 280 solid like a wrestler. This was 280 pounds gained from eating Kenchic, Dunkin Donuts, and business class meals. I had never seen anyone that big working on an airplane.

Are young people no longer interested in seeing the world? Or what they see through their iPads is enough? This was such a grand departure from the manicured flight attendants of yesteryear. But at the same time, these modern day attendants were more reflective of ageing America with her bulging waist lines.

Denise is an Afro-soul singer and music performance coach.

Expat-talk@outlook.com