Heather Poole's Blog, page 5
July 5, 2017
Open Letter: Why I won’t wear the American Airlines uniform
Dear Ms. Surdek, My name is Heather Poole, but you probably know me better as employee 447110. I’ve been a flight attendant with American for 21 years. I love my job and I’ve always been proud to work for American, so much so that five years ago I wrote about it in my book. It…
American’s uniform crisis: Airline shirks responsibility as people keep getting sick
After President Bill Clinton stated, “I did not have sexual relations with that woman” the world focused on two words, “sexual relations” and what those words meant, exactly, in determining whether Bill Clinton had committed perjury. Paula Jones’ legal team asked Judge Susan Webber Wright to approve a very precise, three-part definition of sexual…
An Open Letter About American Airlines’ Uniform Crisis
Dear Kerry Philipovitch: I’ve been a flight attendant for over 21 years. I’ve loved my job so much that I wrote a bestselling book about it, but that all changed in September when American Airlines rolled out new uniforms for flight attendants and pilots. Now I dread going to work. I don’t know how much longer…
My Uniform Makes Me Sick: (Part 3) Interview with Dr. William J. Rea about toxic clothing
Before Sept. 20, 2016, I would have never dreamed of scratching my a — , er, butt cheek in public. Now that’s all I want to do when I’m at work. Usually I’ll start to feel the pin pricks when I’m standing behind the beverage cart in the aisle. They make me want to scratch my boob…
February 20, 2017
My Uniform Makes Me Sick (Part 2)
Flight attendants never forget the first time they see themselves in uniform. It’s one of the most exciting moments of their career, even when the uniform is hideous. The first airline I worked for was a low-cost carrier: Sun Jet International Airlines. I was 24, which might explain why I thought I looked great in my…
February 2, 2017
My Uniform Makes Me Sick (Literally)
You’re at the airport. Your flight is cancelled. Nobody knows why. The only answer you’ve been given is totally lacking in information and, based on the number of times you’ve heard it, sounds robotic. “Only 10% of flights have been cancelled.” Would you shrug it off and walk away? What if every time you went…
October 30, 2016
What I Told My 10-Year-Old About Trump and Pussycat
In seventh grade a group of boys thought it would be funny to lift my blue denim skirt to expose my panties for all to see at a party. The thick material didn’t immediately fall back down when they let go. What I remember most is the laughter that followed, and how I had to struggle…
October 14, 2016
Why “Sully” made me proud to be a flight attendant
I wanted to take my 10-year-old son to see the movie “Sully,” but I worried it might be too much. I worried it might make him worry about me. Me being a flight attendant has never been a problem for my son. In fact, when I yell down the hall that I’m going to work,…
June 15, 2016
When a Uniform is Office Attire, Thousands of Feet in the Air
Boarding a plane a few years ago, a passenger looked at me funny and asked, “Do you work here?” “Of course I work here,” I said, laughing. Why else would I be standing in front of first class ushering him in? That’s when I realized what I wasn’t wearing: My blazer was hanging in the closet, and…
Muhammad Ali: The Man, The Legend, THE PASSENGER
The best thing about my job is the people I meet. In the 20 years I’ve been working as a flight attendant, my encounter with Muhammad Ali was one of the most memorable experiences I’ve ever had — and I’ve had a lot of memorable experiences. The thing I remember the most was the energy that surrounded him. I…
