HEATHER POOLE has worked for a major U.S. carrier for more than fifteen years. Her first novel, Cruising Attitude: Tales of Crashpads, Crew Drama and Crazy Passengers at 35,000 Feet is a New York Times bestseller. Her work has also been published in The Best Women’s Travel Writing 2010, and her column, “Galley Gossip: Confessions from the Jumpseat with Heather Poole,” can be found on AOL’s award winning website, Gadling.com. She has been mentioned in or on Good Morning America, 20/20, CNN, HLN, Fox and Friends, Ricki Lake, Weather Channel, People Magazine, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, National Geographic Traveler, MSNBC, USA Today, The Times Online, The New York Post, Entrepreneur Magazine, Marie Claire, Woman’s Day, Executive Traveler, Martha Stewart Weddings, Fodors.com, CondeNast.com, Frommers.com, and more
*TV*
THE RICKI LAKE SHOW - Secrets of Today’s Hottest Jobs (October 22 2012)
THE MORNING SHOW (Australia) – Just Plane Crazy (interview May 2012)
FOX NEWS / AFTER THE SHOW SHOW – Cruising Attitude
GOOD MORNING AMERICA – Confessions of a flight attendant in a new book (March 2012)
TRAVEL CHANNEL – Ultimate Travel: Plane Sexy (September 2011)
CNN – Southwest Airlines Ranting Pilot (June 2011)
NBC New York / Backyard Travels: Life at 30,000 Feet (August 2010)
New York Times Bestseller list!
* PRINT *
WOMAN’S DAY: 7 Things Your Flight Attendant Wants you to Know (May 2013)
EXECUTIVE TRAVEL: Heather Poole on In-Flight Service (March 2013)
TAGES ANZEIGER (Swiss Newspaper): Der Blick fur die schwierigen Passagiere (November 2012)
USA TODAY: Hurricane Sandy Wreaks Travel Havoc (October 2012)
NEW YORK TIMES: Best Shoes for Travel? Ask a Flight Attendant (August 2012)
REAL SIMPLE MAGAZINE: Pack like a Pro (June 2012)
NEW YORK TIMES: Variety in Flying Career, Spiced with Aggravation (book review May 2012)
MENTAL FLOSS MAGAZINE: 10 Flight Attendant Secrets (May/June 2012)
USA TODAY – Veteran flight attendant shares tales from the cabin
Wall Street Journal – True Confessions from the Jump Seat (Book Review/Cruising Attitude)
TECHMAG (China): – How to Pack / Interview (April 2011)
MARTHA STEWART WEDDINGS (Special travel edition)- Packing for your destination wedding or honeymoon (October 2010)
NEW YORK TIMES – Packing tips from travel pros (May 2010)
ENTREPRENEUR MAGAZINE - Top 10 Twitter Feeds (May 2010, p59)
THE BEACH REPORTER - Beach Books: Author delights in life of travel (May 2010)
USATODAY: Readers speak out about flying with children
THE NEW YORK POST: Follow me to travel know-how – 10 twitter feeds that’ll get you up to speed
MARIE CLAIRE - Twitterers every woman should follow
* ONLINE *
FODOR’S: Follow Favorite: Heather Poole (May 2013)
NBC NEWS: Passenger accused of groping Spirit Airlines flight attendant (April 2013)
TRAVELCHANNEL: Does Sex Sell Airline Seats? Some Airlines Hope So (March 2013)
SKIFT: 5 Ways Flight Delays are Worse for Flight Attendants
BUSINESSWEEK.COM: How to Avoid Getting the Flu at Work (January, 2013)
NBC NEWS: How flight attendants deal with unruly passengers (January 2013)
CONDE NAST TRAVELER: New Year’s Resolutions from Travel Bloggers, Chefs, and Other VIPs (Jan 2013)
BUSINESS WEEK: Are children annoying on airplanes (September 2012)
PETER GREENBERG: Heather Poole & the secret world of flight attendants (June 2012)
CNN.COM – Air Rage: Passengers quicker to snap (June 2012)
LONELY PLANET – Travel Literature Review: Cruising Attitude (May 2012)
BOSTON.COM - Drunk passengers, playboy passengers and life in the sky: Flight attendant reveals secrets of the industry (interview – May 2012)
JOHNNY JET – Travel Style: Heather Poole (Interview)
CONDE NAST TRAVELER- Heather Poole’s Tips for keeping passengers happy, and other secrets of the industry (interview / photo gallery)
HUFFINGTON POST – The weirdest, craziest passenger behavior (blog post)
MSNBC / Overhead Bin – Confessions of a Flight Attendant (interview)
CNN.COM – Etiquette of crowded flying (Nov 2011)
CNN (Guest blogger) - Flight attendant: How 9/11 changed my job (Sept 11, 2011)
AOL TRAVEL – Flight attendant speaks out about how the job has changed (Feb 28 2011)
FROMMERS – Top 10 Travel Twitterers Slideshow (Jan 27 2011)
ABC NEWS/Travel – The suitcase with wheels turns 40 (October 2010)
CNN - Cursing, beer-grabbing flight attendant grabs spotlight (August 2010)
HUFFINGTON POST - 10 Travel twitterers you should follow and why
New York Times Book Review of Cruising Attitude
CNN - Can you charm your way to an upgrade (June 2010)
FOXNEWS.COM – Five rules for being a good airline passenger
MSNBC: Airlines want your money, but not your cash
FOX NEWS.com – How to hook up on a trip
CNN: Follow Friday – Tweets about planes, errant pilots
CNN.com – Inside a flight attendant’s not-so glam life
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC – The Newest Mile High Club: Laviators
AIRLINE INDUSTRY REVIEW – Who’s who in aviation – aviation tweeters you should follow
MSNBC – The New Mile High Club is “G” Rated
Telegraph.co.UK – 50 Great Travel Tweeters
Telegraph.co.UK – The World’s Best Travel Blogs
NY Times – Lighter on Laps and Wallets
TimesOnline – Which Travel Sites do Twitter Well (and badly)
News.com.au – Flight Attendants Reveal Their Worst Passengers
Elliott.org – 50 Travel Twitterers You Should Follow
ALLISON WINN SCOTCH – high flyin
* INTERVIEWS *
CHICKLITISNOTDEAD – Lit IT girl: Heather Poole discusses her debut novel (and her not-so-overnight success) (April 2012)
BROKE-ASS STUART (August 2010)
AROUND THE BLOC WITH STEPHANIE ELIZONDO GRIEST / April 2010
* PODCASTS *
The Travel Show with Arthur and Pauline Frommer (August 2010)
FROMMERS.COM: David Lytle discusses new mile high club, the laviators
I really like your blog. Well done!
I’ve moved to WordPress too and added your link to my blogroll =)
http://starvillanueva.wordpress.com
Couldn’t describe it before, but you know that feeling you get when you know, deep down, something’s missing? In fact, you’re not even really aware something’s missing – like that.
I love to fly. I love to be in airports. I love to see the only belongings I need to worry about in two regulation carry-on bags.
I RSS a bunch of travel sites and my favourite airline, but it wasn’t doing it for me. Felt empty, somehow.
Then I found this site. Pure satiation and joy. My own 2C seat with a view of the galley and that piping hot coffee coming my way.
Heather Poole, you are a delight. Please don’t ever stop doing this.
Dan,
Now you’ve got me blushing! Thank you.
Heather
hello Heather,
just came across your web site, and thought? My gosh, I know you from somewhere. Do you remember me from the Air Elegance class? Must be 10 years ago?
Let me know if it is you.
Joy
Air Elegance? Is that code for something? Because it doesn’t ring a bell
Nice writing Heather, and nice insights. (Like the photos too). I am sure there is a book here. Maybe a TV series as well. Keep going.
m
Hello,
Seen your articles on Gadling a few months ago and enjoyed all the views (from your co-workers and the travelers…)
I’m not sure where to post this but I felt that this is necessary; I flew a direct flight from Dubai to D.C. on Fri (EARLY 18 Sep 09) on United 977. It was a rough flight for me (16hrs plus and going for a VA appointement) but I know it was an even tougher flight for the cabin crew. I just wanted to thank all of them for the courtesy and professionalism they displayed to all the customers. It was great see how nicely they dealt with all types of people.
I just wanted to say thanks.
go to united.com and fill out a customer comment and the crews supervisors will be notified. it’s always nice when the boss knows you have made a good impression on a customer!
You do an eloquent, amusing, intelligent & even easily elegant–which is to say “KICKS ASS!”–job, Heather! Very pleased to meetcha! M’wah! ~~SAM
PS: Howcum all my flights have female flight attendents over 50 with bulldog jaws, that ubiquitous stray hairy mole & the expression of someone who just huffed Limberger cheese for the first time? (Oh yeah–I forgot; I fly Economy… {*grin*}) ~~S
Hi, this is another Matt
Wish I was the guy you had met flying over Illinois.
Your a beautiful woman.
hahaha! i’m deathly afraid of flying (despite how safe i know it is), but i’m glad i get to read about air travel shenanigans. keep it real!
Nice, i really like your blog.
I remember my newbie flight in Business Class. WOW, I was going crazy, LOL…
I had flown quite a bit, but never business/first and I remember marveling at the food, drink selection and the fact that the FA knew my last name!
Now as a multi year platinum FF, I still get a kick of hearing a FA say my last name! Every once in a while there is that Special FA that will make the trip worthwhile and cause enough of an impact that I will write a letter to the airline providing kudos where they are due.
I remember one specific flight from BOM to AMS that I was flying business. The gentleman next to me had a very very strong body odor. I mean strong. I politely asked that FA to be moved to another seat and the FA very politely explained that there was nothing else available in business as they were booked solid.
I asked her whether she could get me a seat in coach that was an aisle and that I would trade with the person there. She smiled, walked away and when she returned she asked me to gather my belongings and took me over to first class.
To this day I wish I would have asked her name and email address as I would have loved to keep in touch. But alas as many others, didn’t have the guts…
Anyway, your job as FA’s is hard enough without having to deal with idiots on board. Flyers… Don’t be idiots!
Great blog, happy that I found it! Keep it going
Heather, what sort of job does your husband have that requires him to travel more than you?
Hi Heather,
Glad to have found this blog via your Facebook page. Interesting, amusing, and witty writing. I will be back here catching up on your articles.
I run several aviation related websites and have added you to my blogroll.
http://www.loveair.co.uk
http://www.loveairlines.co.uk
http://www.aviation-directory.aero
TTFN
Ben
You always mention how much your husband travels, but what line or type of work does he do?
Good blog & I like your tweets!
I’ve been forbidden to talk about him, but let’s just say he’s a lot Renee Russo in the Thomas Crown Affair only he doesn’t look nearly as pretty in a black dress
Heather,
Saw your packing tips on the NYT. Rolling is definitely better than folding, but I find that clothes which don’t need to be folded at all are better off packed flat than rolled. I usually pack everything flat except for pants and heavy shirts/sweaters (I make sure I’m wearing my heaviest clothing on the plane). Even thin shirts I find I can pack more efficiently by lying flat and folding the sleeves over (alternating them north and south so the folded parts don’t bulk up). Of course, the rolling method is more convenient once you get there if you are going to be living out of your bag rather than operating from a base. Pulling out clothes packed flat is a pain.
Nice job with the suitcase! I’ve tried to teach this to my girlfriend but so far no luck. I’m forwarding your video to her, though part of her problem isn’t in the packing, it’s in the “not packing” as in “you don’t need to pack everything you own. ”
Thanks.
I prefer to roll myself unless I’m traveling for 7 days or more. Rolling just allows me to bring more. As for wrinkles, I try to pack clothes that don’t wrinkle easily. If they do, I’ll hang them in the shower or call down for an iron. Most hotels have them.
Hi Heather,
I just found your blog (through the NY Times story you were quoted in) and thought I’d let you know how great I think it is. People think I’m nuts when I tell them this, but I’ve always wanted to be a flight attendant! I’ll just live vicariously through your blog for now.
Ah thanks, Angie! Kind of you to say. Also, it’s never too late. My mother is a flight attendant and didn’t become one until AFTER me.
OMG ! Your mother became a flight attendant after YOU ! Great ! Everything is possible in USA, and I love that !
Angie, you should realized your dream, even if you have to know, nowadays it is a harder and harder job ! But we do it because we always wanted to do it… and no regrets
Hi Heather
Love your blog. My compliments. It is travel, it is biography, it is witty. Very nice.
Will definitely follow you. Here and on twitter.
The mixture of ‘styles’ and ‘topics’ is awesome. Gives me some ideas for our firm’s blog (we are financial consultants specializing in Emerging Markets). To incorporate a bit of me and travel could be done.
Count me in as a fan.
Hugs, Erika (from the Netherlands)
Hello Heather
I just wanted to say that I follow you on twitter, and I dated a 30 year vet flight attendant for Air Canada for several years so I know first hand it’s a highly skilled job that isn’t easy, I must admit I miss the free first class flights lol but all things come to an end, and for the better I might add.
Too bad she still lives across the hall in the condo next to me lol
Best of luck
Joe
Thanks Joe!
Great blog with a fabulously humorously look at everything connected with flight attendants. I think this is even more humorous due to the fact I know a few flight attendants, and this is all sooo true.
Hi Heather,
I’d like to get your opinion on my website to help travelers find someone to share a cab with. Perhaps a blog about it if you think it is a worthy cause?
http://www.cabmatch.com
- M
Loved your blog, life, story and I wanted to be on your Blogroll as I am a frequent Reader.
PS. and added your link to my blogroll =)
Kisses
I’m very impressed with your blog and all your accomplishments! Flying and writing, sounds like a great life:). Any tips on how to do all that?
Hi Heather!
We are loyal followers of you on Twitter and love your website! I run airportparkingconnection.com and we offer discount parking reservations online to all major airports around the country. Do you have anything set up to purchase advertising or a link exchange?
Thank you!
Mandy Minglin
Airport Parking Connection
619-746-8891
Hi there
I am happy to introduce myself as an editor of a luxury blog: http://theluxuryhub.com/ where we have ongoing Luxury award contest i.e. LuXplosion 2010. Started in December, the top 5 nominees are up for voting and I take pleasure in sharing that Heather_Poole have been nominated in “Social Media>> Decadent Travel Twitterers” Category.
Here is the link to the voting page: http://theluxuryhub.com/luxury-awards-vote-for-luxplosion-2010-nominees/
P.S: We are in the process of profiling every nominee via an individual post and would welcome a mention on your online outfit to have your savvy readers vote for it.
Stay around as voting ends on 25 February and winners to be announced on 28 February.
Regards
Hoi heather great blog well done.
Gr raymond from holland
Don’t remember exactly how I stumbled across your web presence today, but I have been reading your blog, facebook, and tweets for the past several hours now… Hunkering down the east coast Hurricane hear near PHF.
I am fascinated by all aspects of aviation and aerospace and find your enthusiasm for the skies intriguing and your passion for your work captivating. You possess unique sets of skill, charisma, charm and humor that allow you to represent and bear witness to the daily human adventure that takes place in that vast world that exists somewhere around 30,000 feet.
The pictures of your manuscript allowed me a glimpse, and now I very much look forward to reading your new book… Congratulations!!!
Ken – that is the nicest comment I’ve ever read! Thank you so much. You’ve made my day.
Hello Heather,
I’m so happy to have found your blog. What a wonderful mix of facts and entertainment. You have a strong voice and a knack for the written word. It’s all very well done. I’m so glad to have found you on the web.
As a frequent flier, I want to thank all the flight attendants who take care of us in the sky. I’ve found the vast majority to be hard working, considerate and most of all….decent human beings often doing a thankless job. I have been known to write an airline after a particularly notable flight and believe other fliers should do the same.
I have 2 close friends who are flight attendants and routinely hear the funny and the horror of their jobs. I have directed these girlies to your blog. Thank you Heather and keep it up. You are quite talented and I will be following you.
Annette in Utah
Hi Heather – from one Expose aviation writer, from another, I wish you the best success with your latest book. You should try for EAA’s “Author’s Corner” this summer 2012, we aviation authors have a blast up there at the week-long event. You are giving me some stiff competition for the #1 Best Seller position on amazon.com lately, I enjoy the challenge.
Please drop me an email at avitengineer@yahoo.com, I have an opportunity for you. Best, Pete Buffington, author “Squawk 7700″ http://www.amazon.com/Squawk-7700-ebook/dp/B002WTCM7G PS – you can follow me here on FB: http://www.facebook.com/SquawkCode7700
Heather, I stumbled across your blog via your interview with Nomadic Matt. Love it! I too am a crew member who blogs, except that I work on a cruise ship.
Congrats on the success of your new book. Looks like I have to get it now!