Some people get nervous about flying, but most people (especially people who travel frequently, like flight attendants) don’t think anything unusual is going to happen on a plane. A lot of us are probably guilty of dozing off during the emergency demonstrations, in fact. But Raquel Vingard experienced something no flight attendant ever wants to experience. In the story below, we’ll discuss how one crumpled note turned her view of flying on its head forever.
Meet Raquel Vingard
Travel was always something Raquel lived for. She’d imagine, when she was younger, of going to all these various places around the world, and she was all about the adventure. The biggest cities like Paris and New York were always places she wanted to go.
Her mother suggested she find a job that incorporated travel after she graduated high school. Raquel decided she wanted to become a flight attendant without hesitation because then she would be able to see the world and help others, which was another big one of her passions.
Upon completing her training, Vingard started up her new job right away. Everything about what she did she loved, and she was sure she had made the right decision. For a few years, it all worked. Things would change, though, when she got to her 500th career flight.
Nervous
When she woke up on the morning of her next flight, she felt more nervous than usual. She couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but something felt different. Even though she sometimes still got a bit nervous before every flight, she couldn’t help but notice the uncomfortable knot in her stomach.
Regardless, she dressed in the morning and prepared for the long day ahead. She also wanted to make the best impression on her crew and the passengers, so she did her best to put her uncomfortable energy behind her. Raquel was incredibly passionate about hospitality, which is why her career choice fitted her so well.
She chalked her nervousness up to the fact that this was to be her 500th flight. She couldn’t believe just how quickly time had gone. Raquel fondly remembered her first career flight and how nervous she had been. It honestly seemed like just the other day.
Her Fellow Crew Members
As Raquel arrived at the airport, she was excited to see her fellow crew members standing at the boarding gate. She had flown with a few of them many times before and knew just how good they were at their jobs.
Seeing them instantly made her feel a bit more relaxed. She greeted them and was congratulated by everyone for the major career milestone that she was about to reach. It was nice to know that she had the perfect team of crew members on her side.
As they boarded the plane and put their luggage away, Raquel finally started to feel more like herself. She reminded herself that this was going to be an easy flight: just over 4 hours from Sacramento to Detroit. She had flown this route plenty of times before. In fact, she had once worked a 16-hour flight, meaning that this one should be a piece of cake.
Greetings
As the boarding process began, Raquel stood at the door alongside Phil, her fellow steward. She did her best to hide her nerves behind a smile, greeting the passengers, helping them find their seats, and safely storing their luggage.
There was always so much to do before takeoff – Raquel actually found it the most stressful part of the job. She was so busy while the plane began to fill up that she almost forgot about the unsettling feeling in her stomach. However, it was still there, nagging away at the back of her mind.
Like always, Raquel made an effort to keep an eye out for any passengers who needed an extra bit of attention during the flight. Unfortunately, there seemed to be quite a few on this particular flight. Maybe it wouldn’t be as easy as she had hoped.
