On Leave from the Sky

CORONAVIRUS DIARIES: A SERIES

In November 2020, students in a section of an Introduction to Journalism course at City College interviewed family members about how their lives changed during the pandemic. Rhonny Fletchman is Kylie Fletchman’s mom.

Rhonny Fletchman has worked as a flight attendant for the second largest airline in the U.S, flying for decades. Sadly, 2020’s pandemic has turned everything, including the airline industry, upside down. Employees and passengers alike have had to adjust.

Fletchman, 53, sat down to reflect on her time in the sky, her leave since COVID and where she thinks the airline business is going next.

Kylie Fletchman: How did you become a flight attendant? What were you doing before?

Rhonny Fletchman: I started out as a cosmetic marketer for Estée Lauder. I also had a receptionist job at the Friars Club. I happened to see an ad in the paper to become a Pan Am flight attendant. The ad had boxes to tick off. I ticked them off. If you could tick off the boxes, then you were what they were looking for. I got a response really quick. I was shocked. I went to training for five weeks. and then I was a flight attendant. This was an opportunity to see the world!”

Kylie: How long have you been working for the airlines?

Rhonny:  Thirty-five years. I only planned to be there a few years to travel. It’s a very addictive lifestyle.

Kylie: How has it changed from when you started?

Rhonny: That’s the sad part. The way people behave and how they dress is so different. People are very disrespectful now. It’s like the Greyhound bus now [laughs]. It’s worse than the Greyhound bus. The way some people talk to us is horrible. Once the tickets became cheaper, people started traveling in their pajamas. People used to get dressed up like they were going to church.

Kylie: What’s been your favorite and least favorite thing about your job?

Rhonny:  My least favorite part is the disrespectful people. It’s a learning experience. You have to be patient with the passengers and your coworkers. The rules and regulations can be tricky sometimes. The hours were easier before I became a wife and a mother. It’s very difficult now to leave for a couple days. My favorite part has been seeing the world and taking my family on trips.

Kylie: How did your company first respond to COVID 19?

Rhonny: COVID caught everyone off guard. They did the best they could. They allowed us to wear masks and gloves. At first, we weren’t. We were never to be seen with a mask on in the aisle. They realized that they had to do something to keep us and the passengers safe.

Kylie: Have they laid off any workers?

Rhonny: They haven’t laid off anyone. They offered a leave. If you could afford to leave for a while, it would help the junior people. I took it so an employee who lives by themselves wouldn’t lose their job. Junior employees would’ve been the first to experience furloughs.

Kylie: What have you been doing with your time off?

Rhonny: “Hahaha… [chuckles] I really need to clean my house. I’ve been doing volunteer work and finding new ways to drive my family crazy.

Kylie: You’re doing great! [Laughs] Have you spoken to colleagues currently working? What has their experience been like?

Rhonny: Apparently, people are still disrespectful. A lot of people don’t want to wear their masks. The only time you’re supposed to have your mask off is when you’re eating. A lot of people get on with their mask but take it off. Flight attendants get into fights with passengers about masks. It’s hard for them. They have less work to do because they’re not serving food like usual. Passengers get a snack bag and water.

Kylie: Are you happy with the way the airlines have handled flying for employees and passengers during this pandemic?

Rhonny: I am. This came out of left field. No one knew what to do. They did the best they could and are trying to keep people safe. As Americans, we can be very spoiled. We’re gonna have to take a bit of a hit by not having some of the luxuries we love right now. We have to try to get rid of this [COVID] thing.”

Kylie: Where do you think the airlines will be in 6 months? What would you like to see happen?

Rhonny: I want them to stay in business because it’s what I do, but I want to see this thing go away. Flying back and forth… I don’t see how that’s gonna happen. One thing my airline has done is omit the middle seat (unless you’re a family).

Kylie: Has flying forever changed as we know it?

Rhonny: I don’t think so. I don’t think it’ll be immediately. It could take a few years. It may take five years. We don’t know. I think things will get back on course if people let it.

Kylie: We may get our middle seat back?

Rhonny: Yeah, I think so.