Why this EIGHTY-YEAR-OLD flight attendant has no plans to hang up her uniform yet: Air stewardess reveals her life of glamour at 30,000 feet - over six decades
At 80 years old, retirement is the last thing on the mind for this flight attendant.
Bette Nash has been working as a stewardess for nearly 60 years - for the same airline - and she's not about to call it a day.
Mrs Nash began working for Eastern Airlines, now American Airlines, when she was 21 - when Dwight Eisenhower was president, airline tickets were only $12, and reservations weren't required - and believes she may be America's longest-serving flight attendant.
Reflecting on her career, she told MailOnline Travel: 'My favorite stories all include being able to help our customers and feel like my job puts me in a position to give them a little special care and kindness.'
Now, on her daily route from Washington National to Boston Logan, she has passengers who she greets with a hug as though they are old friends.
She said: 'I love all our regular customers and meeting new ones.
Bette Nash has been a flight attendant for nearly 60 years
'I have truly enjoyed all the countless interactions with passengers and there are too many to recount.'
The 80-year-old started her career on November 4, 1957.
She reflected that she was drawn to the glamour of the job and the romance of the skies.
She said: 'I was lured by the joy of travel and the opportunity to meet all the people.'
When she first started working, planes were a luxury - almost as much as the vacation itself.
At that time, flight attendants served meals wearing white gloves, and people were allowed to smoke in-flight.
Though she has seen the industry change completely, she still loves what she does.
With a special-needs son and a love for traveling and meeting new people, Mrs Nash feels blessed to be able to do the job.
She said: 'These blessings include my good health. I've had a wonderful career and it's allowed me flexibility to balance my personal life.
'The job accommodates my need to care for him (my son) as well.
'But equally important to me personally, it's just been a perfect career path.
She reflected that she was drawn to the glamour of the job and the romance of the skies
She said: 'Why not work? It's still fun. I'm holding out at least for my Diamond Jubilee (60 years) like Queen Elizabeth'
'I know it may sound a little cliché, but I love meeting the people and that's what has kept me loving the job through the years.'
Mrs Nash expressed that the most shocking change she has seen during her career has been the change in technology.
She has recently had to learn digitally, and said that they recently went from paper manuals to tablets, and now make credit card sales and access most work-related tools online.
She said: 'I've always taken it one day at a time and I continue to do so.
'Going from all the manual ways of doing business. It's been constantly changing with automation and enhancements to create a better experience for the customers and us as crew members.'
With a special-needs son and a love for traveling and meeting new people, Mrs Nash feels blessed to be able to do the job
Mrs Nash believes that, though technology has increased significantly through her career, it will never replace her job.
As long as she has her health, she does not plan on retiring anytime soon.
She said: 'Why not work? It's still fun.
'I'm holding out at least for my Diamond Jubilee (60 years) like Queen Elizabeth.'
DailyMail.
No comments:
Post a Comment