'Fly with Francesca' hostess: "Fear of flying? Very widespread but unfounded. One passenger asked me for a hard liquor to calm herself down."
Francesca Losito (on social as Fly with Francesca), a flight attendant in American Airlines, 43, born and raised in [...]
American Airlines
Francesca Losito (on social as Fly with Francesca), flight attendant in American Airlines, 43, born and raised in Milan, now lives in Miami, a city she moved to after winning the Green Card to the lottery, attempted 12 years in a row.
In this article:
"How do you handle a passenger's fear of flying? I have not received any training From the airlines I worked for, I learned in the field. I still remember the time when a frightened passenger asked me for a superalcohol to calm down. They write to me also flight attendants, novice, with a fear of flying."
Flight attendant by choice?
Yes, I wanted to do this work since I was in elementary school. And I continued to want to do it even in middle school and high school, although back in the day some classmates and acquaintances I was told, "You're fat, you're ugly, you'll never be able to do it." because it was said that to do this job you needed "a nice presence." Typical Italian ways of saying and thinking, unthinkable in America. Despite being told such things, I went straight for my way, and today I am very happy to be doing a job I love.
Did you get your flight cancelled, miss your connection, land late?
You could get up to 600€ compensation per person
Francesca Losito aboard Volare Airlines (2003)
How did you get started?
I started when I was 22 years old. I was still living in Italy. My first work experience was for a company. charter, Flying AirLines, which then went out of business. From there I changed several, including. Alitalia Express And other companies on private jets. Then in 2011 I won the Green Card lottery, attempted for 12 consecutive years, and moved to the U.S., to Miami. The first year I was still going back and forth from Italy to complete my degree in political science. Then in 2013 I was finally hired by my current company.
The fear of flying, also known as Fear of Flying, is widespread. More and more people are suffering from it. It is talked about, even on the social, but still not enough. How is it managed?
Yes, it is a very common but unfounded fear Whether you travel with flag carriers or big airlines. If you were flying with a third-world airline, on a plane that looks like it's held together with the scotch, I would also be afraid to fly. I personally have not received any particular training, from any company I've worked with on how to get passengers to allay this fear. I learned in the field, flying every day. With experience you learn how to calm people down.
Francesca Losito aboard Alitalia Express (2005)
What do you say in case of panic crisis?
A phrase I often repeat is "I have two small children. If flying was dangerous, I wouldn't be on this flight." After that, almost always, everyone calms down. Or I say, "Did you drive to the airport? If you are not afraid to travel on the highway, where the possibility of accidents is far greater, then you should not be afraid to fly."
Have you had any striking incidents with frightened passengers?
Yes, I still remember the time when - on a Miami-Charlotte flight - a passenger, already at the boarding gate very agitated because of her fear of flying, came to ask me If I gave her some hard liquor to drink to calm down. He wanted to get drunk to take his mind off the flight. Absolute mistake not to make. It is very dangerous to take alcohol in such cases, you never know how your body reacts at high altitudes. But not only passengers are afraid."
Francesca Losito aboard US Airways (2014)
Meaning? Does it happen to flight attendants as well?
Yes, it can happen. I have had some flight attendants, just starting out, write to me to express their fear of flying. When you are just starting to fly some of the noises of the plane, which I have been hearing for 22 years and am used to, perhaps can create fear. The thing to do is to ask the pilots and other flight attendants for explanations.
How many aircraft are you qualified to fly on and what is your favorite?
Right now my company only has the Boeing 777 and the Boeing 787 which are the two long-range aircraft. While short-range has Airbus 319, 320 and 321 and the Boeing 737. I like to do the long haul, so my favorite is the B-777.
Favorite airport?
I feel at home in the Miami airport, but on an aesthetic level I definitely prefer the Fiumicino airports and of Malpensa. In general, U.S. airports are not great, but perhaps the only one worthwhile is the one in San Francisco because it was recently renovated.
Favorite route?
From base Miami is definitely the route to Rio de Janeiro. In a couple of months American Airlines will introduce the flight to Rome, and then that will be my favorite flight.
Francesca Losito with her family
Would you ever go back to live in Italy?
No, and I'm sorry to say. But I'm fine where I am. I live in Miami Beach And I wouldn't move to another American city either. I love the heat and I'm really comfortable here. My husband is American, sometimes when we think about retirement, he says he would like to come and stay in Italy. I, on the other hand, don't, but it's not certain that I might change my mind in the future.
A phrase that represents you?
"Let it go, like the title of the song sung by Elsa in Frozen. It means "let it go" I often tell my colleagues after they have had an argument with a passenger.
