I handed out peanuts for the first time somewhere over Eastern New Mexico. I have watched with envy other "nonrev" Employees help, and I couldn't wait to try it. On a late night flight from Albuquerque to Dallas, I spotted my opportunity. The plane was pretty full (thankfully) and ontime. Our Customers were all happy and mostly sleeping or enjoying a refreshment, which improved my odds of a successful journey down the aisle.
Once introductions were made to the friendly Flight Attendants in the rear of the plane and my basket was overflowing with Cheez Nips and peanuts, I was off to the front. The aisle had apparently shrunk during takeoff as elbows and toes narrowed the aisle to about 30 inches. (I have a 33 inch waist… I'm just more comfortable wearing 36 inch pants) After two "sorry's" and three "excuse me's" I made it to the front, turned, and faced 100 hungry patrons.
I figured out the "switch the hands, left /right" thing pretty quickly as reaching over the basket and throwing the peanuts in the Customers' general direction was as successful as Shaq shooting free throws. The special requests, "no nips," "two peanuts," "extra cheez," special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, on a sesame seed bun, were a little confusing, but I managed to get most of the orders right. I missed one row during the refilling of the basket stage but my error was gently corrected. By the end of the aisle, I was switching hands, smiling, and asking if they wanted extra peanuts.
This may be the simplest task our Flight Attendants do on a flight, but even it wasn't as easy as it looks. I am VERY thankful for our Flight Attendants and all those involved in their training. They do a great job.
