Working for an Airline
*Edit: Several years ago I worked at our little local airport with a company that checked in and loaded planes for both United and Delta Airlines. These were my scattered thoughts written after I came home from a 12 hour shift that started at 3 am. I felt it was good to revisit as summer travel ramps up. Those people behind the counter are as irritated as you that the plane isn't working! We are encouraged to nap sometime during our work day because of our early hours. A typical day starts at 4 am and lasts till 2 or 3 pm. Sometimes we pull 16 hour shifts when weather is bad or planes arrive broken. Yes... broken. We work really hard a third of our day, sort of hard a third of our day, and exhausted the rest of the day. Nonetheless, joy is the ruling emotion most of the time. This is because of the firm relationships forged by doing something difficult in a team environment. The airlines attract ex-military personnel because of the feeling of comradeship that is present each an...