Always Smiling

Penélope has been a flight attendant on the Iberia short- and medium-haul fleet for a very few weeks since her first flight was on 1 November. She previously held the same job at Vueling, based in Barcelona and Malaga. Before that, she spent five years working in the Lost and Found department at the airport.

I strongly believe that most of us who work in aviation have a real vocation for the work. From the first day of the training course, you can feel the excitement.

It's true that the alarm clock may ring a little too early sometimes, but I get up, have a coffee and a quick breakfast, and then get dress, and with my eyes still half closed I brush my hair, put on some make-up and earrings, and then a smile, which is the most important thing.

At the airport you go to the box you’ve been assigned and you meet the people you’ll be working with for the day, or even the next two, three, or four days –your team.

Once you’ve carefully checked all the emergency equipment, it’s time to greet the incoming passengers with a Bon dia, Bonjour, or Good morning, depending on the location. You provide as much help as you can, and try to get the doors closed ahead of schedule. That way we can continue to be the most punctual airline in the world!

When you're up there serving coffee, you may forget that you’re among the clouds, 30,000 feet above the ground. But, sometimes, you can look out the window to admire the most stunning sunrises and sunsets, and amazing landscapes. I think that those views are one of the real perks of my job!

We are also aware that we’re not just carrying people, by also their hopes and dreams about the vacation they been waiting for, or the people they’ll be seeing..

It is our good fortune to able to experience a huge variety or sights, tastes, and smells in a short period of time. We may have a cappuccino for breakfast in Rome and a glass of sherry before dinner in Jeréz to celebrate another wonderful day.

I live near the airport, and sometimes when I’m walking with my father I’ll see an airplane and say, “Hey look, Dad, there goes one of my offices! And he always smiles.

A few days ago, I was greeting passengers boarding an A321 through the central doors, an older man in very fine clothes –the typical British gentleman-- said he liked my attitude and my smile, and he told me to “keep smiling!” . I was very touched. I love my job and I can’t stop smiling when I’m working. And I love meeting fascinating people from all over, and making lasting friendships. 

I have a little nephew in Ecuador who doesn’t understand about airlines and routes, but whenever he sees any kind of an airplane he gets excited and shouts, There goes Auntie Pen!"

Penélope Martín