Carolyn Pike has never set foot on a plane – until now.
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| QANTASLINK EMBRAER E190AR VH-UZK (MSN 19000198) |
The 81-year-old grandmother-of-four from Adelaide got a rare opportunity to experience her first ever flight from her home city to Kangaroo Island while her granddaughter Lauren was working as a flight attendant. Ms. Pike said she’s never really had a reason to hop on a plane given her family and friends all reside in Adelaide. She also joked her and her husband love to “just stay at home”.
But that all changed when she got a phone call from Lauren last week that Qantas was allowing 20 cabin crew the unique opportunity to share their workplace, and the sky, with the women that shaped their lives – from mums, grandmas, daughters and granddaughters – over the next few weeks in celebration of Mother’s Day.
“I was more excited than nervous,” Carolyn said about her first ever flight on Thursday.
But that all changed when she got a phone call from Lauren last week that Qantas was allowing 20 cabin crew the unique opportunity to share their workplace, and the sky, with the women that shaped their lives – from mums, grandmas, daughters and granddaughters – over the next few weeks in celebration of Mother’s Day.
“I was more excited than nervous,” Carolyn said about her first ever flight on Thursday.
“Lauren’s fiancé Tim took me to the airport and put me through security because I wouldn’t have had a clue what to do,” she laughed. After clearing security, Ms. Pike headed to Qantas’ brand-new Adelaide Lounge where she enjoyed some brekky before being taken on the regional flight.
“Lauren greeted me as I boarded which was so lovely. I was then shown to my seat, buckled up and the plane took off.
“Seeing Lauren working was the biggest highlight, it made me feel very proud.”
In an unexpected twist and to Ms. Pike’s surprise, the pilot jumped on the PA system with a personalised announcement for the grandmother as the plane took off.
“He said, ‘Hello ladies and gentlemen, we have a very special guest on-board, and we’d like to welcome Ms. Pike – she is on her first flight’. I felt like a movie star,” she laughed
The whole experience was both exciting and nerve wracking for Lauren. The QantasLink flight attendant of four years said she felt “pretty nervous” having nan on-board as she wanted to do her proud.
“My hands were shaking when she got on the plane, but I was so excited to share this first flight with her,” the 28-year-old told news.com.au.
“It was a bit strange to have my worlds collide but seeing how happy and excited she was, was so special. “She said hello to me and then quickly said ‘I’m so excited’ which was so sweet.”
Lauren started with the airline back in 2021 and loves working on the regional network so much, she currently has no plans on switching to the international network.
“I want to stay with QantasLink – I just love the lifestyle, the shorter flights and particularly meeting the passengers from rural communities.
“This is where I want to stay.”
“Lauren greeted me as I boarded which was so lovely. I was then shown to my seat, buckled up and the plane took off.
“Seeing Lauren working was the biggest highlight, it made me feel very proud.”
In an unexpected twist and to Ms. Pike’s surprise, the pilot jumped on the PA system with a personalised announcement for the grandmother as the plane took off.
“He said, ‘Hello ladies and gentlemen, we have a very special guest on-board, and we’d like to welcome Ms. Pike – she is on her first flight’. I felt like a movie star,” she laughed
The whole experience was both exciting and nerve wracking for Lauren. The QantasLink flight attendant of four years said she felt “pretty nervous” having nan on-board as she wanted to do her proud.
“My hands were shaking when she got on the plane, but I was so excited to share this first flight with her,” the 28-year-old told news.com.au.
“It was a bit strange to have my worlds collide but seeing how happy and excited she was, was so special. “She said hello to me and then quickly said ‘I’m so excited’ which was so sweet.”
Lauren started with the airline back in 2021 and loves working on the regional network so much, she currently has no plans on switching to the international network.
“I want to stay with QantasLink – I just love the lifestyle, the shorter flights and particularly meeting the passengers from rural communities.
“This is where I want to stay.”
Full story sourced from here
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