Pan Am Training Video: Pre-Flight Briefing (circa mid-1980s)

[@WhatALoadOfTosca]

"... And Linda, what would you do if a passenger annoyed you?"... Linda: "Open the door and push them out" ;) I love these videos. Well done Linda on saving these.

[@LMReynolds]

You have me pegged 😂 So glad that people are enjoying them!

[@WhatALoadOfTosca]

@@LMReynolds I really do Linda. O was telling the wife about you the other day. I said to her "I think this woman Linda just grabbed what she could on the way out the door as the creditors were knocking!" Lol. She found it hilarious!

[@LMReynolds]

@@WhatALoadOfTosca That's just about right! LOL! In my office, I had file cabinets packed with training materials and boxes of videos. I salvaged only a little of it. The rest? Sad to say, it's lost forever.

[@panampia]

​@LMReynolds as a JFK PAA Purser, 79-91, what you were able to salvage is a treasure. What was lost, brings me to tears.

[@scottnichols3685]

My boyfriend in the late 80s was a young Pan Am flight attendant based at LAX. I visited the Pan Am hangar often where these briefings occurred. We were both very young and everything was an adventure.

[@bull3440]

I think being a flight attendant takes more skill than what people think. I mean you look at this meeting here and you really have to have it together to follow and pay attention what everyone is doing. So many procedures and everything has to go right. It's so much more than serving soda and snacks.

[@BDRZN]

As flight attendant, you are SOOOO correct!! :)

[@meandmyEV]

I’m worried for the safety of the woman that got the position over Linda. She better watch her back!

[@der.Schtefan]

HAHAHA

[@porschekaiwi9104]

And we all can guess why Linda was on reserve.

[@LMReynolds]

Rightly so, although I was in a much better mood on that flight (but working on a plan to throw Cindy out of the galley on the return)😂

[@LMReynolds]

@@porschekaiwi9104 That's funny! But for a very long time, Pan Am had rotating reserve, so that even very senior flight attendants would be assigned a month of reserve on occasion.

[@meandmyEV]

@@LMReynolds I was thinking you were just being nice to lull the others into a false sense of security. Thank you for making these. I am guessing your didn’t know you would become a sensation!

[@buddyrevell6369]

Linda getting written up was a reality check on her attitude.

[@ballasog]

This flight took off on May 1, 1986. "A Chorus Line" premiered on December 20, 1985, and "Money Pit" on March 26, 1986. Both of those would have been released for in-flight showing by May 1, 1986.

[@DVincentW]

The Money pit.. funny funny movie.

[@rapman5791]

Linda has some attitude The words out that she is the galley queen 👸

[@LMReynolds]

Ah, you've seen my evil side lol

[@rapman5791]

@@LMReynolds you know it lol

[@BabyxPosh]

Wow this is amazing and Flight Attendants are awesome. I've always had so much respect and admiration for flight attendants and now I know why. ✈️💙⭐

[@qjb75]

What a civilised preflight briefing hehe I remember those days. The Chief Purser really set the tone for the enitre TOD. I remember calling in sick for 2 or 3 flights because the assigned CP was awlful! Of course today preflights are very different thanks to technology!

[@brianscott8936]

crew makes a trip

[@ianforsyth2692]

Anita, the German speaking flight attendant is probably translating, "Sit down, buckle up, and shut up..." into perfect German.

[@bruceshemrock9060]

Um. I am NOT getting language pay on this trip. So. Uh. No.

[@mrtodd3620]

This is very comprehensive. Do pursers always have such a grasp of everyone's names? They are amazing. I hope that today's cabin environment is more paperless with more technology.

[@MsTimelady71]

Right. I'm not sure today, all FAs would know what languages every passenger speaks.

[@kevinvilleneuve5030]

Yes, I know everyone’s names as a purser. There is less paperwork now, but some things still have to be on paper. At American in the 1980s, we were more technologically advanced than Pan Am, I think. Every crew member could access the aircraft type, subfleet and aircraft number, it was included in the printout of the crew list. One quirk at American, positions were and still are assigned when you bid for your trips each month, so there are few surprises when you get on the plane. At Delta, they determine positions during the briefing.

[@mrtodd3620]

@@kevinvilleneuve5030 You must have a great memory! The FA youtube videos I've seen always show the person talking about their future flight and what position they will have, they can also see lots of information on their phone.

[@kevinvilleneuve5030]

@@mrtodd3620 That’s what the current technology has, either on your own phone or the iPhone provided by the company. Most people don’t bother printing out much anymore, if at all. I still keep a printed copy, just in case.

[@TheydyGodiva]

​@kevinvilleneuve5030 DL aren't the only ones who do it that way. At NK, we do it the same way and assign positions at crew brief. Funny enough, it's the senior folks who usually want to work in the back so it's the junior FAs who usually get stuck flying Lead.

[@jeanlucdrion1152]

Goodness , im already getting stressed out and i haven't even borded the darn plane yet. Heaven forbid any personality clashes or embarrassing mental blocks being randomly quizzed infront of strangers practically and maybe humiliated .I sure hope the pay and benefits are worth all that stress. Good Grief the glamor sure went out the window fast watching this video. Then i get to the cabin and have some jerk passenger giving me a hard time. I think i am too old now to go through all of that.

[@jeanlucdrion1152]

A men.This job is not for someone who wants a bit of space to work without someone hovering over them nit-picking.

[@kevinivers]

Thanks, Anita.

[@suhailshafi]

This is a very informative and fascinating pre flight review. I think the job of a flight attendant is an interesting mix of service and safety related issues. On the other hand, I do think nowadays much more of the work is probably computerized. The flight attendants appear to be the model of professionalism.

[@Whtmt]

My God!!! I’m tired after just watching! I couldn’t imagine doing all that every day! 😬😮‍💨

[@dv1216]

They didn’t mention crew breaks!! Very important on international flights.

[@atomsmash100]

Perfect uniforms and accessories.

[@BenPanced]

Ooo! I'm getting the hamburger meal I ordered!

[@IAD_Flyer]

The briefing talks about different movies in different zones of the aircraft. How did that work? If there were available seats could paxs move around to watch a different movie?

[@andrewphillips4508]

6 vcr players

[@Sashazur]

It was ok to move to a different vacant seat as long as it was in the same (or lower) class. There could be a different movie in first class vs. coach or it might start at a different time.

[@TailsTheTwoTailedFox]

Hopefully David didn’t become Mr Upper Deck on that flight.

[@JasonFlorida]

Legend has it that he hasn't come down... he is still on the upper deck!

[@tomservo5007]

Bob works the back cabin, no surprise there

[@BryanAit-ouaret]

Linda the best flight attendant of PanAm 😂

[@mctairgrant4152]

Look at how innocent Linda sounds 😂

[@LMReynolds]

hahahaha

[@grassytramtracks]

If you're not planning on pushing people out of the door, wait until the target passenger goes to the lavatory​ and instruct the pilot to do some rollercoaster dives, that should teach them. Only problem, it does require pilot co-operation, your results may vary. It is genuinely one of my worst fears on a plane, sudden turbulence in the toilet @@LMReynolds

[@LMReynolds]

@@grassytramtracks Aside from the injury perspective, can you just imagine wearing all that gross gunk? Yech 😐

[@grassytramtracks]

​@@LMReynolds nasty indeed but it serves that lady right for smoking in your jumpseat

[@brucegately831]

That Joanne was considered the most beautiful stewardess in the world for most of the 80's. And smart, too.

[@PK-hc8wu]

5:51 Anita is not happy with that assignment.🤣

[@SammyReed-cd4cu]

7:01 - This flight's gonna have a Mr. AND Miss Upper Deck.😀

[@NMeyer0]

Linda Reynolds! I heard she's a troublemaker!

[@timothywilliams9678]

If someone messes with her clipper class galley, there will be big trouble! I wonder how she got to be on reserve?

[@johnlahti1727]

@@timothywilliams9678 Clearly a jacket and/or sweater was worn over an apron.

[@nohaylamujer]

@@johnlahti1727 hahahahahaha!!!!

[@LMReynolds]

You heard correctly LOL

[@LMReynolds]

@@timothywilliams9678 Most airlines assign reserve to the most junior flight attendants, but Pan Am had a rotating reserve that was all-inclusive -- much to the annoyance of senior F/As.

[@joelfeuer619]

when did airlines stop weighing their flight attendants?

[@kevinvilleneuve5030]

At American, it was around 1995.

[@classicalroach]

I dunno but most US flight attendants really embrace the whole body positivity thing if you know what I mean lol. That being said, on the other extreme are Asian airline flight attendants who probably max out at 100 lbs. They look so frail, I think I’d prefer to have a big mama around to haul my ass off a downed aircraft any day….. Don’t you dare reply me anything about racism or fat shaming, thanks! ^_^

[@chasenip2]

True story. My airline used to fly (seasonly) JFK-AMS on a '47-400. It was a junior trip cuz the senior mamas did JFK-NRT, AMS was only worth about 15 hrs. All of us were around the same seniority. I was usually able to hold door 5 either L or Rt...that way I didn't have to look at any pax(I only saw the backs of their heads) or say good bye to anyone on landing and I would read and eat my crew meal on the 45 minute 18:00 taxi at JFK. One particular briefing a f/a announced "I have a bottle of Flush if anyone needs it". Yup! That was the NYC base!!!! U can google what flush is. BTW...I needed it on the return flt landing in JFK. GOOD TIMES!!!!!

[@yt74101]

what's flush nothing comes up on google

[@chasenip2]

@@yt74101 I see it's long gone. Back around 2000 GNC had a hideous viscous-y like drink called FLUSH. You chugged in as fast as you can. About the size of a one handed gatorade, you then filled it to the top with water and pound that. Wait 15 min and repeat that. And it was to clean any unwanted (or illegal) substances in your body. IDK if it was the FLUSH or cuz the airline didn't send in every drug test cuz of cost. BUT....I kept my job. (and didn't learn a lesson)

[@Sashazur]

Is it some kind of hangover cure? That’s the best I could figure out…

[@bradowen761]

Is flush something to drink for passing a drug test?

[@qjb75]

Door 5 was my all time favourite position on the 747 for the exact same reasons lol

[@B1900pilot]

It’s a reminder of how much coordination and communication is required to crew these airplanes…

[@SammyReed-cd4cu]

I thought a pre-flight briefing was just to give pilots a weather report. That's what I get for watching too much "AM Weather". 😆

[@billlevins7460]

The flight attendant in the thumbnail is such a beautiful woman.

[@tom4stream]

No sound

[@edwardhale4294]

never liked the dark business suit uniforms. The white blouse and light blue skirts of the 60s were cool

[@jlo7972]

Was the senior purser played by Jennifer Aniston?

[@LMReynolds]

All of the "actors" in these videos were Pan Am flight attendants and training instructors at the Pan Am Flight Academy in Miami. If Jennifer Anniston had worked for Pan Am, she would have been the most junior flight attendant on the payroll! :-)

[@WhatALoadOfTosca]

"Let's maintain our grooming standards this flight... Not looking at you David..." ;)

[@rpenmark1776]

I am curious, was this ‘paid’ time ? Or,only paid when onboard and doors closed ?

[@Eric2221]

When the doors are closed and the brakes are released

[@adrianatkins3128]

@@Eric2221no, not with bigger airlines in those days. They would have been getting paid for this time and that’s still the case apart from low cost airlines

[@zms8092]

Nobody: Anita: “sure, ok.”

[@WhatALoadOfTosca]

Anita: "Don't pick me, don't pick me".

[@jjinnyc75]

Wow. To think these people are in their 60s and 70s now.

[@aliendeer1294]

Hamburger meal? Sounds good....why only one request?

[@Sashazur]

Maybe nobody knew it was an option. Until recently I only knew you could get vegetarian or kosher but there are actually a lot of choices. Maybe hamburger was available for kids who didn’t want to eat anything else!

[@Zickcermacity]

1:35 - that the aircraft is "??"-equipped?

[@Sashazur]

It sounded like cart or card.

[@Zickcermacity]

@@Sashazur Isn't anything from a G8 and up cart-equipped? Why wouldn't a 747 have food carts?

[@straightpipediesel]

​@@ZickcermacityStarting on the 747s, first class got a series of serving carts, which would be set up in flight. They'd have a caviar cart and have a roast beef cart that they'd cut right at the seat. This is how most airlines do first today. Also, Pan Am walked economy meal trays from the galley until 1976.

[@rhs2931]

@@straightpipediesel We still had a few module 747s where we had to run trays in the 80s. Had to be careful pulling the trays out so that the top one wouldn't scrape off the dessert topping on the bottom tray. Invariably some dinner rolls on the tray would fall off onto the galley floor too. LOL! I'd do it all over again. What a phenomenal time for a kid in his twenties.

[@andrewphillips4508]

Smoking on board how exciting

[@mynewyork165]

Yeah, that really stinks. And there's smoking in flipper & first class. Passengers pay all that $ & they still have to risk having smoke blown on them! Horrible.

[@andrewphillips4508]

@@mynewyork165 by gone age

[@daveholt2157]

As a former F/A from 1984-1995 (Don't you with you could see the real briefing) hahahahaha none of mine went like this EVER hahahah

[@seand2711]

David is familiar with telling people to grab their ankles and assume the position. I wanted Linda to get stuck working cattle coach class in the back.

[@johnlahti1727]

That did just kind of roll off his tongue, didn’t it?

[@JasonFlorida]

Well that's his favorite position

[@thumbun3769]

A Chorus Line -- I want my money back!!!

[@megansalt]

these poor women had to wear 2 inch heals

[@Sashazur]

“I’m Linda Reynolds and I will cut you if you get in my way”

[@chrislaplante5040]

DId meetings like this really happen before every flight? Do they still?

[@ahsram5134]

I wish…no since ‘merger madness’ we adopted the acquired carrier’s ‘scramble at the gate’ method & sometimes don’t know the names of FA’s at other end of aircraft till later in flight. It’s just greeeaattt… (Work positions are assigned when scheds are awarded ea month).

[@tom_nz600]

At QF we still have briefings like this, however managers typically assign crew positions depending on their category (e.g Flight Attendant/BusinessFirst Class Flight Attendant)

[@ThatBearHasMoxie]

What a demanding "it rhymes' with witch" as a Senior Purser. Do you want your team to grab the Mop N' Glow and give the cabin a once over too? Sheesh. No wonder Pan Am went bankrupt.

[@canyonoverlook9937]

Seniority is the proper way to do things as well as pay. Everybody knows what people make the way I understand it. They don't pay new people more the way they do at many companies.

[@straightpipediesel]

It's actually the opposite. Some airlines have an old and new contract, where new crew were paid less and got less benefits, BA for one. Mergers also make a mess, AA was one of the worst when they had ex-AA, ex-US, and ex-AWE contracts going on at once. And then there were lawsuits cause US was an older airline than AWE, so one side wanted to merge keeping seniority dates, one side wanted to zipper.

[@michanone8883]

Wait what?! They used to have hamburger meals??

[@charlieboy77]

So did American until the early 00's. You could preorder a hamburger meal, a hot dog meal, a fried chicken meal and a great American breakfast meal as the main meal service from the list of special meals when flying in Economy 👍

[@richardbarrett7236]

What are the meal choices in coach? 😛

[@Sashazur]

🐓 or 🐟 but actually 🧽 either way

[@ingerreeves4812]

Beef or cow?

[@LMReynolds]

Typically, but not always, 50% beef, 40% chicken, 10% fish ... prepared in a variety of ways by a variety of international caterers. Sometimes pasta was available ... and popular!

[@airodyssey]

@@LMReynolds That reminds me of another Pan Am training video where the flight attendant offered either chicken Provençale or lasagna, and when asked by the passenger to pick their favourite, she answered "The lasagna is rather popular... I like it!"

[@LMReynolds]

@@airodyssey And there you have it!

[@blanchelincoln]

A Chorus Line and the Money Pit??? What awful selections. I'll bet some of the audience walked out...😊

[@johhue]

Senior Pursor: "OK today, I want one of you to initiate a huge food fight after getting everyone sufficiently drunk"

[@GarboMystique]

Linda gives nasty looks to everybody.

[@nephi5059]

Boy, Linda must have lottsa enemies,30 years later. Yeah, I was FA. on domestic and international, never got used to the insane people who work in airline industry. Maybe it's cause most hung over. O brother.

[@stevebennet6539]

I don't know why, but airlines attract all the crazy people.. especially Cabin Crew. So many undiagnosed/unmedicated crew members out there.

[@Saul_Goodman772]

Man. She is obsessed with FICA and currency conversion. Give it a break!

[@PAS_2020]

Mid 1980s - and it’s evident America was working DEI. 40 years ago. Why are we beating ourselves up so badly 2023?

[@boredmillionaire9914]

and men, be careful with Patient Zero. CDC advised us he's laying over in London. Please use protection.

[@classicalroach]

A hamburger meal? Lmao

[@martin7464]

Gate evuleven

[@zms8092]

🤣 🤣 🤣 ☠️

[@slytherin3034]

F-11