A flight attendant shares her wildest passenger stories and why she loves the job despite the challenges

An essay is based on a conversation with a flight attendant for a major US airline who asked to remain anonymous. Insider verified her identity and employment. The conversation has been edited to make it clearer.

I have been a flight attendant for 14 years. I am a hiring ambassador for my airline, and I assist during recruiting events.

Since I fly for a domestic carrier, the situation with flights over Russian and Ukrainian airspace does not affect me, but I have heard other crews talk about transporting Ukrainians who are fleeing and coming to the US to stay with family. In a time of crisis, I think people should rally together to help others.

I was going to come back from maternity leave that May. I switched my maternity leave to a COVID-19 leave of absence so I could stay out longer. I took this option because there were so many unknowns about COVID-19 at the time. I was ready to return to flying in December 2020.

We made it work despite the fact that we had a baby, a 3-year-old, and an older child who needed help with virtual learning. It was great for my kids to have their mom home for almost two years.

Passengers are mostly good about wearing masks and usually don't give us a hard time when we enforce the rules

I think it is all about how you remind them. When passengers don't wear masks, some crew turn a blind eye. People are asleep when others go through the cabin with a flashlight.

The airline still requires masks. It is hard to wear a mask at 40,000 feet. Communication is difficult when our faces are covered. I am ready for the mask mandates to end.

It is amazing to see full flights again. We have had flight attendant applications open up twice in the past year, which is a great sign that the industry is growing again.

Traveling is what I love the most about my job 

I am what we call a "slam clicker" on layovers, which means I shut my hotel door, click the lock, and don't see fellow crew members until we show up to fly again. My time is spent layingovers. I will hike, read, and work out. I try to explore the local food scene.

Meeting people is one of the things I enjoy about being a flight attendant. Hearing people's stories from all over the world is incredible.

When dealing with unhappy passengers, I always try to approach the situation with a smile

I smile, let them know I understand where they are coming from, and suggest ways to fix the problem based on what I can do. I have been using this method for about nine years and it works wonders at 40,000 feet. I learned this method from a parenting book and use it on my kids as well.

Some passengers are great, but others can be difficult or gross. People clip their toenails during food and beverage service. Changing a diaper on a tray table is disgusting. Changing tables are in the bathroom.

The worst passenger experience I have had was when a drunk woman boarded the plane wearing only a ski boot and flip flop. When I confronted her after she hit a passenger in the head with her bag and knocked his glasses off, she said she would do it again. Everyone clapped when I walked back down the aisle after grabbing her arm.

I wish more passengers knew about the airline-etiquette PSA.

• Middle seat armrests are for the middle seat passenger — both of them.
• If you do yoga in the back galley, your butt is in my face.
• The "water" on the bathroom floor is pee.

Other things I don't love about my job: vomit and sleep schedules

I have compassion for people who get sick on the plane because I know how uncomfortable it is and they can't do much about it in the air. Unless they throw up because they are hung over, in which case I will give them a towel and say, "You can clean that up yourself."

Changes in sleep schedules are difficult, but after 14 years I have figured it out. I bring home-cooked meals on the plane, but I nap when I can.

You absolutely can be a flight attendant and have an incredible family life

My husband and I are a great team. My in-laws help out when we need them.

I fly once a week with my airline. I like having time for myself when I'm on the road. Sometimes my in-laws stay with our kids and my husband flies with me and we get to spend time together on layovers.

Meeting wonderful passengers is another highlight of the job 

I remember a gentleman who brought his grandma on her first flight. They had the time of their lives in first class when they flew to Chicago. I enjoyed being a part of her fun memory of flying.

One of my favorite memories is when a passenger on a flight from Alaska gave us warm smoked salmon that was delicious.

It is important for people interested in becoming a flight attendant to be easy to talk to, have a servant's heart, and be able to think fast. I started when I was 21 and have been flying for 14 years. I can bid for the routes I like with my airline's seniority.