This is How 14 Days Standby Look

At least twice a year I’m on standby for all KLM Flights. For a period of a fortnight, I have no idea where I’ll be flying off to next. It’s one big surprise. Exciting, but still a bit nerve-wracking, even after ten years.

Curious how 14 days standby look? Here we go!

Day 1

My suitcase is already packed with the basics. Clothes for warm and sunny destinations on one side, and for colder, rainier destinations on the other. Being on standby means you can be assigned to any kind of flight. It might be a 24-hour roundtrip, or a nine-day trip to Singapore!

6:00 AM. I wake up and post a tweet with destinations I would like to go to. #onduty

7:15 AM. My phone rings. “Good Morning Valerie, this is Crew Control.” “Oh, Hello! Didn’t expect you so soon”, I reply. Sometimes you sit at home waiting for two or three days before you receive a call. “I have a flight for you. KL1671 to Barcelona with a night stop.” The woman from crew control also gives me my schedule for the rest of the fortnight and tells me I have to report for duty at 9:15. That’s not too bad. Sometimes you have to be at the airport within an hour… On my way!

9:00 AM. Checking the gate for the flight – less than two hours to Barcelona! Sunny Barcelona is waiting for me!

Day 2

Home early morning with a whole day off.

Day 3

Evening flight to Aberdeen, where we spend the night.

Day 4

After breakfast, a morning walk along the Scottish coastline of Aberdeen. A workout in the gym before getting ready to fly back to Amsterdam. It’s like a quick Kiss & Fly with Schiphol Airport. I take Ellis – an unaccompanied minor – to the Junior Jet Lounge. While we’re walking along, I tell him about writing for the KLM Blog every month. Excitedly, he asks me to take a picture of him, “I want to become famous”. And so I did, when we said goodbye.
In an hour we board for my final flight and night stop in Manchester!

Day 5

KL1094 takes me home in the evening. We always use a crew baggage sticker with flight numbers, to make sure our suitcases go on the right aircraft or arrive at Schiphol.

Day 6-7-8

Three days off.

Day 9

9:35 AM. Reporting time for my flight to Paramaribo. It’s been 11 years since I was last there. It’s a smooth flight with cheerful people. I even got some cute assistance from 6-year old Jarrelin. I asked her if she would like to become a cabin attendant and help me. Of course, she said. So I dressed her in my jacket and scarf. She was smiling from ear to ear. In the galley she said, “You know what I like the most of all? This makes me so happy!” For me, this was the cherry on the cake of a lovely flight.

Day 10 – 11

Rainy days in fun Paramaribo. Gym, delicious food and happy vibes.

Day 12

8:00 AM. All the passengers have disembarked. From my crew seat at door number 15, I look out of the window and take a picture: Home Sweet Home. These two weeks were just perfect. I worked with fun crews, met lovely kids and rediscovered destinations.