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This, the final in a series, appeared in the "Horizons" magazine issue dated July 1996. Life as a Con by Annette Malvar. For years I refused to travel anywhere on a pass during high season. Call me a chicken, but the thought of trying to get on a very full and very oversold flight is not my idea of fun. Two years ago, I finally had to give in because my grandmother, who lives on another continent, was celebrating her 85th birthday at the beginning of August. Of course, I had to go. My delight at travelling during the high season was doubled because I also had to get my mother on the flight. My mother was oblivious to the strain I was under on that particular day. She dutifully stood beside me and placed all her trust in me. The innocence of it all. Little did she know that the particular flight we were listed on was jam-packed and the con list was as long as my arm. My mother and I, of course, had the lowest priority of the group. If you look up the word "stress" in the dictionary, I honestly believe there should be a picture of a group of cons standing at the 'stand-by desk' in Toronto, all intently listening to the machine gun fire sound of the boarding pass printer. I remember staring at the printed con list I had and counting the boarding passes being printed out. There were 22 cons and only 20 passes shot out. We couldn't get on a flight anywhere that night, and I'll never forget the stunned look on my mother's face as I gingerly led her back to my apartment. I tried to explain the theory of full flights and more senior staff to her, but I don't think she was ever really able to grasp the concept. So, as Air Canada's high season starts, I wish all of you much patience and good luck in your travels! |
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Norm Foster shares another of his memories - We had just levelled off at our cruising altitude of 31,000 feet. The route from Los Angeles to Toronto was clear and the forecast was for a smooth ride. I was in command of the amazing B-747 and was enjoying the ride. Still in the era when visits to the flight deck were allowed, it was rather routine when the in-charge-flight attendant came to me with a request for a visit by one of our First Class passengers. Although not always able to accommodate such requests, this one came with the caveat that the passenger was Wayne Gretzky’s personal manager. Intrigued, I agreed and a few minutes later he was escorted onto the flight deck. Pleasant conversation followed and after about 10 minutes the question came! Could Wayne come up for a visit? I found it humorous when it finally dawned on me that I had just undergone an interview.......and I had passed! Wayne soon replaced his manager on the flight deck and unnecessarily introduced himself. Twisting fully around in my seat to face him, and with firm directions to my 2 other crew members that “You have control!” I spent the next 2 hours in a one on one conversation with 'The Great One'. Inasmuch that this occurred over 30 years ago, I have long forgotten most of the conversation. I do recall that he mentioned that he went barefoot in his skates. Also, he shared his skate size with a good friend, who first wore Wayne’s new skates for a break-in period before sending them on game ready. He also repeated a statement made previously that you would never catch him bragging about a goal but he would talk all you want about his assists. Time flew by and as we neared Toronto, when Wayne began writing something on a piece of paper, “ Do you ever get to spend any free time in L.A.?” he asked, as he handed me the paper. It contained 2 phone numbers and he explained that I was invited to a morning pre-game skate and then the evening game any time I could make it....as his guest. The numbers were his manager’s, who would take care of all arrangements. As he rose to leave, he paused for a moment before requesting the paper back, and added another number. “That’s my number. If you have any problem, call me” and with that he was gone. Cleaning out my flight bag a few years later when I retired, I smiled as I came across Wayne’s note. He had long since moved to St. Louis and then New York, and I had never taken him up on his offer; spending 2 hours one-on-one with a hockey God was enough! Epilogue: Editors' Note: When we asked Norm if he took a photo, this was his response – “Sorry, but that was pre iPhone days and I never thought to carry a camera, Norm”. |
