This post is a continuation of Harrisburg International Airport's mini-series in blogging: Airport Life. This series explores the airport community from business and leisure travelers to airport staff.
With a rich history in the sky, American Airlines flight attendant AJ Hinton has seen a lot in her 39 years of service. From changing standards in the airline industry to an interesting list of passengers, this veteran is full of fascinating non-fiction from the fuselage.
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Serving many different locations both domestically and internationally with American Airlines, AJ has seen the best of times and the worst of times. Working with in “the good ol’ USA” American Airlines had AJ based in many different locations across the states including her hometown of Chicago, San Diego, Los Angeles, Raleigh-Durham in North Carolina, and Dallas on three separate occasions. While working these flights suited her best, internationally she also worked the glamorous circuit to Paris, France exclusively from 1988 through 1995. With stricter security measures in locations like Mexico and the United Kingdom making her job a little tougher, she describes Carracus, Venezuela as her least favorite (not to mention scary) destination.
Even though AJ has never served out of Harrisburg International Airport as it is served by American Eagle, a wholly-owned subsidiary of American Airlines, she describes our venue as a “first class airport.” The music played throughout the airport is arguably her favorite part, as many other airports internationally can not help sooth the “traveling blues” that she sees so often in passengers without it.
And speaking of music, AJ describes her “golden years” as the time she served out of Los Angeles, California’s LAX in the 70’s where she encountered a lot of talent like singer/songwriters Willy Nelson and Neil Diamond, who even invited her to their concerts.
Especially memorable on these flights are the numerous celebrity encounters on cross-country flights from LA to New York City. Getting to meet many customers from “the Business,” she has a special collection of autographs that she’s collected for loved ones. She obtained comedian Richard Pryor’s, who she describes as a sweet, friendly, and funny man, for her husband. Another gift for her husband, she was able get a hold of a flight passenger list containing Dudley Moore’s name which she gave him as a birthday present.
Above all other celebrities, however, nothing tops her two encounters with an ex-governor of California. On a trip from Washington Dulles to Chicago, the entire first class cabin in a 707 plane was reserved specifically for presidential candidate Ronald Reagan. Complete with bodyguards from the CIA, the then presidential candidate could be depicted as a very pensive man who was always deep in thought with a pen in hand. AJ, however, was very impressed by the fact that whenever she interacted with him he gave her complete, undivided attention, even dropping his pen for full consideration.
While AJ has had many celebrity encounters of her own, she is not the only one in her family who worked with some of Hollywood’s elite. While living in California, her husband of 34 years, served as a limousine driver to the stars. Their slogan, “I fly ‘em, you drive ‘em” became the family joke as the number of these interactions grew.
Usually flying to New York’s JFK and Dallas/Fort Worth’s DFW during this time in her career as a flight attendant, AJ never experienced a dull moment. Seeing the good, the bad, and everything in between on these flights, the interactions with her fellow flight crew members are something she also holds dear. Even when flying in larger planes like the 747, where the crew was challenged with serving 300 hot meals and uncorking 50 liters of wine, the patients, skill, and teamwork displayed through her fellow flight attendants is something she cherishes.
Seeing a lot of changes in industry standards during her time, AJ’s experiences are a testament to the shift of airline culture. In the early 1970’s the skies seemed to be a friendlier place, with well-dressed and well-mannered customers, as well as less threatening situations in the sky. But even though these conditions have transformed, AJ loves the challenge of the job, the people she works with and serves, the new places she can go, and the exhilarating feeling of being up in the air just the same.
With a proven history as a flight attendant, AJ’s commitment to American Airlines is just as strong as American Eagle’s commitment to the south central Pennsylvania region. With non-stop flights to Harrisburg International Airport’s number one business destination, Chicago O’Hare, American Eagle’s hard work in our area parallels that of AJ’s and all other flight attendants that work with American Airlines across the country and internationally.
