15h20 

While the passengers still check-in, pass security and proceed to the departure gate, the crew of flight LH 404 is having their initial briefing. They meet for the first time in a 20 square metre conference room in the Lufthansa centre at Frankfurt airport.

Lufthansa has a strict personnel policy: every flight attendant has to co-work in a crew with any other flight attendant. A total of 15 flight attendants work on this 747-service to New York, five of them are men, four of them gay, one of them is 30-year-old Dominik. “There were hardly any heterosexual male colleagues in the cabin ten years ago. Their number is steadily increasing since then. Captain Christof and his co-pilot are  heterosexual.

As much as the service profession is classically a gay stronghold, the opposite is also true: there are mostly heterosexuals in the cockpit . “But that is also changing, and more and more captains come out,” says Dominik. At the crew briefing, knowledge of entry and safety regulations is checked, the main issue is how to do today’s service and who does what. Purser Gary (44), also gay, leads the team. There is a cheerful atmosphere.

The ten female flight attendants also appreciate the charming tone of their gay colleagues. “Being gay at Lufthansa and then especially in this profession is not an issue,” says Dominik.

15h50 

The briefing is over, it is time to get aboard. Everyone grabs their small trolleys and makes way to the crew bus. Crew baggage is always checked in separately from the passenger baggage, as it must not be lost under any circumstances. The uniform must also look crisp on the return flight. A clean shirt is a must.

16h10 

The crew enters the empty plane to make the final preparations: This includes checking the emergency equipment and taking over the food trolleys from the catering company. The aircraft is now ready for boarding. A final look in the mirror before the first passengers come through the doors. For Dominik to look as fresh after four to six hours into the flight as he did at boarding, he has a personal survival kit that complements  “discipline” and “service attitude”: a toothbrush, hairspray and eye drops.

16h35 

Passengers start to board now. In Business Class, passengers are offered juice or sparkling wine as welcome drink. In First Class, each passenger is greeted with a red rose at their seat. Dominik gives a friendly smile when he serves the guests. He has an obliging way of dealing with people that makes you feel at home right away.

16h55 

“Cabin attendance: all doors in flight.” Purser Gary’s command means for all flight attendants and passengers that the plane will taxi to the runway in a few minutes. All crew members will now have to be strapped into their jump seats. The 747 takes off on time from Frankfurt Rhine-Main Aiport, destination New York JFK at 17h00.

17h25 

The crew starts service now: cocktails, soft drinks and snacks in all classes, then lunch – in Economy Class “beef” or “chicken”, in Business Class a menu created by celebrity chef Heinz Winkler including selected wines. This is the most strenuous part of a flight attendant’s job. Restaurant and kitchen service in a confined space, plus extra requests from passengers and the one or other turbulence that make balancing trays, bottles and coffee cups even more difficult.

18h25, NYC local time (EST)

Flight LH 404 has been in the air for over seven hours by now, but New York is six hours ahead of German time. Soon the descent into the Big Apple will begin. Dominik’s smile has become a little strained, but only those who watch him closely can tell. “It is very exhausting physically. It was a bit easier for me ten years ago.” Once again, the crew checks the seat belts and makes sure that all the passengers’ electronic equipment is switched off and stowed. “Cabin attendance: prepare for landing.” Two minutes to go before touch-down.

19h30

Captain Christof had set down the big plane gently on one of the runways of John F. Kennedy Airport, a little ahead of schedule, and taxied to the arrival gate. After the last passengers have disembarked, the crew can also leave the 747. At the queue in front of border control, Dominik and his colleagues overtake most of the passengers. Flight attendants profit from designated crew lanes.

21h00 

A bus takes the crew to their hotel. New York is one of Dominik’s favorite destinations. He is here once a month for a layover, i.e. one night at a hotel. Once at his hotel room, it is time to get out of his uniform and take a shower. “When they start the party here, I am usually dead.” But this time, Dominik is with me. Him, me and his gay colleagues Gary and Manuel head for Chelsea’s gay bars. Without uniform.

08h00 – day 2

Jet lag let Dominik and Gary get up at 06h00. The two take advantage of the early hour to go for a run from their hotel in Brooklyn over the famous Brooklyn Bridge and back. For a few hours, they have time to do touristy things: shop at Abercrombie & Fitch, enjoy the New York skyline on the roof of Rockefeller Center and order a burger and fries in the Meatpacking District at “Pastis”, where the Sex-in-the-City girls used to meet for brunch.

14h30 

It is time now to return to the hotel for a short afternoon nap. Dominik will be on duty again in a few hours. Flight LH 405 bound for Frankfurt am Main will leave at 21h40.

INFO

www.nycgo.com
Useful tips and a comprising event calendar can be found on the homepage of New York tourist board.

Information on jobs at Deutsche Lufthansa can be found here here.

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