Trans World Airlines Hostess Training

This information was in my "Report for training" packet.  Dated December 19, 1961
Reporting Date: February 19, 1962

TRANS WORLD AIRLINES, inc. 10 Richards Road, Kansas City 8, MO., USA

Additional Information About "Airline Hostessing" With TWA

During training you will live in the Casa Loma Hotel and share apartments with other girls in training. The apartments are furnished completely, including linens and kitchen utensils. The rate per person is approximately $16.00 per week.

As a TWA employee you will be paid every two weeks. During training, your bi-weekly pay check will amount to $87.46 less deductions for income tax, social security, etc. based upon a pay scale of $200.00 per month. Upon graduation, you are paid $317.52 per month for the first six months, the second six months your salary is $334.53; at the end of the first your your salary will be increased to $357.21 per month. Thereafter, you can expect annual increases to a maximum of $425.25 per month. In addition to your base pay you will be reimbursed for expenses while away from your home base. TWA supplies hotel rooms in the cities away from your domicile on overnight layovers.

During your first year as a Hostess, you will buy your own uniform items at an approximate cost of $250.00. This includes a summer uniform and hat, a winter uniform and hat, topcoat, raincoat, blouses, purse and gloves. TWA issues you a suitcase on a loan basis.

To us our Hostesses are among the most important people in the company. They spend more time with the passengers than any other employee. Consequently, the passengers' impressions of TWA frequently are based upon impressions made by the Hostess. If she is truly a gracious Hostess, is friendly and pleasant with each passenger, makes each one feel welcome aboard the airplane, then she will make each one want to FLY TWA again.

Bear in mind that being a Hostess is not all glamour - there is a lot of hard work involved. It is a service type position and "Service is our ONLY Product." There are beverage, meal and liquor services, aid to be rendered to passengers with reservation problems, aid to elderly, aid to youngsters traveling alone, and innumerable tasks to be done. Also, bear in mind, that you will walk from Kansas City to Los Angeles in five hours, in even less time on the new jets, as your perform the above mentioned duties.

Up to now, we have concentrated on pointing out what you can expect and what is expected of you; however, there is a definite glamour side to the airline business and we want you and your parents to know how working for an airline like TWA will change your lives. TWA is the ONLY AIRLINE that operates from coast to coast and east to Europe, Africa, and Asia. TWA has a most generous pass policy, through which your parents may share with you the thrill of flying, for they are eligible, because of you, to have free and reduced-rate transportation over our routes. You can give them a magic carpet if you are a TWA Hostess. You are eligible for passes after being an employee for only one year. (Oh I love the magic carpet thing, and believe me, mother took advantage of the passes and was ALWAYS flying somewhere until my last month with TWA.....March, 1991.)

After approximately two years, you will have enough seniority to bid for a transfer to the International Division (which I did) providing you are able to reasonably speak and understand any one of several European languages.

The Hostess and TWA have a relationship in which there will be as much given as received by both parts.

                     ___________________________________________________________

TRANS WORLD AIRLINES, INC.

Kansas City, Missouri

March 1, 1962


Before the days of "Jet-Ways" or "Jet Bridges", stairs were used.  I can remember snow coming inside the front door and having to stand there smiling and greeting each passenger. We didn't have slacks in those days and it would be absolutely FREEZING cold! Oh, and walking down icy, stairs, carrying our crew kits in 3" heels - that was fun too. But wait! Then we had to walk across the icy tarmac and wait outside for the hotel van to come - which sometimes took twenty minutes or more. Brrrrrrrrr.  This In-FLight Bulletin was given to us when we were still in training.
                                                                          

DOMESTIC IN-FLIGHT SERVICE BULLETIN #62-8

Winter Boarding Procedures

On multiple service flights, for passenger comfort during winter operations with snow, blustery winds and cold temperatures, it is permissible to use one passenger loading stand. (stairs). This procedure will be used when considered advisable by the District Treansportation Mgr. - Station Operations. In such instances, the passenger steps will be positioned at the forward door. Terminating flights require two passenger stands at all times. (front and aft doors.)

For those of you who never experienced flying in the "golden era", you may be surprised with the choice of meals.

Ash Wednesday and Good Friday Fish Provisioning

This is to serve as a reminder that March 7 is Ash Wednesday and April 20, Good Friday. The fish provisioning for these two days are as follows:

                                     Boeing 707 Flights
   Over 1:30 minutes                                    Less than 1:30 minutes
First Class  50% Meat                           First Class - 100% Lobster
                  50% Lobster

Tourist       50% Meat                          Tourist - 100% Meat
                  50% Fish                                   plus 50% non-meat sandwiches