GLBT Travelers - Favorite Travel Stories

OK...this may come as a huge sirprise, but many of the male flight attendants are gay...shocker. Further, I have been on some pretty predominantly gay flghts (Envoy was full of men travelling together PHL - AMS around thanksgiving).

I wondered if anyone had any fun experiences as a result of a "family" connection.

My favorites are:

Having my friends birthday announced on the PA.

A gate agent who wanted to know where I liked to travel too (PBI)

An older gentlemen who asked if I needed an SWU to upgrade (classic!)

My friend was in an all gay FC cabin flying PHL-SEA

Anyone?

Chris

Well mine was a few years ago flying SFO-BOS-LHR on UA.

Everything was fine SFO-BOS. When we got back on board my noise cancelling headphones (yes, fellow UA travellers, remember those) wouldn't plug in. The purser came by and tried to help, but to no avail. As the flight was full in C, she couldn't reseat me (plus I was with the other half). As a bit of an apology, she gave us a bottle of wine. Well, one of the other FA's, who we had figured was an FOD, came by a short time later and gave us another bottle saying: "We look after family at United" and gave us a wink http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/wink.gif

I often travel together with my partner, and no flight attendant, hotel clerk, or any other travel related professional has ever identified us as gay males (or at least never said so). What could we be doing wrong?

There's probably nothing uniquely gay about the occasional flirtation with/from an FA, but yeah, catwood, you must set off the gaydar before others amongst us http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/smile.gif

But it would be interesting to hear tales of times when there was predominantly gay cabin. I wonder what it would be like to be in the majority in a totally neutral place like an airplane. Did you end up having more conversations with your fellow pax instead of being more reserved and keeping to yourselves?

Well, in the case of london, my friend Jeff had "shake your groove thing' blasting through the Noise Reducing Headphones, and had consumed too much tequila.

I think it was obvious, generally I am always outgoing and friendly. I have more fun that way and get treated great all the time.

Chris

. . .

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by LHR Tim:
"We look after family at United"</font>

I guess I'm not family then!

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by SarahWest:
I guess I'm not family then!</font>

Forget United, Sarah, you're part of our family.

Thanks Slumgoddess http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/smile.gif - bit difficult to forget about United right now though as I'm still pursuing a lawsuit against them!

I was in FC on BA between KUL-SYD 2 years ago and I commented to the purser that , "So it's going to be an all-guy flight? "

He then replied, "Oh I wouldn't say that."

Needless to say that it was a faaabulous flight!

Then again, identifying the single lone male as "family" in any airline cabin is a winner...The higher his position in the airline, the better..

I was on a Cathay Pacific flight last year between LAX and HKG... well, William, who was Purser and In-Flight Cabin Crew trainer, and I got on like a house on fire.... and after the flight, I got freebies...

A bottle of Chateau Lynch Bages 1986 Red.
A bottle of Krug 89 Champagne.
2 sets of Pyjamas. 2 sets each of Men's and Women's overnight kits.
And his email address and phone number..!

[This message has been edited by Guy Betsy (edited 03-22-2002).]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by ILuvParis:
Robb, have you seen a picture of catwood? That might help explain a few things. http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/wink.gif</font>


We are all resisting the very obvious temptation for this forum to be one devoted to drooling over catwood.

lol

Stephen

I have found that simply reading a gay mag very visibly brings on all the attention/extra champagne/phone numbers one can handls in a flight.

If you want to hear about my UA 'special service' in DUS last year - then that'll be drinks on you in Chicago then. Hmmm.. ORD.. i wonder if he's still based there.. ?

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by GK:
I have found that simply reading a gay mag very visibly brings on all the attention/extra champagne/phone numbers one can handls in a flight.

If you want to hear about my UA 'special service' in DUS last year - then that'll be drinks on you in Chicago then. Hmmm.. ORD.. i wonder if he's still based there.. ?</font>

But first make sure you make the direct eye contact with smile to the F/A when boarding! http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/smile.gif Then, settle in and pull out your most recent copy of Advocate/Out/Gay Times (LOL), whatever.

Speaking of magazines onboard....have any of you actually ever received comments due to your choice of reading material? I mean not anything graphic, but as in any gay magazine, there are going to be pictures of two men embracing or kissing. On one flight I was on, the woman seated next to me I began to notice was becoming increasingly uncomfortable while I was reading my magazine. She kept looking over my shoulder and squirming whenever there was an ad with two men. Anyone ever had similar circumstances?

I'm always nervous when reading gay mags on the plane, because there's a million sexually suggestive pictures!

It's one of the few places that I feel self-conscious and a little closeted as I try to manage who can see what I'm reading, and try to stay aware of what's on the facing page. I often have to fold the magazine in fourths if it's not something I want everyone to see.

My favorite, though, is reading a magazine and the ad that says "Flying Coach is a b*tch" with the dominatrix FA (it runs regularly in the Advocate and in Out).

I tend to have more luck with the ladies in hotels/car rentals/airlines than with the men.

I guess I must not be gay enough.

d

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by robb:
I'm always nervous when reading gay mags on the plane, because there's a million sexually suggestive pictures!

</font>

Especially in those classifieds! I agree that I do tend to skip over the last five or so pages of the magazines while I'm on a plane. But the problem is that usually the horoscope and advice columns are the last two pages! http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/smile.gif

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">

It's one of the few places that I feel self-conscious and a little closeted as I try to manage who can see what I'm reading, and try to stay aware of what's on the facing page. I often have to fold the magazine in fourths if it's not something I want everyone to see.
</font>

I actually use this tactic too! http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/smile.gif Actually, though, I do often get very self-conscious as well whenever a risque ad or photo spread is on the page that I'm reading.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by catwood:



An older gentlemen who asked if I needed an SWU to upgrade (classic!)

Chris</font>

Did you take the SWU?

Somebody (a cutie UNITED F/A) made goo-goo eyes at me at ORD last month.

Unfortunately I was flying AMERICAN.

OK, In a quick search I can't find any other "who has flirted with an FA?" threads, and this seems to be settling in on that interpretation of the question.

So, sorry, but let's talk about other things for a while.

Many years ago I was in SYD waiting for my return flight to the US. I chatted with a group of cute young men in a gate area (turns out they were spending the night between flights there -- too bad I was heading home or I'd have let them stay with me). They were telling me how friendly everyone was, how pilots and FAs came up to them, introduced themselves, etc. etc. Always other guys, of course, but they seemed to have no idea.

A couple of years ago enroute to and from Southern Decandence in New Orleans. I got upgraded both directions, and the DTW-MSY flight was almost all gay guys in first. Made for a fun flight.

Also, travelling home from BCN while in line for check-in at the airport, the people ahead of me were a mother and son. The son looked like a typical frat-boy collegiate type. Then the mother whispered in his ear, and I could see his eyes following someone else behind us. Then he commented to his mother "Oh, he is definitely family!". I almost burst out laughing right in front of them!

One time myself and two friends were traveling from STL to FLL on TWA. There were two obvious gay FA's aboard and we started chatting one of them up. He told us he was quitting TW and going to work for UA (good thing he did!). By the end of the flight, he had given us two bottles of wine and a bottle of champagne from first class, each wrapped in a cloth napkin. Those were the good 'ol days! ^

Another time I was flying with my father (although I was sitting next to a male stranger as my father was seated behind me) on UA from LHR to LAX and the very friendly FA kept bringing me champagne from first class. Every time he swished by, he would drop something on my table. He even gave me a certificate for $25 off a UA flight! Which I never did use because it was so damn restrictive. Then I got up to go ask for water (really, only water!) and he filled my pockets with a bunch of little liquer bottles! I'm sure they guy next to me as well as my father were wondering what the heck I was doing to promote such gift giving! :D

In 2003, Continental 757 (Business layout) SAN-IAH. Me and my boyfriend (we're 21/23 years old) going to Southern Decadence. The first class cabin consisted of me, him, a few regular fliers, and about 4 other gay guys in the rear seats also going to the deeeep south ;).. In fact, I think they were all off-duty FA's because they knew the two FA's for our cabin.

Once the flight got rolling, our male (obviously gay) FA helped out the rear of first class (i.e. the gay cabin) while the female FA helped out the other two people up front. We started with vodka cranberries, then 3 glasses of wine for dinner (he constantly FILLED us up), and then lots and lots of champagne. At some point I passed out, while my boyfriend kept drinking. Towards the end of the flight, the FA came down the cabin saying, "You queens drank all the champagne!" At the end of the flight, while he was blocking the coach pax to let us out, he kept saying "you girls have a good trip!" It was the best flight I've had.

I still have pics: http://www.sdnetworking.com/msy/

I still have pics: http://www.sdnetworking.com/msy/

Cute pics! Seems like your "decadence" started a little early! :p Looks like you had fun.

Cute couple :)

Just wanted to settle this point. Is it United? :confused:

I just read a very funny article in The Advocate (or some such magazine) about Jet Blue. The columnist said that Jet Blue is gayer than Richard Simmons watching "Beaches" in a West Hollywood bathhouse! Apparently the FAs are super out there and really give the passengers a floor show, e.g., showing you how to "blow" up a life preserver. ;)

Any thoughts?

She kept looking over my shoulder and squirming whenever there was an ad with two men. Anyone ever had similar circumstances?

Hey, I'd be looking over your shoulder and squirming, too...but not because I was annoyed! Maybe she was turned on!

Enjoying this thread, thinking that I MUST have a related story to tell. It was many years ago during my trashy phase, which began in the late '80's and…what time is it now? A buddy and I flew to ATL on a Friday night for a weekend getaway. Went directly to a club called Backstreet - hot at the time, wonder if it’s still there?

Within a half hour I was on my way back to an airport hotel with a drop-dead gorgeous pilot. He told me that he had a very early flight the following morning but that when I was ready to leave, there was a city bus which stopped directly in front of the hotel.

The next day after he left - he looked even better in uniform - I pulled myself together, went out to the bus stop and got on the first bus to come by. After about a half hour with no skyline in sight, I began to get nervous. When a chicken ran across the road, I realized that I was indeed going in the wrong direction.

By that point, bus stops were few and far between. I didn't get back to my hotel until late in the afternoon. My friend was really annoyed with me, and to this day I'm not sure he believes my story. I haven't been back to ATL, nor have I seen the pilot, since.

Any thoughts?
I've flown Jet Blue a few times and never found them to be any more gay or outrageous than any other airline. As seems to be the trend with "no frills" airlines, the FAs seem to be more friendly and attentive, however.

Went directly to a club called Backstreet - hot at the time, wonder if it’s still there?

http://www.backstreetatlanta.com/

Just closed last summer. I was there for a New Years Party a few years ago, and they were worried about being closed down back then as the new condo owners moved into the downtown area and then complained about the noise.

Just wanted to settle this point. Is it United? :confused:

I just read a very funny article in The Advocate (or some such magazine) about Jet Blue. The columnist said that Jet Blue is gayer than Richard Simmons watching "Beaches" in a West Hollywood bathhouse! Apparently the FAs are super out there and really give the passengers a floor show, e.g., showing you how to "blow" up a life preserver. ;)

Any thoughts?

Yes. Four. Each only tangentially related to each other.(damn these late-evening espressos :rolleyes: ):

1)Well, I only suffered on.. errr.. I mean FLEW ... on JetBlue once and the male FA's were f***ing drop-dead gorgeous but also, unless I am mistaken, very str8 and were cruising the gals. Also, I think that they were a little homophobic to we gay pax. (Heck, we were OAK-IAD, there were bunches of us!)

2)On flirting (this thread's subject... as opposed to the other current thread on cruising), I did have a great conversation on a NW flight SFO-NRT with an older (65) female FA in Y. What a sweetie. Two weeks later we were both on the same flight (I was mileage-running to SIN on those low SARS fares) and she was in F this time. She sent back an amenity kit, etc. and offered GLASSES of champagne which I very politely declined as I don't drink. If she had offered A BOTTLE... well, heck, I could have gifted it!

3) Where are these old threads coming from? We had two, at least, bumped from, like, two or three years ago!

4) Does "Leave of Absence" mean that the YVR Do is on again? :D