When Bette Nash started her job as a flight attendant, she used blackboards to give safety instructions. Her passengers could smoke inside the plane and tickets were only $12. Sixty-five years later, she has witnessed the technology revolution.
Many people wait until they are in their 60s, depending on their country of residence, before they can finally retire and begin their well-deserved rest. In Bette‘s case, she never imagined herself at home relaxing and wanted to continue working regardless of her age. Today, at the age of 86, she is the longest-serving flight attendant in the world.
Bette Nash
In 1952, when Bette was just 16 years old, she took her first plane flight with her family in her hometown in Virginia, USA. At that moment, the teenager fell in love with flying and decided that when she came of age, she would be a stewardess.
At the age of 21, Bette began training to be a flight attendant for Eastern Airlines. Since then, she has never stopped working in what she loves.
Bette Nash
The old woman began her career as a flight attendant 65 years ago, and what’s impacted her most hasn’t been her physical changes over six decades, but how quickly the technology implemented in airplanes has advanced during that time.
When Bette was in her 20s, airplanes used small blackboards, where seat numbers and safety instructions were written with chalk, a far cry from today’s digital screens.
Bette Nash
In those days, you didn’t have to reserve a seat in advance, and anyone who came to the airport counter could buy a ticket for just $12. On every flight, Bette would walk down the aisle offering Marlboro cigarettes to passengers and serving them lobster for dinner. This is all very different from today’s commercial flights.
While still in the prime of her youth, she became a stewardess for Eastern Airlines when American Airlines bought the company where she worked. Since that time, she has remained with the same airline and has no plans to leave.
Bette Nash
In fact, she recently became the Guinness World Record holder for the longest-serving flight attendant in the world, with 65 years of service in the air and 86 years of age.
Today Bette’s plan is to always take the same routes. She doesn’t change them, because she likes to see the same people and familiar faces. She feels they make her job more joyful.
«Maybe their dress changes, but people have the same needs: a little love and attention (…) I love my people. I love being on the same flight all the time because I know my customers.»
Bette Nash told CNN.
Bette Nash
Bette, at 86 years old and after working more than six decades, just knows that she’s still at the same job because every time she gets on a plane she feels like life becomes just a little more fun.