Fly Girl

A Memoir

By: Ann Hood

Narrated by: Ann Hood

An entertaining and fascinating memoir of “gifted storyteller” (People) Ann Hood’s adventurous years as a TWA flight attendant.

In 1978, in the tailwind of the golden age of air travel, flight attendants were the epitome of glamor and sophistication. Fresh out of college and hungry to experience the world―and maybe, one day, write about it―Ann Hood joined their ranks. After a grueling job search, Hood survived TWA’s rigorous Breech Training Academy and learned to evacuate seven kinds of aircraft, deliver a baby, mix proper cocktails, administer oxygen, and stay calm no matter what the situation.

In the air, Hood found both the adventure she’d dreamt of and the unexpected realities of life on the job. She carved chateaubriand in the first-class cabin and dined in front of the pyramids in Cairo, fended off passengers’ advances and found romance on layovers in London and Lisbon, and walked more than a million miles in high heels. She flew through the start of deregulation, an oil crisis, massive furloughs, and a labor strike.

As the airline industry changed around her, Hood began to write―even drafting snatches of her first novel from the jump-seat. She reveals how the job empowered her, despite its roots in sexist standards. Packed with funny, moving, and shocking stories of life as a flight attendant, Fly Girl captures the nostalgia and magic of air travel at its height, and the thrill that remains with every takeoff.

©2022 Ann Hood (P)2022 Recorded Books

We’ll written, not what I expected

I expected more of a comedy with entertaining stories of passengers and flight mishaps. There was some of this but more history of airlines and changes over the years in expectations of flight attendants. All of that was interesting, just less of the light entertainment I was looking for.

Excellent All Around!

As a former flight attendant from that era, Ann was on point and evoked all those same feelings of that life. She really gives perspective of a lifestyle and the love of flying and class ones that no longer exists….

Great listen

This was so worth the little I spent as a deal of the day. If I had used a credit I would have been just as satisfied! Well written and her natation was great. I know a bunch of flight attendants and I have deeper insight and respect for their job as a result of reading/ listening to this.

Interesting memoir of a flight attendant

I admire the author’s energy, kindness, and love of flying and travel, She tells a fun story about her life flying for airlines, and shows appreciation for things that many people ignore- sunsets, old cities, new cuisine, etc. worth a read.

I didn’t want the book to end!

Thank you for sharing your experiences with us. Best book I have listened to in a long time!

Brilliant Read/Listen

I loved listening to this book! A wonderful and heartfelt glimpse into the life of a flight attendant in times past. Beautifully written and narrated. I too love to fly ever since being a young child going to Heathrow to watch the planes and people.

Pleasantly surprised

I enjoyed the book and Ann Hoods reading. As a former Flight Attendant who flew in the 60’s until the 90’s I identified with the book . I felt like I had met a former flying buddy as we reminisced . It was a magical time . There is a sisterhood and brotherhood of those who walk the isles in the sky .

Much more than I expected

I expected some fun and possibly scandalous stories but this book delivers so much more. This is an interesting true story of adventure, bravery, corporations, Americana, ambition, sexism and world travel. Ann Hood somehow makes all of that flow effortlessly on to the page.

I enjoyed this book

Interesting topic to me and the story held my interest. Learned a few things and loved hearing how life was as a TWA flight attendant!

Surprisingly delightful

I expected more crazy stories or something giddy, but I thoroughly enjoyed the telling of the real life experiences of a flight attendant. Ann Hood has a gift for writing and reading. Her training, work and travel are fascinating. She weaves in history and economics and equal rights in an honest and interesting way without making a soapbox out of any of it. I really enjoyed this book.