Here’s a story that will capture your heart and definitely your interest. Fleeting Moments of Pan Am Memories written by Michelle da Silva Richmond captures her story torn between two lovers with Pan Am as your backdrop.

On this show I’m taking a walk down memory lane and going back to not only my days as a Pan American World Airways flight attendant, but my guest Michelle de Silva Richmond will share her memories too.

I’ve been asked what was it like working for Pan Am…. The airline is known for so many aviation firsts and the legendary airline is often used in movies, photos of stewardess and stewards during earlier days. But the question what was working for Pan American World Airways (Pan Am) like? Well, that was glamour on wings. It was the golden age of jet travel, and Pan Am wasn’t just an airline—it was a cultural icon. Think: tailored uniforms, five-course meals, multiple meals services, even in coach, and stewardesses fluent in multiple languages, gliding down the aisles like airborne ambassadors.

And for those of us working as stewardess, Stewards and flight attendants – Appearance mattered—big time. Height, weight, age – especially in the earlier years was a determining factor in not only being hired, but also how long you worked. In the earlier Pan Am days, stewardess resigned once they were married. Being poised  was all part of the job description. But, it wasn’t just about the glamour, make no mistake, we were well trained in safety and emergency procedures. 

Michelle and I lived a dream life, filled with adventure, meeting extraordinary people, learning about different cultures and food – and of course there was love. Michelle shares her story. Michelle has been a freelance travel writer for many years. Travel has always been in her blood. She was raised in different countries from the age of two. Her father’s career took them to many countries. Travel was in her blood for sure. She was always interested in writing. She worked for Pan Am starting in 1970’s and worked with the airline traveling to South & Central America, the Caribbean and Europe. After Pan Am she wanted to keep traveling and write about experiences. She has co-authored and contributed to guidebooks. She was the travel editor of an English language paper in Mexico City where she lived for 20 years. She also writes for several online and print publications as a freelancer. Next she is off to Cancun to update hotels details and later in the year she is taking a Viking cruise and venturing off to Portugal.

Here’s a little more about Pan Am:

Training was intense. Flight attendants learned emergency procedures, but also fine wine service, etiquette, and international customs.

The Pan Am Building was one of the largest office buildings in the world and an unmistakable part of the New York skyline. The Pan Am logo, perched at the top in massive illuminated letters, became an international symbol of prestige and jet-set travel. The building remains – but today the Pan Am logo is gone and replaced by Met life

From its start on October 19, 1927 by Juan Trippe, a Yale-educated aviation entrepreneur with a taste for expansion was set on taking the airline to the world with Clipper Flying Boats. The first trip was a short hop from Key West, Florida to Havana, Cuba—mainly to deliver U.S. mail. That’s right, way before it UPS. Maybe we can call it a tropical UPS starting delivery service in the 1920’s.

The shutdown came after a long financial tailspin, fueled by several major events:

The airline’s wings were clipped and not with a bang, but with heartbreak—employees crying at ticket counters, loyal travelers stunned, and a legend grounded for good. I know about the crying. I was one of those employees on December 4th stranded and crying at Miami International Airport instead of on my way to London Heathrow Airport.

And, back to the question what was it like working for Pan Am  – it was like being part of a jet-setting secret society. We  had the best view. It was a worldview from our office at 35,000 feet in the sky.