U.S. Air Hostesses In New Zealand

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32351, 17 July 1970, Page 2

U.S. Air Hostesses In New Zealand

Fascinated by a friend’s photographs of the South Island, three young American girls decided to spend their vacation in New Zealand “looking up” the views.

The three girls—Misses Connie Simmons, Ann Fansler and Jane Garrison—are air hostesses with an internal American airline.

One of the advantages of their job is that the girls can fly at reduced rates to many countries. When asked about tourist promotion for New Zealand in the United States, they said they had not noticed any at all, at least, not in Washington, D.C., where they are based.

The girls consider that airhostessing has lost much of its “glamour” appeal, and that the qualifications for entry have been lowered. The minimum education requirement for an airline stewardess in the United States is a high school diploma. “But most applicants have at least a couple of years of junior college or university education,” Miss Simmons said.

Between them the girls have a 8.A., a B.Sc., and an Associate of Arts from a junior college. Miss Simmons, the B.Sc., is also studying part-time for a post-graduate degree in education. The girls average about four days off. for four days of work. “In the winter Ann and I work as substitute teachers on non-working days,” said Miss Simmons, Miss Simmons considers that education in the United States has been adversely affected by the current restlessness of the young people. “They don’t really know

what they want They are just ‘anti-everything.’ I think it is mostly the parents’ fault The middle class people have more money than ever before; the father is tied up in his job, the mother plays bridge and the children have very little respect for their parents,” she said. The girls regard the travel benefits as the main attraction of their job.

“I could earn more money teaching,” said Miss Simmons, “but I wouldn’t get the chance to travel round the world so cheaply.” The girls have all been to Europe, South America and Miss Garrison has been to Russia.

The three girls will spend a few days in Queenstown before returning to Auckland from where they will make a 24-hour flight to Washington.