Revenue?

So far my revenue trip has been eventful. I had to check my rollaboard which has made me feel completely lost. Those of you who are crewmembers understand. There's something comforting in knowing you have control of your own luggage during a trip. That it isn't riding around on the tarmac under someone else's sometimes not so watchful eye. I keep glancing behind me looking for my 'rollie' and I have to remind myself it's in the belly of the plane. Definitely an odd feeling to be without it.

About an hour after takeoff the captain got on the PA and started talking in Japanese. I thought nothing of it until he kept talking & talking & talking. When he finally addressed the cabin in English he said those two dreaded words, 'bird strike'. We took off at 0615 and were informed of the situation at 8am. We had fueled up three and a half hour flight and ended up circling for three hours. I think he said we were burning fuel to safely land but I don't speak Japanese.

I'm amazed at how calm the passengers are acting. No one was unruly (that I could tell) The flight attendants kept their smiles and walked through the cabin answering questions. All in all they were stellar!

Landed back in Narita and are sitting on the tarmac on the buses waiting for maintenance to decide our fate. If only the passengers knew how often they are the ones who truly run the airline.

I'm just thankful the flight attendants are getting a break from the people. After all, they aren't getting paid for this now that the door is open.