Skip to content
Sign In Subscribe
Travels — News — travel

Bette Nash, the flight attendant holding the world record for longest service, passes away at age 88.

American Airlines and the Association of Professional Flight Attendants have announced the death of Bette Nash, known for holding the Guinness World Record as the longest-serving flight attendant, at the age of 88.

,   and  Ann Bradley
4 min read
Lessons from 60 years as a flight attendant. American Airlines flight attendant Bette Nash is 80...
Lessons from 60 years as a flight attendant. American Airlines flight attendant Bette Nash is 80 years old and has been in the industry for nearly six decades

Bette Nash, the flight attendant holding the world record for longest service, passes away at age 88.

American Airlines mourns the passing of their esteemed flight attendant Bette Nash, who dedicated almost 70 years to looking after their passengers in the sky. Starting her career in 1957, she held the record for the longest-serving flight attendant in the Guinness World Records. Bette's devotion and kindness were an inspiration for many generations of flight attendants. Fly high, Bette!

The Association of Professional Flight Attendants, a union representing US flight attendants, paid tribute to Nash on Facebook: "For over 60 years, Bette's heat, devotion, and unmatched service left an impression on everyone she met. Her love for aviation and dedication to her passengers made her a legend in the aviation community."

Bette Nash, pictured here in 1958 in her Eastern Airlines uniform, has served as a flight attendant for nearly six decades.

Nash started working as a flight attendant for Eastern Airlines in Washington, DC, on November 4, 1957. A chance encounter with a flight crew at Reagan Washington National Airport made her decide to pursue her dream job. Despite obtaining a college degree, she stuck with her dream of becoming a flight attendant.

In 2016, CNN took a flight with her on her daily route between Reagan Washington National to Boston Logan. At 80 years old, she said it was the romance and glamour of flying that drew her to the profession.

When she first took flight, planes were a place of luxury -- almost a vacation in itself. It was a sophisticated party in the air, where everyone wore their Sunday best and ate lobster on real china.

Nash never considered retirement and even when she thought otherwise, a memorable day at work would change her mind. Nash said it was the continuous evolution of airlines that kept her motivated to stay. Technology in aviation also underwent significant transformation, from blackboards to tablets, a big change she witnessed in her long career.

Nash received the Guinness World Record for the longest-serving flight attendant in early 2022, replacing the previous record-holder with 63 years, 61 days of experience as of January 4, 2021. She passed away on May 17, 2022, in a hospice care facility.

Around 1970, Nash explains, the look started getting a little radical, with pantsuits, bold colors, short dresses and really big hair.

Bette Nash: From Chalkboards to Tablets in 60 Years of Flight

When Nash first began flying in the '50s, all flight schedules were chalked up on a blackboard, and manuals and regulations came in book form. Pictured: An archive

Bette Nash's career spanned six decades of aviation, seeing major advancements in technology. When she first started flying, all flight agendas were written on blackboards, and regulations and manuals were books. Nash recalled the days of luxury when people dressed their Sunday best and enjoyed lobster on real china on planes.

"You worked harder physically back then," she reminisced. "We served a big meal tray and I was the only one on the plane, so I had to take care of everyone."

“Bette’s remarkable career spanned over six decades, during which she touched countless lives with her warmth, dedication and unparalleled service,” said the Association of Professional Flight Attendants.

But the biggest change came with technology. Pages turned into screens, making it challenging for Nash to adjust: "Technology really made the difference of, 'Am I going to stay or go?' But even when I thought I might retire or something, then I come to work and think, 'Oh, I couldn't do that.' It's stimulating coming here. The airlines are evolving continuously, and you have to evolve with them."

Interested in Nash's epic journey? Read all about it here. CNN's Michelle Cohan contributed to this report.

Read also:

American Airlines encourages its passengers to remember the legacy of Bette Nash, the longest-serving flight attendant, by embarking on their own journeys with her spirit of dedication and love for aviation in mind. The association of professional flight attendants also encourages members to honor Nash's memory by continuing to provide exceptional service and warmth to passengers, emulating her unparalleled career spanning over six decades.

Flight schedules and regulations used to be written on blackboards and arrived in book format during Bette Nash's early years as a flight attendant, but as technology progressed, she adapted to the changes and even found excitement in the continuous evolution of airlines. From chalkboards to tablets, Nash witnessed the transformation of the aviation industry throughout her remarkable 60-year career.

Source: edition.cnn.com

Comments

Related

Latest

Grave accusations levied against JVA staff members in Bavaria
Panorama

Grave accusations levied against JVA staff members in Bavaria

Grave accusations levied against JVA staff members in Bavaria The Augsburg District Attorney's Office is currently investigating several staff members of the Augsburg-Gablingen prison (JVA) on allegations of severe prisoner mistreatment. The focus of the investigation is on claims of bodily harm in the workplace. It's

,   and  Ann Bradley
Members Public