#fieldplacement

Every shift at the Kiosk teaches me something new—whether it's problem-solving, communicating, or staying professional under pressure. I enjoy being able to support passengers right at the start of their journey and make their airport experience a little less stressful. I'm proud of how much I've grown, and | look forward to learning even more with every shift.

Even though it's more of a setup role, it made me feel like I was really part of the team that keeps everything moving. Little by little, I'm learning that every task, either big or small-matters.

Finally!! January 7th was the orientation day. Thanks to Professor Ava and Cathay Pacific Airways for giving me an amazing opportunity. I officially start my field placement with Cathay Pacific which is my dream airline. It was an amazing day so far. I learned a lot about the airline such as membership, baggage allowance, the operation of kiosk and SSBD and etc. When I got my name tag, I gradually realize the feeling of actually starting my placement with Cathay Pacific. Also, I could meet all co-op students who I will work with the next four months, and get to know each other. Most of them familiar, but some were new faces to me. We all are so passionate to work there. I can't wait to enjoy this journey with my team.

During my last 4 hour shift last Saturday, I decided to head to Check In Area 5 because most check in counters there are open and receiving passengers. I noticed that there was a huge crowd of mostly filipino people in a line, but a very long line and about four sections of it. I had a colleague with me, who was also confused why there was a hold with their check in. The Philippine Airlines wasn’t checking in passengers and their bags because there was a mechanical problem with the aircraft. I spoke with one of their check-in agents and she told me there was a problem with the hydraulics system. According to her, the mechanics wanted to cancel the flight, but the head office wanted to continue the flight. Many passengers were clueless and confused as to why they wouldn’t check them in. They startd lining up 8pm but they were told to wait until 10:30 for an announcement, and nothing was announced. There was a huge mixed up with the Cathay Pacific and Philippine Airlines line ups. My colleague and I just tried to re-direct passengers flying with Cathay so they can check in and get to their gates on time. I finished my shift at 11pm and nothing really happened with the Philippine Airlines passengers. I check the next day, that their flight was delayed and flew 4 in the morning. It must’ve have been a tough night for those passengers! I was glad to experience that moment, because it makes me grow as a person in how I can help and make a difference in someone’s life even if their facing something upsetting.

It’s another day volunteering at the airport. Another opportunity to help out passengers needing directions and more help with other issues. It is also another day for me to see different airline flight attendants! Another reason why I love to work at Terminal 3 is because it is filled with various airlines in different parts of the world that fly to Pearson airport. The photo above shows the Hainan Airlines flight attendants going to security or TSA check. It was my first time to see their uniform, and indeed they looked their best. A lot of people (passengers, employees and volunteers, like me) were all amazed when they entered the Terminal door and walked all together in a line. We all stopped and just stared at them for a good 3 minutes. I even heard a passenger say “This is my first time seeing this.” I was going to say, “Me too! They look amazing.” I really wanted to see their uniform because I read an article months ago, that they had the best airline uniform in the world and they were even featured in a magazine! I really loved their coats and head piece and their shoes were all matching. They also walked two by twos, so they were so organized and graceful. Throughout my shifts at T3, I always look forward to seeing them and other airline flight attendants as well. I have seen the Westjet, Air Transat, KLM, British Airways, Air France, Wow Air, Jet Airways, PAL, Cathay Pacific, Etihad, and many more airline flight attendants that are based in Terminal 3. I know that one day, I will also be a flight attendant walking in one of the Terminals of Toronto Pearson. I also want to have an impact in passengers lives as I walk through the terminal with my uniform in the future.

This day was my very first shift without a buddy and I was all by myself during my shift. I took this selfie on the mirror, because I wanted to remind myself that I can do it and if I don’t have answers to passengers’ questions I would re-direct them to another employee in the terminal. I was working at Terminal 3, because it’s a smaller terminal and it’s always packed with people, whether they be passengers or just families dropping or picking up their loved ones. It wasn’t so busy when I had this shift because I was located at the Zone 1 check in area where the U.S.A. Counters and KLM/Air France were located. Many passengers where asking for Delta, American Airlines, Westjet which were very near. I get questions about “where’s terminal 1?” Or “where’s Air Canada?”. I hate to tell them that their in a wrong terminal, so I just tell them “Air Canada would be in Terminal 1, right now we’re in Terminal 3... I could bring you to the train platform to T1”. I help a lot of passengers get to the train platform because they get lost most of the time following the T1 sign, because they think T1 and T3 and connected building. I also get a lot of questions about where Sunwing and Air Transat check in counters are, because they are the farthest from my location (Zone 1 to Zone 5) I tell passengers “They are located all the way at the end, check in zone 5”. Some of them complain they have to walk the whole terminal, and most of them just thank me because they asked and didn’t have to worry looking for their counters. I love working for the GTAA Welcome Team because every day is a different day and different passngers and needs met.

This was my last day of buddy shifts, it was a bittersweet moment. I will miss the two volunteers who were with me during my buddy shifts in the month of November. The photo above is at the T3 Domestic Baggage hall at Level 1 or Arrivals level. The woman beside me is Renu, she is one of the volunteer trainee like me. We decided to take a picture because it was so festive in the Terminal and it was last shift together, and we will start our shifts on our own. During the last day of my buddy shift we had a brief tour of the T3 once again just to familiarize ourselves with the surroundings and we also stayed at the link train to help passengers direct them to T1 or Viscount or the Sheraton Hotel. Most our shift time though, was at doors F205 Departures area near the check in area for US flights and close to the Wendys restaurant. At the location, our trainer let us greet passengers and direct them to the check in area they needed to be. Many passengers were coming in from those doors, but their airlines were located in Zone 4-5, a farwalk for them. I guess they were confused and thought that their airlines will located on that side. Other passengers coming up to us were asking for the Up Express train and Terminal 1 because they were dropped in the wrong terminal. In that case, we tell the, to follow the purple signs with Terminal 1 D E F signs on it, they have to ride the link train and follow T1 signs for train and then they will get there in a few minutes. There was a lot of passengers looking for Pakistani Airline and Chinese passengers looking for China Eastern and their check in zones. I really loved working at T3 and hopefully have more shifts there so I can see my fellow classmates working for other airlines.

The first day of my buddy shift, I was nervous but at the same time excited. I finally got my uniform, the ID, name tag and information handbook for my shifts. I was working with two other individuals who helped me during my buddy shifts to sya the right directions and information to the passengers asking for wayfinding support. I was so excited to greet passengers. We were in T1 for my first day of buddy shift and we were located at the West Bridge elevators at Level 2. A lot of passengers were coming up to us asking for Terminal 3, the link train, the Up Express Train, the Domestic connections, and departures area. The zone or area was busy because people were coming from all sides, but I loved every bit of helping the passengers and other people during that time. We also helped a passenger who wanted to book a flight with a specific airline and helped him go on the computer and the printing machine to print his itinerary. We also helped 2 passengers who were heading back home after a week of vacation here in Toronto. They were from United Kingdom and have lost their baggages the whole week and had to buy clothes here in Toronto. We assisted them to go to Air Canada and KLM as they were the airlines associated with their flights and baggages. It was so disappointing for them, but they were happy that we had helped them with their problem, because they didn’t know where Air Canada lost and found baggages are located, so they where glad that we brought them to T1 from T3. I love this volunteering job because we get to put smile on people’s faces even when they are experiencing problems.