hannadizon

[hannadizon]

Final Blog Day!

Day 10: July 30th, 2022 Today, is the final day I will write my blog. Hence, here are some of the pictures I gather throughout this time of my internship.

This first batch of photos captured my surroundings/sky during my walk at 0300 in the morning or after my shift around 1300-1400 in the afternoon (the bright skies). I never in my life walk outside by myself at 3am because I feel unsafe doing so. However, after doing this for 2 months now I'm actually amaze to myself that I was able to do it as well as had an amazing experience walking by myself with no people, no noise, no chaos surrounding me . It feels calm, relaxing, and it just allows me to think and be mesmerize by the small twinkling stars, and the bright moon up above the darken sky.

These second photos were what I seen inside or around the vicinity of the airport. For instance, the Subway in the first floor, this is where I usually buy my lunch (very tasty and satisfying). The team room (top middle picture) where I eat my lunch and talk with the agents and other students, this is also where we place our personal stuff. Zone 2 (top right picture) is where the WestJet counters, KIOSK, and baggage drop-off are located. The domestic arrivals carousels (bottom right picture) this is where the baggage agents are, this is also where I help guests by answering their questions and directing them to correct location that they are looking for. The tags (bottom left picture) we use many tags to differentiate each kind of baggage that guests have. My bus stop (bottom middle picture) this is the pillar where my bus stop to go home is located.

This batch of pictures are the most important pictures that I gather throughout my internship, because these are the pictures of the people I met and worked with. I was very grateful of meeting this amazing people. I had lots of fun learning with them, sharing some experience with them, and getting to know each and everyone of them.

Finally, I had lots of fun doing my internship. Yes! I did encounter some hardship especially on the first 2 weeks of it because I'm still learning and having lots of hard time handling the stress and the fast phase of the surrounding in the airport. But as I kept on doing it and moving forward I'm amaze how I start to grow and learn how to handle stress and how to handle problems that were given to me. I also feel very grateful to everyone who manage the placement/internship for letting me gain more experience starting from the very beginning (the interview) to today and the last few weeks of my internships. I learned many things, and meet amazing people who thought me, and had as much fun with me.

~ Finish Hanna <3

[hannadizon]

Learn New Things Everyday In the Airport

Day 9: July 28th, 2022

Today's blog is gonna be short cause I will go straight to the airport experience and tell you some things I learn today. Again my shift start at 0530. Busiest time of the shift which lasted around 0900 - 1000. But after that calming time, or basically kind of like free time for us to learn new things in the airport. One time a guest while we are printing their bag tags they asked me if they can bring there lighter as a carry on I asked one of the agent because I'm not entirely sure. They told me that you are not allowed to bring it on board. I said my thanks and while I was walking towards the guests to tell them, I remembered in one of my course that we talked about this kind of topic, but with doubt still present in me. I asked another agent and they told me that yes, you can bring one lighter in your carry on. That's when I learn, when asking question its much better to ask two or three people to make sure that the information I gather were correct. Another information I learned during my shift today was that most of the airline in Terminal 3 if a guests was flying to United States, there counter were located in Zone 1 which where the United States baggage drop-off and security gates were located. I'm telling you this because there were many times me and the other students directed some guests to Zone 3-5 (WestJet is in Zone 2) even though they were flying to US because we thought that check-in are all on there usual counters (which is in Zone 3-5). I actually found out about this when I asked one of the agent from a different airline after realizing that the guests that we sent to Zone 3-5 were all coming back and went to Zone 1, I then told the other students. (We all feel bad making guests walk so far and then come back to go to Zone 1).

To Be Continued...

[hannadizon]

A Not So Regular Day

Day 8: Thursday, July 21st, 2022

Today as usual, I am walking along the street with only the moon, wind and some car passing by to get to there destination as my company. Have I ever told you that it is very silent, aside from random sounds, yet relaxing to walk at 0300 in the morning? Because it is! it is very calming. But anyways lets proceed to the airport.

Once I reached the Airport at 0430, which is pretty fast (HA! the bus is not late for the first time!!!) I stayed in one of the lounging area to pass time before my shift...

At 0530, I started my shift. The KIOSK was very busy, I helped guests side by side, even need to stand in the middle of four KIOSKs to help four separate guests to move things faster. Some guests are very grateful for my help, some trying to wait for me to help them. However, there were times that some guests who wanted my assistance immediately even though I am currently helping other guests, try to gain my attention either by raising there voice, or tapping my shoulder. When this happen it is slightly frustrating because they can clearly see that I am helping someone but they still try to take my attention. Hence, in times like this I just try to calm myself and tell them in a calmly manner "Please give me a second, I will assist you after I finish helping the guests". Sometimes after saying this they will live me and wait but there are others who does not want to accept it and still force what they want. So I will repeat what I said and add "please understand that the guests that I am currently helping is also in need of my assistance and they ask for my help first, so please wait a moment" in a firm, and clear yet respectful (as much as I can) manner. Anyway the chaos in the KIOSK only lasted until 0900 but after that it begun to calm down. After that me and the other students just talk with each other, help some guests when they needed it, answer questions such as specific location of some of the airline, etc.

To Be Continued...

[hannadizon]

Interesting Day

Day 7: Saturday, July 9th, 2022

Today, with the beautiful crescent moon present on the clear sky. My mother dropped me to my bus stop and stayed with me until the bus came (thank you very much Mom!). I was the only passenger in the bus today, which was very interesting because in some other day there will always be other passenger going in and out of the bus until I reach Terminal 3 (which was the last stop of the bus...). But today aside from me there was only one passenger who took the bus and they immediately got off after 2-3 stops, after that its just me and the driver until I reached my stop.

In the airport, again I start my shift at 0530, surprisingly it was not busy. I only helped some passenger who were having hard time using the KIOSK but aside from that I did not encounter any unpleasant situation. However, what I find interesting about this shift is that many guests from other airlines asks me and the other students regarding the location of the airline they are flying with which I answered with the best of my ability. I know this may not be interesting for you or to whoever reading this but for me it was because this rarely happens to me before. In addition, one guests ask me where an airline was I know where the usual location of the airline but the guest want to know the specific or the correction location. So, I lead them to the big screen that shows the flights for the day and tried to look for the check in counter of the said airline. Unfortunately, I was not able to find the airline check in, I know that the airline is in terminal 3 but at that time it still not showing in the screen. So I went to the agent and ask them about the airline. They told me that its probably too early to check in. When I told that to the guest the guest started raising there voice and saying things like "they told us to go early but then they're still not open?!". I know that the guest is angry of the situation that's why I just tried to be understanding and let the guest talk until they calmed down.

To Be Continued...

[hannadizon]

Calming Day

Day 6: Friday, July 8th, 2022

Today, it super humid and warm outside even without the sun shining its rays to us. Hence, I was grateful that the morning bus I took turned on the air conditioner (because sometimes they don't...).

Anyway, today my morning shift started at 0530, it is slightly busy, and another thing many of the guests that I helped told me that they were unable to continue checking in online because of the Rogers Shut Down. As another network user I was not affected by this shut down so after knowing about it I realized I was very grateful that WestJet system was also not affected by this problem (imagine if it was...Ohhh its gonna be a whole chaos). Nonetheless, I just reassured some of the guests who are frustrated of this situation, that we will help them as best as we can so they do not have anything to worry, which really calm them down and really appreciated our help.

Just like what the title says (calming day) this shift is really a calming one, aside from the slight busy in the morning around 1100, the whole kiosk area as well as the main check in counter for WestJet are all empty. Hence, as I don't have anything to do I started talking and getting to know the people that I worked with, and asked advice on how to handle certain problems. After that I finished my shift in a calming manner and exactly at 1330, which I never experience before because I usually finish my shift 5-10minutes later than I'm suppose to.

To Be Continued...

[hannadizon]

Progress Check

Day 5: Monday, June 20th, 2022

Today, the weather was unexpectedly cold, and windy. However, with this autumn like weather (even though its summer) I felt warm, relaxed, and calm to start my day. Hence, with the moon shining brightly from the vast sky, calming music blasting from my headphone I started my day at peace and with smile on my face.

In the airport I was once again appointed to help in the baggage area. Here I assist guests by answering some of their questions or sometimes by giving directions to specific area the guests are looking for. However, because this was my second time being appointed in the baggage I now know that I don't need to stay standing up throughout my shift (which I did not know in my previews shift in the baggage area so I remained standing up throughout my shift...). So, with this knowledge I sometimes would seat for 5 minutes to rest my feet. Similar to my previews shift many guests are asking regarding their lost baggage however, some I can't help because they are flying with different airline. But one time I helped an anxious guests who was flying with different airline by locating their baggage. I know that I am not allowed to give assistance because I might give wrong information to the guests. Therefore, I first told them that I am unable to give them assistance as I am working with WestJet hence, I do not have information regarding other airlines information. However, at that time I feel like I have seen the baggage they are describing to me in the oversized baggage, hence I told them to just check the oversized baggage because it might be there. Fortunately, they did found their baggage in the oversized area and thanked me for my help.

Around 11am I went in the lounging area for WestJet employees and did my progress check. In the progress check, I was asked how is my internship going which I explained to them that everything is great, and that I am having lots of fun. I even shared some of the memorable experience I experienced throughout my internship so far. I also told them one of my short term goal while doing my placement which was to learn the locations of specific area in the airport which I am yet to achieve.

After my progress check I went back in the baggage area and continue assisting guests throughout my shift.

To Be Continued...

[hannadizon]

Arrivals

Day 4: Friday, June 17th, 2022

Today, I was appointed to be in the Domestic Arrivals for my whole shift. So, I went down to the first floor of Terminal 3 and escape the busy second floor of Departure Area.

When I'm in the baggage area (picture above) it is completely empty aside from some employees lurking around. Disregarding the emptiness I asked the WestJet employee of what can I help, and they instructed me to assist guests that were arriving. So that I did. By assisting some guests I discover and saw some memorable things such as, family running to each other, lost guests, lost baggage, and even helped looking for boxes of fish. For instance one of the guests was looking for their baggage, at first I'm helping them look for their baggage on the carousel but later on they told me that it includes fishes inside which they caught by themselves from their vacation somewhere else, they even told me that those fish cost $2,000 (I'm still shocked how expensive those fish are...). Its very interesting how the guest's face lights up when they talked about their vacation. So then I led them to the oversized baggage which was where we found their 2 boxes of $2,000 fish. Throughout the day, I encounter some very stress and anxious guests who I tried to help as much as I can by listening to their problems and giving them information that some I already know or some I gathered from the WestJet agents present in the baggage area.

To be continued...

[hannadizon]

Flying Solo

Day 3: Monday, May 23rd, 2022

Today, similar from the previous days I walk through the barren street with the wind as my company. No sound is present just me and my foot steps with a few car passing by. The only difference of today's morning from the other recent one is that I feel slightly anxious to start my day. However, I disregarded this feeling and just continue my journey to the bust stop...

Once, I entered the airport I went straight to the departure and as usual it is pack with lots and lots of guests lining up for check-in and security as well as employees assisting the guests. By 5:30am I went into the lunch room that can be use by WestJet employees, and that's where I found out why I felt anxious throughout my walk to the bus stop earlier... I'm the only student present today. Its not that I despise being the only student, because I know throughout the day other employees are also going to be there to guide me and help me in the kiosk area. However, being around with other students just makes me feel more comfortable and relax.

But nonetheless I start my shift. Today, I'm appointed to help in the arrivals with the reason being there are many baggage stuck on the belt where the arrival bags where dropped off but were not taken by the guests. So I went down to the arrivals and help clearing out the baggage carousels. The baggage agent advice me to not carry the heavy bags because I could hurt myself, hence I just help collecting lighter bags that are from WestJet and placing them all together in one place so that the baggage agents can collect them and bring them to the right locations. Throughout my stay in the arrivals I encountered some guests asking me regarding the location of their bags which I tried my best to answer correctly. After an hour I was called upstairs in the departure to help on the Kiosk.

In the Kiosk as usual is very lively, I assisted guests here and there, and because I'm the only student there are more WestJet employee present on the Kiosk area than usual. I started helping in the Kiosk around 7am and it lasted until around 10am. I also encounter some guests that are flying from different airlines asking for my assistance. However, I remembered from my training that I was told to not assist a guests from other airline regarding check-in using the kiosk because they have different procedures they need to follow. Instead I'm told to lead the guests to the correct location where the airline they are flying to, so that they can ask for that airline employee's assistance and will be given a more detailed and correct answers to their questions.

To be continued...

[hannadizon]

A Lively First Shift

Day 2: Friday, May 13th, 2022

My shift starts at 6am. Hence, I left my place around 3am and to my surprise there are quiet a few people in the bus with me. My bus ride is uneventful, it just consist of me listening to music and watching my surrounding pass by contradicting the situation in the airport that I will encounter later on.

Once I enter the first floor of Terminal 3, it is very quiet and empty with just a few guests and employees lurking around. However, the second floor where departures are currently going is bustling with life. I'm very surprised how busy the airport can get, the security line is super long to a point where I can't see the end of it. As I'm too early I just stayed in one of the resting area in the airport...

At 6am I start my shift. With a reflecting vest on top of my black and white uniform, holding an iPad (which can be use for proof of vaccination) I walk along the security area. Not even reaching the WestJet Kiosk, guests start asking me questions such as, "will we be able to get through security?", "can you prioritize us, so that we can go to security faster?", "are we gonna be late to our flight? if so what can we do?", and many more. As I'm not entirely sure what to clearly answer the guests, I listened to all their questions, and told them to just give me a second and run to the CSA to ask. Once I have all the answer I went back to the guests and told them the information I gather. Some are unhappy and some just accepted it.

Kiosk area is also very busy around 6am until 9am so I assist guests left and right. In the Kiosk most of the problem that I heard are regarding proof of vaccination (QR code) which I easily solve using the iPad that I'm holding. As the time progress it become more chaotic to a point where guests start to argue with one another. Hence, to disclose the problem I ask the guests to form a rough line, if there problem is regarding QR code, and that me and the others will assist them as fast as we can.

I never thought that my very first real shift is going to be a very lively experience, However, throughout this shift I learn many things, and actually enjoy assisting the guests making this shift a fast phase one, and didn't even realize it is time for me to go home.

To be continued...

[hannadizon]

Training Day

Day 1: Tuesday, May 10th, 2022

This is the day that I've been waiting for my training in WestJet. I'm excited but at the same time nervous and because of this I can't seem to calm myself ever since I woke up 8 in the morning. Therefore, I just decided to have lunch, and get dress in my heels and black and white uniform for the day. My training start at 2pm and my travel time from my place to the airport is 1hr and a half. As I despise being late especially on my first day, I left my place on 11am.

At the airport I met with my friends, Nica and Serafu (who are in the picture), and with the other students (one of them is Ashley, who is also in the picture) who are also doing their training with us. At first we just smile with one another but as the time goes by we start to have conversation and get to know each other.

Our trainer, Matt, is a very patient and a great trainer. At first he toured as throughout the whole terminal 3 (which is huge) and gave us some tips here and there that will help us during our shifts. He also provided us some knowledge regarding our job and the other careers that WestJet offers. After having a short break, we starts working on the kiosk, and baggage drop-off, assisting guest throughout the WestJet area. At first, it is nerve wrecking to a point where I can't remember how to use the kiosk, and can't provide information to the guests to their many questions. Hence, to solve my own predicaments I start to ask lots and lots of question to Matt, to make sure that my actions and answer to the guests are correct. As the time goes by, I found myself start to calm down and act more naturally until the end.

By the very end of my Training Day, I feel exhausted physically and mentally drained. But nonetheless I feel amazed, accomplished and proud of how I put myself out there and start to take action to achieve my goal.

Just a reminder to myself, never wear heels to a work where I need to stand in long hours.

To be continued...