Flight Attendant Holiday Traditions & The Best Christmas Markets in Europe

In this episode, we’re diving headfirst into the chaos, comfort, and absolute craziness of spending the holidays as flight attendants—and we brought two of our favorite people along for the ride. We’re joined by our friends and fellow crew members, Bre ane Caleb, who have somehow managed to turn missed holidays, graveyard-view hotel rooms, and granola-bar “Christmas dinners” into some of the most magical traditions we’ve ever experienced. Together, we talk about the wild layovers that shaped us, the unexpected friendships that kept us sane, and how creating our own traditions—like our now-annual Christmas market trips—has turned some of the hardest moments of the job into the ones we cherish most. Grab your glühwein, buckle in, and get in the holiday spirit with us. Want to join us on our next Christmas Market trip!? We’re going to Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania in 2026! Tap here to learn more! Watch the full episode on YouTube Episode Highlights: [2:01] Caleb’s legendary “baby gun” passenger story [4:22] Bri’s unforgettable mid-flight wetsuit moment [7:54] How we all randomly met (and re-met) in Budapest [9:42] Champagne in coach & the accidental birth of a friendship [12:18] Caleb & Rich trauma-bond on a truly awful layover [13:44] Holiday layovers from graveyards to granola-bar “dinners” [15:21] A senior mama turns Fourth of July into pure magic [17:12] The Christmas dinner that wasn’t free… until it wasn’t [19:16] How Caleb & Bri started their Christmas market tradition [20:55] Why slowing down at holiday markets keeps us coming back [23:04] The first market trip we crashed—Drew becomes obsessed [25:21] Caleb’s bar-fight scar (and why he earned it) [26:55] Keeping traditions alive even as seniority shifts [28:29] This year’s destination reveal: Innsbruck, Austria [29:58] Why small-town Christmas markets feel like instant community [31:31] Tips for junior crew spending holidays away from home [33:22] Drew’s go-to holiday hack: pack your favorite dish for a galley feast [35:40] BIG announcement: Our 2026 group Christmas market trip [37:15] Lightning-round cross-check with Caleb & Bri [41:05] Final thoughts & where to find more behind-the-scenes chaos Thoughts on this episode? Text us! Support the show ✈ This episode was brought to you by StaffTraveler, the #1 non-rev app! If you travel on standby and are looking to make your journey easy and stress-free, check out StaffTraveler for free in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Download StaffTraveler ✈ Have a funny, wild, or heartwarming travel story from a flight that you’re dying to share with us? Submit your story at the link below and we could feature your story on an upcoming episode of the show! Submit Your 'Galley Gossip' Story ✈ We love people and we love to travel... no, seriously! Want to join us on one of our upcoming group trips? Check out the link below for current trips! Travel With Us ✈ We couldn’t do it without you! As independent podcasters, we rely on audience support to keep our show going. Join our community at the link below for exclusive content, early access, behind-the-scenes footage, and more! Join Us on Patreon