Meghan Kramer just received great news. After trying two other times to get a job as a flight attendant, the third time appears to be the charm. She finally has made the final round, the in person interview. She received a phone call from the hiring manager telling her the good news. She is to report two Fridays from now, at 0800, at the main office of the airline right next to the airport, which is an hour and a half drive for Meghan. The airline is paying for a hotel room for the final applicants so they can arrive Thursday afternoon, and be well rested for the final interviews. Meghan accepts the offer and immediately starts thinking about what to wear for the interview, and marks the date on her calendar. Eleven days to decide.

Meghan was bored with her current job, waitressing at a fine dining restaurant. The tips were very good, but with little promotional opportunity and no benefits or retirement, she knew it was time to move on. She had always wanted to travel but never could afford to. She had always imagined what it would be like to get an opportunity to travel the world, and get paid to do it. One of her aunts was a retired flight attendant and told Meghan that job would give her that opportunity, as well as paid medical, dental, and vision, plus paid vacation and sick time, free or significantly discounted airfare, and a very good retirement plan that also included a matching 401k. And there are advancement opportunities, such as lead flight attendant, management opportunities, and the chance to bid for international flights, since new flight attendants start out on domestic regional routes. Meghan decided to apply, and now she is close to landing her dream job.

A few days after the call from the hiring manager, Meghan receives a packet in the mail. It includes an itinerary for the day of the interview, and the hotel information for arrival the night before. Also in the packet was a medical questionnaire, which asked about any current or past medical issues, surgeries or hospitalizations, any current or past medication usage, current or past pregnancies, family medical history, and date of most recent physical exam and Pap smear. She is to fill out the form and mail it back within three days. Before she starts filling out the questionnaire, she reads over the itinerary. She notices that selections for hire will be made that morning after everyone is interviewed. There are 12 applicants for 8 openings for flight crews that fly out of that airport. The eight new hires will then be brought to a nearby medical center for a physical exam and drug screen. The flight medical is mandatory and any that can’t pass the physical or refuse the physical will have the job offer rescinded. Meghan wonders just how thorough the physical will be.....