Bette Nash, Guinness World Record Holder for Longest-Serving Flight Attendant, Passes Away at 88

Bette Nash, the flight attendant who held the Guinness World Record for the longest-serving, passed away at the age of 88. American Airlines and the Association of Professional Flight Attendants confirmed the news of her death.

American Airlines expressed their sadness over the loss of Bette Nash, who dedicated almost seven decades to providing exceptional care to passengers during flights. They shared their condolences in a statement released on X.

Bette began her career in 1957 and went on to set the Guinness World Record for being the longest-serving flight attendant. She was a source of inspiration for many generations of flight attendants. Rest in peace, Bette.

The Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA), the union that advocates for flight attendants in the United States, also honored Bette Nash with a tribute on their Facebook page.

Related article

2016: Meet Bette Nash

"Bette had an incredible career that lasted over six decades. She made a positive impact on many people through her kindness, hard work, and exceptional service," according to the post.

"She was truly passionate about flying and always put her passengers first. Bette's influence will always be felt in the aviation industry and by everyone who was fortunate enough to have crossed paths with her."

Nash started her lifelong career with the now-defunct Eastern Airlines in Washington, DC, on November 4, 1957.

In 2016, CNN had the chance to join Nash on her daily flight from Reagan Washington National to Boston Logan on American Airlines. At 80 years old, Nash shared that it was the allure and excitement of flying that drew her to the profession.

"I've dreamt of being a flight attendant ever since my first flight at 16 years old. I was sitting with my mother on a green leather couch at Washington [Reagan National Airport] when a TWA crew caught my eye," she reminisced.

“The pilot and the flight attendant walked across the hall and I thought ‘Oh my God,’ and I said that was for me.”

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

Growing up with the airlines —

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

CNN

"I wanted to be a flight attendant from the time I got on the first airplane," says Nash. "The pilot and the flight attendant walked across the hall and I thought 'oh my God,' and I said that was for me."

Bette Nash (third from left) —

"I've always dreamed of becoming a flight attendant ever since I stepped foot on my first airplane," says Nash. "I remember seeing the pilot and flight attendant walking down the aisle, and in that moment, I knew that was the career for me."

CNN

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.

White-gloved elegance -

Back in the day, flying on a plane was a posh experience. It felt like a fancy getaway, where passengers dressed up in their finest attire and enjoyed lobster served on actual china plates.

CNN

"People called it 'Charm School' in those days," Nash recalls. "They took you to the beauty parlor and cut all your hair off and plucked your eyebrows."

The look —

"People called it 'Charm School' in those days," Nash recalls. "They took you to the beauty parlor and cut all your hair off and plucked your eyebrows."

CNN

Around 1970, Nash explains, the look started getting a little radical, with pantsuits, bold colors, short dresses and really big hair. "At one point we even went to hot pants."

In around 1970, Nash explains that the fashion look began to change, becoming more radical. This included pantsuits, bold colors, short dresses, and extremely large hair. Eventually, they even started wearing hot pants.

CNN

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 image of incoming and outgoing flights being chalked up circa 1945.

Technological advances have come a long way since the 1950s. Back then, flight schedules were written on a blackboard, and manuals and regulations were in book form. Here is a photo from 1945 showing incoming and outgoing flights being written on a blackboard.

Archive Photos/Getty Images

"You worked harder physically in those days," Nash recalls. "We served this big meal tray." Pictured: A Canadian Colonial Airways flight attendant serves food and refreshments in the 1940s.

Food service —

Nash remembers the days when they had to work harder physically. They used to serve a large meal tray. In the 1940s, a Canadian Colonial Airways flight attendant is shown serving food and refreshments.

Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Flight attendant Bette Nash: 80 years old and still serving

Prev

Next

Nash said she went on to get a college degree, but she never deviated from her dream.

She applied for a job as a stewardess, as flight attendants were then known, shortly after graduating.

“And the rest is history,” she told CNN with a big smile.

According to ABC News, Nash never officially retired from her role with American Airlines and died on May 17 in hospice care.

From blackboards to tablets, Nash has seen it all

Nash was awarded the Guinness World Record for having the longest career as a flight attendant in early 2022.

The Guinness announcement stated that her career as a flight attendant has exceeded the previous record holder's 63 years and 61 days as of January 4, 2021.

Nash witnessed numerous changes in the aviation industry during her more than six decades of flying. She recalled a time when flying was considered a luxurious experience, with passengers dressing in their finest clothes and enjoying lobster served on real china.

“You worked harder physically in those days,” said Nash. “We served this big meal tray. And I was the only one on the plane, so I had to take care of everybody.”

“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.

The Association of Professional Flight Attendants praised Bette for her remarkable career that lasted over six decades. She was known for touching countless lives with her warmth, dedication, and unparalleled service.

But the most significant changes she saw over the years were related to technology. When Nash first started flying, all flight schedules were written on a blackboard, and manuals and regulations were in book form. Eventually, those papers were replaced with tablets – which she says was a big adjustment.

"Technology played a big role in helping me decide whether to stay or leave," she mentioned.

"I sometimes consider retiring, but when I actually come to work, I realize I can't imagine not being here. It's exciting to be part of this environment. The airline industry is always changing, and you have to adapt along with it."

Read more about Nash’s incredible career here.

CNN’s Michelle Cohan contributed to this report.

Editor's P/S:

Bette Nash's remarkable journey as a flight attendant for nearly seven decades is a testament to her passion and dedication to serving others. Her unwavering commitment to providing exceptional care to passengers, coupled with her enduring love for flying, made her an inspiration to countless individuals. The aviation industry has undergone significant transformations throughout the years, but Nash始终 embraced these changes, adapting to new technologies and evolving standards with grace and enthusiasm.

Her legacy extends beyond her Guinness World Record; Nash's warmth, kindness, and professionalism left an indelible mark on the lives of those who crossed her path, both in the skies and on the ground. The Association of Professional Flight Attendants aptly described her as a true embodiment of the spirit of flight attendants, whose tireless efforts make air travel a more comfortable and enjoyable experience for all. Bette Nash's passing is a profound loss to the aviation community, but her memory and the values she embodied will continue to inspire generations to come.