For Twyla Balstad (left) and Kristine “Kris” Bierbaum (right), a shared passion for aviation turned a workplace friendship into a journey that has taken them both from the airport terminal to the cabin of our aircraft.

The two first met at Rochester International Airport (RST) in Rochester, Minnesota, where their airline check-in counters were side by side. Twyla worked for Envoy, while Kris worked for another airline at the next ticket counter over. Through daily conversations, they built a friendship rooted in mutual respect and a shared love of the aviation industry.

Reaching New Heights

Twyla eventually moved from working as a cross-functional agent with Envoy to becoming a flight attendant. She was inspired by the thought of being onboard the aircraft she helped push back every day. “I absolutely loved my work on the ramp, but every time I pushed a plane back, I would think to myself, I want to go too!”

Kris admired Twyla’s confidence and later enjoyed seeing her pass through RST in her flight attendant uniform. “Everyone loved seeing Twyla. She always had a smile and snacks for her team,” Kris said.

Kris had long been interested in becoming a flight attendant, too, but waited until she felt ready to apply and her three sons graduated from high school. “Twyla was very encouraging and wanted me to apply as soon as possible. I finally sent in my application, and now I wish I hadn’t waited so long,” Kris said.

Flight Attendant Friends and Mentors

When Kris began the process of becoming a flight attendant, Twyla became a trusted mentor. She shared honest advice about training, life on reserve and the early challenges of the job, while offering Kris encouragement and support. After Kris completed training, one of the most meaningful moments of her journey came when Twyla pinned her flight attendant wings at graduation.

Today, both women proudly serve as Envoy flight attendants based out of Chicago O’Hare (ORD) and hope to share the skies on the same flight soon. They stay in touch, sharing stories, advice and encouragement as their careers evolve. What began as a friendship between two aviation professionals at a small airport has grown into a lasting bond that has reached new heights.

Thinking about joining our Flight Service team? Learn more and apply here: https://www.envoyair.com/careers/flight-attendants/