You often hear how children look to their parents for inspiration and guidance in life, but for Envoy Flight Attendant Matt Lindasson, the roles unexpectedly reversed.
A Journey That Started a World Away
Matt, originally from Adelaide, South Australia, was raised by his single mother, Linda — an independent, energetic woman he describes as extremely active and outgoing. When he was three years old, they moved to Queensland, Northeastern Australia, and often traveled back to Adelaide, which inspired his love of aviation. “It started with those flights,” he says. “Then it became building LEGO® airports, using a flight simulator, and finally gaining real work experience at a local airfield before becoming a flight attendant at Alliance Airlines at eighteen.”
In 2017, Matt made a bold leap across the world, moving to the United States and joining Envoy soon afterward. He currently lives in Utah and is based out of Envoy’s crew base in Phoenix, Arizona (PHX). “I like this job because I can live in a place that I love and commute to my base. Also, my mum and I have a good relationship, but the distance is hard on her, so having a flexible schedule to take time off to visit her, especially during the Australian summers, is a plus,” Matt said.
Dedication for the Win
Since flying for Envoy, Matt has demonstrated his determination as a member of the Flight Service team, winning not one, but two Outstanding Flight Attendant Awards in 2020 and 2023. These awards are presented to flight attendants who are among the best of the best. Winners are nominated by their peers based on customer feedback, attendance and uniform appearance standards. This year, he also received Envoy’s highest honor, the 2025 President’s Award, for his commitment, perseverance and hard work.
Dreams Take Flight
In an inspiring twist, Linda recently decided to pursue her own dream of becoming a flight attendant. “She told me on the phone that she was resigning from her teaching job,” Matt recalls, describing a mix of excitement and surprise that came with her decision.
Linda, who was once a police officer for the South Australia Police (SAPOL), later became a Japanese language teacher and a group fitness instructor. In the 1980s, she dreamed of serving others as a flight attendant but was told she was too tall. Decades later, she found her moment. “She said she’s always telling kids at school to follow their dreams, so she finally decided to follow her own advice. For the first time in my life, I told her I was proud of her,” Matt expressed.
A Family Flight Attendant Legacy
When Linda finished her training, she became a flight attendant at QantasLink, the regional airline for Qantas Airways Limited. Matt made the trip down under to attend Linda’s graduation ceremony, and while it’s not traditional to pin a flight attendant’s wings in Australia, Matt was there to proudly do the honors.
“Watching her diligently study reminded me how it felt to be excited, passionate and proud to be in this role. And she’s taught me a lot about how our airlines differ, and our communication has increased since she knows I understand more about this than teaching kids Japanese,” he said.
Soaring Together
As they both navigate the skies, their shared role has transformed their relationship, marking a new chapter in each of their lives. While Linda’s journey was inspired by Matt, she also reignited a passion in him. “The experience of my mom becoming a flight attendant has lit a fire under me to seek more immediate growth, so I have begun studying toward a Business Management degree to reach my goal of working in a management position for an airline someday,” Matt said.
Together, Matt and Linda share more than a bond — they share a career, a lifestyle, and a deep understanding of each other’s work. They prove to be a family of dreamers who inspire one another to follow their passions, showing that it’s never too late to pursue the dream that’s been waiting for you all along. As Matt puts it, “We’re not only an aviation family, but we’re also a oneworld family.”
Congratulations to Matt and Linda! We appreciate you both for sharing your inspirational story.
If you’ve always dreamed of flying and providing great customer service, join the Envoy team as a Flight Attendant. Take the first step and apply now!
photos courtesy of Matt Lindasson