I've logged a lot of airline miles over the years. I mean a lot. I've sat through hundreds of pre-takeoff safety demonstrations (and even paid attention to a handful of them). Let's be honest--most of the time the attendants giving the demo look like they've done it thousands of times, and, quite frankly, ("Exits are here, here, and here...") they're just going through the motions.

Not going through the motions, however, is Southwest Airlines' Martha Cobb. From a story at Yahoo News by Ralphie Aversa:

Fasten your seat belts, stow your belongings under your seat and put your electronics in airplane mode. Southwest Airlines' Martha Cobb has a few safety announcements, and a couple of jokes to share as well. The Houston-based flight attendant known as Marty is gaining national attention thanks to a YouTube video that shows her comedic twist on the routine briefing before takeoff.

"If we could pretend to have your attention for just a few moments, my ex-husband, my new boyfriend and their divorce attorney are going to show you the safety features," she begins, immediately eliciting laughter from the cabin. She then moves to seat-belt operation. "Position your seat belt tight and low across your hips, like my grandmother wears her support bra."

Well, I'm certainly all for goofing around at work, but airlines are notorious for being all business. What do Marty's bosses think of her unorthodox routine?

"We're always trying to make the flying experience something other than what people might dread," Brad Hawkins, a spokesperson for Southwest, told us. "Flying can be tough, with security and everything. You saw how engaged those people were."

I would certainly welcome a pre-flight briefing like Martha delivered here:

Up until this point, the funniest exchange between a flight attendant and a passenger was one I actually witnessed.

Passenger (seated across the aisle from me): Excuse me, miss. Other than the movie you're going to show later, which I've already seen, is there any other entertainment aboard the plane?

Flight Attendant: Oh...you've seen the movie? Do you like live entertainment?

Passenger: I LOVE live entertainment! What do you have?

Flight Attendant: A rodeo. Unfortunately, it's only for our first-class cabin passengers.

After the attendant left our area, the passenger then looked at me and asked, "Why does first-class get everything? What are we, cattle?!"

Sigh.

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