The Flying Funnyman

Travelers are tired and irritable as they board a Southwest Airlines flight to San Antonio. Time for the same old safety drill. The law requires it, but they don’t have to listen.

But when flight attendant Bruce Yamini begins his “safety routine,” they do listen-and laugh. Although Yamini still includes the facts passengers need to know in order to save their lives, Southwest’s resident comedian brings a delightful style to the substance. He elaborates on the absurdity of using “a flotation device between Dallas and San Antonio” and jokes about breathing through an oxygen mask in moments of crisis-“after you’re through screaming.”

Later, instead of the usual beginning-our-descent announcement, Yamini breaks into song. His repertoire includes songs with lyrics especially written for each of the states on the Southwest schedule. Passengers smile and laugh, but they still do as he asks. Seat backs are brought to the full upright position, seat belts buckled and empty glasses discarded. Then the captive audience applauds. Most passengers never know it, but they’ve been entertained by a professional: When he’s earth-bound, Yamini can be found singing and playing bass guitar for the Dallas band Idle Hands.

Like other stand-up comedians, he has to change his material to keep it from getting stale.

“I don’t want frequent flyers to get tired of it,” he says, “and I don’t want to get tired of it.” Yamini, 39, has been with Southwest for five years. He loves his work, but he’s quick to point out that he does take the safety precautions very seriously.

It s all in run, he explains. “People know that. They know I’m just trying to give them a good time.”