Before she was the world’s most famous "momager" or the architect of a billion-dollar reality TV empire, Kris Jenner was just a 20-year-old in a polyester uniform trying to figure out how to get home.
In 1976, long before the paparazzi and the private jets, the kris jenner flight attendant negotiation began. It wasn't a boardroom deal involving multi-million dollar contracts or equity stakes. It was a scrappy, desperate attempt to fix a schedule she hated.
Most people think Kris was born with a silver phone in her hand. Honestly? She was just a girl from San Diego who worked at a donut shop and a candle store before landing a gig with American Airlines.
She was young. The youngest in her lineup, actually. And she was miserable.
The First Deal: Negotiating the "No"
When Kris finished flight attendant school, she got her "marching orders." American Airlines assigned her to be based on the East Coast. Specifically, New York.
👉 See also: Heidi Klum in a Bathing Suit: Why the 52-Year-Old Supermodel is Still Winning the Internet
For a California girl who wanted to be in Los Angeles, this was a disaster. She asked for LA. They laughed. They told her that those prime West Coast routes were reserved for people with years of seniority.
"You're never going to Los Angeles," they told her.
But if you know anything about the Kardashian matriarch, you know that "no" is just the start of the conversation. Kris has famously said that if someone says no, you’re simply talking to the wrong person.
She didn't just accept the New York base. She walked straight into the scheduling office.
The Brownie Strategy
Kris didn't go in screaming. She didn't demand a manager. Instead, she used a tactic she’d later use to build a global brand: building a bridge.
She walked into that scheduling office and basically said, "Look, I have a problem. I know you have the power to fix it. How can we meet in the middle?"
💡 You might also like: Serena Williams ex boyfriend Drake: What really happened between them
It was a classic "win-win" pitch. She wasn't asking them to break the rules; she was asking them to help her navigate them. And yes, she’s admitted that she might have brought brownies into the scheduling room once or twice.
That little bit of "business rizz"—as her grandkids might call it today—worked. They didn't give her the route, but they did something better. They put her on the "substitute list."
Why the Substitute List Was a Power Move
The substitute list meant she was the one they called when someone else called in sick. It was risky. It was unpredictable. But it was her way in.
By being willing to stay ready and fill the gaps, Kris figured out how to make the system work for her. She eventually managed to secure those New York-to-LA flights she wanted.
Think about that for a second. A 20-year-old with zero leverage managed to get the most coveted route in the airline just by knowing who to talk to and how to talk to them.
That year and a half in the air wasn't just about serving hot fudge sundaes—though she did that too. In the 70s, flight attendants on 747s were basically running high-altitude restaurants. They carved roast beef and made baked potatoes in the aisles.
It was high-pressure service. It was organizational chaos. It was, as Kris puts it, the ultimate CEO training.
The Meeting That Changed Everything
While she was working those flights, her personal life was just as busy. She had already met a young lawyer named Robert Kardashian.
The story goes that she actually met him at a horse track when she was 17, but their paths crossed again in a big way during her airline days. Robert and O.J. Simpson—who were close friends at the time—actually met her at the airport when she landed in New York.
They had just flown in from Montreal after watching Bruce Jenner win the gold medal at the 1976 Olympics.
The irony is almost too much, right?
She was dating a pro golfer at the time, but Robert was persistent. That persistence, combined with the discipline she was learning at 30,000 feet, set the stage for the next few decades of her life.
Real Lessons from the Galley
Kris often credits her time at American Airlines for her work ethic. You can’t be late for a flight. You can't just "not show up" when a plane is full of 400 people.
- Discipline is non-negotiable: The airline industry runs on a clock. If you're late, you're out.
- Customer service is crisis management: Handling a drunk passenger or a mechanical delay is the same as handling a PR crisis in Calabasas.
- Seniority is a suggestion: If you're willing to work the shifts no one else wants, you can jump the line.
She learned how to read people. She learned how to calm them down. Most importantly, she learned that everything is a negotiation.
✨ Don't miss: Andrew Dice Clay Net Worth: What the Critics and Fans Often Get Wrong
What You Can Take Away From Kris Jenner’s Playbook
You don't need a reality show to use these tactics. The kris jenner flight attendant negotiation is basically a masterclass in getting what you want when you have no formal authority.
If you’re stuck in a job or a situation where the "rules" say you have to wait your turn, try these steps:
- Find the Gatekeeper: Don't argue with the person who says "no." Find the person who has the actual power to move the needle.
- Identify the Pain Point: Kris knew the scheduling office had holes to fill when people called in sick. She offered to be the solution to their problem.
- The "Middle Ground" Ask: Don't ask for the moon. Ask for the path to the moon. She didn't ask for the LA route; she asked for the substitute list.
- A Little Kindness Goes a Long way: Whether it's brownies or just a genuine conversation, being the person people want to help is a massive competitive advantage.
Kris Jenner didn't become a mogul overnight. She started by negotiating her way onto a flight back to California.
Next time you’re told "that’s just how it is," remember the girl in the American Airlines uniform. There’s always another way in—you just might need to bring some brownies.