jetjockeyusa
10th Feb 2010, 06:24
Hey guys, as an airline pilot in a different company in a differeny country and continent (like so many of us ;) ) I decided to take a flight home and the first flight was a swiss flight from Sao Paulo to Zurich in a Airbus 340 flying economy (nowadays we airline pilots can't afford business seats :\ ).
Anyway, to the not so good news. When I entered with my girlfriend, she was well but just had this itchy feeling in her throat like the one you know you will be sick tomorrow with throat ache when you do not take multi vitamins. Anyway, I sat down and kindly asked for water and the reply was "not now, only in flight". Ok, I know the cabin crew is stressed, preparing, helping passengers that fly for the first time, bla bla bla but the answer was cold and to the point. Sure, no problems. So I stood up, walked to the aft galley where I saw two cabin crew chatting, I kindly asked for two cups of water while both looked at me extremely angry, one even turned his eyes like he would be annoyed and gave me one cup, half filled with water and stowed the bottle again. So myself, I kindly repeated that I needed 2 cups and more filled and that is where he shook his head and said "Non, non, non (in French) this does not work this way. You have to sit and we bring it in flight." So I told him again KINDLY (losing patience) to please fill me two glasses of water, we want to take vitamin pills and that is where he tore the bottle out again, smashed a plastic cup onto the surface, filled up the water rudely so that some major drops splattered all over the surrounding including on me, then said "THERE" this time in English and I kindly said thanks, took the two waters and went back to my seat next to my girlfriend.
During the flight, it was a nightflight, I wanted to stretch my legs, went into the galley and overheard a conversation in Swiss German (I am half swiss half brazilian so I speak both languages), anyway, the conversation was about a passenger that was spoken in front of me as I would not even be there and it was as follows "Oh god, that f-ing passenger in seat 32 F always bothering me for water (no no, it was not me on that seat hehe, but someone else) and now he is in the middle of his film, let me reset his entertainment system so the asshole can wait 15 mins for the boot up time" and both bursted laughing. Then I saw that there were water bottles and cups and I asked if I can serv myself, one of them nodded, so I served myself and emptied the bottle, which I then put in the trash (since I know where they are located), the cabin crew fellow freaked out, jumped up from his chair, in french again "NON NON NON" put his arm into the trash, pulled out the water bottle, shaking his head in anger and I just , well, you can imagine, was speechless.... wanted to save the effort for those people and then this. Well, then I stood there drinking and stretching for 5 minutes (nightflight, not much going on), after 2 mins the other stewerdess stood up and told me I need to return to my seat that I am not allowed to be there and said "go go go now" like I was a dog. No problem, I spoke to the Swissfrench guy in perfect Swiss German to call the chief flight attendant right away which they refused first, until I identified myself, my profession and how well awared of the regulations I am and then the chief flight attendant came, rude at first as well !!!! When I explained I was a pilot also flying jets, then she was suddenly smiling and friendly and when I said I what the hell was going on, she apologized and I was well treated for the rest of the flight.
Well, that is how the story ended. I was very ashamed for an airline such as Swiss. Where did all the smiles and professional treatment go, not all passengers are alike and me being one of those that understands the hard work of a flight attendant and do all the extra precautions to be nice and fair and friendly, even I am treated like garbage . This is not acceptable.
Anyway, to the not so good news. When I entered with my girlfriend, she was well but just had this itchy feeling in her throat like the one you know you will be sick tomorrow with throat ache when you do not take multi vitamins. Anyway, I sat down and kindly asked for water and the reply was "not now, only in flight". Ok, I know the cabin crew is stressed, preparing, helping passengers that fly for the first time, bla bla bla but the answer was cold and to the point. Sure, no problems. So I stood up, walked to the aft galley where I saw two cabin crew chatting, I kindly asked for two cups of water while both looked at me extremely angry, one even turned his eyes like he would be annoyed and gave me one cup, half filled with water and stowed the bottle again. So myself, I kindly repeated that I needed 2 cups and more filled and that is where he shook his head and said "Non, non, non (in French) this does not work this way. You have to sit and we bring it in flight." So I told him again KINDLY (losing patience) to please fill me two glasses of water, we want to take vitamin pills and that is where he tore the bottle out again, smashed a plastic cup onto the surface, filled up the water rudely so that some major drops splattered all over the surrounding including on me, then said "THERE" this time in English and I kindly said thanks, took the two waters and went back to my seat next to my girlfriend.
During the flight, it was a nightflight, I wanted to stretch my legs, went into the galley and overheard a conversation in Swiss German (I am half swiss half brazilian so I speak both languages), anyway, the conversation was about a passenger that was spoken in front of me as I would not even be there and it was as follows "Oh god, that f-ing passenger in seat 32 F always bothering me for water (no no, it was not me on that seat hehe, but someone else) and now he is in the middle of his film, let me reset his entertainment system so the asshole can wait 15 mins for the boot up time" and both bursted laughing. Then I saw that there were water bottles and cups and I asked if I can serv myself, one of them nodded, so I served myself and emptied the bottle, which I then put in the trash (since I know where they are located), the cabin crew fellow freaked out, jumped up from his chair, in french again "NON NON NON" put his arm into the trash, pulled out the water bottle, shaking his head in anger and I just , well, you can imagine, was speechless.... wanted to save the effort for those people and then this. Well, then I stood there drinking and stretching for 5 minutes (nightflight, not much going on), after 2 mins the other stewerdess stood up and told me I need to return to my seat that I am not allowed to be there and said "go go go now" like I was a dog. No problem, I spoke to the Swissfrench guy in perfect Swiss German to call the chief flight attendant right away which they refused first, until I identified myself, my profession and how well awared of the regulations I am and then the chief flight attendant came, rude at first as well !!!! When I explained I was a pilot also flying jets, then she was suddenly smiling and friendly and when I said I what the hell was going on, she apologized and I was well treated for the rest of the flight.
Well, that is how the story ended. I was very ashamed for an airline such as Swiss. Where did all the smiles and professional treatment go, not all passengers are alike and me being one of those that understands the hard work of a flight attendant and do all the extra precautions to be nice and fair and friendly, even I am treated like garbage . This is not acceptable.