When travelling on Staff Travel (EK)
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When travelling on Staff Travel (EK)
I am getting pretty fed up with the way that we as staff are treated by our colleagues (particualrly cabin crew) when on staff travel. If it be ALT and especially standby, the onboard attitude displayed towards staff by the crew is completely unacceptable.
There is a definite display of lack of respect for the staff member as if they are just cheap baggage who do not need to be shown any courtesy, respect or manners (CRM is taught is it not). The ignorance and defined attempt to not "serve" or pay attention to travelling staff is beyond belief. When a staff member is onboard, like other airlines, treat them as best they can as it is the staffs moment of happiness (going out of Dubai) or on return that mean to help them to appreciate that moment. I am nothing less than shocked as to how bad it "generally" is in ALL cabins!
Now, the staff travel counter in the terminal is not the best place to be and being told to go on standby for an hour and a half when there are ore than 100 seats free on the ticketed flight is a complete joke!!
Rant over but this is unacceptable....
J
There is a definite display of lack of respect for the staff member as if they are just cheap baggage who do not need to be shown any courtesy, respect or manners (CRM is taught is it not). The ignorance and defined attempt to not "serve" or pay attention to travelling staff is beyond belief. When a staff member is onboard, like other airlines, treat them as best they can as it is the staffs moment of happiness (going out of Dubai) or on return that mean to help them to appreciate that moment. I am nothing less than shocked as to how bad it "generally" is in ALL cabins!
Now, the staff travel counter in the terminal is not the best place to be and being told to go on standby for an hour and a half when there are ore than 100 seats free on the ticketed flight is a complete joke!!
Rant over but this is unacceptable....
J
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I find the staff travel desk can be good or bad.
However, I find that when I travel on a staff ticket I always get treated well. Worst case I am treated as another pax! Very often the CC (or purser) will come up and ask which fleet I am on and remind me to ask them if there is anything I need!
However, I find that when I travel on a staff ticket I always get treated well. Worst case I am treated as another pax! Very often the CC (or purser) will come up and ask which fleet I am on and remind me to ask them if there is anything I need!
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I have to say that I have completely different experiences.
Besides the time (obvious nepotism
) when I got a whole bag of presents from an unknown purser and her crew (she was of Serbian nationality and had the same name as I do, but never came to meet me. Her crew loved her, obviously), whenever I was travelling, crew paid special attention on me, whether by bringing me presents (chocolate, water, socks, toothpaste and brush), or by giving me a fast track voucher or by speaking with me and giving me complimentary things.
There was even one grumpy guy once, crew, who helped me put my bag up and he was reluctant to help other passengers (he didn't know I was staff at that time and he was clearly fed up with everything). He continued to behave in the same manner during the flight.
I never asked for anything during my flights. I didn't behave spoiled or ask for additional things and I always tried to ease their job in any way I could.
Regarding staff travel, as I was once working there - staff travel employees are not guilty for putting you on standby even if there are hundreds of seats available: it's a company rule. Check in staff can check you in, but system automatically puts you on sb. Flight departure control staff are the only ones who can on-load you.
There is one thing though: sometimes you don't get a seat even if half of the flight is available (economy class) as they (flight departure) lift pay load restrictions (flight gets additional cargo), so there is no room for additional passengers (staff). Happened to me with the flight to Rio (half of the flight was empty), and almost happened with the flight back from Nairobi (they lifted restrictions, but had the courtesy (?) to on-load staff).
Besides the time (obvious nepotism
) when I got a whole bag of presents from an unknown purser and her crew (she was of Serbian nationality and had the same name as I do, but never came to meet me. Her crew loved her, obviously), whenever I was travelling, crew paid special attention on me, whether by bringing me presents (chocolate, water, socks, toothpaste and brush), or by giving me a fast track voucher or by speaking with me and giving me complimentary things. There was even one grumpy guy once, crew, who helped me put my bag up and he was reluctant to help other passengers (he didn't know I was staff at that time and he was clearly fed up with everything). He continued to behave in the same manner during the flight.
I never asked for anything during my flights. I didn't behave spoiled or ask for additional things and I always tried to ease their job in any way I could.
Regarding staff travel, as I was once working there - staff travel employees are not guilty for putting you on standby even if there are hundreds of seats available: it's a company rule. Check in staff can check you in, but system automatically puts you on sb. Flight departure control staff are the only ones who can on-load you.
There is one thing though: sometimes you don't get a seat even if half of the flight is available (economy class) as they (flight departure) lift pay load restrictions (flight gets additional cargo), so there is no room for additional passengers (staff). Happened to me with the flight to Rio (half of the flight was empty), and almost happened with the flight back from Nairobi (they lifted restrictions, but had the courtesy (?) to on-load staff).
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Sorry Jack, can't agree with you on this one. Staff at the travel desk in DXB have always been accommodating. They don't have control over the timing on when we get cleared. It's the unknown voice at the other end of the phone.
When on the aircraft, I sometimes feel I am being treated better than the other pax. Compared with other airlines I've been with, the treatment I get is just plain superb.
When on the aircraft, I sometimes feel I am being treated better than the other pax. Compared with other airlines I've been with, the treatment I get is just plain superb.
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I I travel a lot on EK, as a BA staff traveller. Across the Tasman...BNE/SYD/MEL to AKL, but mainly one way PTH-DXB. Never make myself known to the CC, and have always been treated as a normal punter, with courtesy. Always been checked in with no bother at PTH. No probs or complaints. Haven't used EK ex DXB).
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I have to agree with everyone here. I've always been treated very well and at the very least; a regular passenger. I have never made myself known during boarding, later on they come up and ask what department I work for and find out that way. As long as you don't go looking for attention, they will sometimes go out of their way for you
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May not be the case so I apologise if I'm wrong, but by the tone of the initial post I think it may be more to do with his attitude of "don't you know who I am" (pilot) that just gets people's backs up.
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Completely the opposite. As far as practical I always introduce myself to the purser, SFS in my cabin and the cabin crew working my side. I always get superb attention after doing so...
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I must say Habibis, my experience on EK staff travel flights, has been nothing but very good, especially of late.
Yes the EK staff check in counter area is crap, and akin to a cow shed at times, but it is what it is. However, recently when the loads have been lighter, I have noticed being issued a seat when doing the online check in. No need to use the cow shed in DXB in that case!
Onboard, the staff have always in my experience been very nice, they know who I am as it says Capt on my boarding pass.. Colleagues onboard have always been polite and courteous to me at EK and me the same towards them.
You seem to be in the minority Jack??
SyB
Yes the EK staff check in counter area is crap, and akin to a cow shed at times, but it is what it is. However, recently when the loads have been lighter, I have noticed being issued a seat when doing the online check in. No need to use the cow shed in DXB in that case!
Onboard, the staff have always in my experience been very nice, they know who I am as it says Capt on my boarding pass.. Colleagues onboard have always been polite and courteous to me at EK and me the same towards them.
You seem to be in the minority Jack??
SyB
Generally speaking, there are a minority who seem to have missed the 'staff passengers must not detract from the level of service being given to full fare pax' memo.
Asking for the 12th cappuccino when the crew are flat chat serving the main meals is not the way to endear yourself to the ones serving you that day.
By all means ask for what you like but don't take the p!ss...
Example: wife of staff traveller (department not mentioned to protect the guilty) tugging on the skirt of a CC, who was talking to another pax at the time to take a meal order, to demand her children be given meals from the main menu when they had SPML ordered.
CC to their credit politely informed her they were taking a meal order and would be with her shortly. Staff waited about 20 seconds before repeating the action and CC then nicely said she would need to finish taking the orders as the flight was full and return after to let her know what was available. Staff then pulled a nasty face and loudly said "Give me steak I don't care about them". Lovely!
With people like that ruining it for the rest of you no wonder some of the CC are over dealing with it.
I've noticed the staff pax who beings with 'No rush, but when you get a minute....' seems to get whatever they requested in a timely manner. The ones behaving like the above... well... they do get it eventually....
Personally I get on, I sit down and I stick to myself. If they want to fawn over me, that's their choice. If they're busy, and I need something, I go to the galley and get it myself. I bring my own snacks and water and if something is wrong with my seat I let them know so they can put it in the book.
You almost always get what you give, I find...
Asking for the 12th cappuccino when the crew are flat chat serving the main meals is not the way to endear yourself to the ones serving you that day.
By all means ask for what you like but don't take the p!ss...
Example: wife of staff traveller (department not mentioned to protect the guilty) tugging on the skirt of a CC, who was talking to another pax at the time to take a meal order, to demand her children be given meals from the main menu when they had SPML ordered.
CC to their credit politely informed her they were taking a meal order and would be with her shortly. Staff waited about 20 seconds before repeating the action and CC then nicely said she would need to finish taking the orders as the flight was full and return after to let her know what was available. Staff then pulled a nasty face and loudly said "Give me steak I don't care about them". Lovely!
With people like that ruining it for the rest of you no wonder some of the CC are over dealing with it.
I've noticed the staff pax who beings with 'No rush, but when you get a minute....' seems to get whatever they requested in a timely manner. The ones behaving like the above... well... they do get it eventually....
Personally I get on, I sit down and I stick to myself. If they want to fawn over me, that's their choice. If they're busy, and I need something, I go to the galley and get it myself. I bring my own snacks and water and if something is wrong with my seat I let them know so they can put it in the book.
You almost always get what you give, I find...
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You almost always get what you give, I find...
The check in staff are overworked, underpaid and demotivated as with most EK staff. They are the just the public face of the crap policies, rules and facilities imposed from higher up. They have no authority to deviate from procedure and like us risk their jobs if they do so. Have a little empathy for them and you might just brighten up their otherwise monotonous and tiring day/night.
Jack, if you have a genuine grievance then there is a formal procedure to follow in the staff travel manual. If your issues are just a hissy fit at something inconsequential then be prepared to be told to go take a hike.
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Hold on a moment, GN, the HR manual says staff may be treated the same as regular pax and they are quite entitled to the service. Sad to see Jack being encouraged to report a colleague, there's more than enough of that garbage taking place as it is.
I've always found the check-in staff to be just fine and a few have gone well out of their way to help out but over the years there's definitely been the odd cabin crew member (now and then) with a chip who dishes out attitude no matter how polite the staff pax. Not many at all but enough to be noticed. It also happens to other cabin crew. Too many stories of CC sticking it to each other in the economy cabin for them to be "one-offs." Bad apples in every lot it seems.
As for me I still get the occasional "duty free" bag of bottled goodies when disembarking because I treat the crew the way I'd like to be treated and they dig it.
GMWs, your er, um.. how do I put it.... "dislike" of pilots' wives has been noticed in the past. Letting one or two isolated cases color your outlook, perhaps? Certainly not sour grapes......
I've always found the check-in staff to be just fine and a few have gone well out of their way to help out but over the years there's definitely been the odd cabin crew member (now and then) with a chip who dishes out attitude no matter how polite the staff pax. Not many at all but enough to be noticed. It also happens to other cabin crew. Too many stories of CC sticking it to each other in the economy cabin for them to be "one-offs." Bad apples in every lot it seems.
As for me I still get the occasional "duty free" bag of bottled goodies when disembarking because I treat the crew the way I'd like to be treated and they dig it.
GMWs, your er, um.. how do I put it.... "dislike" of pilots' wives has been noticed in the past. Letting one or two isolated cases color your outlook, perhaps? Certainly not sour grapes......
GMWs, your er, um.. how do I put it.... "dislike" of pilots' wives
in my observation, the women seem to have that bit more of a capacity for drama than the guys... certainly doesn't mean the men don't throw the occasional hissy fit but majority of problems I've seen unfortunately seem o stem from the Mrs of the staff traveller, not the traveller themselves...
(And before you all jump on me, I'm also a woman so I'm speaking from the p.o.v. of the 'fairer sex'. Yes, we are very capable of drama when we want to be)
I had actually considered mentioning in my last post how the flight deck wives particularly of late have been good on staff tickets... no fussing, appreciative of everything, nice to the female staff (some in the past seem to have gone out of their way to be 'difficult' but not to the male staff on same flight)
Perhaps a new generation who realise that staff travel is a nice perk and don't want to ruin it for anyone else? I didn't include that because I didn't want to stir up a debate but since you mentioned it...
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Yes it could well be that all the hags have left and all the new wives are well-behaved. It's everyone else!
Or it could be your own perception is changing with age, experience, outlook......... imagination.
Or it could be your own perception is changing with age, experience, outlook......... imagination.
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Staff travel has always been top notch... Even have First Class boarding pass awaiting my arrival at check-in at certain stations - followed by excellent service on board. My wife gets the same great service too...
No, not imagination. In general staff (this includes CC, btw) behaving much better than they used to, or maybe I just stopped giving a crap when one acts like a jerk...
As I said, behaviour as I described is not down to imagination, it was pure bad behaviour. I wouldn't poke *anyone* in a service position, let alone someone who is supposed to be my colleague.
If someone (staff or pax) is being difficult I just tell myself they must have a crap life off the plane so take it out on everyone else when they travel. (they like having 'servants' to boss around I guess) I do the required for them and spend my extra attention on the ones who act like decent human beings (i.e. the other 98%)
of course you get the bad apples in any place (airport, on board, on the phone, etc) but majority seem to do fine. Out of all the times I've travelled I've had issues maybe once or twice, one of those was a new staff in the check in who wasn't aware of a procedure. I nicely informed them of the policy, asked him to check, staff came back, apologised and rectified the issue, I thanked him, no problems or attitude on either side.
Seems perhaps Jack is just unlucky or...
(FYI yes staff should be treated just like any other pax... that also means there shouldn't be any over the top special treatment either, like getting items from other cabins, saving rows of seats or such. Yes we want to look after our colleagues but it shouldn't be at the expense of full fare pax or causing resentment from pax to staff because of perceived 'special treatment')
As I said, behaviour as I described is not down to imagination, it was pure bad behaviour. I wouldn't poke *anyone* in a service position, let alone someone who is supposed to be my colleague.
If someone (staff or pax) is being difficult I just tell myself they must have a crap life off the plane so take it out on everyone else when they travel. (they like having 'servants' to boss around I guess) I do the required for them and spend my extra attention on the ones who act like decent human beings (i.e. the other 98%)
of course you get the bad apples in any place (airport, on board, on the phone, etc) but majority seem to do fine. Out of all the times I've travelled I've had issues maybe once or twice, one of those was a new staff in the check in who wasn't aware of a procedure. I nicely informed them of the policy, asked him to check, staff came back, apologised and rectified the issue, I thanked him, no problems or attitude on either side.
Seems perhaps Jack is just unlucky or...
(FYI yes staff should be treated just like any other pax... that also means there shouldn't be any over the top special treatment either, like getting items from other cabins, saving rows of seats or such. Yes we want to look after our colleagues but it shouldn't be at the expense of full fare pax or causing resentment from pax to staff because of perceived 'special treatment')
Forgive me if I did chuckle a bit at that, Nikita. Perhaps I should say 'reacting emotionally' rather than drama. Whenever I've been screamed at by a pax, it's always been a woman, never a man.