Hello Spork. No insult was intended. My over-generalizations and insensitive remarks failed to address the fact that many passengers are polite, well-read or knowledgeable, or all of the above, possibly also aware of the huge gap between quotes in the media and the various real situations. But based on some recent observations made by US airline Marketing departments, maybe it is the other very large sector/group which "worships" only the cheapest price possible, and little else. We also need their business, but maybe three or four of their ticket fares equal one average 'business fare'. As Pprune was created by pilots, and the forums inspire the "insiders" to contribute, please allow me to qualify my crude remarks in a realistic context.
Nothing personal was intended against the courteous travelers out there who are at least vaguely aware of how much work and dedication, despite many fatigueing days, go into our profession. Here are some of the pitfalls: high adrenaline during the last approach onto a slippery runway in gusting winds at eleven pm, followed by minimum rest at a fairly noisy hotel-never mind difficult training and challenging sim. checkrides etc. I can't speak for other pilots, but here are just some of my impressions about much of the flying public: based on their behavior at these same noisy hotels and indifferent attitudes towards our best efforts to get them quickly and safely to their destination around thunderstorms, even without any distracting systems abnormalities (after 12 consecutive hours of duty, now on the fifth flight of the day, but with no "flightdeck" automation...), never mind their unwillingness to comprehend why a flight can be delayed the next morning because the crew arrived much later (the previous night) than planned and takes its minimum rest as defined in the contract, which is not all that much, maybe eight hours at the hotel.
Our working environment can breed a little resentment from time to time. But maybe most others do. We try to avoid thinking about bankruptcy judges or one's employer being able to dissolve most of one's retirement at a whim after working 20-25 years, a topic now seen quite often in the US newspapers' business sections.
