Hi all, lifetime gold GF FF here and after reading this thread I was busting to say something.... I'm a veteran of doing business in the ME....I will say it in all honesty that the male work ethic in the GCC can be deplorable....my experience has been with ground staff, front line airline staff and cabin crew. GF have the clearly self destroying rule of only GCC national males allowed to apply for cabin crew posts..and guess what - the males are absolutely useless in most cases. Even the local Arab pilot who comes and plonks himself in an empty F class seat...turns on his monitor for the sake of turning it on - not even watching it! and reading light on during a night flight disturbing paying premium SLEEPING pax.....all while crew rest is empty! I've seen this on two occasions recently. GF has such great potential but need to adopt the QR EK and EY (to lesser extent) polices of sufficient western staff or capable local staff in key posts.
I have NO reason to doubt this same uselessness I speak of is present in the "pink palace" I often gawk at when put up in Movenpick while in transit...and wonder how many locals are waiting for their monthly check sitting idly at their desks...I'd also LOVE to record the amount of times the word 'enshallah' and 'mafi mushkilla' are used in that place!
My thoughts go out to those GF crew and staff members who rival those of any other 1st rate carrier...they are inevitably let down by the 'rotten apples' in the box.
GF wake up and smell the roses....for the EXACT same reasons u employed a western CEO, those reasons must be adopted company wide and the locals have nobody to blame but themselves and their poor work ethic. I do acknowledge, however, there are a few local staff I have encountered who I take my hat off to. (Mostly Female)
Now it's reached the point of safety and something has to be done! Not only from crew and staff viewpoints but also from us loyal premium pax who keep those guys in the palace all employed. I'm seriously considering shifting to EK or EY. I'm actually in negotiation with both carriers to have my loyalty honored with either of the two, then I'm shifting if I see no improvement on GF's part....
and for the first time of 12 years with GF I do feel my life is at risk not due to ability but due to choice (or lack thereof) and complacency,......sad but true. I hope the 'royalty' living in the 'palace' understand their mini empire can easily crumble if this 'management' style continues!
PS I'd be most delighted for a GF staff member to hand this post to someone who cares in the "palace"...wishful thinking it will cause at least a ripple?
