Guys...
Come on... you are starting to sound like mongrels.
J68 - excellent post.
Things have changed in this industry, the bean counters have taken their big cut out of the cake to pay for their bonus and guarantee their next step up the corporate ladder - and stuff the consequences, it'll be someone else's problem before it bites.
No truer is this than in ISD. The racist decided that, indeed, we would be a 'same team, same dream' company populated exclusively by local employees. He chose to do this not because of some deluded dream that they would be the best, but because it would save money in that holy grail of $2/ASK. In the process; however, he failed to consider the possible consequences (or he didn't care; because it would be someone else's problem by the time it bit) of declining standards in the Cabin, where it truly matters. The pax really don't care if we land 4500ft down the runway so long as it's smooth. They do care about the service in the cabin, particularly in First and Business.
Now back to the thread...
Just ask yourselves these few questions.
1. How often have you approached the immigration desk at dispatch and actively gone to introduce yourself to the crew? Or do you wait for them to come to you? They are told to introduce themselves to us, but we never take the initiative! How intimidating must it be for a 22 year old chinese girl to come over and introduce herself to a 50 year old 400 captain.
2 How often does the Captain actually make his 'Bus Speech" involving for the crew? Does he re-introduce the pilots and project his voice to the back of the bus or does he just mumble to the ISM. For those who do just mumble, I can tell you, it is NOT very impressive to the junior crew down the back.
3. We've all got bad memories, who prints off a crew list before the flight and makes a note of the ISM, SP and FPs names. Particularly the ones who will be serving the flight deck. It's called CRM - Courtesy, Respect and Manners.
4. How many of us loiter in the galley, having not learnt their names in the hope that we will be recognized and served.
5. How many of us demand to be fed at the height of the meal service. Never forget, the crew are there to serve the Pax... we come second! Even if we're hungry. Because it's the Pax who pay all our salaries.
6. How many of us take rest in the cabin (and I'm pretty sure we're not permitted to do so in First) and leave the seat area looking like a pigsty? Do you re-plump the pillow and fold the blanket or do you leave the seat half reclined, the blanket in a mess on the floor and the pillow all crumpled. Because someone has to tidy it up to keep the appearance that is required in First and Business. If you want a maid on board then buy your helper a ticket and take her with you.
7. Why on earth would any of us want to eat in the cabin? The time taken eating soaks uo 30 minutes of an otherwise boring watch duty! Put yourself in the shoes of the adjacent First or Business class passenger who has paid $40-70,000 to get to LHR. You would not want someone sitting next to you, eating and disturbing the tranquility of the environment. For the poster who had the SP countermand the permission of the ISM.... If a pax complains - it is the SP who will get it in the neck from CX not the ISM because it is her cabin. Besides, we are not permitted to eat in First.
8. How many of us get stroppy if we are told there is no caviar? It is there for the pax, not us! On the other hand, treat the girls nicely from the start and the world will be your oyster.
9. For the longer serving readers... how many of you invited the girls out as a crew, drank yourselves to oblivion, whilst they drank Coke or OJ and then split the bill? Hardly chivalrous is it.
Gentlemen, this list is endless. But to go on would get boring.
We, as an employee group with CX do not cover ourselves in glory in the eyes of our non-pilot colleagues.
When it comes to dealing with the cabin crew, they just want us to be pleasant, perhaps learn their name.
Be patient, they may be dealing with one of the CUSTOMERS.
She may be tired, they get on average half the rest we do.
They have to deal with some pretty low life organisms out there and might just be looking for an unwitting victim on whom to vent their anger... go on punk make their day!
400 Jockey and your ilk.... shame on you. If you really are a Captain, then you should take the time to find out what goes on behind the flight deck door... Oh, I forgot. On the -400, there is just a void on the other side of that door.... unless you want something...... NOW!!!!
Max... out....