You're right, in the big outfits you're unlikely to be recognised by anyone....just as well really, especially when travelling with your partner
... and as for introducing yourself to the Cabin Crew as a pilot for another airline, don't do it... At best they will label you as someone looking for an upgrade or at worse label you as being a sad b *****...or both.
Anyhow, we're all professionals here on this forum..right? - so we know how it works.....just wait for the secret coded PA call of "does anyone here know how to fly an airplane?????"
Just like this incident, recently aired on Aircrash Investigator, or something similar ...
YouTube - Airplane thriller!