... and I'm putting on my armour as I write
I'm a regular pax - but my job is to work with airline operators. When I work with them, I sit in the jump seat of their aircraft. Usually completing five to six sectors a day (no rules to protect me!).
Add to this a piece of history - my very first 'proper' job whilst still at school was as a silver-service breakfast waiter at a posh hotel in my country of domicile.
Thought No.1 - re Best passenger
I have been treated like sh!t by people out for a good time - as I suspect have most cabin crew. I remember what it's like and so I treat cabin crew the way I'd liked to have been treated when trying to silver-serve a fried egg onto a plate. 'Thanks' for a start would be nice. So I smile, use eye contact, crack a joke, listen to the safety brief (although I know B737s and A320s to such detail that I honestly don't have to - 'cos that's my job) and try to help you as much as possible (pax+heavy bag; hostie helps+too heavy = me load into compartment to help = happy, cheery hostie).
Thought No. 2 - Hosties
I think you're a fantastic bunch of folk, but I sometimes wonder about two things. Firstly, when I'm working with your airline (and I will have) and there's are no pax around what fun we have! However, as soon as those pax arrive - woomph. Smiles gone. Fun gone. Starchy stiffness arrives. Now I know you have to present a front that demands a reasonable amount of respect, after all, you expect to be obeyed in the event of an 'incident'.
But please, please, please - show that you can at least think 'fun'. The second point is (am now completely covered in flame-proof armour) is that remember I said I was a breakfast waiter? Who do you think were the worst people to wait on? The Americans? The Germans? No. The aircrews. 'I said white bread, not this muck'; 'Is this tea? Next time make sure it's hot'; 'This food is disgusting. Can't you do any better?'; 'I want two cups of coffee. Now.'; Please tell that table over there to be quiet. I have a headache.'; (after dropping a piece of bacon on a hostie's handbag) 'You idiot! I'll make sure you don't work here again!'
I think you might have the idea by now (but I got that EVERY Saturday and Sunday for about a year).
So, as with all things, there's two sides to every story and two ways to experience people - off-duty and on-duty.
The Cabin Crew I have met professionally have been brilliant - without exception. But the reason why I totally respect the difficulties you have in your job is because of how badly your older colleagues treated me!
Anyway - I know you're about to get me, so I'm going to duck now!
I'll leave you though with one of the fun moments I've enjoyed with hosties (it's not rude!) - Pax were loading on aircraft. Operator involved had no seating allocation policy. Due to certain ops restrictions (due to Training Pilot being on board) I was to spend some time in jump seat and the rest as pax on this sector. Was very full flight with only one seat spare.
Well, v kind hostie said that she'd reserve a seat for me on row A. Ill-natured pax compained that he couldn't sit there, and didn't you operate a no reservation policy? Hostie explained ina quick witted way that I was senior manager in the airline checking on service quality and did he mind? Of course not.
Oops. Flight delayed 1hr 45mins. Who got it in the neck from lovely pax. Yup - yours truly; hosties laughing their you-know-whats off. I knew what the problem was, however couldn't say. So that was a bit of a test and did I squirm!
However, a/c finally took off, I did my stuff in jump seat, joined hosties (still laughing) as they were serving the coffees. I was asked if I could help cos they were busy, so I made coffee in the rear galley.
Pax loved seeing a 'senior manager' making the coffee; Pissy pax happy they'd complained to 'senior manager'; hosties happy to have a helping hand; Hosties happy to 'senior manager' to handle the problems; 'senior manager' happy too - not had so much fun for ages!!
You know who you are - thx to all
Celloistic