Whats in a title
I reckon you should call yourself Captain at every opportunity, it's awesome. You never really know when it will jag you a freebie. Did you know medical doctors are not really doctors? They have a degree in medicine, it's just a courtesy. And most people who've done a Doctorate don't refer to themselves as Dr, they're humble. But we're not, we're awesome.
Sometimes when I’m paxing on another airline the ticket gets booked as CAPTAIN …….
(No, I don’t book them)
The looks I get from the operating crew when showing my boarding pass… automatically people think I’m a massive ****** for using my title.
So two things… firstly, don’t use it outside of your specific work environment. Secondly, if you see someone with CPT on their boarding pass spare a thought for them because they probably didn’t do it themselves and feel like a tool!
(edit reason - typo)
(No, I don’t book them)
The looks I get from the operating crew when showing my boarding pass… automatically people think I’m a massive ****** for using my title.
So two things… firstly, don’t use it outside of your specific work environment. Secondly, if you see someone with CPT on their boarding pass spare a thought for them because they probably didn’t do it themselves and feel like a tool!
(edit reason - typo)
Last edited by AmarokGTI; 29th Mar 2022 at 19:16.
Its clear you were never told the significance of the title Captain UNder Training in your Flight Simulator command course.
But 10/10 for getting the old boys here all teary eyed about the good old old days when juicy young FAs would be queuing up to wave their panties at them…Ahhh… halcyon days days indeed.
A great windup post Keptin HardenUp.Kudos.
But 10/10 for getting the old boys here all teary eyed about the good old old days when juicy young FAs would be queuing up to wave their panties at them…Ahhh… halcyon days days indeed.
A great windup post Keptin HardenUp.Kudos.
There is a difference though, most places you are prohibited from using the Doctor/Dr title unless you are the holder of particular qualifications. The use of the title Captain has no such limitation, you can designate yourself as captain of your car if you so wish to be ridiculed. Even on the sea there is ongoing attempts to have the title officially for certain experience or size of vessel, but no law to regulate it, so while it would be uncool to say you are captain of your tinny, there's no law preventing it. However that being said, Airline Captain is a socially accepted term denoting what you do, and believe it or not people tend to respect the position (outside of PPRUNE that is).
It's incredible how honorific get thrown around like FOD on a windy day. I walked past a chiropractor clinic the other day and it had Dr. Tryhardbutdidntgetintomed. Seriously?
I dont even address GPs as I'm here to see Dr so and so...I think its pretentious. Really the only ones that deserve the title are PhD recipients.
I dont even address GPs as I'm here to see Dr so and so...I think its pretentious. Really the only ones that deserve the title are PhD recipients.
thought it might be seen as a prestigious accolade, much like MP's, justices etc. I mean we've done just as much study as many of them. I must admit though I dont make a habit of going out in public and wearing my uniform. That, I feel is a little pretentious. Sorry, I feel as though my new shiny bars might still have their bling.
This has to be a windup…?
Some companies use other terms when referring to their staff. I called in to see my Mother once after a flight and threw away the flight paperwork in her kitchen. She found it and then saw me named on the briefing sheet as "Commander." That briefing sheet was retrieved from the kitchen bin and she never let it go. In her eyes I was now "Commander Bond!" She was so proud.
You drive a bus,
The two Captains on the interview panel were not impressed.
But having 4 bars on your shoulders can help. I had to do some swift talking at Athens to be allowed OFF the airport as the two of us were wearing jeans and collared t-shirts and not in uniform. The reasoning behind the Security was that aircrew don't crew aircraft in jeans and t-shirts.
We had planned to wear our uniforms from Athens down through the Middle East to Oz.
I can respond only as a Captain, Royal Artillery, Retired, becoming "retired" more decades ago than I care to remember, after an undistinguished career.
In later life, I ran a sea-oriented business in Dartmouth, where the Harbour Authority recruited entirely from retired Naval people.
Business was still done, at that time, by writing letters, and I found that converting RA after Captain into a squiggle that looked like RN got excellent results from the said Authority.
However, I have also found that using any of the myriad possibilities offered by British Airways for a passenger's title, such as Lord, Captain, Prof., Sir, etc etc,, I've tried them all, has no effect whatsoever.
You've earned your title of Captain, which is more than I did, and you should use it in aviation circles on duty.
In later life, I ran a sea-oriented business in Dartmouth, where the Harbour Authority recruited entirely from retired Naval people.
Business was still done, at that time, by writing letters, and I found that converting RA after Captain into a squiggle that looked like RN got excellent results from the said Authority.
However, I have also found that using any of the myriad possibilities offered by British Airways for a passenger's title, such as Lord, Captain, Prof., Sir, etc etc,, I've tried them all, has no effect whatsoever.
You've earned your title of Captain, which is more than I did, and you should use it in aviation circles on duty.
It's been even that more challenging given my gender
Calling yourself "Captain" even within the work environment is a wank, and outside of work, it is even a bigger wank.
We had "Managers'" at EK refer to themselves as Captain, even though they never had a command course at EK, or even flew at EK. Even worse, there were pilots who lost their medicals and took ground jobs in HR, who were FOs in EK and still referred to themselves as Captain......
At one time, I worked with an ex-BA Captain, who had taken early retirement. When we flew together on BA, their systems knew who he was. He was somewhat old school embarrassed, but never persuaded them to stop referring to him as Captain. He hated it. (But he did like the BA Pension)
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G'day mate, you have worked too hard to achieve your command so don't allow females to stop you introducing yourself as captain. I personally do it all the time at parties... seems to impress the girls. Good luck!
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Always happy to help you young fellas out... now back on topic
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"Captain" is a mere indication of servitude employment!
I accept being addressed as nothing less than "Sir". Grovelling also helps!
I accept being addressed as nothing less than "Sir". Grovelling also helps!
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It's a culture change!
Sometime over the past 30 or so years the use of "Captain" has been changed by those that see it somewhat differently to those that are older. This seems to be a sign of the times? Not one that I support. As an example, my father was a Master Mariner (A ship's Captain) and he was always addressed as Captain, even when he moved to a shore position with the same company and later as a Marine Surveyor. His ship was sunk by the Germans in WWII, and he spent 4 yrs in a POW camp in Germany. All of the correspondence that I have seen (and still have) the mail was addressed to "Captain”, and he even had "Capt" prefix in the white pages (you remember them?)
Somewhere along the line the use of the title and other similar ones has been changed by those that don't seem to respect what it really means. Of course, there is a time and place for its use and perhaps the change has come about because of, shall I say "inappropriate" use (as described in previous posts) - maybe the later generations just don't understand or have not been in the classroom when it was discussed?
When I was flying as PIC, my company always used the prefix of Captain, even on boarding passes when deadheading. It was the way it was. Nevertheless when used appropriately, it should be respected.
Sometime over the past 30 or so years the use of "Captain" has been changed by those that see it somewhat differently to those that are older. This seems to be a sign of the times? Not one that I support. As an example, my father was a Master Mariner (A ship's Captain) and he was always addressed as Captain, even when he moved to a shore position with the same company and later as a Marine Surveyor. His ship was sunk by the Germans in WWII, and he spent 4 yrs in a POW camp in Germany. All of the correspondence that I have seen (and still have) the mail was addressed to "Captain”, and he even had "Capt" prefix in the white pages (you remember them?)
Somewhere along the line the use of the title and other similar ones has been changed by those that don't seem to respect what it really means. Of course, there is a time and place for its use and perhaps the change has come about because of, shall I say "inappropriate" use (as described in previous posts) - maybe the later generations just don't understand or have not been in the classroom when it was discussed?
When I was flying as PIC, my company always used the prefix of Captain, even on boarding passes when deadheading. It was the way it was. Nevertheless when used appropriately, it should be respected.
The one time I told the truth in a bar and said I was an Airline Captain when asked the lady concerned just laughed and asked what I really did, now I just tell people I sell plumbing supplies :-) I have never used the title Captain outside of my own Airline and only then when required to do so.
I just tell people even long lost family who we meet after many years, that I work in Aviation operations. Generally I don’t get any questions after that. One said family noticed me on a walkaround once, he was quite taken back and thought I worked for Head office. So seems it works.