Rude Passengers
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
From: Leicestershire
Rude Passengers
It gets harder to be nice to people who continually swear at you and say things like 'who are you, you are trash' When you do assert your basic human rights you have a discussion about communication styles with seniors. As a senior it is difficult to motivate and keep good crew motivated within the current aviation culture..........any ideas.............i know all the rude ones I think them every day at work under the smile!
HELP!
HELP!
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 476
Likes: 0
From: Dununda
Entertainment
Everyone deals with the difficulties of being a flight attendant differently.First I introduce myself and so become a person not just a uniform with ears.Second pax are there for my entertainment and they can be very entertaining whether they realize it or not.Third I occasionally develop a memory problem for those who are particularly difficult...some pax just won`t help you help them.The nicest pax I will bend over backwards for...the squeekiest wheel does not get the oil.Never ever reward bad behaviour and never internalize someone`s anger.They are angry but not at you...they don`t know you.
These various approaches keep me sane(or insane depending on your point of view).
Remember some people are unhappy with their circumstances and some are just unhappy inside.You can help the former but never the latter....they just need therapy.
These various approaches keep me sane(or insane depending on your point of view).
Remember some people are unhappy with their circumstances and some are just unhappy inside.You can help the former but never the latter....they just need therapy.
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: BNE
well said surfside...
Tonight - a nightmare!
full flight, 8 infants, 5 wheelchairs, 1 medical emergency, 4 o2 bottles 2 of which got blocked, 1 passenger throw up all over me, 1 passenger grabs my arm with hand dripping in their own urine.
Somehow, I managed to keep smiling and get the job done, and yes the only way i managed to keep on keepin on was to laugh at it all.
I agree with not rewarding bad behaviour. As in, just because someone acts up dosent mean they deserve preferential treatment.
The call was made 'Flight attendants report to the forward galley imediately', so I went, on my way, grabbed by a female passenger who grabbed so tightly, it made my arm red. She wouldnt let go, and snapped at me about a (permanent) coffee stain on her tray table. I apologised and said I would have to come back... (meanwhile, in the middle of some quite nasty bumps). As the third on the scene (assist) i went off and grabbed extra oxy bottles from mid cabin after the first one failed. While removing them from their bracket (difficult to get to) she gets out of her seat and demands to be moved to business class and that the tray be replaced? (seatbelt sign on, plane bouncing around still)... Whats more, I then see 2 of the infants crawling around on the floor in the aisle (SEATBELT SIGN?). Ok. Ask parents to hold onto their kids, and strap them in. Both refuse, say I cant controll them, they keep crying. I convinced one quickly, the other huffed and complied only after all other avenues exhausted and I said 'your boy will be crying more when we hit that one bump that sends him to the roof, and back down onto an armrest like I did last month'.
Why will I go back tomorrow? Because thats the job! (oh and the warm fuzzy feeling you get from all the handshakes when they all get off - one said shed hug me if it werent for the vomit on the shirt...
Tonight - a nightmare!
full flight, 8 infants, 5 wheelchairs, 1 medical emergency, 4 o2 bottles 2 of which got blocked, 1 passenger throw up all over me, 1 passenger grabs my arm with hand dripping in their own urine.
Somehow, I managed to keep smiling and get the job done, and yes the only way i managed to keep on keepin on was to laugh at it all.
I agree with not rewarding bad behaviour. As in, just because someone acts up dosent mean they deserve preferential treatment.
The call was made 'Flight attendants report to the forward galley imediately', so I went, on my way, grabbed by a female passenger who grabbed so tightly, it made my arm red. She wouldnt let go, and snapped at me about a (permanent) coffee stain on her tray table. I apologised and said I would have to come back... (meanwhile, in the middle of some quite nasty bumps). As the third on the scene (assist) i went off and grabbed extra oxy bottles from mid cabin after the first one failed. While removing them from their bracket (difficult to get to) she gets out of her seat and demands to be moved to business class and that the tray be replaced? (seatbelt sign on, plane bouncing around still)... Whats more, I then see 2 of the infants crawling around on the floor in the aisle (SEATBELT SIGN?). Ok. Ask parents to hold onto their kids, and strap them in. Both refuse, say I cant controll them, they keep crying. I convinced one quickly, the other huffed and complied only after all other avenues exhausted and I said 'your boy will be crying more when we hit that one bump that sends him to the roof, and back down onto an armrest like I did last month'.
Why will I go back tomorrow? Because thats the job! (oh and the warm fuzzy feeling you get from all the handshakes when they all get off - one said shed hug me if it werent for the vomit on the shirt...
Paxing All Over The World
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 10,844
Likes: 328
From: Hertfordshire, UK.
At the weekend, a friend of mine said that she was thinking of applying to become CC. [pause] I think I'll show her the post from thecaptainissecure to remind her of the great benefits of the job. 
--------------------
"I tell you, we are here on Earth to fart around, and don't let anybody tell you any different." Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.
--------------------
"I tell you, we are here on Earth to fart around, and don't let anybody tell you any different." Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,806
Likes: 0
From: Dublin
Definately agree with dont reward bad behaviour!
My last flight back I had a pax sitting in WT+ Asking for something which was not availible in this cabin. I politely said no and offered an alternative. Her Husband then decided to have a go at me suggesting I "March up to club" and get it to which i refused. He then had the cheek to say "I" had the attitude problem to which i reminded him that at no point had i been rude but simply tried to explain that we are not allowed to contaminate the product ( i just love the phrase). He then said he would get it off the CSD instead!!!! So I then made a point of advising the crew what had occured and to be sure none of the crew would allow him to get what he wanted. My Purser also said she would speak with him, but the big mistake he made was telling another colleague of mine on the flight that I was a "P*&$K" so my purser was able to hold that against him if she needed it.
But the funny thing is....I was actually going to get the item for them anyways until they started to act like that!!!! It was only over a packet of walkers!!!!
My last flight back I had a pax sitting in WT+ Asking for something which was not availible in this cabin. I politely said no and offered an alternative. Her Husband then decided to have a go at me suggesting I "March up to club" and get it to which i refused. He then had the cheek to say "I" had the attitude problem to which i reminded him that at no point had i been rude but simply tried to explain that we are not allowed to contaminate the product ( i just love the phrase). He then said he would get it off the CSD instead!!!! So I then made a point of advising the crew what had occured and to be sure none of the crew would allow him to get what he wanted. My Purser also said she would speak with him, but the big mistake he made was telling another colleague of mine on the flight that I was a "P*&$K" so my purser was able to hold that against him if she needed it.
But the funny thing is....I was actually going to get the item for them anyways until they started to act like that!!!! It was only over a packet of walkers!!!!
PPRuNe Playmate of the Month
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 593
Likes: 0
From: Donington, Lincolnshire
I don't know how you can do your jobs - I know I'd never be able to stick at it given the appalling people you have to deal with. So many times I've cringed with embarrassment at the behaviour of people sitting around me. I often hope their luggage has been left behind.
