Window shutters
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Window shutters
In my career so far I have either been flying unpressurised a/c, or been transporting freight. So i've always wondered why when i'm traveling in the back of an airliner they always ask you to open the window shutters for t/o and landing (heard some ask for them closed
).
Can anyone help me with this?
).Can anyone help me with this?
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Re: Window shutters
It's so that you can see outside. It seems a silly reply, but it's the truth! It's happened in several occasions that a pax has noticed something wrong and notified the crew before they realised anything was wrong (Miss, a flap just fell off, is that normal???")
It might also help in case of evacuation to assess the outside conditions.
Finally, it helps the cleaning services so they don't have to open the shutters themselves to clean the windows...ok, that one's not true
It might also help in case of evacuation to assess the outside conditions.
Finally, it helps the cleaning services so they don't have to open the shutters themselves to clean the windows...ok, that one's not true
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Re: Window shutters
heard some ask for them closed
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Re: Window shutters
It is so that if we were to evacuate, the crew can't really see a great deal from the little round window in their doors, so may have to quickly glance into the cabin to check the area outside their doors. Also for emergency services can look in the windows if no one has initiated an evacuation as we are all knocked out.
There are valid reasons for why we ask pax do do things , not just because we like saying it. Also for baggage under the seat, is doesn't block the exit into the aisle in case of an emergency
Seat backs forward for take off and landing - so it does not block the pax behind you evactation route.
Music off on landing and take off, so you can hear any evecuation commands if something goes wrong. All common sense really. Just wish pax would stop asking - WHY????!
There are valid reasons for why we ask pax do do things , not just because we like saying it. Also for baggage under the seat, is doesn't block the exit into the aisle in case of an emergency
Seat backs forward for take off and landing - so it does not block the pax behind you evactation route.
Music off on landing and take off, so you can hear any evecuation commands if something goes wrong. All common sense really. Just wish pax would stop asking - WHY????!
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Re: Window shutters
I understood that shutters are up for take off and landing so that passengers and crew can see outside in the event of an emergency. If you see flames on one side of the aircraft it would make sense to not open the exit(s) on that side.
I thought this very thing happened in Toronto with the Air France accident last August. Passengers saw the flames and made for the safer exits.
I thought this very thing happened in Toronto with the Air France accident last August. Passengers saw the flames and made for the safer exits.
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Re: Window shutters
jettesen
If you explain to people the reason for something you are asking them to do, they will be more likely to comply and remember the importance of the action.
It also helps to make them understand that the reason why we're in the aircraft is to take care of their Safety.
It only makes our job easier to take a minute to allow them to understand, and will only increase our authoritativeness in their eyes.
I don't know if it was the same outside Air France, but we surely noticed more attention and respect on behalf of the passengers after the Toronto accident: nothing better than a "live" demonstration of how good training and CC professionalism can save your life
Just wish pax would stop asking - WHY????!
It also helps to make them understand that the reason why we're in the aircraft is to take care of their Safety.
It only makes our job easier to take a minute to allow them to understand, and will only increase our authoritativeness in their eyes.
I don't know if it was the same outside Air France, but we surely noticed more attention and respect on behalf of the passengers after the Toronto accident: nothing better than a "live" demonstration of how good training and CC professionalism can save your life
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Re: Window shutters
Its not mandatory CAA regs that say this, its just company policy. CAA only says exit blinds must be open, not pax ones. I work for BA and its optional for pax to have window blinds open/closed. Theres always gonna be lots of peeps looking out the window on takeoff/landing anyway. Especially landing into London (my fave)!!
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Re: Window shutters
flyblue, I just wish they would stop asking WHY as i would never dream of asking someone else when they asked me to do something. They always make it out as if it is us being fussy or we just like to be awkward. They have no right to question us as to why we ask them to do something.
P.s are you actually crew???
P.s are you actually crew???
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Re: Window shutters
I thought at BA in long haul its SOP to DEMAND that they are shut, which means more people fall asleepand the service can be rushed ,thus more bunk time for the overworked luvies.
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Re: Window shutters
jettesen,
yes I am crew
Frankly I don't see it in terms of "having the right to question" etc. Of course that, formally speaking, they have no right. But in terms of what makes your working life easier, and your work excellent, it's in my opinion a good move to answer. Yes, some people are fussy. If you have kids you'll know there is always one, THE "why" one. Always asks why. But a part of our job is to deal with people, so we'll have to deal with the "why" pax as well. And any other kind of diffficult pax. Our goal, then, will be of finding a way of being the most effective. The most effective, in our case, is (1) to have a happy pax (commercially good) that (2) does what he's asked to do (good in terms of Safety), (3) without fussing too much (that's good for us
). In our case we are at disadvantage, because we know we already have a fussy pax. What is the best way to achieve my goal of having 1, 2 and 3 at the same time?
The most important thing, is to be calm and detached. Not to feel "personally" involved in the situatuion. It helps to evaluate better the most effective moves (in martial arts, they call it mu shin). And it is very difficult for someone to remain aggressive/angry if you don't "follow" him. Then reply calmly, according to the situation, but showing that you are taking into consideration the problem the pax is exposing (yeah, I know, sometimes it is not easy ). If, like in our case, the pax is asking the reason why he should comply with an order, if he gets a plausible explanation why he should (and that means showing that you are taking him as a person, and his concerns, seriously), 99% of the cases he'll stop fussing. If he's a real, 100% pure gold pain in the neck and keep fussing, if you keep your cool you'll have the support of the other pax if things turn nasty.
In my profesional life I've found very useful the fact of being able to remain calm, as if forming a shield between you and the negativity some people throw at you. It's our primary tool when dealing with the species Homo Passenger.
Ah, and one last things. As soon as we get through the A/C door, something happens and we drop a point or two of IQ . It helps sometimes to refocus on the fact that pax are people. Your father is a pax, your mother is a pax, your sister is. You are. We have all been at some point someone else's pax. So next time you feel a snappy reply forming in your throat, think that it could be your Dad (not in those striped shorts!!! 
), and how you'd like to see him treated.
When you react, you are being controlled by the situation, and achieving neither 1, 2 nor 3.
When you respond, you are dealing with it. You are in control and will end up having 1, 2 and 3, and chances are you'll also end the day in a good mood
yes I am crew
Frankly I don't see it in terms of "having the right to question" etc. Of course that, formally speaking, they have no right. But in terms of what makes your working life easier, and your work excellent, it's in my opinion a good move to answer. Yes, some people are fussy. If you have kids you'll know there is always one, THE "why" one. Always asks why. But a part of our job is to deal with people, so we'll have to deal with the "why" pax as well. And any other kind of diffficult pax. Our goal, then, will be of finding a way of being the most effective. The most effective, in our case, is (1) to have a happy pax (commercially good) that (2) does what he's asked to do (good in terms of Safety), (3) without fussing too much (that's good for us
). In our case we are at disadvantage, because we know we already have a fussy pax. What is the best way to achieve my goal of having 1, 2 and 3 at the same time?The most important thing, is to be calm and detached. Not to feel "personally" involved in the situatuion. It helps to evaluate better the most effective moves (in martial arts, they call it mu shin). And it is very difficult for someone to remain aggressive/angry if you don't "follow" him. Then reply calmly, according to the situation, but showing that you are taking into consideration the problem the pax is exposing (yeah, I know, sometimes it is not easy
). If, like in our case, the pax is asking the reason why he should comply with an order, if he gets a plausible explanation why he should (and that means showing that you are taking him as a person, and his concerns, seriously), 99% of the cases he'll stop fussing. If he's a real, 100% pure gold pain in the neck and keep fussing, if you keep your cool you'll have the support of the other pax if things turn nasty.In my profesional life I've found very useful the fact of being able to remain calm, as if forming a shield between you and the negativity some people throw at you. It's our primary tool when dealing with the species Homo Passenger.
Ah, and one last things. As soon as we get through the A/C door, something happens and we drop a point or two of IQ
. It helps sometimes to refocus on the fact that pax are people. Your father is a pax, your mother is a pax, your sister is. You are. We have all been at some point someone else's pax. So next time you feel a snappy reply forming in your throat, think that it could be your Dad (not in those striped shorts!!! ), and how you'd like to see him treated.When you react, you are being controlled by the situation, and achieving neither 1, 2 nor 3.
When you respond, you are dealing with it. You are in control and will end up having 1, 2 and 3, and chances are you'll also end the day in a good mood
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Re: Window shutters
omg!!! flyblue have u just had your customer service training or something? I'm sure jettesen knows that, he wouldn't be in the job if he didn't!
I mean seriously, how patronising!!
I mean seriously, how patronising!!
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Re: Window shutters
Sorry Lisat but I am with FlyBlue on this one, and if anyones post was patronising, it was Jettesons:
Flyblue merely responded (very calmly and intelligently, for that matter) to a question that was asked of her. A very informative post that would go well copied into the SLF forum!
Originally Posted by Jetteson
P.s are you actually crew???
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Re: Window shutters
I am sorry but jetteson has been on this forum long enough to know perfectly well that Flyblue is crew and it is my very humble opinion that he was himself being at best patronising and at worst bl**dy rude. 
I think Flyblue's reply was an excellent way of demonstrating to everyone that she does indeed know plenty about being a cabin crew member and was extremely restrained and polite considering the provocative tone of jetteson's remark.
(Jetteson has a fairly well-documented history on this forum of being a right pain in the ar*e.
)
I think Flyblue's reply was an excellent way of demonstrating to everyone that she does indeed know plenty about being a cabin crew member and was extremely restrained and polite considering the provocative tone of jetteson's remark.
(Jetteson has a fairly well-documented history on this forum of being a right pain in the ar*e.
)
Last edited by tart1; 17th Jan 2006 at 17:30.
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Re: Window shutters
Jettesen, I think you could use a vacation. As a flight attendant and as a firefighter (second job) I've been asked questions relating to why we do one thing or another. With all our training, things we see as routine, might cause someone else to wonder "why's that?". That's it. It's a sincere question. Just give a sincere answer and get on with your walk-through.
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Our colleague jettesen expresses his frustration with the fact that there's always pax that ask "why" instead of doing what he asks them.
Our colleague flyblue explains what she thinks about people asking why, how she deals with the 'why-brigade', why she deals with them the way she does and what the result of her method is.
As it doesn't say in her profile, jettesen makes a wee joke asking flyblue if she's an FA. No big deal, and the way I know flyblue, it hasn't in the least ruffled her feathers. I wouldn't be at all surprised if she uses that mu shin when she moderates
lisat different people bring different attitudes & backgrounds to the job of being an FA. flyblues last post very clearly shows how she approaches her job.
The lenght of her post also shows clearly that she is keen to share what makes her working life easier with fellow FAs here and'jettesen in particular.
Jettesen twice expresses his frustration, flyblue shares with him how she herself avoids that frustration. I don't see that as patronising but as trying to share. Still, we all see what we are disposed to see, don't we?
As a further bit of food for thought, neither flyblue nor I grew up with English as our native language. So when writing in English, we tend to make an extra effort to make sure what we say is clear. Perhaps this makes us more longwinded/appear patronising than we need to be.
Our colleague flyblue explains what she thinks about people asking why, how she deals with the 'why-brigade', why she deals with them the way she does and what the result of her method is.
As it doesn't say in her profile, jettesen makes a wee joke asking flyblue if she's an FA. No big deal, and the way I know flyblue, it hasn't in the least ruffled her feathers. I wouldn't be at all surprised if she uses that mu shin when she moderates
lisat different people bring different attitudes & backgrounds to the job of being an FA. flyblues last post very clearly shows how she approaches her job.
The lenght of her post also shows clearly that she is keen to share what makes her working life easier with fellow FAs here and'jettesen in particular.
Jettesen twice expresses his frustration, flyblue shares with him how she herself avoids that frustration. I don't see that as patronising but as trying to share. Still, we all see what we are disposed to see, don't we?
As a further bit of food for thought, neither flyblue nor I grew up with English as our native language. So when writing in English, we tend to make an extra effort to make sure what we say is clear.
Perhaps this makes us more longwinded/appear patronising than we need to be.
