Cabin crew "attitude"
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it is the same in any customer facing job role though. you can go into a shop and have a really rude shop assistant and in the shop next door one who will go out of their way to help you. and it is the same on planes. its a shame the human race cant be happy and smiley at all times, like me! he he
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WITHOUT PREJUDICE!!!
With the risk of making a load of enemies before I even complete my training I don't think Miche is being unreasonable. I have found this forum to be an invaluable source of help and advice both before making my application and then preparing for the interview, and hopefully will continue to be in the future as I start my career with BA. Personally i think it's important to hear what ex crew think.
Also, I have flown as a pax with BA and other airlines for many many years and yes, i have received some unkind comments and stony faced service from crew on many, not solely BA, although one particular flight to Nice with BA did have the grumpiest Senior Cabin Crew member I'd ever encountered but thinking that she might have had a bad day i gave her the benefit of the doubt.....unfortunately on the return flight 2 weeks later, there she was ready for war again!!
My point is that I think Miche was just asking the question in general. We as customers wouldn't want to be treated as such so why should others? I agree that these types are still a minority but it certainly won't make their days any easier by behaving like this, maybe they should try to recall their reasons for going into this customer service based profession in the first place.
With the risk of making a load of enemies before I even complete my training I don't think Miche is being unreasonable. I have found this forum to be an invaluable source of help and advice both before making my application and then preparing for the interview, and hopefully will continue to be in the future as I start my career with BA. Personally i think it's important to hear what ex crew think.
Also, I have flown as a pax with BA and other airlines for many many years and yes, i have received some unkind comments and stony faced service from crew on many, not solely BA, although one particular flight to Nice with BA did have the grumpiest Senior Cabin Crew member I'd ever encountered but thinking that she might have had a bad day i gave her the benefit of the doubt.....unfortunately on the return flight 2 weeks later, there she was ready for war again!!
My point is that I think Miche was just asking the question in general. We as customers wouldn't want to be treated as such so why should others? I agree that these types are still a minority but it certainly won't make their days any easier by behaving like this, maybe they should try to recall their reasons for going into this customer service based profession in the first place.
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Cringe worthy?
Originally Posted by miche2
I cringe when I see and hear (BA) crew attitude on board.
(See quote above) Not one, not two but all. That is a very broad statement.
Alot of the posts do make alot of sense however defending someone who cringes at the very sight of you.
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Fingers crossed
Garyjon, None taken. 
She does make valid points ie. crew should not behave in such away, if you don't like it get another job. (If you don't mind mon-fri 9-5)
Unfortunately on a forum all you have are words. There is no body language there is no tone of voice etc. etc. so what you write comes across exactly as is written.
I am sure alot of people, including myself, are not offended by the message I think she intended to write. However my personal opinion is that it was done in a very cynical, derogatory and patronising way.
Anyway i think apaddyinuk summed it up very nicely and I think she got her answer.
Alls well that ends well, hopefully.
She does make valid points ie. crew should not behave in such away, if you don't like it get another job. (If you don't mind mon-fri 9-5)
Unfortunately on a forum all you have are words. There is no body language there is no tone of voice etc. etc. so what you write comes across exactly as is written.
I am sure alot of people, including myself, are not offended by the message I think she intended to write. However my personal opinion is that it was done in a very cynical, derogatory and patronising way.
Anyway i think apaddyinuk summed it up very nicely and I think she got her answer.
Alls well that ends well, hopefully.
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What can I say it did happen to me and it's happened to loads of friends of mine who commute, when the gate lounge is full .
Kind Regards.
Kind Regards.
Last edited by BMED LHR; 12th Jun 2006 at 11:55.
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What cabin crew should remember, and not just B.A., is that todays economy class passengers could well be tomorrows business class. Part of your job is to portray and sell the company in a positive way. If I come across rude and unprofessional cabin crew in economy whilst goin on holiday, I would think twice about using that airline for my business trips.
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It's true come crew can be a bit "off" but passengers do come out with some comments that even Mother Teresa would find hard not to raise a weary eyebrow at. Only this week I had this conversation with a delightful passenger::
Me: Would you like some wine with your meal?
Pax: Do you have Sparkling Chiraz?
M: No sorry, we have Chardonnay or Merlot. Which would you prefer?
P: Oh good god, I can't stomach the stuff if makes me sick. Well honestly...A water then.
(weary me pours water)
P: How much is that?
M: Oh it's complementary Madam
P: Oh right, two chardonnays, a merlot and a G+T.
Me: Would you like some wine with your meal?
Pax: Do you have Sparkling Chiraz?
M: No sorry, we have Chardonnay or Merlot. Which would you prefer?
P: Oh good god, I can't stomach the stuff if makes me sick. Well honestly...A water then.
(weary me pours water)
P: How much is that?
M: Oh it's complementary Madam
P: Oh right, two chardonnays, a merlot and a G+T.
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Things have changed.
I think these days, Miche2, building customer values must come down from the CEO. I think when people build an airline from scratch and everyone develops an understanding of what brings the bacon in, you have developed a good team spirit. I used to think this is what Ansett people had over the other airlines but somewhere after the collapse those same people changed when they joined the other airlines. I guess it is driven by passion that you belonged to a team. You sound like you previously worked for Ansett.
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Hey all,
Felt compelled to reply after reading everything on this post.
Don't think 'miche2' was meaning to 'bitch' - she was simply observing things having been a CC herself. As a CC she must know that everyone has on and off days but she wasn't speaking about one flight - she was speakig about many.
As a former CC she knows that on and off days are natural but she is commenting on what she sees as a general decline in standards.
Having been CC she is keen to know why - as much through concern as through complaining. She is wondering what has changed being a BA employee.
I have to say I am not CC at present but am keen to be. PLEASE do not shoot me down in flames for posting this - I'm merely trying to explain what I think 'miche2' meant.
I've had many bad and good airline experiences as a PAX, from being adored (how many times does someone nead to lean in THAT close to check my seatbelt and upright position) to ignored (stuck at the back of the cabin listening to bitching in the galley).
Thought I'd try to clear the air - despite being new - as I think CC customer service affects us all (whether current, former or wannabe CC).
Criticism isn't always bad - it should be used to learn and grow from.
Happy flying,
Martin
ps Fingers crossed for flyglobespan from ABZ
Felt compelled to reply after reading everything on this post.
Don't think 'miche2' was meaning to 'bitch' - she was simply observing things having been a CC herself. As a CC she must know that everyone has on and off days but she wasn't speaking about one flight - she was speakig about many.
As a former CC she knows that on and off days are natural but she is commenting on what she sees as a general decline in standards.
Having been CC she is keen to know why - as much through concern as through complaining. She is wondering what has changed being a BA employee.
I have to say I am not CC at present but am keen to be. PLEASE do not shoot me down in flames for posting this - I'm merely trying to explain what I think 'miche2' meant.
I've had many bad and good airline experiences as a PAX, from being adored (how many times does someone nead to lean in THAT close to check my seatbelt and upright position) to ignored (stuck at the back of the cabin listening to bitching in the galley).
Thought I'd try to clear the air - despite being new - as I think CC customer service affects us all (whether current, former or wannabe CC).
Criticism isn't always bad - it should be used to learn and grow from.
Happy flying,
Martin
ps Fingers crossed for flyglobespan from ABZ
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I would take this post with a pinch of salt.
For what ever reason, Miche2 seems to pop up in most threads involving BA cabin crew to compare how crap we (and the job) are today, compared with her era. (do a search)
I think I must 'have attitude' because I don't really see anything wrong with asking a passenger to wait a few minutes until you finish clearing trays in before getting her/his kid a can of coke.
At the end of the day, at the arse end of a jumbo there is only 7 of us for 280-ish passengers. Do you leave 20 passengers with dirty trays in front of them or do you ask the kid to wait a couple minutes til you finish and bring them another coke (or in most BA crews case we would bring him/her another two).
As they drill in to your head in Cust service training, it's not so much what you say, but how you say it. You can still come accross as being very polite and professional by asking someone to wait a few minutes, or a complete ar=ehole.
PS. I love my job.
For what ever reason, Miche2 seems to pop up in most threads involving BA cabin crew to compare how crap we (and the job) are today, compared with her era. (do a search)
I think I must 'have attitude' because I don't really see anything wrong with asking a passenger to wait a few minutes until you finish clearing trays in before getting her/his kid a can of coke.
At the end of the day, at the arse end of a jumbo there is only 7 of us for 280-ish passengers. Do you leave 20 passengers with dirty trays in front of them or do you ask the kid to wait a couple minutes til you finish and bring them another coke (or in most BA crews case we would bring him/her another two).
As they drill in to your head in Cust service training, it's not so much what you say, but how you say it. You can still come accross as being very polite and professional by asking someone to wait a few minutes, or a complete ar=ehole.
PS. I love my job.
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P.P.S. BA has just been awarded 'Skytrax Airline of the year' after the worlds largest annual airline survey.
This is the first time a non asian airline has won the award for five years.
See www.airlinequality.com.
Also check out the passenger opinions on there regarding BA.
Yeah we have some idiots, but it's not all bad.
This is the first time a non asian airline has won the award for five years.
See www.airlinequality.com.
Also check out the passenger opinions on there regarding BA.
Yeah we have some idiots, but it's not all bad.
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I have flown 4 times with BA in the last months (and many times in the past years) and I was always amazed by the quality of their CC. I won't get into the details, but I always got off the plane with an very good impression, both safety and commercial wise.
I think you have been quite unlucky miche2, and met the inevitable bad apples
I think you have been quite unlucky miche2, and met the inevitable bad apples
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Where the fluk do you stow blankets on an erj?
I work for a regional airline. We have on average 20mins to complete our service, 2 cc upto 49 pax in a 2 class cabin, thats 25 seconds per pap. This can be quite stressfull, you get to the rear of the cabin then run back to the front to start your gash dash. Due to tight schedules we get 25-30 min turnarounds, just enough time to get the aircraft ready for the next sector, a quick (luke warm) coffee or glass of (luke warm) water and were off again. Try 20 sectors a week like that without once being the slightest bit sarcastic when asked for a second drink or a blanket and pillow and i will recomend you for an MBE. Most of the time its a quick smile and "If I get time" but now and again its good to get that little sly comment out of you system.
D
Q:"where the fluk do you stow blankets on an erj?"
A: easy! that will be the store room at the back of the wine celler next to the second washroom by the crew rest area.
D
Q:"where the fluk do you stow blankets on an erj?"
A: easy! that will be the store room at the back of the wine celler next to the second washroom by the crew rest area.
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I love my job; however, one thing that grates on me is ignorance and silly questions. For example, I recently had a situation during a meal service.
ME: What would you like for your meal Sir?
PAX: What do you have?
ME: We have Chicken with..., Beef with ... and Pasta with...
PAX: Sorry, what do you have to eat?
ME: If you take of your headphones, you might be able to hear me.
Now I wasn't rude, it was to the point and a matter of fact. You can take that any which way you want, but you can't sit there listening to music/movies whilst I'm trying to explain what's on offer, that's rude.
Can you believe that once during a manual safety demo, I had a passenger call out to me to ask me what time we were going to land, DURING the manual demo!!! She was so engrossed in NOT paying attention to it, that she didn't even realise that I was standing there in the aisle with an oxygen mask over my face for a reason other than looking pretty.
ME: What would you like for your meal Sir?
PAX: What do you have?
ME: We have Chicken with..., Beef with ... and Pasta with...
PAX: Sorry, what do you have to eat?
ME: If you take of your headphones, you might be able to hear me.
Now I wasn't rude, it was to the point and a matter of fact. You can take that any which way you want, but you can't sit there listening to music/movies whilst I'm trying to explain what's on offer, that's rude.
Can you believe that once during a manual safety demo, I had a passenger call out to me to ask me what time we were going to land, DURING the manual demo!!! She was so engrossed in NOT paying attention to it, that she didn't even realise that I was standing there in the aisle with an oxygen mask over my face for a reason other than looking pretty.
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as a slf who travels regularly, please tell me where too get off if my comments are not appropriate, I can take it!
However, I am a regular traveller, who alas rarely travels BA anymore as I don't consider them point to point (at least for the destinations I that I require).
However, when I have travelled BA I have ironically found them both the best and the worst. The most consistently good is ej. I have had superb cattle class BA service, yet appalling long haul club class service.
One particular flight I was travelling long haul with a colleague who had never travelled club class previously. We never asked for service at any stage (not that we got any), and I was informing my colleague about the available chocolates. When she was looking for these goodies she was informed there werent any as they were about to provide meals!. Despite only being 1/4 full, my choice of meal was not available and I was told I could have the alternative or nothing (literally). I chose nothing. She was absolutely appalling.
However, on the plus side, her colleague on the opposite aisle approached us when the 'original' had disappeared, apologised to us for her behaviour and provided a first class meal in lieu, albeit the original staff member was not impressed upon her return.
I only state this to show the 2 sides. I don't know why, but LCC's appear to have a better consistency towards their slf.
However, I am a regular traveller, who alas rarely travels BA anymore as I don't consider them point to point (at least for the destinations I that I require).
However, when I have travelled BA I have ironically found them both the best and the worst. The most consistently good is ej. I have had superb cattle class BA service, yet appalling long haul club class service.
One particular flight I was travelling long haul with a colleague who had never travelled club class previously. We never asked for service at any stage (not that we got any), and I was informing my colleague about the available chocolates. When she was looking for these goodies she was informed there werent any as they were about to provide meals!. Despite only being 1/4 full, my choice of meal was not available and I was told I could have the alternative or nothing (literally). I chose nothing. She was absolutely appalling.
However, on the plus side, her colleague on the opposite aisle approached us when the 'original' had disappeared, apologised to us for her behaviour and provided a first class meal in lieu, albeit the original staff member was not impressed upon her return.
I only state this to show the 2 sides. I don't know why, but LCC's appear to have a better consistency towards their slf.
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Originally Posted by Turroncin
It's true come crew can be a bit "off" but passengers do come out with some comments that even Mother Teresa would find hard not to raise a weary eyebrow at. Only this week I had this conversation with a delightful passenger::
Me: Would you like some wine with your meal?
Pax: Do you have Sparkling Chiraz?
M: No sorry, we have Chardonnay or Merlot. Which would you prefer?
P: Oh good god, I can't stomach the stuff if makes me sick. Well honestly...A water then.
(weary me pours water)
P: How much is that?
M: Oh it's complementary Madam
P: Oh right, two chardonnays, a merlot and a G+T.
Me: Would you like some wine with your meal?
Pax: Do you have Sparkling Chiraz?
M: No sorry, we have Chardonnay or Merlot. Which would you prefer?
P: Oh good god, I can't stomach the stuff if makes me sick. Well honestly...A water then.
(weary me pours water)
P: How much is that?
M: Oh it's complementary Madam
P: Oh right, two chardonnays, a merlot and a G+T.
, You have got a great sense of humour !!
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Bad Apple
Originally Posted by keeperboy
I would take this post with a pinch of salt.
For what ever reason, Miche2 seems to pop up in most threads involving BA cabin crew to compare how crap we (and the job) are today, compared with her era. (do a search)
I think I must 'have attitude' because I don't really see anything wrong with asking a passenger to wait a few minutes until you finish clearing trays in before getting her/his kid a can of coke.
At the end of the day, at the arse end of a jumbo there is only 7 of us for 280-ish passengers. Do you leave 20 passengers with dirty trays in front of them or do you ask the kid to wait a couple minutes til you finish and bring them another coke (or in most BA crews case we would bring him/her another two).
As they drill in to your head in Cust service training, it's not so much what you say, but how you say it. You can still come accross as being very polite and professional by asking someone to wait a few minutes, or a complete ar=ehole.
PS. I love my job.
For what ever reason, Miche2 seems to pop up in most threads involving BA cabin crew to compare how crap we (and the job) are today, compared with her era. (do a search)
I think I must 'have attitude' because I don't really see anything wrong with asking a passenger to wait a few minutes until you finish clearing trays in before getting her/his kid a can of coke.
At the end of the day, at the arse end of a jumbo there is only 7 of us for 280-ish passengers. Do you leave 20 passengers with dirty trays in front of them or do you ask the kid to wait a couple minutes til you finish and bring them another coke (or in most BA crews case we would bring him/her another two).
As they drill in to your head in Cust service training, it's not so much what you say, but how you say it. You can still come accross as being very polite and professional by asking someone to wait a few minutes, or a complete ar=ehole.
PS. I love my job.
I think your right , I wonder if this person is on staff tickets and If so, He/She should be lucky they are not paying full price .And there
are many other airlines to choose from these days. Oh but I wonder if
they take hotline ticket's proberly NOT!! .
Keeperboy is right , think this is a bad apple , so don't play there
GAME ..Take care