SLF getting worse?
Join Date: Apr 2007
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Sticking up for Business Flyers
Seems that business travellers come in for a bit of grief on this thread!
I am a very frequent traveller, with a collection of gold cards from airline loyalty programmes in my wallet and I always try to be as polite and as pleasant as possible on board.
In fact at the end of a recent internal flight in the States I was presented with a really nice bottle of wine from the pursur as a 'thank you' for being so polite (clearly low standards in the US!)
But the one thing that really does irk me, and I know I am being petty, but it is my boarding pass being checked yet again on entering the aircraft. At the airport where I live this is the fourth time that I am required to show it and I just find it completely nonsensical.
Can I also say that the politeness/pleasantness thing does need to work both ways. I have been on many flights where I have been on the receiving end of some extremely grumpy and unfriendly service and I know it isn't anything I have done!
HMHB
I am a very frequent traveller, with a collection of gold cards from airline loyalty programmes in my wallet and I always try to be as polite and as pleasant as possible on board.
In fact at the end of a recent internal flight in the States I was presented with a really nice bottle of wine from the pursur as a 'thank you' for being so polite (clearly low standards in the US!)
But the one thing that really does irk me, and I know I am being petty, but it is my boarding pass being checked yet again on entering the aircraft. At the airport where I live this is the fourth time that I am required to show it and I just find it completely nonsensical.
Can I also say that the politeness/pleasantness thing does need to work both ways. I have been on many flights where I have been on the receiving end of some extremely grumpy and unfriendly service and I know it isn't anything I have done!
HMHB
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HMHB
It's not as if we do that for fun. It's a regulation and is designed by the good folks in your government to ensure you have a safe flight rather than a hijacked one. I'm sure the inconvenience of having to pass a piece of paper over to a member of cc is nothing compared to the shocking inconvenience plummeting into the ground at high speed would be, not just for you but also for your family.
Trust me when I tell you that if we didn't have to do it we wouldn't bother with it because we've also got other things on our plate. But since it's a must why not make the best of it and give it no thought? Just hand the piece of paper over, it's easy.
It's not as if we do that for fun. It's a regulation and is designed by the good folks in your government to ensure you have a safe flight rather than a hijacked one. I'm sure the inconvenience of having to pass a piece of paper over to a member of cc is nothing compared to the shocking inconvenience plummeting into the ground at high speed would be, not just for you but also for your family.
Trust me when I tell you that if we didn't have to do it we wouldn't bother with it because we've also got other things on our plate. But since it's a must why not make the best of it and give it no thought? Just hand the piece of paper over, it's easy.
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Being an extremely thick SLF I fail to understand how showing you my boarding card makes any difference whatsoever to the likelihood of the flight being hijacked. Please could you elaborate a little on that for me (and any others like me)?
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I tend to cringe somewhat when I hear my crew telling the boarding passengers that they need to see the boarding cards for 'security reasons'. Because no terrorist would ever be able to afford a genuine plane ticket.
Unless we're cross-checking every boarding card against passports, there's no security against stolen/falsified boarding cards either.
But checking boarding cards isn't something we do for fun. Really.
We're just trying to make sure the passengers are getting on the right aircraft. We don't care what seat you're going to, even though we might smile nicely and tell you you're heading to 24G. It might seem unlikely, given all the previous checks, but I still see passengers trying to board wrong aircraft, or getting on/off at transit stops when it's not their desired travel plans. It would be great if there was a system in place infallible enough not to require so many checks (and it wouldn't be rocket science to come up with one), but until then, being required to show a piece of paper before getting onto the plane is what is required.
If you think it's tiresome having to show a boarding card 3-4 times before going on a flight, imagine what it's like explaining why it's needed 300 times.
"Just making sure you're on the right flight" seems to be the explanation that elicits the fastest and most cooperative response from passengers.
Unless we're cross-checking every boarding card against passports, there's no security against stolen/falsified boarding cards either.
But checking boarding cards isn't something we do for fun. Really.
We're just trying to make sure the passengers are getting on the right aircraft. We don't care what seat you're going to, even though we might smile nicely and tell you you're heading to 24G. It might seem unlikely, given all the previous checks, but I still see passengers trying to board wrong aircraft, or getting on/off at transit stops when it's not their desired travel plans. It would be great if there was a system in place infallible enough not to require so many checks (and it wouldn't be rocket science to come up with one), but until then, being required to show a piece of paper before getting onto the plane is what is required.
If you think it's tiresome having to show a boarding card 3-4 times before going on a flight, imagine what it's like explaining why it's needed 300 times.
"Just making sure you're on the right flight" seems to be the explanation that elicits the fastest and most cooperative response from passengers.
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Handing over the boarding card is the final step to prevent you ending up at the wrong destination.
I am the senior cabin crew member onboard the aircraft that I work on, and on average about twice a month the ground staff send a passenger down to my aircraft that belongs on another flight. Those pax are actually greatful that the mistake has been spotted BEFORE they ended up in the arse end of Europe as opposed to somewhere like Glasgow.
I remember one Friday night where I was boarding a flight to either Belfast or Edinburgh. There were 2 flights for my airline on neighbouring gates, and both gate shared a departure lounge. It was raining and the pax were having to walk accross the apron a few yards to climb the steps to my aircraft.
Now the vast majority of pax that day had done the correct thing and produced their boarding cards, showed them to me and walked down the cabin. I was suddenly faced with a surely looking bunch of around 10 people who insisted that this was a ridiculous rule and that they will NOT be showing their cards again and saying that I am making them get wet (pouring down with rain outside). I said to them that 1) it is not I that is making them get wet it is themselves for refusing to show the boarding cards. 2) I also pointed out that it is a DFT directive that all pax must when boarding UK airlines show their boarding cards as it is a final check to ensure they are getting on the correct flight. The pax responded with "Do you think we are stupid enough to board the incorrect flight? This aircraft is going to XXX" my response was "Oh really, well that's funny but I am going to YYY", they thought I was mucking around and I said "No seriously, we are going to YYY, you are on the wrong aircraft. Show me your boarding cards now or expect to be removed by airport Police!", one of them then pulled his boarding card out and it said either Belfast or Edinburgh (can't remember which destination I was flying to) but I then showed the group of pax my paperwork for the flight which clearly showed that we were going to an alternative destination. I made them stand outside the aircraft until the ground crew returned, after pointing out that they obviously had not been listening to the flight calls properly inside the gate area, I also then pointed out that you can not rely on the ground staff to check every boarding card properly owing to the fact that they are also busy reconciling cards to try to ensure the correct number of people are onboard and that I am the only person who can guarantee that they don't get to the wrong destination. When the despatcher returned and I sent the pax away with him, the front few rows of the aircraft were laughing and saying to me "Don't you get fed up with passengers like that?" I replied with "No, because the ones that always insist they are right and not stupid will always do something stupid or be proven to be completely wrong wthin a minute or two, I just stand here and wait for it to happen".
Remember, when a cabin crew member asks to see your boarding card they are just wanting to make sure you get to the right destination as my story above shows mistakes DO happen. Those couple of seconds at the door can save you several hours (or perhaps days) stuck at the wrong destination miles from where you want to be. And, think of it this way, you are on the wrong aircraft, aircraft crashes. Your family and friends won't know you are missing, you will be a "John Doe" as there will be no flight paperwork for you relating to that crashed flight. You might even in the event of terrorism related crash be incorrectly identified as one of the terrorists as you were not supposed to be on that flight!
I am the senior cabin crew member onboard the aircraft that I work on, and on average about twice a month the ground staff send a passenger down to my aircraft that belongs on another flight. Those pax are actually greatful that the mistake has been spotted BEFORE they ended up in the arse end of Europe as opposed to somewhere like Glasgow.
I remember one Friday night where I was boarding a flight to either Belfast or Edinburgh. There were 2 flights for my airline on neighbouring gates, and both gate shared a departure lounge. It was raining and the pax were having to walk accross the apron a few yards to climb the steps to my aircraft.
Now the vast majority of pax that day had done the correct thing and produced their boarding cards, showed them to me and walked down the cabin. I was suddenly faced with a surely looking bunch of around 10 people who insisted that this was a ridiculous rule and that they will NOT be showing their cards again and saying that I am making them get wet (pouring down with rain outside). I said to them that 1) it is not I that is making them get wet it is themselves for refusing to show the boarding cards. 2) I also pointed out that it is a DFT directive that all pax must when boarding UK airlines show their boarding cards as it is a final check to ensure they are getting on the correct flight. The pax responded with "Do you think we are stupid enough to board the incorrect flight? This aircraft is going to XXX" my response was "Oh really, well that's funny but I am going to YYY", they thought I was mucking around and I said "No seriously, we are going to YYY, you are on the wrong aircraft. Show me your boarding cards now or expect to be removed by airport Police!", one of them then pulled his boarding card out and it said either Belfast or Edinburgh (can't remember which destination I was flying to) but I then showed the group of pax my paperwork for the flight which clearly showed that we were going to an alternative destination. I made them stand outside the aircraft until the ground crew returned, after pointing out that they obviously had not been listening to the flight calls properly inside the gate area, I also then pointed out that you can not rely on the ground staff to check every boarding card properly owing to the fact that they are also busy reconciling cards to try to ensure the correct number of people are onboard and that I am the only person who can guarantee that they don't get to the wrong destination. When the despatcher returned and I sent the pax away with him, the front few rows of the aircraft were laughing and saying to me "Don't you get fed up with passengers like that?" I replied with "No, because the ones that always insist they are right and not stupid will always do something stupid or be proven to be completely wrong wthin a minute or two, I just stand here and wait for it to happen".
Remember, when a cabin crew member asks to see your boarding card they are just wanting to make sure you get to the right destination as my story above shows mistakes DO happen. Those couple of seconds at the door can save you several hours (or perhaps days) stuck at the wrong destination miles from where you want to be. And, think of it this way, you are on the wrong aircraft, aircraft crashes. Your family and friends won't know you are missing, you will be a "John Doe" as there will be no flight paperwork for you relating to that crashed flight. You might even in the event of terrorism related crash be incorrectly identified as one of the terrorists as you were not supposed to be on that flight!
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I fully agree with you getoutofmygalley but, as a person of the Scottish persuasion, Glaswegian flavour, may I humbly point out that Glasgow IS the arse end of Europe.
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As a regular SLF I try to be as polite as possible with the CC, and I enjoy that most of them ( with regular US carrier exemptions) respond with the same friendliness.
But I also note that there is a distinct degradation in the last 5 years, especially in flights going/coming from Eastern Europe.
a) too much booze ( St. Pete C-lounge, starting heavy drinking at 5:30 am !)
b) no respect for CC announcements
c) getting up as soon as the main gear touches down
d) continuous use of the cell phones
e) disrespectful ( using a political correct word ) behaviour
On a recent flight we had to PAX connecting in FRA from St. Pete to
IAD. They refused to strap in and used the proximity of the cabin attendant who tried to close their belts to have their hands all over her. Then they tried to order to booze which was declined. They got up early and opened the bins while still on the runway. At parking position we were advised by the cockpit to stay in our seats for a short moment.
The door opened and some grim looking German border guard came in and escorted the unpleasant fellows handcuffed off the plane. They receveived a roaring applause ! CC told us that they would go nowwhere today.
Frank
But I also note that there is a distinct degradation in the last 5 years, especially in flights going/coming from Eastern Europe.
a) too much booze ( St. Pete C-lounge, starting heavy drinking at 5:30 am !)
b) no respect for CC announcements
c) getting up as soon as the main gear touches down
d) continuous use of the cell phones
e) disrespectful ( using a political correct word ) behaviour
On a recent flight we had to PAX connecting in FRA from St. Pete to
IAD. They refused to strap in and used the proximity of the cabin attendant who tried to close their belts to have their hands all over her. Then they tried to order to booze which was declined. They got up early and opened the bins while still on the runway. At parking position we were advised by the cockpit to stay in our seats for a short moment.
The door opened and some grim looking German border guard came in and escorted the unpleasant fellows handcuffed off the plane. They receveived a roaring applause ! CC told us that they would go nowwhere today.
Frank
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Al446
As an expat Scot who has flown into Glasgow a few times this winter I was amazed at how the city had changed and can think of many other places that could have that title.
As an expat Scot who has flown into Glasgow a few times this winter I was amazed at how the city had changed and can think of many other places that could have that title.
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I am a fairly infrequent flyer, but I am always amazed at how many people unbuckle their belts and try to get up just after we touch down.
You wouldn't unbuckle your seatbelt in a car going at that speed.
You wouldn't unbuckle your seatbelt in a car going at that speed.
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Wrong flight
Gadgetman.
Can confirm this scenario. I was aboard a flight from Dublin to Manchester when an irate female accused me of taking her seat; and proved it by showing her boarding card. Further inspection showed she was booked on a Glasgow flight.
Can confirm this scenario. I was aboard a flight from Dublin to Manchester when an irate female accused me of taking her seat; and proved it by showing her boarding card. Further inspection showed she was booked on a Glasgow flight.
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We're checking boarding cards to make sure they are for a particular destination, on a particular flight nr, on a particular date. It is another security check, (so we are told). And also as shown it will show up any pax who are on the wrong aircraft. So good points all round I'd say.
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I remember working as crew flying out to Faro in the summer of 2004 during the Euro 2004 football tournament. During boarding I noticed a well-to-do looking young lady sat in the front row wrapped in her pashmina. We encountered a discrepancy with the numbers so after several headcounts and conflabs with the ground staff I grabbed the PA and asked, "Is anyone NOT flying to Faro?". The lady raised her hand and showed me a boarding card for Nice (not sure how she got passed the crew, whoops
). When I told her we were going to Faro she looked at me in disbelief and said, "Are you sure?". At that moment I glanced up and could see 150 blokes, all wearing football shirts, running up and down the aisle, shouting, singing, swearing, farting, belching, waving flags about and other shenanigans. I couldn't believe she'd actually queued up and boarded the aircraft with that lot thinking they were all going to the Cote d'Azur for their annual jollies!
). When I told her we were going to Faro she looked at me in disbelief and said, "Are you sure?". At that moment I glanced up and could see 150 blokes, all wearing football shirts, running up and down the aisle, shouting, singing, swearing, farting, belching, waving flags about and other shenanigans. I couldn't believe she'd actually queued up and boarded the aircraft with that lot thinking they were all going to the Cote d'Azur for their annual jollies!
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Hands up.............
All Cabin Crew who have never driven whilst using a mobile phone...............
There is no difference, it is just the general lack of respect for rules, regulations and authority that is modern living.
There is, however, no excuse for the lack of please and thank-you culture becoming evident by users of all services now days. I myself find a quick hi to the crew on boarding and a cheers on getting off, a natural, almost reflex action, be it an aircraft or bus. How do some people supress this?
There is no difference, it is just the general lack of respect for rules, regulations and authority that is modern living.
There is, however, no excuse for the lack of please and thank-you culture becoming evident by users of all services now days. I myself find a quick hi to the crew on boarding and a cheers on getting off, a natural, almost reflex action, be it an aircraft or bus. How do some people supress this?
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Slf here, so you'll have to excuse me as being rude and thick 
, i find one thing strange in amongst all the comments. If as has been said, you all hate the slf, or find them annoying, dont you think that possibly YOUR the one in the wrong job, and that a job dealing the with public, and yes they are annoying, (i know the job i do means i deal with the public on a daily basis), isnt one for you, unfortunately in this day and age, politeness and courtesy has long gone out of the window. In dealing with the general public, whether in the sky or on the ground, ends up with you(or me), being at the sharp end of their tongue or their total utter contempt for the jobs that we do. Personally I do try to be as pleasent and polite as poss, as thats the way i expect to be treated in return, but what with current situations with actualy gettin through an airport in one piece and stress free, is these days virtually non existant, for somepeople, you guys are the first ones that pax get to let off steam at rightly or wrongly... One does have to wonder why people go on holiday, by time you get back ,your more stressed than before you've gone
Keep up the good work guys, keep puttling the slap on and smiling
, i find one thing strange in amongst all the comments. If as has been said, you all hate the slf, or find them annoying, dont you think that possibly YOUR the one in the wrong job, and that a job dealing the with public, and yes they are annoying, (i know the job i do means i deal with the public on a daily basis), isnt one for you, unfortunately in this day and age, politeness and courtesy has long gone out of the window. In dealing with the general public, whether in the sky or on the ground, ends up with you(or me), being at the sharp end of their tongue or their total utter contempt for the jobs that we do. Personally I do try to be as pleasent and polite as poss, as thats the way i expect to be treated in return, but what with current situations with actualy gettin through an airport in one piece and stress free, is these days virtually non existant, for somepeople, you guys are the first ones that pax get to let off steam at rightly or wrongly... One does have to wonder why people go on holiday, by time you get back ,your more stressed than before you've goneKeep up the good work guys, keep puttling the slap on and smiling
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It's probably not even 1 person on every flight who I find a little irritating, it could be 1 every 3 flights, and I'm on 747s, so that's a lot of people, so like in all walks of life, most people are charming, you'll always get fools or rude, ill-mannered folk, unfortunately. And they probably won't be like that only in the air. I think the rude are getting ruder, but the lovely ones are getting lovlier !!
I just think, well at least I don't have to wake up next to them..!
Then you get the pax who make you think, I wish I could wake up next to HIM!!
I just think, well at least I don't have to wake up next to them..!
Then you get the pax who make you think, I wish I could wake up next to HIM!!
Something Gorgeous in the City
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we might smile nicely and tell you you're heading to 24G
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I must reply to Take-off's post...
Take off, you said that we (I presume you mean cabin crew) all hate all slf. This is obviously not correct. What we are trying to discuss here is that SOME slf are getting more rude, simple as that. We all have had experiences where a slf has behaved in a obnoxious manner, and in the last few years there seem to be more of this type of slf.
I don't know whether this is because there are more flights available or if it's humanity going down the pan so to speak. All I know is that it happens more regularly than it used to. However, this does not imply that ALL slf are hated/disliked.
You said that this is just the way it is these days (not in those words exactly), but I don't see why we should have to accept that? Should we not teach rude people good manners? Should we not show them the way to politeness? I think we should, as the world would feel so much nicer.
For slfs in general:
On the issues of having to show the boarding card again at the gate, told to turn your phone/computer/ipod/blackberry etc off, told when to put seat belt on/off, and basically being told what to do and when to do it onboard an airplane, there are reasons why we ask you to do this. We don't ask you to do these things because we are nasty or mean or control freaks, but because we HAVE to. Our lives are run by the rule book and procedures. We don't make/invent the procedures, but we have to implement them, otherwise our jobs would be on the line.
Therefore, I'm asking you in the nicest possible way, please do as you're asked by the cabin crew. Please be polite. Trust me, it's easier to conform than to rebel against rules.
Gg
Ps. I've just had another day with wonderful slf. Thanks 1A and 1C for the giggles, I had a great laugh with you guys.
Take off, you said that we (I presume you mean cabin crew) all hate all slf. This is obviously not correct. What we are trying to discuss here is that SOME slf are getting more rude, simple as that. We all have had experiences where a slf has behaved in a obnoxious manner, and in the last few years there seem to be more of this type of slf.
I don't know whether this is because there are more flights available or if it's humanity going down the pan so to speak. All I know is that it happens more regularly than it used to. However, this does not imply that ALL slf are hated/disliked.
You said that this is just the way it is these days (not in those words exactly), but I don't see why we should have to accept that? Should we not teach rude people good manners? Should we not show them the way to politeness? I think we should, as the world would feel so much nicer.
For slfs in general:
On the issues of having to show the boarding card again at the gate, told to turn your phone/computer/ipod/blackberry etc off, told when to put seat belt on/off, and basically being told what to do and when to do it onboard an airplane, there are reasons why we ask you to do this. We don't ask you to do these things because we are nasty or mean or control freaks, but because we HAVE to. Our lives are run by the rule book and procedures. We don't make/invent the procedures, but we have to implement them, otherwise our jobs would be on the line.
Therefore, I'm asking you in the nicest possible way, please do as you're asked by the cabin crew. Please be polite. Trust me, it's easier to conform than to rebel against rules.
Gg
Ps. I've just had another day with wonderful slf. Thanks 1A and 1C for the giggles, I had a great laugh with you guys.