Addressing passengers as 'guys'
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Do I come here often?
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Positioning back from MIA to LHR last year I got 'Oi darling, close that window blind.' No please, no thank you and no manners at all. I was enjoying watching the east coast of the USA slide past and when I explained that the return was 'well you won't enjoy it when I wake you up to close it later.'
I used to work for that airline. The way this crewmember behaved saddened me greatly, and for the first time in my life I lodged an official complaint with the company (several other things were said by the person concerned) The CSD was called and the complaint made, backed up by four witnesses. From the crew member, not one one word of apology and a bloody abusive tirade when I left the aircraft in LHR. One of the witnesses said he would never fly with that carrier again, sadly I have no choice, and the cost of business class with them sticks right in my throat.
Just desserts do happen though. We were interviewing for VVIP cabin crew a few weeks later and I was on the panel. The crew member concerned was a candidate and didn't recognise me. As we discussed passenger treatment I reminded her of the incident and she was suitably embarrased. We actually offered her a job because based on interview she was actually very good, she declined the offer.
We read a lot on these forums about FD and CC being tired at the end of a long stint away. I was going home after two weeks of chasing around the northern hemisphere, this crew member knew nothing of me, maybe if I hadn't been so worn out I'd have laughed it all off. When pax walk on we rarely know anything about them, or the lives they lead. We should treat them with the greatest respect, Sir/Madam until they say otherwise. They pay our salaries and we are there for their convenience, not the other way round. While informality has become the norm, we are responsible for the safety of all those in our care. A sloppy attitude to customer treatment may be indicative of a sloppy attitude to safety, or any other part of our jobs.
I used to work for that airline. The way this crewmember behaved saddened me greatly, and for the first time in my life I lodged an official complaint with the company (several other things were said by the person concerned) The CSD was called and the complaint made, backed up by four witnesses. From the crew member, not one one word of apology and a bloody abusive tirade when I left the aircraft in LHR. One of the witnesses said he would never fly with that carrier again, sadly I have no choice, and the cost of business class with them sticks right in my throat.
Just desserts do happen though. We were interviewing for VVIP cabin crew a few weeks later and I was on the panel. The crew member concerned was a candidate and didn't recognise me. As we discussed passenger treatment I reminded her of the incident and she was suitably embarrased. We actually offered her a job because based on interview she was actually very good, she declined the offer.
We read a lot on these forums about FD and CC being tired at the end of a long stint away. I was going home after two weeks of chasing around the northern hemisphere, this crew member knew nothing of me, maybe if I hadn't been so worn out I'd have laughed it all off. When pax walk on we rarely know anything about them, or the lives they lead. We should treat them with the greatest respect, Sir/Madam until they say otherwise. They pay our salaries and we are there for their convenience, not the other way round. While informality has become the norm, we are responsible for the safety of all those in our care. A sloppy attitude to customer treatment may be indicative of a sloppy attitude to safety, or any other part of our jobs.
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: East Midlands
Age: 84
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"Guys" seems to have become a collective noun for people of both genders. I have to work with the public and when they arrive at my work place I don't know who they, until there has been some conversation. I invariably call them "sir" or "madam" as appropriate and then when I know their names Mr ??? or Mrs ??? I dislike having it assumed by customer service help lines, phone banking etc that I want to be called by my first name. I don't mind them using it if they have asked if they can.
