United Pilots Get Personal
All safety briefings are conducted by flight attendnats with the utmost professionalism from before engine start to door slides being crossed check. What goes on in between is fair game. Most passengers do enjoy the light entertainment.
To be fair I have only flown with the subject airline in Australia on about eight occasions but every one of those sectors we were subject to blatant sexist banter by a gender bending FA who had a captive audience to play to.
The safety briefings were not serious - they were "fun." On one occasion as we lined up for take off and power was increased on the roll the FA grabbed his microphone and shouted "WHooooooosh - here we go ladies and gentleman boys and girls, we are going like a rocket so all hold hands now"...
And I forgot to say that three of the PA's on separate flights had the FA telling the passengers we were taxiing for a destination other than the correct one - this certainly caused startled looks among the more mature pax.
If this is an example of how these "professional" idiots behave I shudder to think how they would react in a real emergency. Some passengers would treat it as a joke until maybe too late...
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And kids traveling alone will in some cases be offered a chance to call home while in flight, using a pilot's credit card.
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Originally Posted by Centaurus
If this is an example of how these "professional" idiots behave I shudder to think how they would react in a real emergency. Some passengers would treat it as a joke until maybe too late...
One can't really predict how individuals will react to an emergency situation. I would like to say that all crewmembers would act in a professional caring manner.
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Originally Posted by chuks
The Company expects the Captain to hand over his credit card so that some little no-neck monster can call home? What planet are these people on? If this is such a hot idea why shouldn't they have a Company phone card available? Some little weasel will get the Tokyo Speaking Clock on the line, sure as eggs is eggs.
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Have you conducted a measured survey of who enjoys that peurile crap or otherwise?
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From a purely personal pax point of view...
Well said EI-CFC...
I've been on many a flight including Crab Air (RAF) long haul to the south Atlantic a few times and whenever a member of the flight or cabin crew have a bit of fun with the anno's, two things happen...
1) the pax actually listen for a change
2) most appear (sorry if that's not a scientific enough measurement) to enjoy the anno's. Sure, there are always a few lemon-sucking "suits" who look as if they'd sooner have their teeth pulled, but the vast majority laugh along and if that helps with nerves, then that has to be a good thing???
I guess it comes down to crew confidence. If you've got it... make the most and share a bit of fun. If you're not confident on the mic, don't bother. It shouldn't be compulsary!
Safe flying!
Well said EI-CFC...
I've been on many a flight including Crab Air (RAF) long haul to the south Atlantic a few times and whenever a member of the flight or cabin crew have a bit of fun with the anno's, two things happen...
1) the pax actually listen for a change
2) most appear (sorry if that's not a scientific enough measurement) to enjoy the anno's. Sure, there are always a few lemon-sucking "suits" who look as if they'd sooner have their teeth pulled, but the vast majority laugh along and if that helps with nerves, then that has to be a good thing???
I guess it comes down to crew confidence. If you've got it... make the most and share a bit of fun. If you're not confident on the mic, don't bother. It shouldn't be compulsary!
Safe flying!
Flying Microphone.
My guess it would be described best as nervous titters - rather than a full belly laugh....
but the vast majority laugh along and if that helps with nerves, then that has to be a good thing???
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Originally Posted by Centaurus
Flying Microphone.
My guess it would be described best as nervous titters - rather than a full belly laugh....
My guess it would be described best as nervous titters - rather than a full belly laugh....
I still feel the bottom line is, no flight or cabin crew should be compelled to be funny (nothing worse than standing next to the bloke in the bar who thinks he's funny but really isn't), but if you can get away with it and the time is right... why not?
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Now far be it from me to stick in my tuppence worth but I remember the laugh from all down the cabins when it was announced on VS some years ago that " there may be fifty ways to leave you lover but there are only twelve ways of leaving this aircraft and they are being pointed out to you now."
The degree of attention paid by all was far more significant than normal as everyone waited for the next funny.
Personally, I feel that it demonstrates individualism and customer service as everybody on board was more attentive than those who are compelled to give it off the card or just push the button for the briefing on the screen.
The degree of attention paid by all was far more significant than normal as everyone waited for the next funny.
Personally, I feel that it demonstrates individualism and customer service as everybody on board was more attentive than those who are compelled to give it off the card or just push the button for the briefing on the screen.
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It is a very sensitive area. Personally from what I have heard, Southwest crew get it right most of the time. This behaviour is "encouraged", but is not "trained" into them, and if someone is too shy to make humorous announcements it will not affect their career. Others I could mention (a certain (in)famous Irish low fares carrier for example) have been known to discipline and/or demote anyone trying to inject a bit of humour or interest into the flight.
I think you need to know how to interact with the public and have the confidence to do so. The "whoosh here we go" guy is going to far in my opinion, and just sounds annoying. Another thing that is not good to hear is positioning crew talking to the cabin crew about confidential company matters and the like. On domestic UK sectors I have learned a lot about the internal politics and news from bmi and FlyBe just by listening to overly loud positioning crew chatting with their colleagues who are on duty. And recently Mummy Baggage told me that the positioning crew member disembarking in front of her on a BA flight was in hysterics with the on duty crew about a recent slow decompression that "nobody noticed". Again, you got to get the level of professionalism right.
I think you need to know how to interact with the public and have the confidence to do so. The "whoosh here we go" guy is going to far in my opinion, and just sounds annoying. Another thing that is not good to hear is positioning crew talking to the cabin crew about confidential company matters and the like. On domestic UK sectors I have learned a lot about the internal politics and news from bmi and FlyBe just by listening to overly loud positioning crew chatting with their colleagues who are on duty. And recently Mummy Baggage told me that the positioning crew member disembarking in front of her on a BA flight was in hysterics with the on duty crew about a recent slow decompression that "nobody noticed". Again, you got to get the level of professionalism right.
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XS
I agree that inappropriate behaviour and comments by positioning crew are a trait of those who do not deem themselves professional enough to represent their company and it is extremely regretful that they cannot behave as the majority do, but this industry and certain companies promote individuals and provide sufficient space for them to achieve both the best for themselves and those who they look after.
I myself have flown with people at the sharp end who I have been glad that I work out of the view of the general public as I have had to laugh at the pre pushback statement by the man in command.
It is not, in my opinion, unprofessional but enhances everything that CRM has ever taught anyone that we can act professionally and deal with things with a degree of humour in the right places whilst allowing our differences room to develop. There is more than just the letters M and E in team !
I agree that inappropriate behaviour and comments by positioning crew are a trait of those who do not deem themselves professional enough to represent their company and it is extremely regretful that they cannot behave as the majority do, but this industry and certain companies promote individuals and provide sufficient space for them to achieve both the best for themselves and those who they look after.
I myself have flown with people at the sharp end who I have been glad that I work out of the view of the general public as I have had to laugh at the pre pushback statement by the man in command.
It is not, in my opinion, unprofessional but enhances everything that CRM has ever taught anyone that we can act professionally and deal with things with a degree of humour in the right places whilst allowing our differences room to develop. There is more than just the letters M and E in team !
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Originally Posted by Jox
There is more than just the letters M and E in team !
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AS SLF, I really appreciate a little variety and yes, genuine personal touches from airline staff, pilots or otherwise. However, in the US, there is an awful lot of that "have a nice day" rubbish. If UAL's initiative is going to degenerate into that, then it is pretty easy to spot and a waste of time. "Thank you for flying xxx airlines - we really value your business and hope you fly with us again", read at the speed of light in a grey monotone is painful and they really would be better off just saying "thank you and goodbye".
As for arguments about levity, you have to admit routine safety announcements are extremely dull. Basically, you have two ways of getting their attention - amuse them or frighten them. Whilst I do not condone the "whoosh here we go" sort of announcement, which is neither informative, or particularly amusing, I know which I would prefer!
As for arguments about levity, you have to admit routine safety announcements are extremely dull. Basically, you have two ways of getting their attention - amuse them or frighten them. Whilst I do not condone the "whoosh here we go" sort of announcement, which is neither informative, or particularly amusing, I know which I would prefer!
Centaurus here taking someone's age advice to lighten up. OK -this is how I see it. When you observe a TV news announcer giving news of a tragedy he does not attempt to inject humour into a serious situation. He would quickly be sacked if he did. Watch a professional actor give a video recorded cabin safety announcement on the screen. Does he crack jokes? No way. Does the cabin crew of a VIP executive Global Express advise the CEO and his entourage to hold hands as they land? It's back to McDonalds serving fries if that happened..
Despite years of trolley dolly jokes we are told the reason for flight attendants in an airliner is not just to look pretty and serve coffee. The FA themselves will tell you they are there for government regulated safety reasons; and that is to get passengers out of a burning aircraft with minimum loss of life.
So why not dispense with contrived "humour" - remembering the jokes are repeated several times a day as each load of passengers arrive on board - and treat cabin safety briefings with the gravity they deserve.
Remember that wonderful movie called Flying High? The hilarious scene where the FA shoves a passenger down the slide with a gay "have a nice day." In some airlines I wouldn't be at all surprised if that was SOP!
Leave slap stick humour to professional comedians where it belongs.
Despite years of trolley dolly jokes we are told the reason for flight attendants in an airliner is not just to look pretty and serve coffee. The FA themselves will tell you they are there for government regulated safety reasons; and that is to get passengers out of a burning aircraft with minimum loss of life.
So why not dispense with contrived "humour" - remembering the jokes are repeated several times a day as each load of passengers arrive on board - and treat cabin safety briefings with the gravity they deserve.
Remember that wonderful movie called Flying High? The hilarious scene where the FA shoves a passenger down the slide with a gay "have a nice day." In some airlines I wouldn't be at all surprised if that was SOP!
Leave slap stick humour to professional comedians where it belongs.
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Originally Posted by Centaurus
So why not dispense with contrived "humour" - remembering the jokes are repeated several times a day as each load of passengers arrive on board - and treat cabin safety briefings with the gravity they deserve.
I'm not necessarily condoning that attitude, but there it is. "Yeah, yeah, mask like these will descend... zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz".
If you think about it Centaurus, your argument actually supports livening up the safety announcements and actually making people listen.
If somebody who flies alot actually does put their paper down and listen to the brief, then, surely, the flight attendants primary role of safety has been better fulfilled???
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Best I ever heard for getting the mix right was an EZY Cabin Supervisor (or whatever term they use there) who announced the crew's names, told everyone that the briefing was for their safety, gave her colleagues a minute to talk to everyone reading a paper and get them to close it, then continued. She was serious about the actual briefing, but added bits of humour around it. Just enough to make us and the "paper sniffers" listen. The arrival announcement was similar, the announcement about collecting all personal items included "....as any money or items of duty free will be kept by the crew. Please ensure you remember to take all husbands and small children as the crew already have enough there."
Perfect blend if you ask me. But again needs a blend of confidence and professionalism. No matter what you think of the announcments I think cabin crew are perfectly entitled to approach pax individually to get the newspapers put down.
Have noticed on airlines such as FR / EZY with lots of "selling" announcements SLF tend to switch off to the important ones.
XSB
Perfect blend if you ask me. But again needs a blend of confidence and professionalism. No matter what you think of the announcments I think cabin crew are perfectly entitled to approach pax individually to get the newspapers put down.
Have noticed on airlines such as FR / EZY with lots of "selling" announcements SLF tend to switch off to the important ones.
XSB
A humorous note once in a while it is fine and very efficient at attracting attention. However it is counter productive and completely boring if it is imposed by the regulations. I guess that once humorous expressions become standard they will be as boring as the briefing currently given.
On the other hand I like the idea that appreared on onther thread about a small quiz of the pax before take off.
Rwy in Sight
On the other hand I like the idea that appreared on onther thread about a small quiz of the pax before take off.
Rwy in Sight