My Top 5 Annoyances as a Flight Attendant…
Firstly, I want to say that I love being a FA (flight attendant for short) and that if you happen to be a passenger on one of my flights, more often than not you are going to have a nice flight. That being said, I would like to list my top 5 (and I’m sure most FA’s) pet peeves when it comes to dealing with passengers.
1. THE FASTEN SEATBELT SIGN IS ON! After takeoff at roughly 10,000 feet the captain will usually give two chimes. This is the FA’s permission to leave their seats and begin setting up for service. This is not an indicator for passengers! If a passenger does get up they may hear the flight attendant say, “Just have to tell you, the seatbelt sign is on.” This is not to scold but essentially to cover our butts if turbulence hits and said passenger suffers a concussion and wants to sue. You are an adult and are free to make your own decisions, but we want to be able to say, well, we told you so!
2. RANDOMLY HANDING TRASH TO FA’S. If I don’t have a trash bag in my hand or if I am not pushing a trash cart, I’m not ready for your trash! If I collect your trash then others around will try to give me theirs as well and I simply do not have enough hands. What’s more, I could be answering a call button as I head down the aisle that was pressed by a passenger with a medical emergency who requires much more important assistance.
3. INTERRUPTING FA’S DURING THE SAFETY DEMO. Folks, this is the most important thing we do during the flight whether you choose to pay attention or not. Asking if your checked bag made it on board (something we have NO WAY of confirming) is not an excuse for interrupting me as I point out the emergency exits.
4. GETTING HUFFY ABOUT HAVING TO USE AFT LAV(S) WHEN WE BLOCK OFF FRONT LAV(S) WHEN OPENING COCKPIT DOOR. Two Words: September Eleventh
5. ASKING ABOUT YOUR CONNECTION! Whatever we say, whether truth or lie, you are only going to hear what you want to hear! Truth be told, we know very little about what goes on outside the airplane. There is no such thing as “Flight Attendant Ground Control” where we can call or log in and check on your flight. The pilots have access to this information but as I have told passengers many-a-time, “I think it best that we not bother them with all that and let them FLY THE AIRPLANE!”
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The Frustrations of Flying
December 5, 2011
in Flying Hell Commentary
Air travel is supposed to be convenient, save time and offer a chance to relax when going from one place to another. In reality, however, those hopes can often vanish amidst a series of mounting frustrations that leave a traveler wondering if it was worth boarding a plane in the first place.
Just about every traveler has had to endure frustrating situations either before, during or after a flight. Listed below are some of my biggest pet peeves.
Delayed flights: It is the scenario everyone dreads. You fight through traffic so you can check-in, go through all the security screenings and board your flight on time. Once at the airport, you discover your flight is going to be delayed for several hours. It does not matter what reason is behind a delayed flight. The thought of being stuck in an airport terminal indefinitely can drive you crazy.
Rude employees: Aggressive TSA employees can make going through security checkpoints feel as uncomfortable as getting a tooth pulled at the dentist’s office. In fact, I know from experience that potentially upsetting situations can be made much more tolerable (or even pleasant) when handled by an agent who has a good attitude and a positive demeanor. Mary Poppins was right: a spoonful of sugar does indeed help the medicine go down! On the flip side, however, a belligerent or rude agent can take even a small inconvenience like a malfunctioning seat display or a delay and turn it into a miserable experience that won’t be forgotten. Attitude is everything, and it makes all the difference in the world to the experience I remember when traveling.
Flying with children: Sitting in the same vicinity as children on a plane can be nerve wracking. Some are screaming for their parents. Others delight in kicking your seat or tripping people in the aisle as they walk past. It is enough to make you want to break out your wallet and promise their parents you will pay for a babysitter if they leave their kids at home next time.
Lost luggage: With all the highly-trained people involved in the process, you would think keeping track of luggage would be a simple thing. The problem is that you might fly to Hawaii for a beach vacation and discover your swimsuit and suntan lotion was shipped to Alaska. Lost luggage is not only annoying, it is expensive since airlines rarely reimburse the full cost of lost luggage.
Damaged luggage: Seeing your luggage arrive at the right destination is no guarantee it will arrive in one piece. Airport employees have a penchant for tossing bags around like footballs and causing that bottle of shaving lotion or perfume to break open and leak out all over your clothes. It leaves a mess waiting to greet you as an unwelcome surprise when you finally arrive at your hotel.
This is just a general look at the frustrations of flying. Commercial airlines do their best to provide great customer service and a comfortable atmosphere, but with so much room for error in the air travel experience, a frustration free flight isn’t always in the cards.
- Philip J Reed on behalf of Redstone College, which offers degrees in avionics.
Tagged as: baggage, children & babies, delay & cancellation, security
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