United pilot gets a nod

[Guitar rocker]

In all honesty, if I were on any flight that was delayed and the captain was handing out bananas and mac D's cheesburgers to try and make everyone happy, it just wouldnt look right. Sure, I have a sense of humor and all but I just dont think this is very professional. If I went to a gas station and they were fresh out of gas but the pumps would be up and running in another 10 minutes as they filled er up and they wanted to give me a cheesburger and some chips for waiting...well, I could see that.....but not coming from the captain of a major airline. Geeeez.

If I was on Flannagans delayed flight, why couldnt he go fish me out a nice filet mignon (medium well with shrooms), some garlic roasted potatos and a nice fresh ceasar salad instead of some lousy cheesburger? That would be more like customer service.

 

[Guitar rocker]

Along the same lines... how would you feel if you saw your surgeon cleaning up the operating room prior to your surgery? Would you honestly feel... "Hey, what a great fella to be helping out and cleaning up"... or would you be questioning the the financial health of a hospital that requires its most accomplished/educated/esteemed colleagues to mop up the goop from the previous surgery?

BBB

Agreed. I wouldnt be happy with that sight....it wouldnt look very professional. Its one thing for a hair stylist to sweep the hair around her chair but not a surgeon using the windex to help clean the blood off of the floor..........just like it isnt right to see an airline pilot handing out fruits and coupons and wipping out the cell phone to take a picture of fido. I mean, its somewhat silly to even think of picturing that even taking place.

 

[PCL_128]

Calling for catering to restock items left out is in the job description. Calling ops to have a bag retaged is in the job description. Calling to have fuel removed so that all paxs and bags can be accomodated is in the job description. Taking pictures of animals to be loaded in the cargo bin and then showing them to the paxs is not in the job description. Cleaning the cabin with the FA's after each leg is not in the job description. Spending whats left of your check on apples and big macs after your CEO raped you and all of your employees of pay, benefits, and retirements, is definetely not in the job descriprion.

Amen.

 

[Exskydiverdrivr]

He wouldn't have to stand at the gate and brief pax when a flight was late, if a gate agent showed their face somewhere before 25 minutes to departure time. (adjusted for the delay even). What's the big deal guys- he likes what he does. I don't have a problem with this.

When you have one of the worst pax satisfactions going you need all the help you can get.

 

[405]

Can someone define "above and beyond" please for the rest of the group? Obviously, that work ethic is dead.

I'm sorry, I forgot. It's "me, me, me" now.

 

[g-code]

I don't see why all you guys have to be such d***s in response to this guy. He is going above and beyond the call of duty.

I guess it doesn't stroke some egos enough when a guy does this.

 

[g-code]

A captain of an ocean going vessel would DELEGATE customer service issues such as this so as not to denigrate (lower) the status of the captain (highest ranking on the ship!)
BBB

Ok Admiral. I guess some here have never heard of lead by example.

 

[Phaedrus]

This captain is clearly compensating. I've surmised that what he truly lacks is....cynicism.

 

[WalterSobchak]

What's the big deal guys- he likes what he does. I don't have a problem with this.

And, therefore, we can safely say he is not a FI.com member. The bitterness and hated on this site towards those who go out of their way to do the right thing is insane.

 

[paid4training]

Dam, no wonder this industry is going down the crapper. This guy is taking care of passengers and enjoying doing it. The company is not making him do it, he's doing it on his own. Maybe if some of the "professionals" would do some of these things passengers would respect the industry a little more. And maybe just change the preception of airline pilots from a pompus a$$!!

 

[skybert]

I always had a lot of disrespect for the CEO's and other upper management money grabbers taking from
the crews and giving themselves big bonuses. After reading this....I'm not so sure I support the "professionals pilots" either.

Whats wrong with taking care of your passengers?

 

[Guitar rocker]

For those of you who side with this pilot, thats great. But quick question for you...why arent you out there doing the same thing he is? Maybe your embarrassed to hand out bananas???

I hate to say it, but this day and age where people are so sue happy....what happens if he hands out some micky D's burgers that people get sick from or someone finds a little something "special" in that burger.....who is liable??? The pilot, UAL and micky D's are........

I am sure that many people laugh at this pilot and enjoy his attempt at making everyone happy. Inherently, there are other passengers who perhaps are a bit more conservative and feel awkward at accepting bananas and burgers from an airline pilot at the gate. There are other professional ways that a pilot can "take care" of his passengers rather than being a waiter and handing out business cards with name and number.

 

[shiznitobam]

This is too funny. A guy actually goes out of his way to make sure that his passengers are taken care of and...holy sh!t...wait for it...wait for it...enjoy their flight and the responses come flying in about how unprofessional and "disturbing" this dude is.

There is a reason no one is willing to pay the fares that you people think they should pay. If every flight had this sort of experience, people would pay a little more to fly United, I know I would. Instead I get the surly flight attendant that bites my head off for holding my son on my lap instead of my wifes, because that's where the oxygen mask is (less than a foot away)! It's called product differentiation and right now there is none (except for SWA who does the same sort of thing but on a different level).

This guy deserves a pat on the back, because it's obvious that he loves what he does and it shows.

 

[Long Time Gone]

The nicer stories get turned into movies with Robin Williams. Robin Williams sadly doesn't make movies about pilots, Wilt Chamberlain does though so that has to count for something.

Um.......that was Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (born Ferdinand Lewis Alcinder, Jr., aka Lew Alcinder). I know what you're thinking.....don't go there.

Wilt Chamberlain was the self proclaimed "ladies man", claiming that he had sex with over 20,000 women before he died in 1999.

 

[Acey]

I guess it would be too much for a pilot to stoop to the level of helping a mother of little children to open her stroller, or walk up the jetway to make sure the gate knows about the need for a chair. Service is service, guys. It may cost you a little something. What is lost in perceived authority is gained in RESPECT! That's how you become a servant leader.

I have just one question for Flanagan's bashers. If pilots/doctors/CEOs are too big to serve at work, wouldn't they be to big to clean the toilet or take the trash out at home? Wouldn't that be inconsistent if their co-workers or clients found out about their awful little secret? Presuming that having a home life is something worth keeping and making work, how does such an authority live with his family? I don't know, maybe it works over in Iran.

Acey

 

[Big Beer Belly]

If pilots/doctors/CEOs are too big to serve at work, wouldn't they be to big to clean the toilet or take the trash out at home?
Acey

Of course! That's why they have maids. You're not seriously suggesting they clean their own toilets, are you?

BBB

 

[30West]

I would certiainly hope my doctor wouldn't offer to buy me a cheeseburger.

 

[bravodude]

Your day is coming over there at SWA...soon. I remember not too long ago when one of your pilots gloated about all the money you at SWA made not just in salary but in corporate earnings...so far so good but it isn't sunny all the time...

you take care and have a cold one on me! Dont worry about us we will be just fine.

 

[AC560]

Same goes for the captain of a delayed flight. Wouldn't you as a passenger hope/pray that a customer service agent (let alone THE captain of the flight!) work the crowd trying to appease the customers.

It is what is called the difference between service and extra ordinary service.

The next time the chef comes out after you have a nice meal and brings you a free dessert or asks how things were, be sure to ask him doesn't he have more important things to be doing in the kitchen. I am sure his response will be nothing is more important then my customers.

 

[learflyer]

For those of you who side with this pilot, thats great. But quick question for you...why arent you out there doing the same thing he is? Maybe your embarrassed to hand out bananas???

I hate to say it, but this day and age where people are so sue happy....what happens if he hands out some micky D's burgers that people get sick from or someone finds a little something "special" in that burger.....who is liable??? The pilot, UAL and micky D's are........

I am sure that many people laugh at this pilot and enjoy his attempt at making everyone happy. Inherently, there are other passengers who perhaps are a bit more conservative and feel awkward at accepting bananas and burgers from an airline pilot at the gate. There are other professional ways that a pilot can "take care" of his passengers rather than being a waiter and handing out business cards with name and number.

You should know better. Don't you fly for a Frac?