Airlines where Pilots Clean the Cabin

[Dave Siegel]

Yeah. Everytime I use the head, even as a nonrev, I take a wad of paper towels and wipe the piss off the floor left from the idiots who can't make the hole. Takes about 5 seconds. Then I lick my fingers and wash my hands.

That's pretty disgusting. I prefer to have good aim so as not to urinate on the floor.

 

[skykid]

That's pretty disgusting. I prefer to have good aim so as not to urinate on the floor.

Me, too, but when have you been in an airplane head when it wasn't trashed w/in 10 minutes.

I can't wait till I see you across the interview table " Mr. I Just Fly The Planes"

Sounds like you assume everyone is trying to get a Jetblue interview.

 

[kidflo]

GE CF34-3B1

Anyone who choses an engine model as a nickname is a ** DORK!!!!

 

[MSquared]

When I went down for my SWA interview, the Capt was helping the elderly and women with their babies on board while talking with me about how great the company is. It was a selling point for me. I cannot see it as degrading, simply a shift from old school making a ton of money with the majors to being greatful of having a freaking job post 9/11.

v/r

m2

 

[Ty Webb]

I'm happy to help get the airplane turned and on its way, but I am glad we do not do this at AirTran.

Now, if I see someone waiting in the jetway for a stroller and the rampers haven't made it up in a reasonable amount of time, I'll go down and see if I can grab it for them, especially if it looks like they have a close connection. Non-revving, hey, I'm happy to cross some belts on my out, and I always offer to grab some chow for the crew . . . . . but ya gotta draw the line somewhere.

If it is in the job description, there it is, and it wouldn't keep me from working there, but I am glad we don't do it.

 

[Scooby74]

This post is very strange. It should not be about cleaning the cabin on not cleaning the cabin. It's all about treating others how you want to be treated. Granted, I don't work on a large aircraft. But, we have a flight attendent and 44 other passengers that at some point will need my help. Do I help clean the cabin and fold seat belts......you better believe it. It's my way of saying thank you for getting me my coffee this morning. Do I help unload bags in the rain....you bet. My way of saying thank you for the quick turn last week. Do I run down the terminal to catch the guy who left his book in the seat back pocket.......of course. My way of saying thanks for flying with us...see you again. If you don't do any of these things and you have the time to do it..... well, I would say you are very selfish and I feel sorry for you. Because, you don't know the joy that comes from helping others. Try it sometime you might enjoy how it makes you feel. If you don't....don't ever expect anything from anybody.

 

[Thurman Merman]

I've never found it below me to help with the cabin as an FO or now as a Captain. Especially if you have the time or during a quick turn it promotes a better working enviroment and shows the flight
attendant(s) That your concern is not only up front but all aspects of the flight. Also I've jumped off and slung bags, anyone familiar with La Guardia knows how frustrating it is to wait 15 minutes just for a marshal then to wait another 20 minutes for the baggage pounders. At least the people on board take note that your trying to keep your floundering airline afloat. For all those disillusioned this is still a direct customer service industry. Maybe my ethic is different since I came from corporate aviation where after every flight we were on our hands and knees making that aircraft spotless for the boss out of respect for him and our jobs. We took pride in providing a prestine airplane because it reflected on the crew especially with regard to professionalism. I understand not everybody shares these values and thats fine but don't insult the ones that do.

 

[seefive]

scooby, i would agree with you that helping out is great for team morale, etc., etc. However, you help clean the cabin not because you are saying "thanks" to the flight attendant, but because it is now .........part of your job.

that being said, if i worked for JB (which would be great), i wouldn't have a problem doing it.

 

[B-atch]

Ludacris!!

I personally WILL NOT CLEAN OTHER PEOPLE'S $hiT!!!
If I knew that my flying carreer would come DOWN to this, I would have become a GARBAGE MAN. After all they make better money and enjoy better bennies...

 

[Bjammin]

Bottom line, look at the airlines that are succeeding and the ones that aren't.
I would much rather clean the cabin, when I can, and help get strollers if it meant my airline would save a few bucks. If the ENTIRE team is pitching in it can really make a difference in the airline's bottom line. You can argue all you want about it, but being on the street with your selfish pride intact won't feed your family and it won't save other airline pilot's jobs either.

 

[seefive]

Being on the Street????? Won't feed your family???????

Has the idea of going to get a different job ever occurred to you?

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

Bottom line, look at the airlines that are succeeding and the ones that aren't.
I would much rather clean the cabin, when I can, and help get strollers if it meant my airline would save a few bucks. If the ENTIRE team is pitching in it can really make a difference in the airline's bottom line. You can argue all you want about it, but being on the street with your selfish pride intact won't feed your family and it won't save other airline pilot's jobs either.

This is it all wrapped up in one package. The question is, is this mentality acceptable? Perhaps. The Golden Boys at DAL and UAL are doing exactly the same in terms of massive pay cuts. They'd rather keep cutting their pay to keep their widebody jobs then have no job. The LCC guys would rather clean cabins then have no job. There maybe a point though in having to clean the cabin as a mandate or matter of policy rather than an act of good will by choice. It is interesting though how SWA is not the (a) target here...

One could argue that the DAL/UAL pilots are selling out the profession just like the pilot cleaners are.... The other question is are the pay cuts and cabin cleaning really necessary or are they more of a emotional response. "I have to do something to make this company survive/succeed/grow." (I am a pilot and I have to stay in control)

At my previous carrier management loved to [try to] motivate pilots and others to pitch in and help out. But it was never mandated, which made one wonder if it was really needed. The issue here was that we felt we were being taken for granted. Conned into doing extra work. When it comes down do it, is the business model predicated on pilots loading bags or folding seat belts? If it is, how is this performance measured? And why isn't every pilot doing it and why do some pilots do it and others get away with not doing it? Sometimes it just seems like management is squeezing free labor out of us. Especially since we did not have any performance based rewards.

Productivity is the key to success for any airline in todays and the furture industry. SWA and jB understand this.....

It is humorous how the pilot cleaners make out the non cleaners as impolite, rude, uncivil etc.....

Thoughts?

 

[B6Guy]

I've reached a new low

I guess I've reached a new low. As I walked down the jetway to jumpseat on a NWA flight tonight, I stopped and picked up a pile of papers cluttering the jetway floor and tossed them in a trash can. I guess I should be stripped of my stripes and drummed out of the pilot workforce.

I just don't understand the opposition to being considerate, helpfull and a team player. What is so demeaning??

 

[Bjammin]

Being on the Street????? Won't feed your family???????

Has the idea of going to get a different job ever occurred to you?

I guess I always could be a golf pro, or maybe open a day spa.

ALL THE AIRLINES THAT ARE HIRING HAVE A CULTURE THAT FOSTERS TEAMWORK AND THEY ARE HIRING BECAUSE THEY ARE MAKING MONEY!

 

[ivauir]

The notion that everyone is equal, the industry has changed, and so has the profession is absurd PC BS that allows management to dumb down the profession and gut the pay. If you are willing to accept it, well, enjoy the job. The profession that so many have fought for over the years is slipping away if not already gone. As someone else has said a number of times, this i s not your fathers airline. What complete PC BS to gut the pay.

Herb tosses peanuts and chats to the pax when he flies (this I've seen), I'll bet he's crossed seat belts and put the rubber gloves on too. Its not about mgt trying to "dumb you down". I only get paid in the air, so I consider it nothing more than enligtened self interest when I help with a turn.