I feel your pain. I have been pumping gas for almost eight years. Even when I had a flying job I was pumping gas. At least its an excellent way to network.
As far as the rude pilots, I am going to guess 75-80% of all pilots that fly into my little corner of H*ll are pricks to the linemen. Its not hard to say please and thank you, and don't demand your services. A pilot is no better than anybody else when it comes down to it.
The most recent encounter was with the great Andreenie. He was an a$$ from the start. He pulls up in front of our hangar expecting to get in, two planes- a senca II and a stearman. So I gas him, allow him in the hangar, and even give him a crew car for the night. About an hour after he leaves I get a call, its him and he is irate. It seems that because he is an airshow pilot he is exempt from paying for overnight in a hangar. I tell him sorry, I didn't know that I wasn't allowed to make a little bit of money for the airport. After all, its not like the rates are posted in the office. Anyway, I tell him I will make a call and see what I could do. He procedes to drive back to airport so he can argue some more. I wanted to reach out and choke that little sawed off a$$. we don't make our money off Avgas sales, it's mostly jet fuel and hanger rent(not overnight). I could have eailly given him the hanger for nothing, if I wanted to.
Moral of the story, be pleasant to the line guys. You never know when you may get a good deal. Because if your not, they could be giving you the shaft. We have more decision making ability than you may think, especially if you dealing with the boss. Don't demand special treatment, because you will get the wrong kind.
I am an aspiring career pilot and a line manager. I have lived in both worlds and understand both sides. I will admit that my earlier estimate is reversed, the majority of the pilots I meet from day to day are very pleasant and I have no problems working with most. I will do everything I can to help you and then some.
One thing that does make me laugh is the fractional and corporate jet guys. They think that a small airport FBO is going to be just like Millionair or Signature. Come on guys, think a little. We try our best, but sometimes we just can't be ten places at once.
