From a flight attendant’s perspective:
AS A COMMUTING PILOT:
Don’t assume you have immediate and total access to the cockpit the minute you step on the plane. Some of us know how to do our job, and know the crew up front and where they are in their work. They may be running a checklist, on the radios, attending to a mx issue etc. We often know this and will ask you to wait just a moment.
Don’t hang out in the cockpit for the entire boarding process. On many regional aircraft, there is barely enough room up front for me to do my job. I am supposed to be up front, standing by the cockpit door. I really don’t need to have to find another place to stand during the boarding process, I really have no interest in rubbing up against your butt as it hangs out of the cockpit and if I can find someplace else to stand, the folks in the first three rows do not want to look at your butt while you chat. That goes for the galley as well. I might need/use that space. Take a seat or wait outside the aircraft.
Don’t do all you revisions, charts and bids then leave it all stuffed in the seat back pocket, the floor, and the seat next to you. Yeah, it is my job to clean the airplane when you leave, but a little common courtesy would indicate that after your free ride, that you at least hand me your garbage as I coming through the cabin in flight.
Don’t get all dejected when you see a male flight attendant on your flight. I actually have had, more then once, a jump seating male pilot tell me “I was hoping you’d be a chick.” I am sorry that I am a guy and you are not going to have eye candy for your 42 minute flight to your base. And, not every male FA is a gay. Please don’t mutter fag, homo, or whatever other derogatory comment you chose to use prove your manhood when you do not get what you want.
Don’t bother the female flight attendants, especially when they are on IOE or getting a check ride. They do not think you are hot. If they do, they will let you know. They are at work, let them work.
Don’t sit and complain about how horrible your work place is. If you are so lucky to sit with another commuting/non revving pilot, remember to use your indoor voice. My passengers do not want to hear your complaints, how poorly run your company is, how bad the bids are, how fat/ugly/gay your FA’s are, how much the hotels suck, your union sucks, your commute sucks, how much my airline sucks, how much you drank the night before, etc. They do not know which airline you work for, so they assume you work for mine.
Don’t question me when I ask you take a certain seat on the plane. Usually I know what we are doing about weight and balance and may need you in the seat/section I ask you to take. I am not really that interested in how your company does it or that you never have to move people on your plane. I know you want a whole row to yourself, but sometimes I just cannot accommodate your request.
Do ask if there is anything I need. I probably do not need anything – but who knows – one day I might. It’s not like I am going to ask you to serve drinks or clean the lav.
Do engage in conversation when appropriate. Some of us are actually interesting people.
Do answer questions from my passengers, and for that matter from me. They do not know what airline you work for, so they think you work here. Like it or not, that uniform, like mine is an open invitation for questions. If I ask you a question it might be because I am genuinely interested or need something explained. And remember, I am a pilot too – though not yet a professional like you. You might one day sit next to me in the cockpit. What goes around comes around.
Do tidy up your seat area. Cross your seat belt, pick up your stuff. I know you are a pilot and a customer and as such you are not required to clean up after yourself, but come on, we are all in this together.
Do ask politely for stuff. I do not want you to sit there uncomfortable, thirsty, hungry cold or hot. If you need something, just let me know. But be polite, and understanding if I cannot do it right then and there.
All that said, the very best commuters are the folks at jetBlue, Independence and Southwest – you folks are welcome on every flight I work. The worst seem to be the fresh out o’ the box 23 year olds who seemingly have no manners or ability to behave in public.
So my rant is over.
AS A COMMUTING PILOT:
Don’t assume you have immediate and total access to the cockpit the minute you step on the plane. Some of us know how to do our job, and know the crew up front and where they are in their work. They may be running a checklist, on the radios, attending to a mx issue etc. We often know this and will ask you to wait just a moment.
Don’t hang out in the cockpit for the entire boarding process. On many regional aircraft, there is barely enough room up front for me to do my job. I am supposed to be up front, standing by the cockpit door. I really don’t need to have to find another place to stand during the boarding process, I really have no interest in rubbing up against your butt as it hangs out of the cockpit and if I can find someplace else to stand, the folks in the first three rows do not want to look at your butt while you chat. That goes for the galley as well. I might need/use that space. Take a seat or wait outside the aircraft.
Don’t do all you revisions, charts and bids then leave it all stuffed in the seat back pocket, the floor, and the seat next to you. Yeah, it is my job to clean the airplane when you leave, but a little common courtesy would indicate that after your free ride, that you at least hand me your garbage as I coming through the cabin in flight.
Don’t get all dejected when you see a male flight attendant on your flight. I actually have had, more then once, a jump seating male pilot tell me “I was hoping you’d be a chick.” I am sorry that I am a guy and you are not going to have eye candy for your 42 minute flight to your base. And, not every male FA is a gay. Please don’t mutter fag, homo, or whatever other derogatory comment you chose to use prove your manhood when you do not get what you want.
Don’t bother the female flight attendants, especially when they are on IOE or getting a check ride. They do not think you are hot. If they do, they will let you know. They are at work, let them work.
Don’t sit and complain about how horrible your work place is. If you are so lucky to sit with another commuting/non revving pilot, remember to use your indoor voice. My passengers do not want to hear your complaints, how poorly run your company is, how bad the bids are, how fat/ugly/gay your FA’s are, how much the hotels suck, your union sucks, your commute sucks, how much my airline sucks, how much you drank the night before, etc. They do not know which airline you work for, so they assume you work for mine.
Don’t question me when I ask you take a certain seat on the plane. Usually I know what we are doing about weight and balance and may need you in the seat/section I ask you to take. I am not really that interested in how your company does it or that you never have to move people on your plane. I know you want a whole row to yourself, but sometimes I just cannot accommodate your request.
Do ask if there is anything I need. I probably do not need anything – but who knows – one day I might. It’s not like I am going to ask you to serve drinks or clean the lav.
Do engage in conversation when appropriate. Some of us are actually interesting people.
Do answer questions from my passengers, and for that matter from me. They do not know what airline you work for, so they think you work here. Like it or not, that uniform, like mine is an open invitation for questions. If I ask you a question it might be because I am genuinely interested or need something explained. And remember, I am a pilot too – though not yet a professional like you. You might one day sit next to me in the cockpit. What goes around comes around.
Do tidy up your seat area. Cross your seat belt, pick up your stuff. I know you are a pilot and a customer and as such you are not required to clean up after yourself, but come on, we are all in this together.
Do ask politely for stuff. I do not want you to sit there uncomfortable, thirsty, hungry cold or hot. If you need something, just let me know. But be polite, and understanding if I cannot do it right then and there.
All that said, the very best commuters are the folks at jetBlue, Independence and Southwest – you folks are welcome on every flight I work. The worst seem to be the fresh out o’ the box 23 year olds who seemingly have no manners or ability to behave in public.
So my rant is over.
