Pet Peeves While Airlining

[acaTerry]

Southwest, anywhere southwest flies, and any terminal southwest flies to.

YES!!

 

[leardawg]

Go get another job where you don't have to airline then...

That's exactly what I did! (Lighten up, Titus Moody! It's all just humor.)

Did something strike a nerve? Are you a 1 1/2 seater? HABIB, IS THAT YOU?!!

 

[Guitar Guy]

I had one instance on a flight where the FA came back to me and said the captain wanted to speak to me immediately. Being in uniform, I figured it was time for the ol' "jumpseat etiquette" diatribe. Instead, the captain really wanted to see me because he wanted to know about my company, the contract and how to possibly apply.

But I add another "+1" to Diesel's post, especially the Southwest part. Nice enough people at SWA for the most part, but please lay off the kool-aid. And please assign seats instead of the "ready, set, stampede" boarding method.

 

[PacoPollo]

*

* When you are on day 8 and hour # 15 you finally make it to your domicile, pull up to the gate, and the CSA's are no where to be found to operate the jetway.

*
* When on day 8, and connecting through dulles with a tight connection, after just coming from SEATTLE IN A MIDDLE SEAT, you miss your connection to your domicile because that ugly people mover thing broke down! (really happened!)

Day 8?? WTF?? HA HA HA!!!!

 

[Fozzy]

One of mine is all the jackass's that jump up the second the seatbelt sign comes off. Run Forest Run! And now stand in the isle for 15 minutes till you can leave.

But I have made this pet peeve into one of my favorite times at work. You see, the RJ is the only jet left in the airline industry (at least it seems that way). Now when that "BING" signals for everyone to stand, you need to pay attention. Because this is when everyone bashes their head into the overhead. On average, there is at least 3-5 mild concussions every time the Captain flicks that all important switch. I know this is sick, but I do enjoy watching all those lemmings smashing their melons into the reading lamp.

 

[gordon24]

Just thought of another one:

Early in the morning or late at night and you are just falling asleep. The plane is getting bounced around in light chop and the pax next to you wakes you up and says, "this is not good, are we going to be okay?" I always tell them, "If my eyes are closed, we're okay. If I'm wide-eyed and white as a ghost, we're as good as dead." That'll get you some stares!

Love the one about the banging heads on the RJ's. I'm gonna start keeping count.

 

[Flying Illini]

I don't airline as much as you guys do (thankfully!) but I'll give it a shot:

In turbulence: The people who you can hear guessing how far the plane dropped in turbulence. "Oh that was probably a thousand feet!"

People walking up and down the aisle who feel that it is necessary to put your hands on each and every seat headrest on either side of the aisle. I understand the need to steady yourself BUT if it's bumpy, stay in your damn seat and if it's not bumpy you shouldn't be falling over...but if you feel like you will...put your hand up on the overhead bin! Quite touching my head/pulling my hair when you pin my hair between your hand and the seat!! And do you really have to put that much weight into the seat that you cause it to move and it feels like you just kicked my headrest?

 

[BushwickBill]

Customs at YVR

When my boss clears customs at YVR we call canpass, when they give us a code we can open the door. The rental car is running outside the plane.

Clearing customs as a passenger on the airlines. 4 widebody aircraft from Asia deposit the masses of humanity at the same time every day. Some how this is a huge suprise for Canadian Customs. It practily blindsides them, despite the fact it happens at the same time every day. Stand in line for close to 3 hours. Get verbally harrased for about 5 to 10. Remind the customs agent that since you had to wait in line for 3 hours your going to miss your flight. Get verbally harrased for about 5 to 10 pick up your bags. Run to catch your flight. Miss your flight because you have to clear security AGAIN! I am a pesant and I know it now.

 

[FracCapt]

So....let me get this straight....some of you guys acutally travel, while on a COMPANY PAID TICKET, in the goof suit? WTF are you thinking? It'll just get you stupid ass questions, looks, and comments....so take off that stupid ass shirt before you get onboard and put on a polo or something! At the VERY LEAST take off your epaulets, ties, wings, nametags, whateverthef#&k you wear! Generally, if you're wearing a shirt with epaulet holders, only the FA's and other pilots will know what you are....just make up some story for the other schmucks to tell them what you do for a living.

 

[Beatrix Kiddo]

Probably just guys with the "IM A PILOT/CAPTAIN" fetish...Why else would anyone wear the "monkey suit" for travel...I think its assinine that we have to dress like airline pilots anyway...Slacks, a company polo or long sleeve with the company logo and nice shoes outta be enough. I especially hate wearing the friggin tie!! :angryfire Ive traveled with guys who wore their uniform and I didnt and never saw them have any advantage over me as far as security checks, hassles, etc....In fact Ive seen them get flagged and I didnt.

 

[swampfan]

Policy

I think some companies have a policy requiring pilots to airline in uniform at times.

 

[learflyer]

Day 8?? WTF?? HA HA HA!!!!

dont be a bonehead. I still get 7 off in a row.

 

[Ultra Grump]

So....let me get this straight....some of you guys acutally travel, while on a COMPANY PAID TICKET, in the goof suit?

1st day travel we're required by the FOM to travel in uniform, so that if your checked luggage doesn't make it to the other end, you will still be able to work.

I wear it because it absolutely DOES make it easier in many, many places to get through security, and has also gotten me upgraded to first by gate agents several times (especially on Alaska, those gate agents rock!). Other times, it's gotten me extra first-class food, while sitting in coach. Many times the flight attendants will take better care of you as well. If you're in "civvies," you're just another one of the herd they have to manage.

 

[gutshotdraw]

[quote=Beatrix Kidd "Why else would anyone wear the "monkey suit" for travel..."

Two words: Pre Board


"I think its assinine that we have to dress like airline pilots anyway...Slacks, a company polo or long sleeve with the company logo and nice shoes outta be enough."

Absolute, 100% agreement. Every time we reference an airline type policy that we use, the company screams "We're not an airline!" THEN STOP DRESSING US LIKE ONE!

 

[learflyer]

1st day travel we're required by the FOM to travel in uniform, so that if your checked luggage doesn't make it to the other end, you will still be able to work.

I wear it because it absolutely DOES make it easier in many, many places to get through security, and has also gotten me upgraded to first by gate agents several times (especially on Alaska, those gate agents rock!). Other times, it's gotten me extra first-class food, while sitting in coach. Many times the flight attendants will take better care of you as well. If you're in "civvies," you're just another one of the herd they have to manage.

You check your luggage?

 

[JetProp]

-When I'm sitting in an aisle seat, the large man next to me is hogging the armrest, and as people board, they bang into my head & shoulder repeatedly with carry ons.

-When crews make PA's and ~whisper~I hope it's not important info.

-When crews make PA's and give a sightseeing tour every 10 minutes on Oh dark thirty flights.

-Window seats on CRJ's.

-When it's a tight connection anyway and the jacka$$ has to stand up and remove his briefcase while on the taxiway. Causing the plane to stop and further compunding the delay (this happened recently).

-The fattest/slowest people who walk in the center of the terminal, rather than keep to the right so faster traffic can pass.

-The confused person who has to cut in line at the gate to "ask a quck question".

 

[leardawg]

1st day travel we're required by the FOM to travel in uniform, so that if your checked luggage doesn't make it to the other end, you will still be able to work.

I wear it because it absolutely DOES make it easier in many, many places to get through security, and has also gotten me upgraded to first by gate agents several times (especially on Alaska, those gate agents rock!). Other times, it's gotten me extra first-class food, while sitting in coach. Many times the flight attendants will take better care of you as well. If you're in "civvies," you're just another one of the herd they have to manage.

I only wore mine on Day 1 if I knew I would be flying a trip that day, because it would get pretty wrinkled sitting in my bag no matter how I packed it. On my go-home day, there were times where you had just enough time to make it from your airplane to your airline flight home, and no time to change ( otherwise I'd often wear it until I was through security, then change in the mens room).

 

[414Flyer]

I've never been to Calcutta but that has to be pretty close.

I have actually airlined all around India, and well the poorest can not afford to fly by airline, and the middle class there dress nicer than our middle class, at least in terms of usually slack and button down shirt of some kind when traveling, so it was probably better there airlining. Plus better service, no EEO rules regarding stewardess hiring, and something to eat on most every flight.

My airlining pet peeve, is when you check something standby and of course get that SSSS on the boarding pass, so TSA puts you in their little penalty box and takes your boarding pass.

You look at your watch and see the time towards the flight is getting closer. You stand up, which alarms them and they all look at you, and want to find out when you will get inspected so you can get to your flight. Their reply " I dont know"

You can try to tell them that unless they can get to you RIGHT NOW, you are going to miss your flight, and that your bag is going onto somewhere without you.

However they are too stupid to realize this concept and tell you to sit back down and they will try to get to you in a while. Again you tell them that its pointless for you to sit here and go through this if you can not make the flight and that if you cant make the flight, then arrangements have to be made for the bag to be taken off. They ask "what time is the flight and what gate" Well moron, you took my boarding pass, you look at it and see.

I have had enough of this crap, so again I stand up to approach the TSA screeners and then they all think I am going to be some terrorist all because I dared again to stand up in their SSSS penalty box and question their omnipotence. I said I need to get out of line, I am going to miss the flight and I have to get my bag off of the flight. Its pointless for me to stay in here any longer.

All the moronic screener since the concept of this goes over his head, is to call his boss (to Supervisor "He wants to talk to you"), even though I never asked for him, I just said I wanted to get out of line, go back to the ticket desk and call to have my bag taken off the flight.

Supervisor at least understands the concept of not needing to go thru security for a flight I am not going to make, so he escorts me out and back to where I can walk down to call for my standby bag.

Wonderful MKE TSA

 

[Ultra Grump]

You check your luggage?

Nope, but that's why they have the policy. Some do check it.

 

[learflyer]

It's tempting as he11 to check it. Sometimes on go home day I will.