You're a professional, remove the stickers from your flight bag!

[3GRNDWN]

You're a professional . . .

. . . remove the stickers from your flight bag!

I was waiting for a flight when two sets of airline crews walked by. Both crews wore clean, sharp looking uniforms; both displayed personal grooming standards equal to or above any airline's requirements. Everything about these two sets of crews looked professional until they walked past my point of view and some stranger next to me asks, "Why do some pilots cover their flight bags in stickers? It looks unprofessional." I didn't want to admit it, but he was right. He was stating an obvious observation that so many of the traveling public think, but hardly say out loud.

Why do some of us feel the need to plaster our favorite ski resort, sports team, or political statement all over our flight bags? I'm just as much a fan and proud of the university I graduated from, but I wouldn't want my doctor to walk into the waiting room with a clip board covered with his alma mater's brand. Or my lawyer having his collegiate logo pasted on the side of his briefcase next to the sticker sporting his favorite local microbrew.

I hear pilots at all levels complain about not getting the respect that they once had, and maybe that will never change. But if I'm going to represent the commerical airline industry as a pilot, I would appreciate the guy (or gal) next to me looking some what professional. In addition to many other things, not having stickers covering their entire flight bag would be a good start.

 

[terryhfly]

I will keep my "FU" sticker for threads like this.

 

[TEXAN AVIATOR]

I have a handful on mine currently. I like stickers on my bag..... But I agree, it's not professional at all. Start by telling alpa to quit wasting dues on "Crewpass now" etc stickers that accomplish absolutely nothing.

How about we just get Ipads and ditch the bags altogether.

 

[amcnd]

Flight bag... Oh ya, we use to have those...

 

[Xcorporate]

Yeah I get no respect cuz I have a sticker on my bag. puleez....

I want the lady who is 400# wearing flip flops, Tank top, sweat pants to judge me based on my luggage....

whatever..

 

[007]

I hear pilots at all levels complain about not getting the respect that they once had, and maybe that will never change. But if I'm going to represent the commerical airline industry as a pilot, I would appreciate the guy (or gal) next to me looking some what professional. In addition to many other things, not having stickers covering their entire flight bag would be a good start.

Yeah, cuz back in the glory days they NEVER had stickers on their bags.

 

[airplane wizard]

To tell their bag apart from other bags of course!

 

[CRJ puppy]

Because, in a profession where uniformity and conformity is standard, both in dress and actions, the individual within that uniform begs to show his/her individualism. This is one of the few ways that a crew member can do this (barrel rolls on short final being generally frowned upon, no matter how well you can perform them).

This would have been easily explained and understood by the passenger if someone took the time to point it out to them in a non-confrontational, educational manner.

A little individualism goes a long way to making a person happy and healthy.

 

[booo]

Yeah I get no respect cuz I have a sticker on my bag. puleez....

I want the lady who is 400# wearing flip flops, Tank top, sweat pants to judge me based on my luggage....

whatever..

She is oblivious,but what about that guy in a $1000 suit? Oh!!! You look so fine!!

You reflect on you, your company, your profession. Grow up.

"Oh, I want more PAY".

Earn it!

 

[Dumb Pilot]

Is not so much having stickers as it is poor taste in stickers sometimes, I've seen everything from a big marihuana leaf to stick figures banging to I'm a drunk, alcoholics go to meetings etc. etc. I don't see anything bad in self expression, but you are in a professional environment now, not a college dorm, is about time you start expressing yourself as an adult.

 

[TEXAN AVIATOR]

I guess if I wanted to "express myself" I could get some pieces of flair.

 

[BoilerUP]

Stickers in your flight case?

THIS IS AN OUTRAGE

Nevermind pilots at every level that don't know how to iron, have pit stains, a belly hanging over their belt, talk on the radio like a trucker, swear like a sailor in public, wear a backpack/iPod/bluetooth everywhere, etc...the real issue is bag stickers.

I'm guessing the next professional faux pax we'll read about is ID lanyards...

 

[BOX OFFICE]

. . . remove the stickers from your flight bag!

I was waiting for a flight when two sets of airline crews walked by. Both crews wore clean, sharp looking uniforms; both displayed personal grooming standards equal to or above any airline's requirements. Everything about these two sets of crews looked professional until they walked past my point of view and some stranger next to me asks, "Why do some pilots cover their flight bags in stickers? It looks unprofessional." I didn't want to admit it, but he was right. He was stating an obvious observation that so many of the traveling public think, but hardly say out loud.

Why do some of us feel the need to plaster our favorite ski resort, sports team, or political statement all over our flight bags? I'm just as much a fan and proud of the university I graduated from, but I wouldn't want my doctor to walk into the waiting room with a clip board covered with his alma mater's brand. Or my lawyer having his collegiate logo pasted on the side of his briefcase next to the sticker sporting his favorite local microbrew.

I hear pilots at all levels complain about not getting the respect that they once had, and maybe that will never change. But if I'm going to represent the commerical airline industry as a pilot, I would appreciate the guy (or gal) next to me looking some what professional. In addition to many other things, not having stickers covering their entire flight bag would be a good start.

What a moron. You paid $10 for that?

Maybe someone should make a sticker that says "Regional First Officers make $23,000 a year. Enjoy your $99 ticket, and keep whining about the service".

 

[Data]

The flight bag is just the past several decade's version of MySpace or Facebook, look at me, look at how comical, sophisticated, whimsical and witty I am, I am so unique...

 

[Xcorporate]

She is oblivious,but what about that guy in a $1000 suit? Oh!!! You look so fine!!

You reflect on you, your company, your profession. Grow up.

"Oh, I want more PAY".

Earn it!

I reflect just fine on myself, company and profession. In addition to that I realize a sticker on your luggage has nothing to do with professionalism. Back to my sandbox....

 

[aircombat]

..I wouldn't want my doctor to walk into the waiting room with a clip board covered with his alma mater's brand. Or my lawyer having his collegiate logo pasted on the side of his briefcase next to the sticker sporting his favorite local microbrew..

Why do pilots always compare their professionalism to doctors and lawyers? At one point in history that might have been an accurate comparison but not in todays age.
Here is what makes doctors and lawyers professionals. Advanced degrees, high pay, and treated like professionals from their employers/customers.
Here is what makes being a pilot not even close. Requires a high school diploma, Pay is comparable to a NYC bus driver, treated like a bus driver by employers/customers.
You are a mass transit provider. Stop putting yourself on a pedestal.

 

[IBNAV8R]

Here is what makes being a pilot not even close. Requires a high school diploma, Pay is comparable to a NYC bus driver, treated like a bus driver by employers/customers.
You are a mass transit provider. Stop putting yourself on a pedestal.

Maybe it's because people are paying money to put their lives in your hands. When city buses crash, a few people get hurt. When airplanes crash (at least in the public mind) everyone suffers a fiery end. At least doctors and lawyers can only screw up one at a time.

But don't worry, doctors are taking the hit now too. But wait, it's about to get much worse in about 16 months if things don't change. And ask any new lawyer about the job market now. But, hey, that lawyer shortage is right around the corner.

Hate to break it to you guys but EVERYBODY profiles. It's human nature. Case in point: one poster infers the overweight lady in sweats is lazy, uneducated, unsophisticated and oblivious or uncaring in whom she entrusts her life. On the other hand, one assumes the guy in the business suit is an highly-educated, astute, and savvy professional.

Can you tell me which one is the University president on the way to cancer treatment at a prominent, specialized hospital, and which one is the pot-smoking, Taco Bell assistant manager coming home from his/her mother's funeral? Which one is worthy of feeling confident that the person in whom they are about to entrust their life is a professional?

 

[aircombat]

Maybe it's because people are paying money to put their lives in your hands. When city buses crash, a few people get hurt...

That's funny that you believe that. Keep raising that pedestal.

 

[big pimpn']

this is the problem with pilots in general; our industry is in dire staights. So many importaint things on the table to discuss, and we are talking about stickers....really?

 

[IBNAV8R]

That's funny that you believe that. Keep raising that pedestal.

This is why we shouldn't gripe about the bar constantly being lowered. We keep insisting that it be even lower.

Sorry, but I've never really enjoyed limbo.

 

[Little_Bill]

How many stickers are we talking about here?
You do realize that the minimum amount of "flair" is 15.

 

[Freebrd]

stickers on fly bags! what I miss is porn in the cockpit! all these female pilots killed that, and dispatchers posting on pilot forums instead of gazing at eBay

I keed I keed

 

[xjhawk]

Both crews wore clean, sharp looking uniforms; both displayed personal grooming standards equal to or above any airline's requirements.

really? my polyester uniform is really what makes me professional? Or that I like to be clean shaven and not stink? Clean shaven....and why again is that professional? Why is that a rule anyways? Studies have proved that O2 masks work just fine with facial hair. Stickers on a bag? Unless they are vulgar-leave it alone. Its their bag. Oh and iPods and listening to music while walking in the airport is hardly unprofessional. Did they say talking on those new cell phones was unprofessional back in the day? Do you have to sit hundreds of hours a year on airport ready reserve? I will even if I want change my shoes for a long walk while I listen to my music. Screw you. Let me guess, no hats and leather jackets also define unprofessionalism in your book too?

 

[LearLove]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Dy2fo6E_pI

 

[Oakum_Boy]

I've noticed of the FO's I fly with, those who have the most stickers tend to have their own "style" of doing things. It borders on poor technique sometimes and annoys me to no end. The pros are low-key, well spoken, calm, and don't stand out with idiotic cusomization of their luggage.

You don't see Emirates, Lufthansa or United pilots with the "DMB", "Vail", "Terrorist Hunting Permit", nor the prolific "Mile High Club...Giggity" stickers, do you? Nope. I've had FO's doing walk-arounds with Jamba Juice in their hands, cell phones, etc. There is an issue with professionalism at the regionals, and you can't blame it entirely on age.

 

[Clutch]

Zomg!! Not jamba juice!!!!

 

[Freebrd]

coffee spiked w/ Red Bull baby

 

[Stifler's Mom]

"Mile High Club...Giggity"

I figure since the company allows them to be sold in the company store, they must be OK with them.

 

[Oakum_Boy]

Sure. They're ok with it because they're managing expectations. Who's gonna think-- gee, this is a serious organization with serious people, I may just stay here!

Not me. Unfortunately, I'm in pretty deep with my life to start chasing a reserve assingnment at UsAirways.

I would *hope* if management had any spare time from dealing with the daily nuclear fallout, they might say something about what's on sale in the "company" store

 

[SLUF4]

You need stickers to pick your bag out of a the long lineup of bags in the crew room. Should a flight be late because you spend 30 minutes looking for your bag? The stickers aren't a new thing. If you stroll through the bag rooms at major airlines you see a ton of really neat old stickers (Ozark DC-9's etc...) I agree there are some pretty unprofessional stickers out there, but I think that's the minority.