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Galley Gossip: Flight attendant pet peeve #6 - The run around
My job as a flight attendant is to be there in case of an emergency. Until then, I'll do whatever I can to make sure your flight runs as smoothly as possible. That's why I'm there. That's my job. And while I enjoy my job tremendously, there are a few things that annoy me.
Scott Carmichael touched on one of those things in his recent post, 10 passengers we love to hate: Day 8 - passengers who misuse the flight attendant call button. Whenever someone abuses the call light, I often times wonder if I'm unknowingly on an episode of Punk'd. Now don't get me wrong, I don't mind when passengers use their call lights, it's there for a reason, but there is a limit as to how many times you should use it. Fifteen times on a three hour flight is a bit much, don't ya think?
Another thing I find a bit much is when passengers can't seem to get it together, passengers who have a tendency to run me ragged, passengers who treat me like their own personal slave assistant. Here's an example of what not to do on a flight...
We've just finished the service and that's when I hear it - DING! Immediately I look up at the flight attendant panel and see that a passenger on the right hand side of the aircraft is calling. I step into the aisle, scan the cabin, and when I locate the light, I begin walking toward the single orange glow.
I reach up, push the button, and the light turns off. "Is there something I can get for you?"
"Diet Coke," you say, and because you're asking so soon after the service is over, I assume you were asleep when we came through the aisle with our carts.
"Sure, I'll be right back." To the rear of the aircraft and into the galley I go. I grab a plastic cup, a can of soda, and a napkin. Then I head back to your seat, placing it all on the tray table in front of you.
Gallery: Galley Gossip: The official laviators club
Two seconds later I hear it again - DING! It's you. I walk to your seat and ask if you need something else. You nod. "Is there anything to eat on board?"
"Of course!" I rattle off a list of snacks and the price per each snack.
"I'll take the sandwich."
"Good choice." I make my way to the galley and grab a turkey sandwich, a couple more napkins, and then head to your seat again. "That's going to be-"
"Do you have any complimentary pretzels or nuts?"
"I'm sorry, but we only have snacks for sale. We do offer a bag of mixed nuts for $3."
"Can I take a look?" you ask as you unwrap the plastic around your sandwich, drop the bread onto a napkin, wad it up, and hand it over to me.
Okay. With the discarded bread in my hand, I make my way to the back of the aircraft, toss it into the trash, grab a bag of nuts, and two seconds later I'm standing at your row. "Here ya go."
Slowly but surely the bag is inspected. You shake your head and hand it back. "I'll just take the sandwich." You point to the overhead bin. "Can you hand me my bag? My wallet's inside."
I pop open the bin and pull down the bag down, but because you're not ready to take it, I continue to hold it as you rearrange the items on your table. As I'm waiting, waiting, waiting, you ask, "Can I get another blanket?"
"I'll see if I can find you another one," I say, emphasizing the word another since you've got two already, one of which I gave to you earlier in flight. I'm still holding onto the bag with one hand as I begin to open and close overhead bins with the other. There are no extra blankets to be found and that's exactly what I tell you. "Sorry," I add, because I am sorry, sorry I'm always saying sorry.
"Great," you mumble, rolling your eyes, taking the bag, and dismissing me by placing your headphones back in your ears.
Ten minutes later I'm walking down the aisle. When I get to yourseat, I collect your trash without saying a word. I'm just two rows away when I hear it again - DING! I lean back and ask, "Yes?"
Silently you hand me a single napkin, store your tray table, and without taking your eyes off the movie screen, ask for a glass of water.
"Certainly." I look at my watch. Just three hours and twenty two minutes to go.
Gallery: Flight Attendant Pet Peeves
Filed under: Airlines, Galley Gossip
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
patrick Jun 24th 2009 11:47AM
People really do that? Sheesh! The only time I ever pressed the call button was whenI accidentally pressed it when it was on my seat arm rest and couldn't figure out how to turn it off. (press it again.. duh)
If I want something to drink I'll mosy on up to the galley and ask. I mean you guys aren't doing anything back there anyway right? ;-) (I'm kidding, I'm kidding)
Jamie Jun 24th 2009 12:27PM
Thank God you have this blog for therapy. People are idiots.
robbie Jun 24th 2009 12:27PM
I swear that wasn't me.
Sounds like a flight I was on where the guy next to me kept hitting the call button. I felt sorry for the attendant. Being an able bodied person I also will just walk to the galley to ask for it, then promptly leave.
Thats okay to do right? Or should we just push the button, time and time again.
sirkenlee Jul 10th 2009 5:26PM
No, the galley is a flight attendants zone. Nothing annoys me more than to be sitting in the galley for less than five min and someone comes barging through the curtin "F/A velvet rope" to had me a glass so they can go to the bathroom. The call button does have it's time and place. You may just catch some poor unsuspecting F/A hiking up her pantyhose. :)
Traytable Jun 24th 2009 1:01PM
I also love those passengers who on boarding, insist on taking 3 pillows out of the locker and then complaining when I come back to ask for one (the nerve!!!) for an elderly passenger or person with a disability. One pillow is enough, there are only so many!
I also love going hunting through the bar cart for that last 'tropical not orange and not apple' juice, only to arrive at the seat at the same time as two of my colleagues who have also been asked for the same item. While we are run off our feet with fifty other requests from other people!
Michelle Jun 24th 2009 2:12PM
This week on my BOS to SFO flight I asked twice for my non-working seat back entertainment to be reset. When half way through the flight it hadn't been done I switched to a word search book. Thinking of you Heather, I knew the crew had more important things to do. Especially when someone got up to grab something from the overhead bin, and someone's crutches came flying out. I certainly didn't mind the 6 hours of quiet time anyways. There's always time to rot my brain at home ;)
frank96 Jun 24th 2009 7:24PM
I read this article this morning and thought, OMG, she's going to get hate mail now. I think it's every flight attendant's pet peeve to be "Dinged" multiple times by the same person. On the positive side, I would rather be "dinged" then have someone pull on my clothes or poke me in the back (yes, that too happens all the time). You need something to drink, sure, no problem. But, for the life of me I dont understand how some people think using that button above them will get them: a toothpick, binoculars, my newspaper, batteries and a free headset, etc, etc.
I had someone in first class, hold their glass up in the air and shake their ice to get my attention. Apparently, that meant a refill. But, you know what, I'm BIG on manners. I asked this gentleman not to get my attention by shaking his ice back and forth. I said, "please use the call button".
Funny how ALL flight attendants hear a call bell go off several times within a half hour and we instinctively know what row it's at. :::sigh:::: it's 4A, AGAIN.
On rare occasions, you may hear, "I'll be right with you". That's because you've run a flight attendant ragged. And, funny how ALL flight attendants KNOW what that means.
LOL!
Amanda Jun 24th 2009 10:58PM
I don't think I've needed to push the call button once in my life, and most of my flights have been long hauls such as BUR-CLE. Can't people just wait? Or have the common sense to ask for what they need during the service? Sheesh.
Jack Jun 25th 2009 1:18AM
Once again, BOO HOO..With American Airlines about to lay off over 1000 personnel, I think I'd be happy to answer those call buttons and hope I am not one of the victims to the lay offs! I hope they keep the F/A's with better attitudes!
galegal Jul 26th 2009 9:53PM
Those would be the TWA people and unfortunately they will all be on the street again after the furlough. A pitty since they have a better attitude, more experience and appreciation for the job thatn most who will remain.
Ron Jun 25th 2009 4:16AM
So...I kind of had mixed feelings after reading this post. I'm a passenger who is on a plane quite frequently. I have lots of close friends who are flight attendants, and have even dated the odd one, so I am on your side. However, I feel like there is a fine line between what would be considered abusing a call light, and just a passenger who might have more needs. When sitting in the main cabin, I can't remember a time I've ever used my call light. Most of the time I am sitting in first or business class, and probably use it once a flight, on average. I don't use it to be annoying, or to reach a "ding" quota, but there is a certain level of service you expect in a premium cabin. If my tray comes with no silverware, you accidently spilled coke in my nuts before you brought them to me, I'm as dry as a camel and would love some water, but you passed me talking when I tried to get your attention with a smile, I'm stuck at the window and can't seem to jump over the snoring man next to me.............I ding! Please don't hate me!
Heather Poole Jun 25th 2009 11:41AM
Ron - there's a difference between having needs and being needy. Ringing a call light once or twice is no big deal - especially if you've found yourself on a flight with a flight attendant NOT doing his/her job.
masanddjs Jun 25th 2009 9:15AM
Wow, and I thought you were there to serve the passengers! If your main job is to help in an emergency, then I'd say you have a cushy job considering the amount of emergencies on airplanes. Your job is to serve drinks to passengers or else they wouldn't have a beverage cart! Otherwise, why not install vending machines and let us get them ourselves!!!!!! Remember, the customer is always right, so answer that call button with a great big smile and a "how can I help you?"! After all, the people on that plane are paying your salary. The majority of the time spent in your job is doling out drinks, so try and do it with a smile, not through gritted teeth.
frank96 Jun 25th 2009 10:54AM
masanddjs
Remember, the customer is always right.
===========================================
Such ignorance. Would that customer, I caught going through MY tote bag inflight, be "right?'' Or the one I caught stealing liquor from the first class galley?
Most flight attendants dont mind answering call bells. It's apart of our job. WE KNOW THAT. But, this pet peeve illustrates the fact that some people feel they have a right to abuse it. Like the following:
Ding..........................what time is it?
Second Ding.....WATER! (no please, may I have, just water)
Third Ding.............(hands you garbage) couldnt wait til I come thru with a bag?
Fourth Ding.........it's HOTTTTTTTTT in here.
seriously, there's no fine line here. This person believes they're on a private jet. And, the other TWO HUNDRED PEOPLE, dont exist.
Greg Jun 25th 2009 10:59AM
No sorry, but our job is to be there for an emergency. Thats what the weeks of training is all about. There is no training done for serving drinks... its just a courtesy that we provide.
If you feel that we are just there to serve you, you can feel free to leave me a tip for 15% of your flight cost as your server. Otherwise, you need to sit back, get your one service stop, and quietly enjoy your ride.
I'm there to save your ass, not kiss it.
Heather Poole Jun 25th 2009 11:44AM
1. The customer is not always right
2. I always smile while serving drinks
3. I do believe I have a cush job, which is why I love it and continue to do it
4. You'll never see vending machines on flights BECAUSE we're there for safety!
JMO Jul 18th 2009 7:10PM
If you took your head out of your butt and read the article in it entirety you would understand it more clearly. Buying an airline ticket does not have an indenture certificate attached. The people are there to serve you not be at your every beckon call. Lets face it, you and many like you are just spoiled adult babies.
galegal Jul 26th 2009 9:52PM
The only reason the F/As are required to be on the plane is safety. The rest is secondary. Yes, they do have other responsibilities during the flight and most try to be pleasant about it. There is a limit to how much you can deal with when serving the public especially when sleep deprived and hungry. It sounded to me like the passenger in question was just trying to be a nudge.
Please smile. Now hold it for 10 hours!
Traytable Jun 25th 2009 12:10PM
We're not talking about people who genuinely need something, and ring. We're talking about people who use the call bell, for the sake of using it. or use it in a manner designed to annoy the people around them.
For example, I have delivered meals, drinks, pillows, asked 'is there anything else I can get you', and get ignored by that person. I move the cart one row down, and am asking the next person what they would like to eat/drink, when 'ding'... the call bell goes off... ONE ROW in front. When an 'excuse me, I changed my mind' would suffice.
Or the person who gets their coat hung in the business locker (space permitting of course) who is told to take out anything they need during the flight, who then proceeds to ring, 10 times in a flight to have it retrieved, then put away then retrieved again. Or the person who rings for a pillow when they know they threw their bag in on top of them, and could just get one out themselves.
Probably the #1 call bell peeve? Someone rings for a drink, we get it, smile, hand it over, ask if they need anything, then go to do something else. DING! the passenger next to them then rings for a drink, when they had every opportunity to ask when we brought the first drink! trust me, this eats up a huge amount of time on a long flight, and most of you wonder where we are, or think that we're in the galley 'reading Vogue'. We're actually double-running drinkks for most of coach =P
THAT's what we're talking about, NOT genuine call bell usage.
luvof737 Jun 28th 2009 12:15PM
i was a passanger on a phl madrid fligh and scored first class. Did not need to hit the call button once the F/A was there every 20 min or so " Can I get you any thig else miss" ... But when I am on my own airline and allthought im not a flight att. i never hit the button i just walk to the back and ask for what i needed.