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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 2 of 2)
ann Jul 2nd 2009 12:35PM
these flight attendants are right. we don't mind you ringing the bell if you need something. the problem we have is with the people who are annoying about it. on most of my planes i have about 150-200 people. thats three flight attendants for 150 and 4 flight attendants for 200. we have to do the service in order of front to back. this makes the service go as quick as possible allowing people in the back of the plane to get stuff as quickly as possible. the problem is there are always some people up front who play the little tricks the other flight attendants mentioned and this delays us getting to the people in back. there are short flights where this happens and the people don't get anything because of an overly needy person up front. this is the order we do things. 1. drink and food cart. 2. pick up trash. 3. if time permits a second drink service. 4. pick up trash. please help us give the most effecient service possible by not asking to pick up your trash during the drink/food service and don't ask for a drink during the trash service. when we are done with the service we would be glad to get you what you need. also i don't think you really want me to throw people's trash away while i am doing a food or drink service because this means that my hands are now dirty. surely you don't want me to touch the glass you are going to drink out of when i have just handled some of the really nasty things people hand me. same as when picking up trash you really don't want me handling anything you want to eat or drink. there is another reason for this. a cart can not be more than three rows away from a flight attendant. if i have to go get you something or throw something away i have to take the cart with me. this is annoying to everyone. time wise, getting bumped wise and for me the hassle of pushing or pulling several hundred pounds back and forth. never ever touch my back or my rear to get my attention. i will get very nasty about this. i have the right to work in a non- harrassment workplace the same as anyone else and touching me in my private places is harrassment. just keep in mind the flight attendants want to give you a good service. we can only do so much with what the airline provides us with. this includes food, drinks, pillows, blankets and the amount of flight attendants on board to take care of so many people.
Kevin Jul 14th 2009 1:19AM
I think I've hit the call button twice, mebbe thrice. Once (or twice), it was confused with the light button. The other time I managed to hit it with my head while standing up...
Stefan Jul 14th 2009 1:15PM
Hello, new to reading your blog... Its GREAT by the way :) All I can say on this post is I am glad you have self control... If it was me he would have spent the rest of the the flight in the overhead compartment! :) We could have found a way to make him fit...
Mary Jo Jul 18th 2009 7:11PM
I work in a nursing home. Call lights should be banned! Too many people treat them like new toys where the novelty NEVER, NEVER, wears off!!!
skygirl1 Jul 18th 2009 7:10PM
masanddjs,
With that attitude you would quit in a day. You could not hack the job.
tim Jul 18th 2009 7:09PM
Typical FA always complaing about their job ! get a new job if you hate it so much
Shannon Jul 26th 2009 3:23PM
The people on this board who are bad-mouthing flight attendants and telling them to "just do their job" are the people who keep dinging the damn bell because they need to feel important. These are the people with low self-esteem because they are a nobody, so the minute they are in a position where they are being served or such, they take advantage of it because they like to feel like they are some kind of rich person with power and privilege. Listen up, it is not their fault that you are a loser with no position in life, that is your fault. I get aggravated when I see people getting treated bad and I end up standing up for that person, I think everyone else should do the same when they see someone mistreating anyone. People need to know that they are douchebags.
ellenkitty Jul 26th 2009 9:05PM
I am not a flight attendant, I am an RN. In the hospital, patients ring for the nurses in much the same way, except if it is not answered immediately, the patient can complain to management. The hospital I worked in installed a system that kept track of the call lights, how quickly they were answered, and how frequently they were rung. A nurse might be busy tending to a sicker patient for a few minutes. Your fresh water,no ice, is not my priority just now. People in hospitals are ill, and usually truly need help with something, or need a medication for pain or other discomfort. Most of them do not ring unless it is important. Unfortunately, in today's climate of sicker patients and more work, there is little time to sit and visit with that one patient who is lonely and scared.
The best call that I remember receiving was when I worked briefly in Maternity. A new mother had rung, I entered,"May I help you?" Her room was full of family cooing at the new arrival. The woman looked at me and said: "Would you get tea for my visitors." I was nice, I didn't choke, or say you want WHAT? I gently took the arm of one of the visitors and drew her out of the room saying "I'll show you where the tea is so that you can get it". Nurses are not waitresses either. We are there to help you when you are ill.
voiceit Aug 14th 2009 10:23AM
25 years of flying...99.9% gracious. My "best" call light ding:
20 minute holding pattern on approach as we prepare for an emergency landing (no flaps). Seat map: ABC___DEF. Mom in "F", dad in "E", "D, C, B, A" are all of there kids...say 12 and younger.
I'm in the cabin showing people the brace position and how to don a life vest (cause goodness knows, only 2 people watched it the first time, but NOW it matters). The call light goes off. Dad (seat "E") is freaking out and wants me to take care of his kid (age 7ish in seat "A") who is puking!! I said, with courtesy, I must finish my emergency landing demo, as we only have 15 minutes to prepare the cabin, but I will get you some barf bags.
For those of you that "don't get it," you have NO idea. Walk a mile, then judge.
Happy Aug 17th 2009 10:08PM
I'm sitting here reading all this and shaking my head and almost speechless. I'm sick of hearing that F/A's are there to "save you ass" in an emergency ONLY! So get the vending machines and have the F/A's sit in their jumpseats (strapped in) the entire flight! In almost 40 years of flying I can count on 1 hand how many times I've heard a call light! It's not just doing the service, picking up the mess (that's after you eat your dinner in the galley). Darnit! What's wrong with being ATTENTIVE TO THE CUSTOMER. If you see an empty glass, fill it up, if you see trash, pick it up! Then MAYBE the call light won't go on!!! STOP hiding in the darn galley and STOP walking through the cabin with no eye contact because you are afraid someone will ask you for something - GOD FORBID!!!