Ideal Crew

Originally posted by Darren Wheeler
No I always thought (OK, blame Pam Ann) that the galley was unofficially a pax no-go area. Entering was almost the equivalent randomly turning at a house and helping yourself to a seat.

Haha, no. Obviously, if you enter the galley and the crew are in and out of atlas boxes, opening and closing carts, trying to eat their dinner, trying to set up the duty free cart......well it's not exactly a time we want to talk as we need to get these things done. But when the flight has gone quiet and the crew have had a few minutes to breath and passengers are asleep and we are bored in the galley its a 'Welcome for a chat' zone. However, if you come to chat to the crew be prepared for us to make you our 'mate'. I believe Dragonlady dislikes this but if you want to ask questions about our world and we are willing to talk then we are going to talk to you as a person. ( I think most prefer this as the general questions are: 'Oh it must be nice doing this job! What do you do in Barbados?' or 'I could never do your job, how do you put up with all these people?')

Come on down to our galley. Forgive us if you happen to have an unchatty crew.

I have to say that I have had nothing but a positive experience from the cabin crew. My gripes have always been about issues beyond their control, such as having a true Freedom menu, and enough food for me to get the choice I want. I guess if you want to be picky, I would say that my wine glass should be toped off more than it is, but that's about all. As many others have said, what is most important to me is an honest smile. Bring me all the wine you like, but the service will be lost if you can't do it with a smile. I am pleased to say that I have seen lots of smiles on my flights!

Originally posted by Galley Guy
However, if you come to chat to the crew be prepared for us to make you our 'mate'. I believe Dragonlady dislikes this but if you want to ask questions about our world and we are willing to talk then we are going to talk to you as a person.

I think you've got the wromg woman Galley Guy [:D]. Not guilty of this charge.

[Decker]

Originally posted by Boo Boo

BUT I am a paying customer and not a 'mate' (as a 34 year old woman, 'mate' isn't a title that I am comfortable with [:(] ).

Correct DL [:)]

Brilliant thread.

I haven't flown UC yet, but not long to go [:D] so all my comments are based on economy and PE.

It's also good to know that during quiet times CC really don't mind passengers talking to them. Any chats i've had with the CC in the galley have been great and very informative, but i've always been aware that i may have been keeping them from working and that maybe i'm not that welcome and they are just being polite, good to know that it isn't always the case.

Loves:
As others have said a genuine welcome when we come onboard, we mainly fly MAN-MCO and i can only imagine what a nightmare some of these flights can be especially if there has been a delay.

I love it when crew remember me from previous flights, to me it shows they have been interested enough to notice their passengers.

When my children are acknowledged and spoken to, instead off ignoring them and talking to me instead - at 3,9 and 10 they are perfectly capable of telling CC what they would like to drink. This has only ever happened once i hasten to add.

Genuine smiles when serving food, i'd go mad having to explain to each and every passenger exactly what was in each dish, but in my experience this has never been an issue with any crew i've been served by and i do try to listen but sometimes with my children talking i really haven't heard what you said to the passengers behind me.

Hates:
Being tutted and huffed at when i've gone to get a drink from the galley. I have never used a call bell and wouldn't unless there was some form of serious problem. I thought I was being helpful coming to you.

In the 10 years we have been flying Virgin, with 4-5 flights a year, we have only ever had 1 bad flight and that is why we will always choose Virgin over an above anyone else whenever we can. Personally I think that all the CC i've ever flown with have been fantastic and done a wonderful job [^]

As a pax who uses Y, I have nothing but respect for the CC who work the back.

I find them to be very friendly and always helpful. No unreasonable request is too much for them. Even when dealing with unruly pax, I feel that they do it in a respectful manner.

Some people migt feel that the CC manner when it comes to securing the cabin can be stern but it's the only way to get through some of the pax.

The biggest thing though is you treat the CC with respect then you'll get respect back and not as your personal dogsbody.

As for talking to CC in the galley, although I've not done it with VS, I did when I, my wife and family went to ORD on route to LAS with UA (For my wife and I's wedding at the Aladdin). Got chatting with the CC in the galley, who not only put my wife's wedding dress in the crew rest, also gave us a bottle of champers as a wedding gift.

On the long overnight LHR-PVG sector I've ventured back to the galley at the rear of the 346 and found a bar set up a la UC. The CC were totally friendly and chatty and were fine with me helping myself to OJ. A little touch like that makes such a difference as I've always been a little nervy to ask for extras between services.

Originally posted by DragonLady

Originally posted by Galley Guy
However, if you come to chat to the crew be prepared for us to make you our 'mate'. I believe Dragonlady dislikes this but if you want to ask questions about our world and we are willing to talk then we are going to talk to you as a person.

I think you've got the wromg woman Galley Guy [:D]. Not guilty of this charge.

Oopss. I apologize!

Originally posted by McMaddog
On the long overnight LHR-PVG sector I've ventured back to the galley at the rear of the 346 and found a bar set up a la UC. The CC were totally friendly and chatty and were fine with me helping myself to OJ. A little touch like that makes such a difference as I've always been a little nervy to ask for extras between services.

Yea! The back galley is almost always (on the 300/600) set up with OJ, Water, Snacks, and fizzy drinks.

Well I may as well add my thoughts about cabin crew likes and dislikes:

Likes: Virgin Crew - in my experience, always immaculately turned out, smiley and helpful.

Dislikes: BA Crew - the nanny state!

I was once on a flight from BKK - LHR and the passengers were literally too scared to move from their seats for fear of getting told off. One crew member litterally hollered from the back row 'Ive told you before Sir' to some guy who was fiddling with his tray table!

Now, if we could start a thread on a similar thing for ground crew, I have had a more mixed experience!

And I have to agree with the previous comment about pee - Guys, on a flight you cannot stand and pee - it is down to you, aided by occasional unexpected turbulence etc that the wet floor issue exists!

Sit down, relax, and enjoy a dry floor!

Originally posted by barnstaple
And I have to agree with the previous comment about pee - Guys, on a flight you cannot stand and pee - it is down to you, aided by occasional unexpected turbulence etc that the wet floor issue exists!

Sit down, relax, and enjoy a dry floor!

Solution - paid for by the extra seats that can be fitted

I wish passengers would pay attention during the safety video/demo. The other day when I pointed out the exits, I think everyone was reading a newspaper or looking out of the window [xx(]

[Decker]

That's just rude. Seasoned travellers (like me - *wink*) should know that newbies can sometimes be lead by example so should sit rapt hanging off every word. I even exaggerate counting the rows to my nearest exits so the crew member knows they're being listened to.

[mitchja]

Re the saftey demo. The one thing I dont like and have seen a couple of times on VS, is the crew busy chatting in the galley whilst the demo is playing, then suddenly realising that they should be in their exit row position so make a quick dash to get there to point out the exits. I've even seem this section missed out by crew completely which is not good.

Sorry but that really doesn't look good and doesn't portray a professional image.

If the crew expect the pax to take safety seriously, then you have to portray the same image as well.

I've also been on flights where the FSM has interrupted the demo more or less demanding that pax put their reading material down and pay attention.

Regards

Not meaning to be rude, but I don't buy the whole 'I am a food handler' bit when it comes to the toilets.

Fortunately for the very sick (literally) gentleman that sat near me on my last MCO flight, the cabin crew simply donned gloves and continued to clear up after him pretty much constantly throughout the flight. No sign of 'I couldn't possibly I am a food handler'. I am sure he was very appreciative. And it was heartening to see him being taken care of so well.

Agree, why should crew have to do such a yucky job, but it will always be the case that some passengers won't clear up after themselves, and it reflects badly on the crew if the toilets are left in a state. One bad apple spoils it for the remainder of the passengers who might reasonably expect sanitary conditions. It would be better if crew just said they are not cleaning the toilet for whatever reason (don't want to, too good for cleaning loos etc..) rather than saying it's because they are food handlers. It is the sort of thing that's annoying for passengers because food handlers do use the facilities themselves and indeed do clear up sick. Presumably the crew simply wash their hands afterwards? Javascriptinsertsmilie('[:D]')


[:D]

[HighFlyer]

How do SQ and other airlines deal with the toilets? Theirs are usually spotless with the crew cleaning them every 30 minutes or so. Do they have 'non-food handling' crew?

Thanks,
Sarah

Originally posted by HighFlyer
How do SQ and other airlines deal with the toilets? Theirs are usually spotless with the crew cleaning them every 30 minutes or so. Do they have 'non-food handling' crew?

Thanks,
Sarah

Good point Sarah. I have seen the same with BA FIRST - indeeed the guy cleaning the loo on a recent flight was the very same one that served me my food ! I noticed he had marigold type gloves on (when cleaning the loo not serving my food) so it didnt worry me one jot.

Rgds,

HG

Originally posted by Galley Guy

Originally posted by DragonLady

Originally posted by Galley Guy
However, if you come to chat to the crew be prepared for us to make you our 'mate'. I believe Dragonlady dislikes this but if you want to ask questions about our world and we are willing to talk then we are going to talk to you as a person.

I think you've got the wromg woman Galley Guy [:D]. Not guilty of this charge.

Oopss. I apologize!

Galley Guy, that was me... I like being people's friend, but I don't like being called 'mate' - if that makes any sense...

Boo

[mitchja]

I've seen NRT VS crew cleaning washrooms.

The washrooms in J on both the NRT flights where spotless the entire flight.

Regards

[HighFlyer]

Originally posted by mitchja
I've seen NRT VS crew cleaning washrooms.

The washrooms in J on both the NRT flights where spotless the entire flight.

Indeed. And they took the time to time to make origami cranes for each washroom [:D]

Thanks,
Sarah

[Scrooge]

Originally posted by Decker
Oooh Open Season!

Hates
Pet hate - being lied to by crew about simple things assuming we don't know the ropes. Being told I can't use the bar as it is being used for service set up. Ground crew who use the lavatory before disembarking and don't mop up sprinkles.

Loves
Crew who are still excited about Virgin as a brand and senior crew who lead by example.

Thanks for this GG I can see it becoming a popular thread...

[y]

Originally posted by Tinkerbelle
Whilst on the subject of toilets, it would be nice if our male customers would put the toilet seat back down after using it!
[xx(]

And it would be nice if the female pax put the seat back up...equal rights and all that [:p]

Originally posted by Decker

Originally posted by Boo Boo

BUT I am a paying customer and not a 'mate' (as a 34 year old woman, 'mate' isn't a title that I am comfortable with [:(] ).

Correct DL [:)]

100% correct, being friendly is one thing, being unprofessional is another.

Other than that the only thing that sticks in my mind is being interrupted by a crew member when using the lav's at the back of an LGW 744 half way to LGW....

Originally posted by Scrooge
Other than that the only thing that sticks in my mind is being interrupted by a crew member when using the lav's at the back of an LGW 744 half way to LGW....

I had a wierd one of those... I shot into the UC loo near the bar (on the way to DXB last August), to change into my PJs, shortly after the seatbelt signs went out. I had only been in there about 30 seconds when there was a loud knock on the door. I answered, but I assume that the cabin crew didn't hear because he started trying to open the door from the outside! Fortunately I managed to bolt it immediately he unbolted it and I think that he got the hint [ii]. I am not sure that the passengers at the bar wanted to see me standing there in my underwear, if he had managed to oopen the door...

I can only assume that one of the crew members might have thought that the lavatory was still bolted from take-off and didn't hear my reply when they knocked...

Boo

[Decker]

Yeah I got a forced entry like that once shortly after take off. Amused me embarrassed him.

You know, good question. To date I have never had a crap crew on a VS flight. Since I generally fly Y, but in recent times ended up in PE due to ticketing circumstance, I appreciate the hard job the guys and girls in back have.

My perfect crew is, to date anyway, the one on my last flight (JNB-LHR, 22/7). The FSM, when I approached her to let her know that I was very pleased with the crew, mentioned that they were fairly new, and that my feedback would be appreciated by them. The right level of politeness, bubbly personality, the interaction, regular checks on whether we needed refills (including the water bottles - thanks ladies!) - Just right in my opinion.

The bathroom issue is something that happens on all flights really, irrespective of the airline. I noticed the origami on my NRT flight last year and thought it was a nice touch, and general cleanliness is not always just the c/crew but also pax who believe leaving the bathrooms in the same condition they found them in (or better). I hate leaving the bathroom in a mess and I always clean up behind myself. It means less unnecessary work for the crew, and leaves a good impression when you open the door and there's another pax waiting to use the bathroom you were just in.



S.