notEnuf

Next someone will say the APU sherrif was a folk tale. There may not be widespread uniform policing now or in the recent past but it was more prevelant immediately following the NWA merger. And the APU sherrif was real.

SideStickMonkey

If I’m on a turn and need to use the bathroom, I leave my hat in the cockpit as I’m not taking it with me to the ****ter.

I would love for someone to lecture me about that.

Fastpilot

Probably the same guy I saw in ATL a few years at the food court with blazer buttoned and hat on while eating

boog123

same guy I saw “walking deliberately” aka semi march through MSP. Arms by side, fingers tucked, heel to toe, chin tucked… best part, so glasses on. 😎 “That’s what the army taught me”. Well, this is the airlines, we would like you to stop.

DeltaboundRedux

How often do passengers engage you out of the blue? I’m an old fart and get it all the time.

Not just on the plane, but in the terminal, at the gate, and when you’re “randomed” at KCM?

If it’s not “often”, you’re pretty slovenly and/or detached.

If you GAS (you may not), the answer to that question may give you insight to how well you’re “being the brand”. “Approachable” is $$$. It’s free money.

(I appreciate your ability to program an autopilot upon receiving instructions from ATC. Well done.[golf clap] But that premium charge Delta commands is partly PT Barnum though…which translates to profit sharing for us all.)

jaxsurf

This is complete and utter bull****.

DeltaboundRedux

Without question.

(If you spot it, you got it)

Everyone at this level presses buttons well. Follows instructions to the letter. “Yes sir. No sir. I have doubts (sir)”.

Do you play the part?

Advertising is theatre. It generates revenue.

“Out of cards?” WTF. Is wrong with you? They’re literally free and are a huge boost to customer favorability scores.

In lieu of company guidance….ENTHUSIASTICALLY GIVE THEM TO EVERYONE WHO ASKS.

Huge NPS boost.

ColoradoAviator

In our collective defense the ATL CPO has been out for awhile now as have many of the other CPOs in the system. Plus they are kept behind locked doors after bankers' hours when the CPOs are closed.

I guess this is a good problem to have?

ancman

I don’t. I safely fly the plane from A to B, then go home. If a kid asks for a card and I happen to have one, then I’ll gladly provide one. Otherwise, I leave marketing to the marketing department.

The major airlines are a mature oligopoly at this point. We’re all compensated roughly the same.

Meme In Command

Safely flying the plane from point A to point B does require human interaction, it has never been "just pushing buttons". You literally can't be a a good pilot without adequate human interaction skills. Even if you magically avoid all human interaction with passengers, you're still expected to effectively work with gate agents, rampers, flight attendants, dispatch, ATC and ....wait for it.... your fellow copilot. The core of CRM is effective communication and adequate people skills. Working for a passenger airline means you also have to extend those skills to the passengers occasionally.

Oh by the way, the FOM says we are "expected" to provide good customer service. So yes, you are paid to do this. Lucky for us, this just means handing a card here and there, letting a few kids take pics in the Captain's seat and just not being a d@uche to people, it's not that hard.

We are indirectly part of marketing since they use our interactions to sell the overall product. All they're doing is taking me being nice to people with a hat and a double breasted jacket on and calling it the "Delta difference". If this gets butts in seats and a good profit sharing check, then have at it.