Originally Posted by ToiletDuck

It should also be mentioned that the customer experience/professionalism shown by pilots is directly proportional to the environment of professional aviation. Back in the day there use to be glass plates and silverware. Now there's home made jean shorts and camo on a $49 ticket. When lowering the quality to increase the quantity as well as market demographic it's almost impossible to maintain the amount of professionalism once shown. Use to be that pilots were regarded by the public as highly skilled professionals that were admired by all. Now that we've been kicked down a few notches what's expected? I arrive at a gate and instead of being greeted with smiles and parents wanting to introduce their children to you because you're so inspiring I'm now met with a "do we really have to fly in such a small plane?", "why are we delayed my last flight went through weather?", "you people think that just because you're wearing a uniform you can cut in line", and so on. Due to the vast expansion of aviation not only has the quality of the service been deteriorated but so has the quality of the pax. The mentality has been changed from "I'm so privileged to ride on an aircraft" to "maybe if I complain hard enough I'll get comped something". We give an inch and they take a yard. The people don't respect us because they see our profession as nothing more than a bus driver now. They think technology does it all. It's easy because we are professionals. While unfortunate incidents it's events like Sioux City and Sully in the Hudson that remind the world exactly why we're there and the massive burden we're capable of carrying.

I dress as best as possible everyday and yet I was never treated as well and with such respect as I was after Sully took a drive in the drink. Go figure.

Originally Posted by SkyHigh

I think that most everyone here operates the plane to their best ability. If there is a lack of professionalism it lies in the back pack, tattoo and MP3 player.

The public and management doesn't care that we love our jobs and strive to do our best. Wages are low and no one seems to respect us at any level. Perhaps a better question is if this profession deserves our professionalism? Other lines of work are screaming for people who invest just a little bit of responsibility and professionalism into their work.

SKyhigh

Originally Posted by Eric Stratton

Just because you have a back pack or tattoo doesn't make you unprofessional. You may not like the back pack or tattoo but it has nothing to do with being a professional.

Originally Posted by shadyops

Well you look like a fool if you are in uniform and you have a backpack on.

Originally Posted by ExperimentalAB

Ayep...nothing professional about toting a backpack around in Uniform guys.

And Duck's got a point...PAX don't think we do anything -- that we are on Autopilot from takeoff to landing. What is sad is that in many cases, they are right; they know the skill required to command an early-era Jet is lost in our modern equipment. 99.99% of the time, this is the easiest job in the world.

Originally Posted by ExperimentalAB

Ayep...nothing professional about toting a backpack around in Uniform guys.

And Duck's got a point...PAX don't think we do anything -- that we are on Autopilot from takeoff to landing. What is sad is that in many cases, they are right; they know the skill required to command an early-era Jet is lost in our modern equipment. 99.99% of the time, this is the easiest job in the world.

Originally Posted by Eric Stratton

that may be true but it has nothing to do with being a professional or not. sometimes those pilots are carrying a little something extra.