Passenger Mentality
 

For those of you in the regional f/o and PIC positions, this one is for you...

What's your attitude towards passengers? Do you greet during board or would be prefer be stuffed away in the cockpit?

Does your company have a "guideline" of cockpit crew etiquette? I know people in the private world for the most part are just wanting not to be bothered so we stay "in the office", but I was just curious what your procedure was.

I guess some would argue we don't get paid enough, however, you have to also realize that a passenger's perspective of an airline pilot has changed so much since the golden years(whener that was) that they don't want to nor have time to say hello. This is because they are either e-mailing or talking on their cellphones the majority of the time.

I do like when kids come up to the front though, because I remember doing that when I was a kid.

Generally, our procedure is to allow passengers to the front following the flight. I would say etiquette lies along the lines of common sense when it comes to being courteous and customer service oriented.

What about other professional pilots? Do you guys like other professional pilots to drop by and say hi? I always peek in as I walk by when I ride, but since I'm not jumpseating or non-reving, I don't say anything because I don't want to be a disturbance.

I found that a Captain who openly engaged the pax got this response from them:

1. Considerable compliments and thanks.

2. The inevitable question as to why more Captains didn't do the same.

One of the most effective things a Captain can do is explain delays to the pax...either in the aircraft or in the terminal. I never trusted the ticket agents to communicate the problem, whatever that may have been. If the departure was delayed, I went to the gate area, used the agent's PA to get everyone's attention, and then gave them the truth...when we would leave or a time when I would be back with more info.

What I found was that the pax wanted info...even bad info, if it comes to that...but most of all, they wanted a straight answer. So...never lie, quibble, or BS them.

If a Captain can do this with a touch of humor, it really helps...and sometimes that can be tough, because not all of us are comfortable in front of a group of strangers.

But I can tell you without a doubt this practice will pay big dividends...so get out of the cockpit and deal with people and problems. When I was teaching Captain upgrade, my advice to the upgrader was that the last butt to hit the seat should be his.

...Meaning get out of the cockpit and get involved. Got FA or MX issues? Get involved. Got pax issues? Get involved. In a real sense, that's your job...anybody can fly the jet.

I love interacting with the pax, but thats becuase I have a huge ego and I like when the hot moms and girls eyefu** me :) in my uniform hahha

Im not sure how many RJs youve been on but most don't have a whole lot of room near the boarding door for someone to stand. I am 6'0'' and I have to stoop quite a bit to stand near the boarding door. Not sure how many people would like to be greeted by a hunchback pilot. I do make an effort to turn around in my seat as people get off (since they can really only see the FO as the get on and off) and smile at the pretty girls and wave at the kids. To be honest though, when you only have 25 minutes to get all the paperwork done, the cockpit set up, take a leak, get the passengers boarded and the plane buttoned up there isn't a lot of time to bull**** with passengers or go help with bags or other issues. But to the best of my knowledge there is no specific guidelines in the FOM except be courteous and professional.

Saying hi has never been a problem with me or any captain I've ever flown with. If you want to do it at the beginning of the flight, be the last person on the plane and just tell the FA you'd like to talk to the crew for a minute. Usually when the last few people are getting on board we're just waiting for the door to close anyways. Same thing when we're deplaning...be the last person off and just poke your head in.

As far as other PAX are concerned...whenever we're deplaning me and the captain usually turn around in our seats and give a lil' goodbye as folks are getting off. If people want to check out the front office, most people are inclined to show them a few things.

Ok, I know you are probably joking around but what is it with Expressjet pilots? You all act so cocky. Why????????????

I think its just the way Saab is. I bet he was cocky on the slaab over at colgan too. Its not really fair to label an entire pilot group. The ones who aren't cocky are probably the quiet, confident, professional type so you notice them less.

I don’t think saying hello or good bye will take anything away from you. It shouldn’t be a deal for professional pilots since we are customer oriented. Any way it is plain personal manners that should be found in any human being in any field.

Thanks for all the replies folks. I know those 25 minute turn arounds don't give much time, BUT I was just curious if the crew felt the need to go beyond your job description as Joe Pilot.

Now I have numerous private passengers want to come "take a look". What is the proper protocol in the regional/commercial world about people wanting to take a look in the cockpit?

Well I actually wasnt kidding but even at Colgan I was the same way. But yes we at Expressjet are actually a modest bunch. Just cause we have XR's and we go to Mexico and you don't hehe

I was a Beech FO. I've done talked to my share of pax. But seriously, even as a Beech CA I'd let the FO sit down, and take care of the passenger interaction. You should be comfortable enough in your own skin (and your recently laundered uniform) to deal with passengers on an individual and group basis.

shackone's comments were dead on. When things are abnormal, talk to the pax directly if at all possible. Tell an agent that we have a massive, 400F bleed air leak that needs to be fixed and they are guaranteed to tell the pax that "the defroster is broke." Way to **** poeple off on a 3 hour delay. Further, the labor pool that our airlines are pulling agents from is rapidly approaching the bottom of the bucket. They may or may not have a firm grasp on the English language, and for darn sure they don't have a clue about aviation. You and the FO may be the only college educated employees at the station. So man up and talk to the people. They'd rather hear it from the person whose ass is also going to be on the line.

He's not joking at all. It's a shame, I have a lot of friends over at Express and this “professional” makes them all look bad. My buddies hate these low timer, low class types they get stuck flying with. Makes for a long trip listening to the crap this guy spits out.

He'll be cocky until their jets go away and the contract gets whittled down and he‘s finally furloughed.

Maybe somebody can weed him out in IOE. I think he flew in Albany for Colgan, I got a pal up there too. We’ll unveil him. Anybody got any leads? “Hehehe”

Nice jackass, I posted that I was up in ALB for Colgan, and if you have a buddy up there that actually flew with me he would have all good things to say. Look low class is a beech 1900FO not a shiny jet driver hahaha I love how seriuosly you guys take this. hahah "Props are for boats"

Ouch. now pulling mariners into this.

Saab, Love you guys at XJT. I was down there a few months ago for an interview and had a great time. The pilots that I met in the terminal and on the flights were really cool and really helpful. Keep up the good work. We can have fun and be professional at the same time. Some people have just lost that mentality and turned this into a job. yuck!

lol. . . so the SAAB hate continues.

Rediculous isnt it. I have some good posts too :)

I think its the 6th grade playground mentality in some of your posts that people have an issue with:D Refer to my post in the Colgan Interview thread.

I fly the CRJ-700 and usually greet them at departure.

I try to make eye contact with each passenger, and generally 1 out of 5 will actually look at me or say something. Most look away or just go about their business.

I'm not sure the passengers really care anymore. As said above, the golden days are gone, and the passengers just view us as overpaid bus drivers now.

Saab has been a productive participant of this forum...I'm sure he'd be great to fly with.

Yeah Rick, this was one of his more impressive productive remarks.

"I love interacting with the pax, but thats becuase I have a huge ego and I like when the hot moms and girls eyefu** me in my uniform hahha"

Along with the famed, "retard". And how about "we have XR's and go to Mexico and you don't hehe"

He's never even seen the real airplane yet and he's talking trash like a 10 year old. It is definately the 6th grade mentality that is disturbing. Like I said, I have friends at Xjet and this guy represnts them too. It's a shame because half or more of the guys in this forum are flight instructors and wanna be's, they get the impression that this is the way to act.

Not that I am a stick in the mud but this guy just runs his mouth.

get a grip bro, I said we have XRS and we go to Mexico BECUASE IT WAS A JOKE YOU MORON. Look man my posts on here like the one where I said I have ego and blah blah goes to show I have fun with my job! I have never seen a real airplane? I was on the SAAB, which is more sophisticated and larger than the BEECH 1900 you are on! I flew 121 for 9 months prior to coming to XJT. I have flown with multiple CA's and have gotten along with all of them, from beers at the bar to going to their family BBQ's. I bet your the type that doesn't talk on the ground cause your in "sterile cockpit" Lighten up man we got into this for fun, not to see who can **** farther!

Hey homeslice....I go all over the world....he he

hey homeslice.......................congratulations you are my hero:rolleyes:

It seems as though, generally speaking, a lot of RJ pilots are cocky. My question also is why? A monkey could very well be trained to fly one. :confused:

coming from the chick who got her job becuase shes a female, brilliant:mad:

P.S. A monkey would then be able to fly a 767 as well, wouldnt they?, not so sharp are ya

ooh harsh:eek: anyway, I like your avatar. George Kennedy is the man and the best(movie) pilot ever!:D

Maybe one day I can be as cool as you. A gal can only dream! :sigh:

oh boy.......

Yup.....we all got hired with 400 hours TT at UPS because we are female.....na na na na na! The best thing is, I don't even have an ATP or meet UPS mins but I just showed them my big ta tas and whoop, there it is....I was in class the next day. But does it really matter why we got hired? We still make more and fly a cooler airplane than you!:p

In poor taste had to get rid of it :)

HotMamaPilot/SAABaroowski both of those comments are immature and inaccurate. Some regional pilots maybe cocky and some women may have gotten to where they are because they are women, but this doesn’t express your specific situations.

In my opinion women work just as hard as males to get the coveted position to fly a jet, I believe that women work even harder than males, especially if they have a family to support at the same time.

Some doctors are cocky, some lawyers are cocky, some pilots are cocky, and it really does not matter.

Let’s just remember that humility takes you a long way, in any profession.

Monkeys cannot fly jets. They can however learn to press the autopilot. But that’s about it.

Hey she started it haha just havin some fun.....................

I know, the comment about monkeys being able to fly jets, was as innacureat as women getting their jobs for free.

Keep on having fun, but remember that some people can't take it.

wilco:D I admit I get slightly carried away sometimes

thanks for you self righteous insights dad....now let us have fun

Hey hot mama, maybe you should send mw your pic, better yet you have a MYSPACE hehhe:cool:

sorry saab, married with two kids;)

ehh worth a try ;)