Like everyone else here, the threat of something (not necessarily physical - but always in the back of my mind) put please and thank you firmly embedded in my subconscious.

I, too, have noticed the problem up front. My fiancee and I one day had a deep conversation about how our children should be raised (scary stuff for a guy about to be married) and I took note of P/TY the next day on my flight. But then, I also took note of it in a restaurant that day, as well. It seems like people treat the FA's the same way they treat waiters/waitresses or other service personnel. "What would you care to order, sir? 'Give me X.'" Not only no P/TY, but not even "May I, or I would like, etc."

Needless to say, a pet peeve of mine, as well. You'd think F class pax would have been forced to develop modestly better than average manners to get where they are, but time and time again, it's been proven that it is just not true.

My kids are going to be in trouble, aren't they?

Re: chatting, I'll usually follow the cue of the other person. If they don't immediately pull out a book or paperwork, I might make a "test" comment to see if they want to chat, and go from there. If I need to work, I won't even try.

Greg

[This message has been edited by greg99 (edited 02-25-2000).]