Originally Posted by Maurits
Is there any real harm done if crew members have to wait in security line?
Could be, because if a flight is delayed due to crew members stuck in line it costs the airline money, a lot of it I might add.
I reject this notion and i reject the notion that having crew stand in line will cost airlines a significant amount of money. When there is a wait longer than 15 minutes there will inevitably be a special screening station for crew. I am all for that. What I am talking about here is the IMAGE and PERCEPTION left when crew cut a 15-minute line at smaller airports and during off-peak hours.
I enjoy it when there is a special line for 1ks. It is nice. But when there is not, I dont get to cut to the front of the line and neither should crew.
In fact, far from being detrimental to the airline, that time could and SHOULD be well spent by the pilots and FA's mingling with their customers, chatting us up and making us happy with our buy-decision. Who knows, that sort of post-sale interaction might even earn them a return customer! How stupid of the airlines not only to miss this opportunity, but ALSO leave the opposite feeling: that the convenience of the staff supersedes the convenience of the customers.
Airlines and their employees need to realize that the paradigm has shifted: pilots and FA's are no longer glamorous prviledged jet-setters whose uniforms mark them as such, rather they are customer service providers and representatives in a cut-throat industry that live and/or dies by quality and perception of customer service.
Also, even though passengers are customers of the airline, so are the employees. Maintaining an effective culture among employees is very important in pertaining organizational efficiency. I'd rather not image the extra stress the employees have to cope with in order to get their plane out on time if they have been delayed waiting in line.
Employees are customers? Whose convenience and stress are more critical than the people who, you know, buy tickets!?!?! If that is the case, why aren't WE serving drinks to the FA's?
I am going to try that with my boss: Hey, I am actually this company's
customer. I am always right!
