Can someone please explain the role of a CSD on a longhaul flight?
Latest flight from ORD to LHR, sat in my favourite cabin in CW upstairs, normally an outstanding experience in terms of service and quietness.
Half empty cabin, two flight attendants.
Never saw the CSD even once, until disembarking plane at LHR.
Wondered what their job entails . . . the crew in our cabin were indifferent, at best. The call button was in use quite a bit by other pax seeking bottled water, to get dinner tray removed, etc.

My perception of the view of the role of the CSD :

- To meet and greet passengers during boarding
- To individually welcome onboard any passenger in our First Class cabin and those holding a Premier or Gold Card from The Executive Club
- To be the main "middle-man" between the rest of the crew and the flight crew in the event of an emergency
- To operate the inflight entertainment system
- To co-ordinate the cabin in any emergency requiring drastic measures, including diversion, ditching or emergency landing

I'm not entirely sure that it's the job of the CSD to actually assist in any cabin onboard the aircraft, but you'll find that many do (usually in Club World during the hot meal distribution).

Well, maybe best we leave this for Purserette or Pucci but, like any other member of cabin crew, our true role is only really revealed under the most unfortunate of circumstances.

Well, some of them need re-educating on the Prem/Gold welcome side of things - didn't get a hello from the CSD on either of my NCW flights over the last two weeks. Not that it makes a mega-difference (afterall, I know who I am, so don't need someone else to tell me ), but thought it was interesting that one of the "softer" service standards seemed to have slipped......

On night flights where the cabin crew are wanting to get the meal out as soon as possible and then allow people to get to sleep, I've often seen the CSD help out with the service- usually in CW.

Does this include other OW Emeralds?

As discussed elsewhere, I think that other OW Emeralds may be just as commercially valuable to BA as BA Golds, so "zero cost" gestures like this could easily be extended to them.

You mean get the meal service out of the way as quickly as possible so the crew can go to sleep? It ain't for your benefit!

-Read newspaper
-Hide in office
-Organise crew sleep breaks
-Hand out surveys
-Forget to talk to F passengers and other folk with shiny cards




I've seen them with breadbasket!

I have an acquaintance who is a CSD... you would not believe the amount of paper and admin they have to do behind the scenes to keep the BA bean counters happy....

On my recent trip with the family to orlando in J we had two completely different CSD's - not just people but attitude.

On the way out, the guy was great, we spend a good 20 mins chatting about Orlando and what the Disney parks etc are like. He even joked around with the siblings. And the end he came up and said that they'd been extremely well behaved and were welcome on any of his flights. Plus he was actively involved in the hot meal service.

CSD on the way back, saw once handing out questionaires and asked us if the inflight entertainment was ok as there appeared to be issues. Other than than, not seen and only heard for the odd announcement on the PA.

I do understand however, that everyone performs their jobs in their own ways, but it just goes to show the big differences.

On my last flight (BOS - LHR, NNCW) the CSD came round and introduced herself to each passenger, handed everyone, named complaint cards, and said sorry for the catering mess, hope it isn't spoiling the flight, if there is anything I can do let me or another staff member know (and they'll come and get me), and thank you for continuing to fly with BA, hope you sleep well (already had the seat in bed mode). Very courteous and apologetic ^ .

I can't remember seeing the CSD on the way out but I may have missed her as I slept for a lot of that flight too.

Every flight is different. As you lovely people have told me, you LOVE to be recognised, and I always speak to all First customers, and the Golds/Emeralds. If I have time, I will have a chat with anyone who looks up!

As the on board manager, I have to keep an overall view on what is happening in each cabin, as far as service standards are concerned. I make sure my customers and crew are happy and try to resolve any issues.

I patrol the whole aircraft at regular intervals and speak to all (15) of my crew. I sort out those video tapes, and try to resolve technical problems, if I can.

I liase with the flight crew. I give out those flippin' surveys.

Then on my last flight, I offloaded 2 drunks on boarding, one of whom fell over as he was being escorted off the aircraft and hurt his head. Shame. Then after take off I went to speak with a VERY tipsy silver card holder (shame on you too, Sir) who had tried to get himself upgraded by showing an old J boarding card, and causing my crew no end of problems.
Then I gave a warning notice to the most arrogant woman in the world, for smoking in the loos.
Then I assisted in J for the meal service. Then I did all my paperwork and reports. Then I had a congealed left-over J meal, as I was so hungry, I couldn't wait for a crew meal to be heated.
Then one of my crew used the Skyphone to find out about his ill father, and it was very bad news. I then looked after him, took him out of the service, and did the breakfast in his cabin. The I went to have another chat with the Captain to keep him updated.

I then gave out landing cards, sorted out the final duty free bar figures, packed everything away, thanked my crew individually and managed to have at least 2 sips of water!!
I would say that very few of our customers knew about any of these problems, and I was there at the door to say goodbye and thank you. I then went with the crew member back to base, and made sure someone was going to take care of him.

Yes, this was one of the busier flights, but you will NEVER find me watching a movie in my office!!

Hi,

Thanks a lot for the details, Purserette. ^

Regards

TBS

^ BA is lucky to have such a good member of staff and I hope that you will be looking after me on one of my flights soon.

A CSD always says hi to a Premerire on a flight no matter what cabin he/she is in.

Thanks for the reminder!! Forgot to mention them with everything else that was going on!!