'Hello mate!'
#16
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Body in Downtown YYZ, heart and mind elsewhere
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I think the greeting was a little overly familiar and therefore not entirely appropriate in a flying situation.
I've always associated "mate" with "Australian". So if I were flying some regional Australian airline (is there one?) or if the FA was obviously an Aussie, I perhaps wouldn't think too much of it. But in general, I think it's just as easy to say "Good morning sir / madam" as it is to say "Hello mate".
I've always associated "mate" with "Australian". So if I were flying some regional Australian airline (is there one?) or if the FA was obviously an Aussie, I perhaps wouldn't think too much of it. But in general, I think it's just as easy to say "Good morning sir / madam" as it is to say "Hello mate".
#17
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: South East England
Programs: Status with BA Exec Club; KrisFlyer; Hilton Honors; IHG One; Marriott Bonvoy
Posts: 543
The correct informal term for a male person you don't know is geezer. When you've met the geezer at least twice they are your mate. So I'd say over familiar and over informal.
#18
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Southampton
Posts: 220
Just got home after the worst customer service I've ever experienced on OAK-LGW last night. One could sense this wasn't going to be great when on boarding all we got was a po faced '2JK over there', no smile, nothing. Went to the loo while on stand and it was in a disgusting state (I took a photo...ugh). Announcement made that the IFE needs mending so there will be looped broadcast mode only. When trolley appears, we ask for G&Ts, they can't find any on their carts so it's hand-delivered, pre-mixed. I asked, politely, whether they'd be giving any compo as the IFE is broken and pleasant girl said she'd ask the Manager as she thought some with status would get some points.
5 mins later, CSM appears from behind and launches into a loud, rude, aggressive, stuck-on-transmit tirade about the aircraft needing maintenance and she can't fix the IFE, she can't compensate people, yadda yadda. Entertaining as it may have been for the rest of the J cabin to watch this, especially as the IFE was down at the time, she was directing her rant at my wife, who was minding her own business nibbling on her nuts and rather surprised to be set upon in this manner. The CSM refused to let us get a word in edgeways to point out that it was me who made the enquiry, not my wife.
I should point out that the outbound to OAK a week ago was one of the best ever flights, Hugo the CMS and his team were welcoming, chatty, smiley and even served Tanqueray with a glass, lemon, ice, stirrer and a can of Fever Tree.
5 mins later, CSM appears from behind and launches into a loud, rude, aggressive, stuck-on-transmit tirade about the aircraft needing maintenance and she can't fix the IFE, she can't compensate people, yadda yadda. Entertaining as it may have been for the rest of the J cabin to watch this, especially as the IFE was down at the time, she was directing her rant at my wife, who was minding her own business nibbling on her nuts and rather surprised to be set upon in this manner. The CSM refused to let us get a word in edgeways to point out that it was me who made the enquiry, not my wife.
I should point out that the outbound to OAK a week ago was one of the best ever flights, Hugo the CMS and his team were welcoming, chatty, smiley and even served Tanqueray with a glass, lemon, ice, stirrer and a can of Fever Tree.
#19
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Argentina
Posts: 40,199
i do, but let it not stop you - everyone have their own perimeter of familiarity. If you like the 'hello mate' type, I suspect you might like joon, the new airline where crew wear white sneakers and sleeveless recycled duvet waistcoats, and VS which has prided itself on the 'hello mate' style for years. 😉
I'd be satisfied with any sort of greeting on a short haul flight nowadays....even a 'hello chuck' would be appreciated.
#20
Join Date: Jan 2005
Programs: BA Gold, AA Lifetime Gold 1.8mm, IC Spire Ambassador, Hilton Diamond, SPG Gold et al
Posts: 4,350
I’m not a fan of being addressed as ‘mate’ but in these days of gender neutrality where ‘sir’ and ‘madam’ are apparently viewed as unacceptable in some quarters at least it offends all genders equally.
#21
Join Date: Jul 2008
Programs: BA Gold, HH Gold, whatever is saved on the Sky box
Posts: 161
Heaven forbid anybody takes an internal flight in Australia. I imagine some would apoplectic with rage given the level of 'informal' greetings I've received when boarding planes.
#22
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club, easyJet and Ryanair
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: UK/Las Vegas
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#23
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Spitalfields, London
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You could call me anything under the sun if the food and service on BA became even half of what it is on QF.
#27
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#29
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,884
Even saying it to someone casually dressed could backfire.
#30
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: TPA/ABZ
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold. GGL/CCR.
Posts: 13,242
is the greeting I just received upon boarding my (eurofleet) flight.
Now, I pride myself on being very laid back and informal, including in many professional contexts where I would be entitled to a certain formality, but maybe there are limits to all good things, and even by my informal standards, this is beyond it.
Now, I pride myself on being very laid back and informal, including in many professional contexts where I would be entitled to a certain formality, but maybe there are limits to all good things, and even by my informal standards, this is beyond it.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...d-hi-guys.html
The use of 'mate' features as early as post #4 .