"May I call you by your first name, sir?"
Mar 12, 2018, 1:53 pm
#91
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Bridport, Dorset
Programs: Mucci, BA Bronze, Hilton Gold
Posts: 2,130
I’m a very social person, but was mightily peed off at Virgin crew calling me mate. I’m not your mate (even though you are hot cabin crew and I’d love to be pals In the outside world) and I found it horribly intrusive.
But by asking the question, you are put in a weird zone: no, I don’t want you to call me by my first name, but saying that makes me feel like a horrible person.
But by asking the question, you are put in a weird zone: no, I don’t want you to call me by my first name, but saying that makes me feel like a horrible person.
Mar 12, 2018, 1:54 pm
#92
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Bridport, Dorset
Programs: Mucci, BA Bronze, Hilton Gold
Posts: 2,130
I'd rather not be addressed by first name (what is so hard about "sir"?), but I'd take it over "guys", "pal" or "bud". Being asked though, that's the worst of all, because it puts you on the spot and forces you to either accept it or say to someone "No, you may call me sir" which doesn't really sound good from anyone's lips. I guess the best I can do is to respond "Let's just stick to last names, eh?".
For what it's worth, I'm young-ish and also a raging socialist, and this really isn't about wanting people to bow and scrape, it's just about recognising the distance in the relationship and avoiding phoney familiarity.
For what it's worth, I'm young-ish and also a raging socialist, and this really isn't about wanting people to bow and scrape, it's just about recognising the distance in the relationship and avoiding phoney familiarity.
This.
Mar 12, 2018, 4:30 pm
#94
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: London
Programs: DL FO, BA Bronze, Avis Preferred
Posts: 851
When I were a lad, I worked in a coffee shop, and for a while had to wear a name badge. Some customers tried to pull the old familiar "PDX, my friend" truck with me. In the service industry, I was used to people calling me by my first name, but the faux familiarity was almost as bad as people dropping bible verses in the tip jar (which, by the way, don't put food on the table).
Eventually I dealt with the problem by, withy boss's permission, changing my name badge to Elliott (not my real name, given or surname).
Eventually I dealt with the problem by, withy boss's permission, changing my name badge to Elliott (not my real name, given or surname).
Mar 12, 2018, 8:40 pm
#95
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: US Air, UA BA LH AI DELTA MARRIOTT CHOICE SGP
Posts: 9,883
+1 I was told some languages spoken in India have specific relationship titles like father's older brother, older sister, younger brother, younger sister which are different for the mother's side. Grandparents also have their own relationship titles. Chinese family relationship titles are similarly detailed. It makes it simple to identify family hierarchy in relation to the person who is speaking. Typically, customer service in those regions includes using a polite form of address to show the sale associate/customer service agent places the customer "above" them even if the customer is younger.
In case you're wondering, a person of higher status has the right to boss you around, speak to you less formally, and you should speak to them politely in more formal speech.
In case you're wondering, a person of higher status has the right to boss you around, speak to you less formally, and you should speak to them politely in more formal speech.
When I lived in India, it was very common to be addressed as Mr First name. I’ve found the same in the Far East, except the Japanese will call you First name-san despite my saying Last name-san. Being non-British I’ve always found British websites funny with the Lord-this, Dame-that and Most Reverend whatever. Considering my surname rhymes with Lord I’ve always been tempted to register with that title 😁
Mar 13, 2018, 1:10 am
#96
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London
Programs: Hilton, IHG - BA, GA, LH, QR, SV, TK
Posts: 17,008
Mar 15, 2018, 5:38 am
#97
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Bombay
Programs: EC Blue, EB Silver, FB Gold
Posts: 551
Mar 15, 2018, 5:43 am
#98
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Ipswich
Posts: 7,543
Mar 15, 2018, 5:53 am
#99
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Glasgow, UK
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 625
I thought of this thread and smirked today when logging in to the "My Executive Club" page of ba.com. In three separate parts of the page, it refers to me as Mr. [Surname] - the top-right section with log-out and avios/tier points, a banner under the navigation saying "Welcome to your Executive Club, Mr. [Surname]" and then again on the main 'body' of the page. It's a minor detail I had never noticed before until this thread!
Funnily enough, I'd rather go by my first name.
But strange how one form of address is used so consistently on one channel (the website), while on another, BA are asking to use first names
Funnily enough, I'd rather go by my first name.
But strange how one form of address is used so consistently on one channel (the website), while on another, BA are asking to use first names
Mar 15, 2018, 6:15 am
#100
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London
Programs: Mucci. Nothing else matters.
Posts: 38,644
I'm originally from Mumbai. I mean, I like to call it Bombay, because I grew up there.
Mar 15, 2018, 9:04 am
#101
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2014
Programs: Regarded as total and utter snob amongst the BAEC community.
Posts: 971
There are some things we should bear in mind here. People in service based roles such as call center agents always introduce themselves by their first names just like cabin crew members using their first names on their name badge usually only have their first names.
Secondly the agent in this instant requested permission in from the OP before dealing with the request. Whilst I am no expert in these matters it may be an attempt at building a relationship between the two parties.
We must remember at the end of the day BA are not the only ones at who adopt this approach.
Secondly the agent in this instant requested permission in from the OP before dealing with the request. Whilst I am no expert in these matters it may be an attempt at building a relationship between the two parties.
We must remember at the end of the day BA are not the only ones at who adopt this approach.
Mar 15, 2018, 9:08 am
#102
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: London
Programs: SK Gold, ITA Executive, Sixt Diamond, Hertz PC, Avis PC, IHG Platinum
Posts: 5,163
Having hyphenated double barrel name [and usually stuck together as one long word on the plane tickets and manifests] with both coming from two different [non-English speaking] countries often poses a challenge
And rather having cabin crew struggle with/butcher it, I am happy with my first name being used.
Re: being called 'Sir', I had a rather weird experience on one QR flight last year, where the said word was replaced by word 'gentleman'
Mar 15, 2018, 9:14 am
#103
Join Date: Jul 2013
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, Hilton Diamond *, IHG, Couples Romance Rewards
Posts: 2,351
A point of information, calling BA gold line this morning I was asked by the UK agent if using my first name was OK, so perhaps the global script has changed and it's not just the remote call centres.
I was more relieved that the gentleman agent successfully completed the return leg of a 2019 caribbean booking on a 2-4-1 without a) trying to charge me and b) noticing it was Mrs Firstlight's 2-4-1 in the first place and she should have been doing the booking not me...
oh, and c) getting in there before @T8191 did
I was more relieved that the gentleman agent successfully completed the return leg of a 2019 caribbean booking on a 2-4-1 without a) trying to charge me and b) noticing it was Mrs Firstlight's 2-4-1 in the first place and she should have been doing the booking not me...
oh, and c) getting in there before @T8191 did