FlyerTalk Forums - FA Chatty Cathy and the Ronettes

Quote:

Originally Posted by Non-TypiCAL F/A (Post 8816550)

So after reading the company memo ;) in regards to joining FlyerTalk, I am happy to say "Here I am"!!

I would like to add my $.02 in regards to this topic. For one, and maybe many of you do not realize this, but we as crew also fly as passengers on flights quite often. I personally travel as a passenger on average weekly to go home. And I, like many of you have stated, have had crew that have been audible in the cabin.

On the other hand, I am sure that I have been guilty of being one of those crew members. Sometimes you get lucky and you get to work with crew that you really click well with, and we "get out of control" with the level of our voice.

Reading this thread, it seems to be making a mountain out of a mole hill. I think this is really a big mis-understanding, that does have a simple fix. Communication. We are very talented, however mind reading is not one of our talents. ;) If we are being loud, let us know!! I guarantee we are not being loud on purpose, and we will not bite your head off for letting us know.

I hope this helps, and I hope to also bring further insight and information to many more threads to come.

(and once we get this problem worked out, maybe we can move to real problems. Such as when you order a coffee, let me know if you would like milk and sugar ;):))

Actually I will add something that drives me mad and that is people who cannot walk with out stomping down the cabin. You can have people be as quiet as you like and you will still have that boom-boom-boom as someone walks down the aisle with all the sensitivity and lightness of foot as I would expect from an elephant.

I actually come down on the passengers's side here. Whilst it is impossible to do service without some noise (clink of cutlery, glasses, plates, opening or shutting service carts or oven doors) it can be done with a minimum of noise. I would expect that the FAs should come through every so often to check whether anyone needs something to drink and that can be done quietly and discreetely. Unfortunately since it is not an option on a US carrier to draw the curtains to keep the noise contained - it is necessary to be as quiet as possible. The Flight Attendants role on the aircraft and the passenger's role are totally different. He or she has paid to be there and has expectations of behaviour from professional people. My voice can carry like a fog horn. One day it may get someone to move in an emergency - until then I can be the guiltiest person and have to try and keep my voice down.

We can all slip up and our voices can carry - so tell us. Waking you is a complete own goal. Whilst you are asleep you are not wanting things so we can a quiet time too. I am sorry if other passengers want breakfast and we wake you by moving around but we do try to keep that service until as late as possible to let you sleep on.

That said as a passenger I do not sleep easily on aircraft - there is always noise and the Bose or whoever's headphones are a help. I do not actually own any as I find them a bit bulky but that is just me. When I have rest on duty I zonk out on the bunks and always ask crew members to rouse me.

So to the OP I would say this - ask them nicely to keep the noise down. They will. However most do not have to be asked as they just do it without having to be asked.