Professional or Fun Crew?
 

So last night I was in F on a flight from IAH to DFW and I had a very entertaining crew. Part of their speil, "we'lll be dimming the lights for takeoff and to improve our appearance." Part of this made me think, do you guys generally like the more professional crews or a crew thats more "fun"? Personally, as much as I enjoyed this crew, I think I'd rather have a more professional, down-to-business crew. Maybe that's just me?

In F, I prefer the crew to be businesslike but still be a tad social(if that makes any sense). However, when I am in coach I like the crew to be fun.

I like them to have a sense of humor, but not to be over the top.

In F I really appreciate a crew that is at least a bit more interactive than tersely asking for a drink order and then hiding away.

I think I had the same FA working my MSY-EWR flight back in August.

I don't mind a random witty comment every now and then, but if they're practicing their stand-up routine throughout the flight I'm sure I'd start to get bored with it eventually. Professional is what I expect when I fly CO, and that's what I like on the plane.

A little humor on a flight never hurt anything. The world would be a better place with more of it.

I don't mind a little friendliness (a LITTLE), but since this can get out of hand, if I had to chose between all professional all the time or all friendly all the time, I'd prefer the former.

I don't mind a crew that lets their personality show, but it can go too far. The FA that thinks they are funny with a microphone in their hand, usually isn't. Recently a male FA introduced himself during the safety announcement as "Jo-Jo, the lead FA." His name tag said Joe, but using the nickname was a bit much. This was only one of several attempts to be humorous, including his referring to the crew as "fabulous" and always saying "The Motor City" instead of saying "Detroit."

I think the answer is to be professional to the passengers as a group, but individually it is acceptable to open up a little.

YMMV, of course.

As long as it doesn't interrupt the clarity of information or the efficiency of service, I'm happy to see that crewmembers are enjoying themselves! It's possible to be professional and have a sense of humor - makes passengers pay more attention to announcements and feel more comfortable interacting with the crew.

There are times when it goes too far (a WN crew once did the whole safety demo in a beatboxed rap), and times when it seems a little forced (too many jokes, sounds really rehearsed and dry). But a witty and professional FA can make a flight memorable.

One of my favorite FA lines, flying DEN to TUS: "In the extraordinarily unlikely event of a water landing..."

I've flown with an FA that got applause throughout the cabin on every leg (he sounded exactly like Jeff Foxorthy). I've also been on a flight where the entire FC cabin was rolling their eyes ('twas the flight before Christmas...). Personally, I prefer the FAA stuff to be professional; after that, the crew can be as friendly/goofy as they want.

This also depends on the time of day and the mixture of passengers on board (business travelers / leisure travelers).

If it is early in the morning, I am not even awake yet but my body is present or the last flight out, I don't need this fun attitude. Just get your job done and leave me alone.
If it is in the middle of the day, I don't mind some fun as long as it's real fun and not made up on each and every flight they perform.

Could care less about announcements or whether they refer to me as Sir or Mr or even Hey You. What I do care about is how attentive you are. Keep my drink filled. Clear my tray as quickly as possible. If you want to tell a stupid joke, then it is no skin off my nose.

I agree. Earlier this year on a WS (Westjet) flight, the FA started the standard safety announcements with "Ladies and gentlemen, if I could have your attention for a few minutes ... I would be shocked!" There were other bits of humor thrown in but it was still professionally done. I actually listened to the announcements for once.:)

I actually had a very cool pilot on a Southwest flight back in July, LAS-LAX. Some of you might know passenger logbooks and I of course handed mine in (before the flight) to have it signed and planned to pick it up afterwards.

So while we were approaching Los Angeles, the captain made his usual announcement, we are heading "southwest, our favorite way of flying" ;) and finished his announcement: "supermasterphil, please make sure to stop by on the way out, I would like to have a quick chat with you".

That's what I would call personal. Usually I am not too crazy about my name getting announced in public due to privacy reasons but as my name is pretty German, nobody of the usual "Las Vegas - Southwest folks" understood it anyway :p

+1

If I want comedy, I'll fly Southwest.

Count me in the professional camp - I'm not interested in humor, I can get plenty of that on TV.

The one glaring difference I've noticed between CO and DL is their announcement style. I know it's a tiny, nitpicky thing, but the majority of DL FA's (especially the ladies) make their announcements in a very clear, easy to understand, well-pronounced and professional sounding voice, while that style is very rare with CO crews.

I've had some of the younger (often male) CO FAs get on the PA and blab through their announcements in a very unprofessional manner and difficult to understand voice.

It might be nitpicking, but the style of the FA is a reflection of the carrier's product and a reflection of that FA's commitment to service delivery. I can often tell the level or quality of service I will get from a FA from the quality of their announcements.

I had a funny and really nice F/A going to MTH this year. But I'm pretty sure there arent to many people going to MTH on business. If we had been flying to JFK it would have been different. I think its ok for F/As to be funny if youre going to a predominantly leisure destination but if I'm flying to LHR its kind of unprofessional to be making jokes like that when 75% of the plane is probably working. Also, those stand up routines in the aisles that some F/As do are annoying under any circumstances. Its also really annoying when F/As start singing at 6am over the pa.

I prefer Professional! I dont need to hear stupid jokes..@:-)

I'm going to stick with hanging out with you guys in this forum. I made the mistake of asking in the WN forum about a really bad singing FA, and it was like I insulted their firstborn.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=765908

Between the "get therapy" comment & the people that couldn't believe something like that actually happened, it was difficult to describe how bad it was. I've heard the singing grandmother-type and her 2-line "We've landed" ditty, but this reminded me of Roseanne Barr's rendition of the National Anthem a few years ago. I don't fly to be entertained, but I guess I need to lighten up (or just stick to other carriers).

This is very true. I'd say it's about 50/50 on CO between clear, well-spoken announcements and mumbling ones. A lot of the time, it's only because I fly so much that I know what they're saying. If I were only an occasional traveler, I'd miss out on a lot of valuable information.

Otherwise, I know that FAs need to enjoy their work, but I'd much rather have a professionally worked flight (especially in F) than an entertaining one.

We can also save your life, deliver a baby, fight fire, disarm a terrorist.... ;)

But I do appreciate your attitude as far as the announcements and what not! :)

I see the point that many of you make, and respect each... but I would like to point out that professionalism and "being fun" is all subjective, and I feel it is entirely possible to be professional, yet fun, at the same time. Well-placed humor never hurt anyone. Granted, 6 am is never a "well-place" for humor on an aircraft ;)

Enjoyed reading this thread, believe it or not guys a lot of us do read these forums whether we post or not, and we do hear everything you say and take it to heart. You could write several complaints (or compliments!!!) and we wouldn't hear a single word from corporate about it, but these forums are your direct line to us and we sincerely appreciate your honesty and comments!

Profunssional

I'd prefer a fun crew 100% of the time. It lightens the atmosphere regardless of what cabin of the plane you're sitting in. Certain travelers tend to get a bit to stuffy... maybe a little humor will lighten them up a little.

I want a fun, yet professional crew (of course I want it all!) but can do without the WN "humor" (not that I've flown them in over a decade, but know enough from people who do). I do enjoy the FAs having personality; especially when they keep my glass filled ;)

I see now! You are a very bitter/demanding person, and think you are above the rest of humans. Maybe they should call you GOD instead of Sir or Mr? People like you get on my nervous. Soften up.

When I am the Lead F/A, who makes most of the announcements, I keep it professional with no humor because usually what I am supposed to be saying are safety issues. BUT I love to kid around with the passengers in the main cabin during flight. I find that the F/C passengers are really all mainly business. They just want thier drinks/meals and then want to be left alone except for drink re-fills. of course, there are some exceptions in F/C, some believe THEY are the "comedy relief" for the flight, this would be the pax that rarely rides up front....lol

I don't mind fun, but can really do without the WN jokes:

"the smoking section is out on the wing with a special movie presentation of gone with the wind"

I flew WN twice in the last decade or so and heard the joke both times. jokes <> humor.

I love the humor
 

and agree with one of the other posters that it actually gets you to listen to the announcements that all of us can do in our sleep. I think you can have fun and be professional at the same time. Anything that makes flying a little easier and a little more civilized helps. Even a simple smile helps a LOT.
Cheers

i'm indifferent.

I can do without the standup comedy but a little human warmth is great. I recently had a pilot (or co-pilot) who announced: "Please give your attention to the flight attendents while they run through their FAA mandated safety instructions, especially the part on how to buckle a seat belt by putting the strap though the handle and pulling tight, which I'm sure you all learned how to do years ago in your cars ."

Indiffernt too.
 

Greet me when I enter the plane; thank me when I depart.

I tune out everything in between - professional or funny. This is okay for me since I know the emergency announcements after listening to them for so many years and flights - although after I read on here that the guy in the safety video working on his already turned on computer immediately after take-off was keying in garbage, I admit I payed attention a few times and concur that he was, indeed, typing in garbage.

Now that is funny.

Welcome to FT!

Interesting early post--I hope they mellow with time. ;)

I prefer more professional up front and more light-hearted in back (and agree with the post about keeping my glass filled...enough said).

One recent examples was from a recent Delta flight where the pilot announced the following after the cabin doors were closed "well, we're all set to depart, but my scanner tells me that we have two laptops, 8 cell phones, and 18 blackberries on at this time so we cannot depart." A moment later he stated "okay, we're now waiting on 8, 5, 2 blackberries...okay...we're now ready to go..." Most of us knew that he was joking, but some people seemed to take him seriously...nice touch. I wish that somebody did that on my last flight when the yahoo next to me wouldn't turn his cell phone off after numerous announcements until I gestured to a FA to finally tell him personally.

I think FA's can act professional and yet still have a sense of humor. In any event, if I had to choose between the two, I would choose professional behavior.

Also, I find the WN approach juvenile and annoying. I do not need to be treated like a child when I fly, and while the silly little songs might entertain the Kettles on their annual trip to LAS, I think they should be eliminated.

pax telling on other pax..:rolleyes:

It depends...
 

It really depends on the situation. I was on a Continental Express Jet IAH-DAL flight that was delayed for hours. I might have gotten there quicker had I simply walked. Our gate was changed numerous times. While boarding the plane, a passenger tried to use the lavatory. The flight attendant got on the public address system and announced "Sir, the lavatory must remain closed while boarding, taxi, takeoff, and landing." She then asked him over the address system, "Well, didn't you have enough time to use the restroom while you were in the terminal? I don't know what you were doing." I didn't find that funny one bit as we had changed gates several times without much notice. When we finally boarded the plane, the flight attendant notified us that we were now delayed because the ground crew could not find our bags to load on the plane. During the safety briefing, she had a glib attitude about her. She kept rolling her eyes as if this was nothing important...you all know how to buckle your seat belts. I appreciate humor, but not at 11:30 at night after I had been in IAH for hours after three other flight segments. I am quite sure that she knew we had been delayed for a while.
So...I like humor, but flight attendants might consider the situation of the flight as a whole.