Regular Delta Passenger Working the Snack Cart
Oct 28, 2007, 9:35 pm
#31
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: NW Fla. - VPS, PNS
Programs: DL, NW, HH
Posts: 333
Oct 29, 2007, 12:11 am
#32
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 7,541
I've helped out the flight crews when I was with Mesa, sure...we didn't have huge aircrafts but it's nice to help out 
I recall distinctly one cold winter morning on a PHX-MCI flight where one of the flight attendants was not feeling well, I offered to take her place during beverage service and I had a wonderful time doing it.
I recall distinctly one cold winter morning on a PHX-MCI flight where one of the flight attendants was not feeling well, I offered to take her place during beverage service and I had a wonderful time doing it.
Oct 29, 2007, 1:05 am
#33
Join Date: Dec 2006
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 1,212
No not cool.
First there is the liability issue should the cart get loose or injure someone on the way down the aisle.
Then there is the safety issue. Should I follow this chap if we need to evacuate in a hurry?
Third there is the security issue. Can he/she tell me what to do? If I disagree am I disobeying the orders of the crew? What is his/her name should I need to complain? What if the cart is suddenly used by this person as a battering ram on the cockpit door or is used to bash the real F/A's into unconsiousness?
Tell me this is not a case of impersonatiing a aircraft crew member?
First there is the liability issue should the cart get loose or injure someone on the way down the aisle.
Then there is the safety issue. Should I follow this chap if we need to evacuate in a hurry?
Third there is the security issue. Can he/she tell me what to do? If I disagree am I disobeying the orders of the crew? What is his/her name should I need to complain? What if the cart is suddenly used by this person as a battering ram on the cockpit door or is used to bash the real F/A's into unconsiousness?
Tell me this is not a case of impersonatiing a aircraft crew member?
I traveled recently internationally on NW (one of only a handful of times flying on an American carrier overseas) and one of the FAs was dressed in slacks, with a white shirt (no tie) and a black vest fleece. He looked very much like an average passenger as he wore nothing identifying him as an airline employee. I was really surprised. You would never see anything like that on BA, the airline I normally fly internationally.
Oct 29, 2007, 7:06 am
#34
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Programs: Starwood Gold, HiltonHHonors Silver, Marriott Silver, Delta SkyMiles
Posts: 1,775
Letting regular pax serve the drinks would be a great way to save money and give bored passengers something to do on those long hauls other than watch edited movies. But why stop there? There are a myriad of jobs we laymen could do:
- Operate the drink/snack cart
- Hand out pillows and blankies
- Make sure no one takes up more than their fair share of the overhead bins
- Manhandle unruly, drunk passengers
- Coordinate sing-alongs ("Okay, this round let's hear the window passengers only!")
- Clean the latrines
Oct 29, 2007, 7:18 am
#35
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP / LT PLT / 3MM, Marriott LT Gold
Posts: 35,388
Oct 29, 2007, 7:44 am
#36
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 17,421
I was on a WN flight earlier this month when a uniformed deadheading pilot was doing part of the beverage service. It seemed a little odd, so I asked him whether he was moonlighting. He said he was bored (it was a 4 hour flight), and it gave him something to do. I can't really imagine this happening on any legacy carrier.
I also can't imagine a pax being allowed to do the snack service on any US airline. I'm also guessing it was an off duty f/a pulling the OP's leg, but I'd never say never!
I also can't imagine a pax being allowed to do the snack service on any US airline. I'm also guessing it was an off duty f/a pulling the OP's leg, but I'd never say never!
Oct 29, 2007, 9:34 am
#37
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Madison, NJ
Programs: DL PM, Marriot Platinum
Posts: 2,560
Is this the man you saw http://i.imdb.com/Photos/Events/4545...950449_400.jpg ???
Oct 29, 2007, 9:35 am
#38
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Madison, NJ
Programs: DL PM, Marriot Platinum
Posts: 2,560
Oct 29, 2007, 11:57 am
#39
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: MSP
Programs: Fallen Plats, ex-WN CP, DYKWIW; still a Hilton Diamond & Club Cholula™ R.I.P. Super Plats
Posts: 25,415
Flight crews are not there "primarily for safety". That's little but a mantra for lazy flight attendants.
98% of a flight attendant's job is attending to passengers in accordance with the airline's service standards for the flight and class of service. When safety issues arise, obviously they take precedence.
98% of a flight attendant's job is attending to passengers in accordance with the airline's service standards for the flight and class of service. When safety issues arise, obviously they take precedence.
I have to agree. Flight crew are there primarily for safety, and in the event of an emergency, and even in the normal course of a flight, I am going to feel most comfortable taking instructions from and interacting with a uniformed crew member, or at least a crew member with some sort of identification on.
I traveled recently internationally on NW (one of only a handful of times flying on an American carrier overseas) and one of the FAs was dressed in slacks, with a white shirt (no tie) and a black vest fleece. He looked very much like an average passenger as he wore nothing identifying him as an airline employee. I was really surprised. You would never see anything like that on BA, the airline I normally fly internationally.
I traveled recently internationally on NW (one of only a handful of times flying on an American carrier overseas) and one of the FAs was dressed in slacks, with a white shirt (no tie) and a black vest fleece. He looked very much like an average passenger as he wore nothing identifying him as an airline employee. I was really surprised. You would never see anything like that on BA, the airline I normally fly internationally.
Oct 29, 2007, 12:28 pm
#40
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Out West
Programs: DL-2MM, NW, AA, AS, NZ, AM
Posts: 432
Hey, ya do what ya gotta do....several years ago, when DL was beginning its slide into bankrupt heaven, a pax and myself cleaned the rear lavatory because the FA's were going to delay the flight in order to get it cleaned. Since my connection would have been missed (along with many others) and the next connection was 18 hrs. later, out came the paper towels and we mopped 'er up.
The FA's thanked us and the Capt. said "..we are out of here..."
Still got that blue stain on my old tie........
The FA's thanked us and the Capt. said "..we are out of here..."
Still got that blue stain on my old tie........
Oct 30, 2007, 12:15 am
#41
Join Date: Dec 2006
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 1,212
Flight crews are not there "primarily for safety". That's little but a mantra for lazy flight attendants.
98% of a flight attendant's job is attending to passengers in accordance with the airline's service standards for the flight and class of service. When safety issues arise, obviously they take precedence.
98% of a flight attendant's job is attending to passengers in accordance with the airline's service standards for the flight and class of service. When safety issues arise, obviously they take precedence.
From a legal standpoint, if the FAs performed no service whatsoever (no meals, drinks, etc.) you'd have no legal recourse. If an FA didn't assist in an emergency evacuation and you were hurt, you'd have a multi-million dollar case. In such an emergency, I want to see a uniformed FA giving instructions.
And on a lighter note, if you've flown on US recently, you'll see that about 4% of the FA's job is attending to passengers.
Oct 30, 2007, 9:15 am
#42
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 561
Way back in the early sixties I was usually given the chance to carry around the tray with the chiclets & mini-sticks of gum and offer it before landing. I must have been in first and second grade. Child labor started at an early age back then. 
Oct 30, 2007, 10:23 am
#43
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Atlanta
Programs: Delta; Marriott Silver
Posts: 332
My wife is from Asia and I've assisted the Asian flight crew several times closing the overhead bins. I usually have a quick chuckle as I watch the smaller Asian FA's standing on the seats to reach the middle bins. Then I just help out.
LS
LS
Oct 30, 2007, 4:05 pm
#44
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: MSP
Programs: Fallen Plats, ex-WN CP, DYKWIW; still a Hilton Diamond & Club Cholula™ R.I.P. Super Plats
Posts: 25,415
Also irrelevent. Lack of service on US isn't my problem. If they did that on DL (or NW) they'd probably be canned.
Oct 30, 2007, 8:07 pm
#45
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Sunny Florida
Programs: SPG Platinum
Posts: 759
Flight crews are not there "primarily for safety". That's little but a mantra for lazy flight attendants.
98% of a flight attendant's job is attending to passengers in accordance with the airline's service standards for the flight and class of service. When safety issues arise, obviously they take precedence.
98% of a flight attendant's job is attending to passengers in accordance with the airline's service standards for the flight and class of service. When safety issues arise, obviously they take precedence.