Orwaid

First, I appreciate the lack of rancor in your post.

And yes, I only fly WN when I do not have a choice.

Were I a "nervous first-time flyer" (and I must admit, I do not see many of those), I think I would be more concerned with a flight crew telling jokes than with a flight crew quietly doing a professional job. The latter shows confidence; the former does not.

spineangel

[QUOTE=Eemraldskies;16298002]Taking credit for "silencing" the FA is a stretch. Do you think they don't encounter yo yo's like you ALL DAY? That a rude yelp from a customer making a rude, insensitive, OLD joke would "stun" them? Really?

In your OP you admited that he was finishing up so I'd say his annoucement was over when you had your sudden moment of lack of self control. So alas you don't win any awards.[/QUOTE]

Kinda like SW not winning any awards?

jamesteroh

And a casino is different from an early morning flight.

People don't try to sleep or try to do work in a casino. I look at a casino like a bar, it is noisy, full of people drinking and not a place you take your kids to or go to relax. If you don't like the people in a casino or a bar, you have a lot more alternatives than on an airplane.

And I hate the FA jokes and find them stale (especially on my last BNA/DTW when I was trying to sleep and was tired because I had flown from LA and the dtw/BNA flight was delayed by over 90 minutes and wanted to get some sleep since I wouldn't be getting to bed 90 minutes later than I planned thanks to WN, and she told at least 3 jokes at the expense of Delta by name, and the earlier BNA/DTW flight on DL was ON TIME and WN was delayed 90 minutes), but I also like seeing someone that enjoys their job. When you take WN on DTW/MDW you get a full beverage service (and sometimes I manage to get in a second drink because I am trying to burn through my drink coupons with no expiration date that WN decided will now expire in August) and DL on that route you are lucky if the FA gets out of her seat.

rrz518

[QUOTE=Orwaid;16299250]To your comments:


3) I never said I was speaking for everyone. I have always maintained I was only speaking for myself.


Oh yes you did. Right here:


Johnny Carson had his famous "rule of 3" -- If only the WN FA's would follow it, everyone would be a lot happier, not just me.

rrz518

Of the 50 or so responses listed here, most have chastised you, and particularly your behavior. Your original tantrum/rudeness was really the simplistic act, and the responses are simply reflective thereof. One must treat childish outbursts with firm resolve.

rrz518

Consider the last sentence. Still gloating? Quite narcissistic really. Still not a whit of concern for the fellow passengers, company policy, crew. Not to mention the complete lack of self respect, respect for others and dignity as demonstrated by this outburst. Ugh. Oh well happy travels. I do hope that the next time such behavior is demonstrated that either the air marshall, pilot, or concerned passengers teach you a (well needed) lesson.

luvfa

As a Southwest FA I like the way we can tell jokes and make the flight fun for our customers. However, I, ( and many of my peers), cringe when some people I work with try to tell jokes to the wrong crowd at the wrong time! Fortunately, it doesn't happen too often.

We have heard constantly from our leaders, "jokes are fine but know your time and crowd". A 3pm flight from MHT-MCO is better for jokes than a 6am MDW- BWi. In your instance, jokes on a 6am business crowd was the wrong crowd!

I am also a new- hire mentor and have coached our new FAs and instruct them to judge the crowd when telling jokes. Start by telling one , if it's well received, continue if not, go to the standard announcement!

As far as briefing the overwing, less is more. All we need to tell them is that they are sitting at the exit row, they are responsible for assisting passengers in the event of an emergency, the type of AC they're on, (700 vs 300) and that they acknowledge with a verbal response. That's it!

Orwaid

First of all ... welcome to Flyertalk luvfa!

Second, it is so refreshing to get someone that acknowledges what I have been saying has some validity. You would think that when the lead FA said "rough crowd", when NO ONE was responding to what he said, perhaps he could have gotten the hint?

And telling one to see how it goes .. really not so different from Carson's advice. It is nice to see that something like this is embedded in WN's training.

And rrz518 -- Had the FA followed Carson's advice, or the advice from their trainers and mentors at the airline, a couple of jokes would have been told, the safety announcement would still have been brief, professional and to the point, and the cabin could have been quietly prepared for takeoff.

Which means that the people who like jokes would feel good, the "white knucklers" would feel better from hearing the safety demo in a calm manner, and other passengers like myself would appreciate the FA's efforts to get the required announcements done quickly and efficiently.

So, while I was speaking for myself, I think that everyone WOULD be happier and better off -- and no one would be worse off.

Narcissistic people on an airplane do not promptly get up when someone wants a seat next to them, or help an elderly woman put her carryon bag in the overhead, or help pass trash to the aisle.

And luvfa, I hope to be on one of your flights, regardless of the time of day.

pinniped

FA jokes: I could take 'em or leave 'em. It doesn't affect my travels one way or another. If people enjoy them on Southwest or any other airline, it doesn't bother me. I will say this: in terms of actual service or general efficiency doing their jobs, Southwest's FA's seem to be quite good. I can't recall a truly surly one, nor can I recall a situation where they were all yapping loudly in a galley. Can't say the same for other airlines, even my preferred legacy carriers...

When passengers act like d-bags...that's annoying on EVERY airline.

Orwaid

I am not totally averse to a FA joke. Or two perhaps. But not on and on and on.

Pinniped, when FA's act like d-bags (to use your word), that is annoying on every airline. And I agree with you, excessive yapping from the galleys (usually found on legacy carriers) is inexcusable.

So is excessive yapping by a FA on an intercom, especially early in the morning.

jfsva

YOU OP were in the wrong. why the hell would you make a comment like that on a flight. maybe you could have just asked the fa not to tell jokes or just let them tell jokes.

Orwaid

Hi jfsva -

Even the WN FA commented earlier on this page that many FA's at WN cringe (poster's word, not mine) at the behavior of the FA on my flight. It is therefore most likely neither an isolated incident on the FA's part nor an isolated opinion on my part.

So, in the wrong? I do not think so.

And judging by the number of views of this thread, it seems a lot of people want to know what I did. If the FA's constant witty repartee was not an issue, this thread would have died a long time ago from lack of interest.

rrz518

This isn't about the FA behavior really. It's about yours. And the overwhelming majority of respondents here have clearly stated that you behaved as a d-bag.

Orwaid

jvsfa, methinks the silent majority thinks otherwise.

But all of you, please keep on trying to flame me. I like the heat, and the more you all refuse to acknowledge that the FA started this (which the WN FA implicitly acknowledges in the earlier post), the stronger the veracity and appropriateness of my position and action become.

rrz518

Nobody started anything, except for your foul attempt at selfish aggrandization.

Again, you are speaking for those that you clearly do not represent. Why is this such a difficult concept? Mouthing off to a flight attendant, joking about an accident, etc., could very well have gotten you removed, or worse.

So, go ahead, and continue the buffoonish behavior and test the patience of someone who is less inclined to tolerate it. Personally I would applaud your removal from the aircraft by an irate crew or air marshall.

Even better, go ahead and pick up the "everything I need to know I learned in kindergarten" book, you could learn a thing or two accordingly.