The language gap
Jan 23, 13, 1:21 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2005
Programs: DL PM, AA GLD.
Posts: 497
The language gap
Interesting exchange with a UA GA at IAD last night after my flight home was delayed :
Me : "Excuse me, where is the nearest ATM please?"
GA : "3 hour 45! You tell United! Mechanical issue big!"
Now I know Dulles hasn't got the best layout ever, but 3hr45 to reach an ATM?
I also applaud the same GA for coming on board when we finally left, promising everyone over the PA we would be receiving "plenty voucher."
Me : "Excuse me, where is the nearest ATM please?"
GA : "3 hour 45! You tell United! Mechanical issue big!"
Now I know Dulles hasn't got the best layout ever, but 3hr45 to reach an ATM?
I also applaud the same GA for coming on board when we finally left, promising everyone over the PA we would be receiving "plenty voucher."
Jan 23, 13, 1:44 pm
#3
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: San Francisco/Sydney
Programs: UA 1K/MM, TK Elite, DL Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum, IHG Gold, Hertz PC, Avis First
Posts: 7,152
Originally Posted by rpjepson
Interesting exchange with a UA GA at IAD last night after my flight home was delayed :
Me : "Excuse me, where is the nearest ATM please?"
GA : "3 hour 45! You tell United! Mechanical issue big!"
Me : "Excuse me, where is the nearest ATM please?"
GA : "3 hour 45! You tell United! Mechanical issue big!"
I was surprised to hear them call boarding for that just as we were boarding the 3-hour delayed UA924 a bit before 1am.
Jan 23, 13, 1:58 pm
#4
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: DEN
Programs: UA Platinum
Posts: 142
I would love to be a fly on the wall during the hiring process there. How does is it possible that someone with such limited English is hired to interact with customers? Is there an interview? Is the interview conducted in another language? Do they only ask yes/no questions and accept nodding for a response? I certainly don't miss the SJC TSA folks who would communicate only with grunts and hand gestures, but I always really wondered about how exactly they came to get their jobs.
Jan 24, 13, 1:09 am
#5
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Either below the Ockham stack or below the approach to SDKY
Programs: UA 1MM/*G. AA EXP for 1 more year. Then, who knows?
Posts: 5,185
Originally Posted by rpjepson
Interesting exchange with a UA GA at IAD last night after my flight home was delayed :
Me : "Excuse me, where is the nearest ATM please?"
GA : "3 hour 45! You tell United! Mechanical issue big!"
Now I know Dulles hasn't got the best layout ever, but 3hr45 to reach an ATM?
I also applaud the same GA for coming on board when we finally left, promising everyone over the PA we would be receiving "plenty voucher."
Me : "Excuse me, where is the nearest ATM please?"
GA : "3 hour 45! You tell United! Mechanical issue big!"
Now I know Dulles hasn't got the best layout ever, but 3hr45 to reach an ATM?
I also applaud the same GA for coming on board when we finally left, promising everyone over the PA we would be receiving "plenty voucher."
Originally Posted by 3card
I would love to be a fly on the wall during the hiring process there. How does is it possible that someone with such limited English is hired to interact with customers? Is there an interview? Is the interview conducted in another language? Do they only ask yes/no questions and accept nodding for a response? I certainly don't miss the SJC TSA folks who would communicate only with grunts and hand gestures, but I always really wondered about how exactly they came to get their jobs.
