No Channel 9? I had channel 9 from LHR to LAX and others have told me they had channel 9 still. Perhaps it was just your pilot who has a general policy against it. They existed before 9/11.

i saw on my flight today the pilots used the jump seat as an additional barrier. it was still down when i left the plane and the flight deck door was open

I too heard the "please don't loiter in the galley" speech. The difference was the delivery.

"in light of the recent incedents, it might be a good idea if you please did't hang around in the galley unecaserrily, (sp) I think it might make us feel a little more comfortable.

Stimpy, if you pulled that **** with me around, you might find yourself going the way of the Taliban.

"people let's keep our eye on the ball...."

There have been numerous reports since 9/11 of captains expelling persons of Arabic descent, or persons who look Arabic, simply because captain or crew did not "feel safe" with them aboard.

Granted, this is a different ballpark than stretching one's legs, but how much captain's discretion should we tolerate in the interest of safety?

According to the AG's comments the other day, racial profiling is unconstitutional and Captains in the U.S. do not have discretion to violate the constitution, especially when the plane is on the ground.

duplojohn, only if you are bigger than me. But it is nice to see someone willing to fight back, even if it is misguided.

This type of disturbing behaviour from the airline crew points out they are most likely suffering from anxiety over what happened on the 11th. They need to get a grip on it and seek out thearpy. 99.99999999999% of all passengers are not a threat to them and most of them would come to their aid if threatened. If pilots continue to treat 99% of all passengers as a threat to them, they need to look for another job.

just to let you all know.....i have sat here and read over and over again, how you want to come up and hang out and talk to the fa....i finally had to reply......we don't enjoy you hanging out and asking the same dumb questions over and over again......i don't and i am sure that other fa don't come to your office and hang out while your trying to do your job and talk.....so please stay seated, listen to your crew....we all are there for your safety.....not to get hit up on......which many of you hope you might get lucky while staying overnight in the same city that.....as the line goes....oh your overnighting here too.....we love every passenger, but please.....most of us really don't care to talk....WE ARE WORKING AND TRYING TO DO OUR JOB....I'm not speaking for all fa but please stay in your seat if the pilot ask and just enjoy your flight......

Islandgirl, I and I hope other flyertalkers here know when we are welcome and when we are being a pain. I think we would only remain up front if the FA appreciated the company and conversation. Otherwise we do sit down. Sorry you don't like to have conversations with your passengers, but thankfully other FA's have no problem in this regard.

<<< ...we don't enjoy you hanging out and asking the same dumb questions over and over again... >>

You are in the wrong line of work if you don't like to answer dumb questions.


<< ...i don't and i am sure that other fa don't come to your office and hang out while your trying to do your job and talk... >>

That's because you have to be invited to enter my office building. When I worked in the public realm, I had no problem with people visiting me, whether strangers or friends.


(blah blah blah about dating implications and safety excuses)

I am very glad that I read this thread because it never would have occurred to me that making excessive trips to the lav would make fellow passengers nervous. So yesterday, while flying on 844 from JFK, I simply announced to the entire F class cabin what my intentions were each and every time I got up. I asked whether anyone objected to my use of the lav, apologized for my very frequent visits and promised that I was mostly harmless, at least as long as there was no turbulence while I was inside. Everyone seemed to appreciate this courtesy and to take my pronouncements fairly well.

Oh man Stimpy, do you actually think that taking the pilots name and employee number would be effective? I can just see the cheif pilot laughing his arse off when he recieves your complaint letter.. When the door closes its the captains aircraft all bets are off.

LarryU: I like that...

Next the airlines will have us start raising our hands before doing things and asking permission from the FA's - kind of flashbacks to the first grade.

stimpy: If the Captain violates the airline's rules he's answerable to the airline, and if he violates the FAR's he's answerable to the FAA; in no event, on an immediate operational basis, is he answerable to the passengers. Things would be kind of impractical otherwise, wouldn't they? Let's all vote on the flight plan and the fuel usage. The Constitution is not really much in play here; the rights enumerated exist mostly to protect people against the excesses of government.

I think we should recognize the extreme degree of responsibility that the pilots assume for the duration of the flight and cede to them the authority that comes with that responsibility. If I can't tolerate a little infringement upon my personal freedom for a couple of hours in order to get somewhere safely, I can always take two days and drive.

[This message has been edited by RichG (edited 09-27-2001).]

I've had a few pilots too give the "no galley loitering" speeches. Most of them do it in a friendly way. I've also seen business as usual on most flights with the F/A's happy to chat etc.

islandgirl - I am convinced you are some kind of troll. Communication is part of life, and talking to people is part of a customer contact role, which is part of what a F/A does. As someone else said we know when we're welcome and not welcome. I had a few F/A's stop and chat with me yesterday because they saw I had a bag with a UA logo on it, and we had a great chat and it certainly was not that they didn't want to talk. Other F/A's often cameby my seat and remarked on the gorgeous pacific sunrise outside my window. etc etc.

And no, we don't all ask "the same boring questions" (whatever they are!) and we don't try and hit on every F/A. sheesh. Love the generalisations!


------------------
RichardMEL, UA 1K
A Star Alliance Member.

R.I.P. Ansett Australia,
Previously "One of the world's Great Airlines"