Captain with Class

[pellbay]

It was wonderful to see a Captain (very Senior) visiting economy and talking to pax on 93 on Wednesday. Also at the door at LAX

 

[wannabeinvestmentbanker]

I agree I think it makes a real difference toward the flying experience.

I have been caught up in some recent BA flying delays notably ex ALC (LGW runway shutdown), LIN (BA LHR snow resulting in a diversion to Bournemouth) and BUD (late inbound due to snow in LUX) and each time the captain has been very visible and walking through the cabin answering questions. I feel this is something BA do well with Captains allowing us PAX into the coughpit where I have visited on the above 3 occasions and also being very transparent and visible. It's not the easiest job during a time of severe delay so well done to them!

 

[RooFlyer]

Had a great Captain experience waiting to depart from Belize City on AA. Just boarded to front row in J and I realised I had left my ipad (mini) on a shelf in the terminal where I was charging it. FA saw me looking 'everywhere' for it in the cabin and enquired; I told her what had happened; I conceded that it was 'gone'.

Captain was standing in the coughpit doorway and half heard the conversation and asked what was up. He then asked me if it had any distinguishing features (it did - its cover) and where abouts it might be, and he then promptly left the aircraft and walked back into the terminal!!

He returned abt 10 mins later, with the iPad.

Amazing. I suspect he was going to the terminal for something anyway, but such a great thing to do.

 

[jb747]

It was wonderful to see a Captain (very Senior) visiting economy and talking to pax on 93 on Wednesday. Also at the door at LAX

RdC is not particularly senior....

 

[UP4014]

It is good, was delayed on an AA flight out of lax due to weather at the destination. The captain came through the whole aircraft (757) row by row explaining what was happening before we left the gate.

 

[Quickstatus]

Sorry in my very humble opinion the best experience a captain can give me is to deliver me to the destination airport at a takeoff to landing ratio of 1:1
I have no expectation that they will want to talk to me pre or post flight because preflight they should be concentrating on getting the airplane into correct config before takeoff and post flight, I’m outta there quicker than you can drop a hot potato.
Inflight I have no expectation either but some captains may want to do an appearance and It would be a pleasure to chat but I will have no issues with them if they don’t.

If RdC pops through I’ll ask him this:
“Why does the wake vortex of an aircraft like the one he is flying descend as the aircraft travels forward”.

What question would you ask a Captain/pilot as they wander through the cabin...

 

[UP4014]

Sorry in my very humble opinion the best experience a captain can give me is to deliver me to the destination airport at a takeoff to landing ratio of 1:1
I have no expectation that they will want to talk to me pre or post flight because preflight they should be concentrating on getting the airplane into correct config before takeoff and post flight, I’m outta there quicker than you can drop a hot potato. Inflight I have no expectation either

Some captains may want to and It would be a pleasure to chat but I will have no issues with them if they don’t.

A senior employee talking to customers, it can only be a good thing on many levels.

 

[Quickstatus]

A senior employee talking to customers, it can only be a good thing on many levels.

I’m sure for many it is.
Problem is that it may create an expectation..

What else do people expect from pilots ?. Smooth landing?

 

[jb747]

On long haul flights, if the captain goes back and talks to the passengers for an hour...where does that hour come from? Is it from his time off? Does that add to his duty time? Can he take if from the pool of time available for rest, and so take it from the FO's time off?

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Just boarded to front row in J and I realised I had left my ipad (mini) on a shelf in the terminal where I was charging it.

The best I've witnessed was when we turned back after just starting a taxi. The pilot came on the PA and said they "forgot" something. On came a wonderful check-lady with one of the pax. wallet that he had left on the seat in the terminal. Someone had handed it in and they radioed the air crew.

Admittedly, it was an early departure at a smallish international airport (only two flights leaving and the other had just left before us) and it was a regular charter, where airline crew and pax are well known to each other. I doubt this would ever happen on a major commercial sector!

 

[TheRealTMA]

On long haul flights, if the captain goes back and talks to the passengers for an hour...where does that hour come from? Is it from his time off? Does that add to his duty time? Can he take if from the pool of time available for rest, and so take it from the FO's time off?

Comes out of his nap time in the coughpit?

 

[Daver6]

Just received a survey from Qantas on this topic. Ie, what do you want/expect from the pilot. Some of the questions included being visible in the premium cabins, meet and great on boarding and being visible in the lounges prior to a flight. Other questions were about different announcements.

 

[Sprucegoose]

RdC is not particularly senior....

Could have been flogging a few books .....