General attitude towards lounge service staff

[Warks]

Not getting acknowledged didn't bother me when I was working behind the counter. I didn't take it personally.

I did. That's why I don't work in customer service.

 

[NFF]

Sometimes you have to watch the subtle body language especially with quiet ones. A slight nod says it all.

 

[Canny man]

I am always friendly to Lounge staff. I spend so much time in them that they often recognise me. That's just the way I am. There's another category of staff that deserve a smile as well though. The bag tester.

It's my personal mission to make the explosives tester person laugh (or at least smile) every time I get stopped. People are so unfailingly rude and dismissive to them that I like to try and bring a bit of cheer into their day.

 

[Ausbt]

There's another category of staff that deserve a smile as well though. The bag tester.

It's my personal mission to make the explosives tester person laugh (or at least smile) every time I get stopped. People are so unfailingly rude and dismissive to them that I like to try and bring a bit of cheer into their day.

100% with you there Canny. I always have a chat with the bag scan staff and the explosives tester. Quite often I volunteer for the test, having zips open and ready to go for them to speed it up a bit (bag zips that is!). I always think it's a hell of a job and a few kind words might cheer them up. I always find the SYD VA premium entry staff are the friendliest around and love a bit of banter, it can put you in a positive frame of mind as well.

 

[Pushka]

I wonder if the security staff might wonder if you are trying to distract them?

 

[DC3]

I wonder if the security staff might wonder if you are trying to distract them?

Yes, it would probably be very unusual to see a passenger actually volunteer for this.

 

[Warks]

100% with you there Canny. I always have a chat with the bag scan staff and the explosives tester. Quite often I volunteer for the test, having zips open and ready to go for them to speed it up a bit (bag zips that is!). I always think it's a hell of a job and a few kind words might cheer them up. I always find the SYD VA premium entry staff are the friendliest around and love a bit of banter, it can put you in a positive frame of mind as well.

I always have a chat with them especially there too. You KNOW you are going to be picked as there's only ever a couple of people going through at any given time so you might as well as close your eyes and open your zips... well you know what I mean.

In TSV I always have a chat with them too as they usually pick me. They seem to really appreciate it too as they must receive a lot of passive-aggressive hostility from people.

It takes all of 30 seconds so no big deal. Has anyone ever anywhere tested positive I wonder?

 

[Katie]

I always say thank you. Staff who are clearing tables of used plates, glasses and cutlery seem most surprised at my acknowledgement of their existence/work.

 

[Buzzard]

I always say thank you. Staff who are clearing tables of used plates, glasses and cutlery seem most surprised at my acknowledgement of their existence/work.

Me too and yes they do seem surprised.

 

[Lizzi]

Has anyone ever anywhere tested positive I wonder?

I did once, but they did another couple of goes to be safe, and it was clear. Shock of my life! Must be pretty sensitive - maybe something to do with gardening, they said.

 

[JMFK]

SWMBO and I had one of these types check in in front of us at MEL for a JQ flight. Very very rude. We were nice to the JQ staff member and were given free exit seats. It doesn't take much effort to be nice does it?

I do enjoy being behind these people and having a good laugh with the agent about them.

I always thank plate clearers and barista's...isn't it common courtesy?

Who raised these rude people?

 

[N860CR]

I always have a chat with them especially there too. You KNOW you are going to be picked as there's only ever a couple of people going through at any given time so you might as well as close your eyes and open your zips... well you know what I mean.

In TSV I always have a chat with them too as they usually pick me. They seem to really appreciate it too as they must receive a lot of passive-aggressive hostility from people.

It takes all of 30 seconds so no big deal. Has anyone ever anywhere tested positive I wonder?

Yep I did once. Staff member said "they note my name and after 3 times
I'm banned from the airport for life". They were very serious. This is one of the reasons I have very little time for them.

 

[harvyk]

Yep I did once. Staff member said "they note my name and after 3 times
I'm banned from the airport for life". They were very serious. This is one of the reasons I have very little time for them.

Surely just a positive test shouldn't be enough as there are legitimate reasons a test might return positive. I'd have thought the trigger for a banning would be if they actually found something.

 

[harvyk]

I always say thank you. Staff who are clearing tables of used plates, glasses and cutlery seem most surprised at my acknowledgement of their existence/work.

I'm the same, and most do seem surprised, which in some ways is a little bit sad.
I have however noticed that by been polite to the staff I do tend to get served just that little bit quicker on my trips to the bar. So I'm pretty sure they are keeping tally on which pax are polite, and which pax are the DYKWIA's.

 

[leadman]

Putting the "shoe on the other foot" I wonder what the staff think of us on the other side of the counter?

Seeing some of the behaviours that occur first hand and have been mentioned in this thread, they must have grown very thick skin by now. It must be so hard to be ignored, abused, cursed and complained on a daily basis by so many DYKWIA and others we have to admire them. I'm even going to smile and engage when I have to do the ol' bomb swab test....

 

[JohnK]

Hello. Please. Thank you. How is your day? Have you been busy this week? How was your holiday? So easy to say and do.

Sitting/standing at the long table near the bar in BNE business lounge having some food and a diet coke the waiter comes over and asks if he can get me 2 Super Drys. Standing order for me and I am only a few feet from the bar but he is quite happy to assist. I talk to them all the time. Don't treat them differently to anyone else. And when things are cleared away say thank you at least once.

People sitting around the table are puzzled at the service and must think I am an important person.

 

[jetlagger]

Hello. Please. Thank you. How is your day? Have you been busy this week? How was your holiday? So easy to say and do.

Sitting/standing at the long table near the bar in BNE business lounge having some food and a diet coke the waiter comes over and asks if he can get me 2 Super Drys. Standing order for me and I am only a few feet from the bar but he is quite happy to assist. I talk to them all the time. Don't treat them differently to anyone else. And when things are cleared away say thank you at least once.

People sitting around the table are puzzled at the service and must think I am an important person.

Certainly pleasant friendly engagement with genuine interest is a nice 'ice breaker"... especially as a regular guest

 

[Warks]

Do you think people are ruder or more carefree with their manners when getting something for nothing? I mean with the baristas or the bar. When you're handing money over is and getting your drink is often when the pleasantries are exchanged. Perhaps being a one-way exchange some people leave their manners in their wallet?

 

[ashleyn]

Manners cost nothing, maybe I'm just old fashioned ?

 

[Pushka]

Hey Cossie, what has this to do with the thread, did you post by mistake ?

It was mentioned earlier that some like to be friendly with the security guys testing for explosives.