Off duty staff pax 'misbehaving'?

[Muppet501st]

Don't off duty pilots remove their stripes when paxing ?

 

[jb747]

I had also wondered whether the pilot was a QF employee. Maybe not.

Well, the fact that the crew were calling him 'mate' and being nice would just about preclude that!

 

[andmiz]

Don't off duty pilots remove their stripes when paxing ?

Typically, yes!

The idea is that you try unidentify yourself as much as you can, and be on your best behaviour. How do you know he was a staff traveller? Was he representing the airline you were travelling on, or another airline? Or bus/security/ferry/cruise-liner company?

I could easily be mistaken for a security guard at HKIA.....

 

[Boris spatsky]

Don't off duty pilots remove their stripes when paxing ?

Some don't - once again there are varying rules for varying airlines.

 

[N860CR]

Virgin doesn't offer business class to its on-duty crew

 

[drron]

Well I have certainly seen QF flight crew in uniform in Y.
Once I even saw a QF pilot let a FA sit in J and he went back to Y.Could have knocked my socks off.

 

[jb747]

Well I have certainly seen QF flight crew in uniform in Y.
Once I even saw a QF pilot let a FA sit in J and he went back to Y.Could have knocked my socks off.

Why do you say he 'let'? He may have had no choice.

 

[juddles]

I agree with the OP that a pilot in uniform (or anyone else really) shouldn't be swearing in front of passengers.

But what I would really hate to hear is the pilot at the controls letting out an alarmed "f...!" That would really rattle me!!

 

[jb747]

Why do you say he 'let'? He may have had no choice.

I'll explain that comment. If the pilot was down the back, and the cabin crew up front, it means the crew were on duty tickets, and the pilot had purchased his own (i.e. he's a commuter).

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Just an experience I had last week. Nothing crazy or dangerous but just a bit disappointing really.

I boarded my flight reasonably early and sat in the aisle seat. The middle seat stayed empty but there was an off duty pilot (3 stripes?) in the window seat talking on his mobile. He talked for about 20 minutes until shortly before closing the final door and his conversation was littered with swear words. Now I'm not a shrinking violet myself in this matter and personally I wasn't offended but I was somewhat disappointed that someone representing their company ('brand') at the highest level behaved in an uncouth manner. I wasn't listening in particularly but his tone was rather bullying to the person on the other end (I think his romantic interest). Otherwise he was a model passenger. Staff treated him as an elite as you'd expect with all the extras from the cart (well not that much) and called him 'brother' and 'mate'.

I wouldn't make a formal complaint about something like this because I wasn't offended by the language but I would think the airline would hold its staff to a certain standard of behaviour in public as they represent the company and wouldn't be all that happy.

What do others think? Am I too picky? The rest of us who don't wear uniforms can get away with it I guess.

If you were on a QF flight I doubt that the pax in question was a QF Pilot. As others have already mentioned if he was on duty travel he'd be in J and if he was commuting ie based elsewere and paying his own way on staff leisure travel to operate out of another port, he'd wouldn't be boarding early as he'd need to wait until the flight was closed to see if his space available upgrade to J was confirmed so he'd be at the gate and one of the last to board.

If the staff were calling him 'brother' or 'mate' I thinks that was just some kind of acknowledgement that he's in the same industry not any kind of confirmation he's a colleague with that airline.

I didn't consider making a complaint because I wasn't offended per se. I was thinking that it wasn't a good look for the airline and if it had been someone else sitting where I was sitting perhaps they may have made a complaint. My angle is that if you are in uniform you are representing what that uniform stands for so be on your best behaviour. If that wasn't drummed into most of us enough at school I don't know what else was.

I am going to just think he was having a bad day and leave it at that.

You're letting him off the hook too lightly IMHO. There are plenty of people out there who have worse days than this bloke and don't behave in such a manner. The guy sounds like a loser. I hope you do report it and they find out who he was because I'm sure the airline who he does fly for wouldn't be happy with his behaviour never mind the airline he was flying on who would not want passengers misktaking him for one of their employees.

Don't off duty pilots remove their stripes when paxing ?

There may be occasions when pilots have literally just landed having operated a flight in to a city then pax back on duty on the next flight so they would be trying to get to the gate and board asap. Other times they may be paxing on duty to position to a port then have to operate immediately out of that city and therefore still have the gold bars on.

Most do remove the stripes and just wear the white shirt sans gold bars or with a navy or black jumper over the top. Despite the 'camouflage' they're quite easy to spot really as they have that look plus their carry on is usually a flight bag of some description. The person on your flight obviously wanted people to know he was a pilot as he could've easily removed the gold bars but chose not to - look at moiye!!!!

 

[BAM1748]

Or he may not have been a pilot at all, and just purchased a uniform.

Pros: get a trainee pilots ticket plus uniform and a $2 company called say "BAM1748 Airways" and a short cut through customs. (I know someone who has done this to buck the system and can confirm it works and for all sorts of places)
Cons: need to spend money and time to do it.

 

[Happy Dude]

Why is it that folks just can't seem to keep a civil tongue in their head these days? I can only assume that having your mouth washed out with soap these days is cause for child services to get involved. It's bad enough that his personal conversation is broadcast to all and sundry but when it's littered with bad language it just shows how little regard people have for others. The bar just keeps getting lower and lower.

 

[DC3]

... If the staff were calling him 'brother' or 'mate' I thinks that was just some kind of acknowledgement that he's in the same industry not any kind of confirmation he's a colleague with that airline ...

Good point. Brother/mate doesn't sound like QF cabin crew addressing a QF pilot to me. Brother/mate to one of your company's pilots, and while dishing out meals, etc., in the cabin? :shock:

 

[andyhui01]

I'd report it. To be honest, this isn't just for the airline industry but for anyone that has to represent the company in public. (inc. Sales Reps/Technicians in company branded polo shirts/shirts). Off duty or not, you are a walking image of the company while you are on the road.

I used to work for a health related company and as a smoker. While travelling in public with any company related wear or lanyard at events. I always made it a point to cover my clothing/lanyard with a jacket or shirt while smoking in public places. This wasn't even asked of me but felt it didn't seem right and would not look good if any potential clients/suppliers unrelated to me happened to see it.

In Hong Kong, I lived in an area with quite a number of Cathay staff and all of them were on their best behavior when in uniform and always well presented and well mannered to the public ie. Giving way, holding doors open and smiling. Always been impressed by how well they carry themselves even outside the airport in Uniform.

 

[DC3]

My understanding is that the OP was not able to confirm that this was actually a QF pilot. So, we don't even know what airline he works for. Complain by all means, but the complaint is likely against just another member of the travelling public isn't it?.

I can say that I've never seen a QF pilot get up to such mischief like that in front of everybody.

 

[graxx]

What I hate is, after paying good money for a J seat, being surrounded by off-duty crew who all feel they have to talk to each other and the crew all through the trip.
It is so annoying when crew kneel in the aisle beside them and carry on long conversations with bursts laughter and terribly funny anecdotes about their latest lay-over!
Surely they could have some respect for the people keeping them employed!

 

[dk4]

I thought they would have automatically been moved to J?

Standard industry practice within Australia, is that when flying on other work duties - pilots are seated in Economy.

Qantas is the only major domestic airline left with archaic work policies that require pilots to be seated in Business Class.

 

[Mrmaxwell]

I would take the more general approach - any PAX in closed quarters such as a plane who are having a conversation like that should simply shut up and/or a complaint be made.

I've complained several times to crew where obviously drunk PAX have let rip with colourful language either next to me or behind me. I'm not prude but when you're surrounded by strangers it is not acceptable.

 

[BAM1748]

Qantas is the only major domestic airline left with archaic work policies that require pilots to be seated in Business Class.

QANTAS is the only major donestic airline full stop. Seems they put out a superior product to the airlines with non archaic work policies.

 

[Hvr]

Standard industry practice within Australia, is that when flying on other work duties - pilots are seated in Economy.

Qantas is the only major domestic airline left with archaic work policies that require pilots to be seated in Business Class.

Why is it archaic? Senior personnel in other industries fly business. Why shouldn't pilots?