Off duty staff pax 'misbehaving'?

[Warks]

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.

 

[bam71]

May I ask what carrier??

 

[TheInsider]

If this was Qantas I'm surprised if the pilot was 'off duty' that he would still be wearing his epaulettes. If he was on duty-travel he would've been in J.

 

[eric2011]

May I ask what carrier??

I don't think we need to know

 

[sausagefingers]

Slightly off topic but I noticed a Virgin Pilot/Co pilot sitting in a middle seat in about row 8-9 on Friday night all while 2 business class seats remained empty.
I thought they would have automatically been moved to J?

back on topic, I swear like a pirate, but on a plane in close quarters I make sure I watch my P's and Q's, not for fear of offending others, but more because I am either flying for work which means I represent my company (without though I don't wear a uniform) and if I am flying for pleasure I have my wife or kids with me and don't want to set that example.

I agree, not appropriate behavior at all.

 

[Warks]

I don't think we need to know

Yes I'm not going to name names.

 

[Denali]

Slightly off topic but I noticed a Virgin Pilot/Co pilot sitting in a middle seat in about row 8-9 on Friday night all while 2 business class seats remained empty.
I thought they would have automatically been moved to J?

Ive had a pilot sitting in row 4 before, didnt know he was a pilot until the FA started talking to him and I he was reading work related stuff and there was 2 empty seats in J.

For the OP, so you were not listening to the conversation, the swearing didnt bother you/you are not offended and he was a model pax once doors closed but you are disappointed for anyone else that could have but did not experience the phone call and are considering making a complaint?

I understand company policies state an employee in uniform needs to behave a certain way but you seem none the worse for the experience.

 

[Hvr]

Not appropriate and worth a word with their employer.

When wearing your employer's uniform you are representing them and are responsible for your actions. Swearing profusely is rarely acceptable and nothing in the scenario presented suggests that there was a reason for it to occur.

 

[Wingin..it]

Thanks Warks for the info and being informative to others .I am one passenger who would get offended and slightly annoyed .I know a lot of people use this in every day language but surprisingly in this day there are many who don't .If it was a pilot that is quite sad .Many other professions need to use some sort of caution in front of customers /clients/patients etc.It's sad to have to complain but if the shoe fits and things happen or change through it then I guess that's the way it has to be .If people don't show respect there will be complaints.

 

[Boris spatsky]

Are you sure the pilot was from the same company? Alot of pilot uniforms look very similar. We frequently see some of the smaller airlines crew paxing on our flights in uniform. Just be careful assuming they are the same carrier.

Airline benefits vary - some staff get J, others don't, even in the same airline group. This can also vary on duty versus staff travel.

Either way i agree that the behaviour is inappropriate and uncalled for. But be careful apportioning blame unless absolutely sure!

 

[Denali]

Are you sure the pilot was from the same company?

It was the Flight Centre guy!

 

[Aussie_flyer]

Slightly off topic but I noticed a Virgin Pilot/Co pilot sitting in a middle seat in about row 8-9 on Friday night all while 2 business class seats remained empty.
I thought they would have automatically been moved to J?

back on topic, I swear like a pirate, but on a plane in close quarters I make sure I watch my P's and Q's, not for fear of offending others, but more because I am either flying for work which means I represent my company (without though I don't wear a uniform) and if I am flying for pleasure I have my wife or kids with me and don't want to set that example.

I agree, not appropriate behavior at all.

VA staff fly Y only on domestic. Thats company policy.

 

[Warks]

Ive had a pilot sitting in row 4 before, didnt know he was a pilot until the FA started talking to him and I he was reading work related stuff and there was 2 empty seats in J.

For the OP, so you were not listening to the conversation, the swearing didnt bother you/you are not offended and he was a model pax once doors closed but you are disappointed for anyone else that could have but did not experience the phone call and are considering making a complaint?

I understand company policies state an employee in uniform needs to behave a certain way but you seem none the worse for the experience.

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.

 

[jb747]

Write the complaint. It is inappropriate behaviour and something should be said.

 

[Boca68]

Write the complaint. It is inappropriate behaviour and something should be said.

I agree. No need for that anytime, but especially whilst on company time.

If you provide the details of the flight to the airline, they will work out who it was. Your involvement would be limited to that. And who knows, there may be a corrsponding complaint from another pax.

 

[BAM1748]

If you've posted it here it is likely more than a couple of poor choices of words and all good again.

I would report it, if a passenger is a badly behaved they cop it from the crew and so should crew cop it as well

 

[Termite]

oh god - really? Seems everything offends just about everyone now-days. Lighten up - I use cough* as a comma at times!

 

[BAM1748]

oh god - really? Seems everything offends just about everyone now-days. Lighten up - I use cough* as a comma at times!

I can see the smiley.........when I get on a plane I want some peace and tranquility in spit of the location and don't want to sit next to someone who uses it as a comma because they have limited grasp of language.

 

[DC3]

... 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 ....

Are you sure the pilot was from the same company? Alot of pilot uniforms look very similar ...

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

 

[Steady]

I can see the smiley.........when I get on a plane I want some peace and tranquility in spit of the location and don't want to sit next to someone who uses it as a comma because they have limited grasp of language.

I'm with you, I'm sure there is a time and a place for most - but onboard an aircraft is neither. As for an employee in uniform -especially a capitan, effectively in their workplace, even if off the clock, that's grounds for at least a talk by HR and a note on their file as if nothing is said/done this person will continue with this inappropriate conduct to the detriment of the company.

To counter the above comment, there is no detriment to my company if our tradesman working on a construction site, in uniform, use that language as a coma, but my supervisors or superintendents doing so in an office or in a formal meeting etc is not.

(I guess I'm a prude though as I also don't appreciate my kids, spouse or myself being subjected to abnoxious aggressive bad language when I walk through a mall, shopping centre, park, into an airport/airline lounge, or just standing watching my kids play netball for that matter :shock