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Being a new flight attendant sucks. It's such a unique environment to work in. You pass the 6 week training course and then you start flying! We have pre-flight briefings where the inflight manager asks us all safety and first aid questions that we have to get right, we meet the other crew (up to 20 on our big planes, many we may not have worked with before) all the pre-flight preparations, the actual feeling of being at 30,000 feet and working in a harsh environment, the never ending services - meals, drinks, duty free and not being able to run away from it all!
The other aspect is time away from home, jet lag, fatigue etc
We've had new crew come online recently. Unlike us hardened old battle axes they are motivated and enthused and excited to have a 24 hour nigh stop somewhere a bit grim!
Anyway, the new girl was a nice 19 year hostie. Very smiley, chatty, eager to please. It gets a bit turbulent and she drops the tray of cups of water and orange juice (we do runs of water and juice during night flights when most pax sleep) on the floor. Most of it goes in the aisle. Unfortunately a pax gets splashed with water.
My new colleague of course apologises profusely, I see this from the galley and run over with hand towels and also to help her clean up and pick the plastic cups up.
I get it, it's rubbish to have a bit of water on you. But it's plain water not sticky juice and he is a bit damp, not drenched. The turbulence came on suddenly and these things happen sometimes.
Passenger: "For God's sake, why are you so stupid! I'm WET, look at me you idiot"
My colleague just bursts into tears and runs off.
Passenger: "What did I do? She shouldn't be in this job if she can't cope with it!"
Me: "Sir, I appreciate you are upset but there is no need to shout at her. I know you aren't aware but this is only her second trip with us. It was an accident."
I make sure he has enough towels to dry off and leave him.
Newbie is crying in the galley. The other crew are being really nice to her. She pretty much wanted to resign once we landed but we talked her out of it! She'll toughen up in time but passengers shouting and name calling is horrible.
Why should any of us have to put up with that because we work in a customer facing role? It was also how he lacked the emotional intelligence to understand WHY somebody would be upset after name calling!
In contrast I once spilled red wine on a passenger in turbulence. He was unbelievably gracious and kind! I still remember that. I was apologising profusely and trying to clean it and he just said "oh well these things happen, not your fault and I have a spare shirt - please don't worry about it!" What a nice man!
The other aspect is time away from home, jet lag, fatigue etc
We've had new crew come online recently. Unlike us hardened old battle axes they are motivated and enthused and excited to have a 24 hour nigh stop somewhere a bit grim!
Anyway, the new girl was a nice 19 year hostie. Very smiley, chatty, eager to please. It gets a bit turbulent and she drops the tray of cups of water and orange juice (we do runs of water and juice during night flights when most pax sleep) on the floor. Most of it goes in the aisle. Unfortunately a pax gets splashed with water.
My new colleague of course apologises profusely, I see this from the galley and run over with hand towels and also to help her clean up and pick the plastic cups up.
I get it, it's rubbish to have a bit of water on you. But it's plain water not sticky juice and he is a bit damp, not drenched. The turbulence came on suddenly and these things happen sometimes.
Passenger: "For God's sake, why are you so stupid! I'm WET, look at me you idiot"
My colleague just bursts into tears and runs off.
Passenger: "What did I do? She shouldn't be in this job if she can't cope with it!"
Me: "Sir, I appreciate you are upset but there is no need to shout at her. I know you aren't aware but this is only her second trip with us. It was an accident."
I make sure he has enough towels to dry off and leave him.
Newbie is crying in the galley. The other crew are being really nice to her. She pretty much wanted to resign once we landed but we talked her out of it! She'll toughen up in time but passengers shouting and name calling is horrible.
Why should any of us have to put up with that because we work in a customer facing role? It was also how he lacked the emotional intelligence to understand WHY somebody would be upset after name calling!In contrast I once spilled red wine on a passenger in turbulence. He was unbelievably gracious and kind! I still remember that. I was apologising profusely and trying to clean it and he just said "oh well these things happen, not your fault and I have a spare shirt - please don't worry about it!" What a nice man!
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