On a long flight like this, it makes a big difference having a good team. Staring at the crew list for the day, I saw a couple of familiar faces including a senior crew member I have worked with many times before.
Giants and Midgets
On a long flight like this, it makes a big difference having a good team. Staring at the crew list for the day, I saw a couple of familiar faces including a senior crew member I have worked with many times before.
So I knew working with this senior for today was going to be all right, as long as the crew paid attention to detail as he wouldn’t hesitate to report his co- workers even if they didn’t fold a napkin the correct way (his way).
He was a one of a kind who took his job very seriously and portrayed himself as a true restaurant manager. That’s the last thing any airhostess wants to hear or feel, comparison of your pretty and important self to a waiter.
Thus in the presence of this senior crew who managed the service in an intimidating manner, all you could do was to give a big fake smile and cuss a few times under breath.
It was pretty normal to see this guy chatting and doing PR, fixing things for the passengers even before he was asked. He was a self-motivated individual, short with bird like pointy hair and early signs if going bald.
He would walk up and down a 100 times during a meal service to check and double check, if the passengers received the best business class experience. Even if customers were to chew their food any differently, he would know immediately what went wrong, and rectified it.
In one way I marveled at his eye for attention to detail, and his enthusiasm to be at work, even after 15 years. However I made a mental note, if this is what I would turn out to be after decade of flying, it is time to sit down and make alternative career plans.
As usual after the first service, he chirpily skipped around the cabin, talking to the young travelers, honeymooners, elderly, pregnant, and good looking mothers travelling alone with kids ( he showed this category extra care, and didn’t hesitate to baby sit for them until they put on another coat of make-up). While walking down doing this drill, he eyed a tall mid aged good looking lady, and next to her was her toddler.
He greeted her with the most handsome smile he could put on and even without looking at the toddler; he picked him up with a loud “Oh what a lovely baby boy you’ve got, just like his mom!” The lady and a couple of other’s in the row were staring at him with their mouths open, and with no emotion at all, when a deep growling voice ordered him “Put me down you moron!”
It took a good couple of minutes for Mr. Perfect to realize he just had the most embarrassing moment of his life. The little man next to the lady was her brother, and he was a dwarf. Normally good at fixing things, this crew member couldn’t even face the customers for the rest of the flight and kept on sending others to check on them.
He was devastated for the remainder of the flight, until the small young man with a giant heart approached him to say it is okay as he understands it was a mistake. Still half shaken he asked the small young man “Why didn’t you say or stop me at that time?” and with a chuckle he said, “Dude I was SURPRISED!”
Amongst the friendly laughter it was surprisingly conspicuous how small Mr. Perfect felt after a very long time.
Love, Dany
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dimuthu de silva says:
Apr 17, 2013 at 12:00 amNow this is really a good one.....