Firstly I would like to start out this blog by saying that I
am a sweet and considerate person but like all human beings, I have flaws. Number
one is that I am impatient and number two is that I don’t like it when people
don’t pay attention to me. Now my flaws may stem from the fact that I am the
middle child and have subconsciously always craved attention, but, whatever the
case, I believe my flaws are the reason why the following scenario bugs me so
much. Every time I work a flight this is what happens:
I begin my daily
inflight service by having my trolley in front of me and push it down the aisle.
I stop at seat 1A, smile sweetly and ask the lady sitting there, “Ma’am can I
offer you a beverage?” But of course to my usual dismay, there is no comment,
or even an acknowledgement of my existence. Next, I try lightly waving my hand in
her peripheral vision get the attention of this lady and repeat, “Ma’am, may I
get you a beverage?” This time she recognizes that someone is speaking to her,
so she drudgingly peels her head away from the inflight entertainment system
and looks at me with a blank stare. I repeat for the third time, still smiling
sweetly. Her response to my question is, “Whaaa?!” I repeat my question again
for the fourth time, with that oh so genuine smile on my face, “Ma’am, may I
offer you a beverage?” She repeats, “whaat!?” Then she huffs, pulls out her
earphones and I have to repeat myself for the fifth time. I still have a sweet
smile on my face but this time I start to feel the muscles in my jaw flex ever
so slightly. Finally, I get her a coke. Then I get to 2B, and this is when it
starts to get really fun. “Sir, may I offer you a beverage?” No response. “Sir”
I say as I lightly wave my hand to get his attention. “May I get you a beverage?”
There is still no acknowledgement of me standing right in front of him, so I
try again. After three persistent attempts and no recognition from the
gentleman I give up. I cannot stand in front of the man who won’t even take
notice of my very presence. Yet, I still have that cute smile plastered on my
face, and taking a deep breath I re-adjust my scarf, pushing the trolley
further down the aisle. I encounter several more instances like the women in 1A
and right before I am about to ask the child in 5D what she would like to
drink, I hear the flight attendant call button. It’s from the gentleman seating
of 2B, and as I make my way over to him he pipes up, “um excuse me miss, but it
seems you missed me.” It is clear by his hostile tone of voice that he’s irritated
that I ‘somehow managed’ to miss him. All I want to say is: “NO I DIDN’T MISS YOU,
you just weren’t paying any fucking attention!!!!!” But I don’t, of course not,
no, never. Instead, I smile sweetly and profusely apologize for my mistake in
forgetting to ask him for a beverage. I ask him what he would like, trying hard
to keep my smile plastered on my face so that he can’t tell that all I want to
do is tip the beverage on him. And then,
I push the trolley back on…20 more rows to go!
Dear readers of this class, I swear I am a very sweet thing....
but next time you’re on one of my flights please, please, please, take out your
damn headphones and notice me!!!!!!
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ReplyDeleteOuch, you went to hard...
DeleteI feel that you should expect this sort of treatment as a flight attendant. I don't know how long you've had this job but, if you're not used to this treatment by now I would get a new job. Either that or deal with it.
ReplyDeleteI don't exactly know how to respond to this comment, because I have been on many flights in my life and usually the attendants are bitchy and rude. And also usually everyone is waiting for the attendant to get to their row, because it takes so long. This definitely changes my perspective of my flying experiences. I don't think people pay 600-1000 dollars to see your sweet smile and give you attention.
ReplyDeleteGirl, you are doing it wrong... If I was in your position and I had to do all of that, I'd either grab a parachute and jump out of the plane or suffer a tremendous nervous breakdown.
ReplyDeleteI love people who wear headphones. It isn't so much when they're on planes. It's when they're wandering around in traffic. I love them because they're trying to win Darwin awards and ... well ... who doesn't love people who are trying to be award winners?
ReplyDeleteIf i could like this comment I would
Delete