Personal greetings from the cabin manager - what can you (realistically) ask for?

[jb747]

Neil Perry. My grass clippings look (and probably taste) better than his salads. What is the infatuation with ‘celebrity’ chefs?

 

[Pushka]

Emirates is the only airline to offer upgrades and be extra nice onboard. On Q Im not anything special and don't ask. MrP on the other hand who could be in line directly behind me, is warmly acknowledged. I usually turn around and glower.

 

[Matt_01]

I am not fussed about greetings, rarely ask for anything as I am not interested in fuss and generally like to be left alone.

 

[Mattg]

Last year flying solo, I got similar and the bloke sitting next to me said, oh that would be nice and he got a glass of J wine also .

That is one of the things that can make these greetings/requests a bit awkward. Often the people around you don't know what's going on and it can be a little embarrassing if you start getting glasses of wine etc. and nothing is offered to your seat neighbour.

 

[SYD]

That is one of the things that can make these greetings/requests a bit awkward. Often the people around you don't know what's going on and it can be a little embarrassing if you start getting glasses of wine etc. and nothing is offered to your seat neighbour.

Especially in whY.

 

[Mattg]

I think the correct response (when asked before take off) is "I'm fine, thanks", then they know you're not a prat, and might proactively offer you things.

Most native English speakers know that "if there's anything I can do for you, just ask" is just a pleasantry, it's not supposed to be taken up. It's like when someone says "how are you?". I won't want your life story mate, just say fine and move along.

This is just my personal view, but if the person is not intending to offer anything, they shouldn't ask if you want something. This being in the context of a one-on-one discussion, rather than a generic PA announcement.

Then again, I also get annoyed when people ask "how are you" but don't actually want to know how you are. I personally only ask if I want to know the answer.

I understand the sentiment of not being difficult and being nice to the crew. Often I don't need anything and will leave it at that.

 

[justinbrett]

This is just my personal view, but if the person is not intending to offer anything, they shouldn't ask if you want something. This being in the context of a one-on-one discussion, rather than a generic PA announcement.

Then again, I also get annoyed when people ask "how are you" but don't actually want to know how you are. I personally only ask if I want to know the answer.

This is just English (Anglo) culture. Happens throughout the Anglosphere - whereas when I go to places like Germany it feels like people are quite rude and abrupt. I know they're not, it's just a culture difference.

 

[Mattg]

This is just English (Anglo) culture. Happens throughout the Anglosphere - whereas when I go to places like Germany it feels like people are quite rude and abrupt. I know they're not, it's just a culture difference.

You can probably tell that I prefer the culture in Germany, haha.

 

[dajop]

So on SQ, when travelling in Y, will usually get between 1 and 4 people greet me (as a PPS supplementary Solitaire member). It all seems to very much at the discretion of the cabin manager, and usually when it's 4 - it will be Cabin Manager, Inflight Supervisor, and 2 flight attendants from the zone. Rare that it will only be one person greet you (other than really short flights).

Longer haul flights you are usually offered a bottle of water and some amenities (socks, toothbrush), and even sometimes they will be sitting on your seat waiting for you inside a SQ bag. Importantly they always offer to pre-select your meal, if you are not sitting at the front of the cabin (which being allowed to select exit rows for free, I am usually mid-cabin and in the later part of the meal service). This usually means you get your meal first, sometimes even before special meals are distributed, whilst on rare occasions it will be just reserved on the cart and handed out when the cart gets to you. Sometimes they offer that pre-selection of meals to seat mates (who you don't know) as well, which is sort of a nice touch.

In the instances when you have 3 or 4 people greet you - which is a sign of the direction of the cabin manager to look after you - the FA's will usually proactively come up and ask if you would like anything throughout the flight (drinks, snacks etc), at regular but not annoying intervals, and if I'm working even come back and offer refills (say of coke, or singapore slings).

Also get greeted in business class, but service is already quite good, so not a lot else they can offer.

 

[RooFlyer]

I think the correct response (when asked before take off) is "I'm fine, thanks", then they know you're not a prat, and might proactively offer you things.

Most native English speakers know that "if there's anything I can do for you, just ask" is just a pleasantry, it's not supposed to be taken up. It's like when someone says "how are you?". I won't want your life story mate, just say fine and move along.

Well, this native English speaker can differentiate between a 'How are you?' pleasantry that might be exchanged between anyone, anytime and an offer to provide a higher level of service to individuals of a certain class of people (business, or higher status pax), and not to others, so as to recognise continuing business. So I guess I'll be determining my own correct response knowing that the FAs may surmise anyone to be a prat, even those just reply "I'm fine, thanks."

" Can I hang your jacket ...".

The context of this is a personal conversation at your seat, not on entry to the aircraft. I don’t usually get a CSM or anyone just walking past my seat and saying "how are you?"

As I mentioned above, some of the best service on board I have received was on Lufthansa. QR, SQ, AY, VA, JL are also consistent in providing higher levels of on-board service and I would never doubt that an offer to do something extra for a pax is genuine and I'd take them up on it with a modest request - such as the timing of meal within the general meal service, if there is no dine on demand.

 

[p--and--t]

My anecdote is my first trip on QF A380 to LAX in the upstairs Y+ mini cabin. I am only Bronze but a Lifetime QC. The crew member welcomed everyone individually in the cabin after the seatbelt sign was turned off and said if there is anything you need, we are here to help (to everyone) . Had a quite chat and mentioned first A380 fight and the 3month holiday adventure about to commence. there was no requested special service by me. A bit later after meal service the crew member returned with a set of J pyjamas and said these should help you get a better rest before your big trip.

 

[justinbrett]

My anecdote is my first trip on QF A380 to LAX in the upstairs Y+ mini cabin. I am only Bronze but a Lifetime QC. The crew member welcomed everyone individually in the cabin after the seatbelt sign was turned off and said if there is anything you need, we are here to help (to everyone) . Had a quite chat and mentioned first A380 fight and the 3month holiday adventure about to commence. there was no requested special service by me. A bit later after meal service the crew member returned with a set of J pyjamas and said these should help you get a better rest before your big trip.

And that’s how it’s done. Be friendly and engage with the crew, you’ll get far better service than if you start asking for special treatment directly.

Of course the other side to this is you can always ask for things you need, within reason, but IMO asking the cabin manager before takeoff is not the time to do it.

 

[justinbrett]

Well, this native English speaker can differentiate between a 'How are you?' pleasantry that might be exchanged between anyone, anytime and an offer to provide a higher level of service to individuals of a certain class of people (business, or higher status pax), and not to others, so as to recognise continuing business. So I guess I'll be determining my own correct response knowing that the FAs may surmise anyone to be a prat, even those just reply "I'm fine, thanks."

" Can I hang your jacket ...".

The context of this is a personal conversation at your seat, not on entry to the aircraft. I don’t usually get a CSM or anyone just walking past my seat and saying "how are you?"

As I mentioned above, some of the best service on board I have received was on Lufthansa. QR, SQ, AY, VA, JL are also consistent in providing higher levels of on-board service and I would never doubt that an offer to do something extra for a pax is genuine and I'd take them up on it with a modest request - such as the timing of meal within the general meal service, if there is no dine on demand.

Thread is about CSM greetings in economy. If you are asking those airlines to be served meals at specific times in economy and they do it, all power to you. I would never dare to ask for that.

 

[p--and--t]

And that’s how it’s done. Be friendly and engage with the crew, you’ll get far better service than if you start asking for special treatment directly.

Of course the other side to this is you can always ask for things you need, within reason, but IMO asking the cabin manager before takeoff is not the time to do it.

I guess, my thinking is that slavery and the whip was abolished in this country a long time ago. The crew are human beings in a job, they have lives, traumas and problems in the background, maybe sick kids, a mother in hospital, a mortgage to pay. They might be on the end of a long shift or a series of long shifts, they may have served 100s of passengers that day or in the last couple of days including some really nasty demanding ones who make them "camera shy"/jaded

I don't set high expectations or demands and therefore not disappointed when things go just as planned. If something special happens, that's a bonus.

 

[RooFlyer]

And that’s how it’s done. Be friendly and engage with the crew, you’ll get far better service than if you start asking for special treatment directly.

Of course the other side to this is you can always ask for things you need, within reason, but IMO asking the cabin manager before takeoff is not the time to do it.

You are taking it as being exclusively something that happens before take off. The OP gave an example of a nice greeting on boarding but the topic was more general than that. In my experience a greeting and query as to anything more they can do is very rare on boarding and more likely before departure if there happens to be a significant delay when seated, or after seat belt sign off and during or after first service..

Not about asking for special treatment directly but responding to an offer of it.

Thread is about CSM greetings in economy. If you are asking those airlines to be served meals at specific times in economy and they do it, all power to you. I would never dare to ask for that.

Yep, sorry, that was a bad example. But again, if a CSM seeks me out to personally greet me at my economy seat and offers to try to do something extra for me, I would ask if it was something modest and very likely framed in terms of "Is there any flexibility to ...." or, "Later on, do you think I could get ...?" I know that if they were going to be under the pump (eg early turbulence delaying general service) they probably wouldn't come around and offer, and if they can't do it, it won't happen. No biggie.

 

[justinbrett]

You are taking it as being exclusively something that happens before take off. The OP gave an example of a nice greeting on boarding but the topic was more general than that. In my experience a greeting and query as to anything more they can do is very rare on boarding and more likely before departure if there happens to be a significant delay when seated, or after seat belt sign off and during or after first service..

Not about asking for special treatment directly but responding to an offer of it.



Yep, sorry, that was a bad example. But again, if a CSM seeks me out to personally greet me at my economy seat and offers to try to do something extra for me, I would ask if it was something modest and very likely framed in terms of "Is there any flexibility to ...." or, "Later on, do you think I could get ...?" I know that if they were going to be under the pump (eg early turbulence delaying general service) they probably wouldn't come around and offer, and if they can't do it, it won't happen. No biggie.

We can agree to disagree. In my experience, especially on QF, it occurs before taxi, usually with a bottle of water and an introduction from the CM.

Sure, ask for your “flexibility”
or bonus treats, but they’ve probably got a few pax to get through. The intent is an individual welcome, not a personal valet service.

Nothing stopping you doing what you’re doing, but I wouldn’t.

 

[jakeseven7]

On my flight to NZ, I was offered J class headphones and a drink from the J menu.

On the return, headphones again and a 'leftover' J meal!

 

[Anna]

IME on QFi if the greeting happens, it happens not long after the seatbelt sign is first turned off and on QFd it happens after the J meal service is completed. It doesn't always happen. When it happens I def do not regard it as a mere pleasantry that I'm not supposed to engage with if even if I happen to want something. OTOH I don't see it as an opportunity to go wild either.

 

[flyingfan]

So on SQ, when travelling in Y, will usually get between 1 and 4 people greet me (as a PPS supplementary Solitaire member).

I don't have status with SQ but imho on any airline in any class and status, I'd consider four greetings over the top. If I were to design the fantasy perfect welcome, it'd probably be the CSM/equivalent introducing themselves, saying their team and in particular [insertnamehere] will be looking after you and to let them know if you wanted anything else, and for [insertnamehere] to also briefly introduce themselves and handle everything else from that point. I'm happy with one or two hellos and apart from the regular service, to be left alone unless I want something.

YMMV - some people might like lots of greetings

 

[dajop]

I'd consider four greetings over the top.

Usually it's fairly casual, and probably 2-3 greetings is most common. Not expected but nor does it seem over the top, sometimes it's just bit of small talk, one who will take my meal order, one who will check my meal order has been taken etc. Cabin Manager confirming flying time and if any turbulence is forecast. What I have noticed when that happens it's really a sign of an engaged CM and crew who will be proactive and provide great service throughout the flight (to everyone in the cabin).