Treatment of LOTE pax by Domestic Crew

[LiamR]

Virgin Australia ground crew now wear a small flag badge representing the country of any other language they can speak - I don't know if this is going to be rolled out in the air as well.

Yes, I believe they are in the process of rolling it out in the air. I've seen a couple of FAs wearing flags under their name badge.

 

[mannej]

Virgin Australia ground crew now wear a small flag badge representing the country of any other language they can speak - I don't know if this is going to be rolled out in the air as well.

I am fairly sure that QF do have these flags as well.

 

[harvyk]

I am fairly sure that QF do have these flags as well.

They certainly do,

As for the original post, well the seatbelt sign is a pretty universal one, and it's not overly criptic as to it's meaning. They also preform a safety demo using actions and that usually shows buckelling of a seatbelt, so no excusses from the pax there.

As for been barked at been a non english speaking privledge, I've also seen english speakers who disobeyed the sign get yelled at.

 

[Noob]

I am fairly sure that QF do have these flags as well.

Even better! I think it's a nice easy way for staff that speak specific languages to be identified. Good on QF and VA for thinking of this.

 

[Timtammi]

I have to agree with the posters who have commented on the cultural aspect of this. In my flying to and around China I have found that it is not unusual for the seat belt sign to be left on at all times and at the same time nobody takes the slightest bit of notice of it. Not only that but I have seen passengers get up and walk around during taxiing, put bags and other items on laps all with what appears to be no censure from the FA's. In fact I always got the impression the FA's were almost too scared to tell anyone off or maybe they just don't care either!

So they are used to this in their own country, its the norm for them. Just like we sometimes have problems fitting in with others customs or find them strange when we visit so do they when they come to our country and suddenly are told what to do when they are used to doing whatever they like!

Not saying its right or wrong, just gives you an understanding of the mindset.

Cheers

timmi

 

[UP4014]

Some local south American flights I've been on didn't have english even as third language, but as someone else said, the seat belt sign says it all doesn't it or a crew member franticly waving arms for people to sit as the plan starts it's final approach, some people just don't get it and dare I say the Chinese are a large number of them.

When the crew finally get people back in their seat for landing the only issue then on Lan Peru is does your seat have a seat belt? :shock:

Matt

 

[horseman]

I make sure I know and play by the rules where ever I go, Maybe there should be a way the FA can report to head office that a certain passenger in a certain seat was non compliant with xyz directions given, keep some sort of database on this with a 3 strikes and your out policy (your name and details gets a black mark and cannot fly with that airline for a certain period of time)

 

[Isochronous]

Yes I think an etiquette violation database is an excellent idea.

I'd be reluctant to blame the airlines here if the group concerned are mainland Chinese. One need only visit Singapore or Hong Kong and you will even see the local Chinese there complain about the obnoxious lack of manners from the mainlanders - not queueing, public spitting, ignoring instructions, even allowing their kids to defecate in the streets. There are blogs and Youtube clips that catalogue all these poor behavious mostly from Hong Kong that you can search out.

 

[Alanslegal]

I make sure I know and play by the rules where ever I go, Maybe there should be a way the FA can report to head office that a certain passenger in a certain seat was non compliant with xyz directions given, keep some sort of database on this with a 3 strikes and your out policy (your name and details gets a black mark and cannot fly with that airline for a certain period of time)

Sounds like a good idea but .... its likely that the person in the offending chair, isn't the same person who is allocated that seat.

 

[horseman]

Don't you have to use your allocated seats? If true then letting someone else use it would be against the rules also.

 

[CMak]

Did a trip a couple of years back on Air Kenya from Khartoum to Cairo where the aircraft took on board a large group of Egyptian workers returning to Cairo for Eid.
The crew tried to do the right thing but in the end gave up. Phone calls were being made from take off to deplaning, laptops were constantly in use, first in the door grabbed the first seats without reference to boarding passes and taxing on arrival was the sign to get up and get large loads of luggage out of the locker for leaving the plan as quickly as possible. We understood why when we saw the line at immigration!
The crew made announcements in quite a few languages including Arabic so I don't think the language was an issue - just the attitude of the passengers.
Even with all of these problems the flight was a happy flight as the workers were on holidays and their happiness was infectious. Even so, we Australians remained buckled up and were the last to leave the aircraft and the crew were thankful it was over.
CMak

 

[GalaxyNexus]

Yes I think an etiquette violation database is an excellent idea.

I'd be reluctant to blame the airlines here if the group concerned are mainland Chinese. One need only visit Singapore or Hong Kong and you will even see the local Chinese there complain about the obnoxious lack of manners from the mainlanders - not queueing, public spitting, ignoring instructions, even allowing their kids to defecate in the streets. There are blogs and Youtube clips that catalogue all these poor behavious mostly from Hong Kong that you can search out.

The database can also be tied to pricing. Each violation translates to 10% price increase (compounding). Airlines surely is going to like more money, right?

Not sure if it's going to be effective though, I would think most of the culprits won't fly frequently into this country, perhaps they fly Qantas once in a lifetime or so...

 

[Bjet]

Yes I think an etiquette violation database is an excellent idea.

I'd be reluctant to blame the airlines here if the group concerned are mainland Chinese. One need only visit Singapore or Hong Kong and you will even see the local Chinese there complain about the obnoxious lack of manners from the mainlanders - not queueing, public spitting, ignoring instructions, even allowing their kids to defecate in the streets. There are blogs and Youtube clips that catalogue all these poor behavious mostly from Hong Kong that you can search out.

True... read that news few weeks ago
Chinese tourists 'uncivilised' says top official | News.com.au

It's not language barrier but it's their attitude problems.

Flew to China first time from Hong Kong. When we boarded on a Dragonair from Hong Kong to China, we were shocked and suprised to see the mainlanders were bad behaviour or ignored cabin crew instructions. Some were standing up while the plane was movin, didn't fastern their seat belt, recline seats when take off and landing and didn't follow cabin crew's instruction. Professional cabin crews knew that and have seen them many times. They could speak english, manadrain and cantonese. They had told mainlanders thousand times to sit down (even with sign language - point downward).

Of course, I have seen most Qantas domestic cabin crew have flag with their names on the badge for long time. I remember I met her and she could speak japanese but there were no japanese group tour on the plane to Mackay though.

It was funny one when we flew with Alaska from Vancouver to Los Angeles. When we were approaching to the runway in few second, an old chinese man rushed from the back of the plane to his seat where his wife was. Two cabin crews (from jumpseats with selt belt on from the back) were suprised to see him rushing down the aisle and tried to catch him asap as they thought that he was going to the flight deck door. But no...he wanted to be with his wife or whatever the reason is. Then they smiled to them and then return to their jumpseat... then just touch down.

 

[whatmeworry]

True... read that news few weeks ago
Chinese tourists 'uncivilised' says top official | News.com.au

It's not language barrier but it's their attitude problems.

Years ago before the Beijing Olympics, the state controlled Chinese media had an article derided their "peasants" for their poor behaviour in the major cities. I remember they gave the example of their citizens taking baths and washing clothes in local fountains...