Now coming back to the Indian Subcontinent flights, I agree because the flights are so short and usually have a fully loaded 773 with over +300 passengers to feed in less than 2 hours, service is rushed and might actually seem unfriendly and as you said Melissa, leaving you no time to chat one on one with the passengers. I have to also stress again that passengers on these sectors can be very demanding and that might add to the stress of the job. I sometimes sit in my seat and shake my head when they stop a FA to ask for the silliest things. Believe me there are some passengers that actually symphatize with you when you have to undergo this. There are usually Urdu speaking FAs on board so the language barrier should not really be a problem but then with so many passengers on board you can’t really get to speak to each one in a communicative language.

However there was this one FA who I saw on the DXB-KHI and then again on KHI-DXB who was stellar in her perfromance. I introduced myself to her on the outbound and told her I had seen her before and had even photographed her and some other FAs. (Unfortunately the album was in the hold to show her). She immediately took the time to give me some souvenirs and I thanked her immensely. I could not let her service go unnoticed that before landing I took the time to write a customer appreciation note to Emirates, and asked her for her name so I could add it in the note (It was on her badge too, but it’s better to ask, so the FA is aware) I then asked her to forward this to her supervisor, thanking her at the same time for the wonderful service. Not sure what became of it but I wanted to share that despite the hectic service, there was an FA that actually did a brilliant job. The others did too, but this FA definitely seemed to go out of her way.

It might be approriate to actually share that trip report here, if you will allow it Airboy – http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trip-reports/605832-ek-600-dxb-khi-ek-601-khi-dxb.html.

Peace. (lol)

Why you see many crew lament at being rostered flights such as Karachi, Islamabad, Lahore, Mumbai, Chennai etc is not because of the passengers, but because these are energy-sapping, mostly red-eye turnarounds without a chance for crew to explore that city, earn the per diem and re-charge the batteries. Calcutta, which is also a South Asian destination and also has a similar passenger profile as those mentioned earlier, is a layover for us, and a flight thoroughly enjoyed by many crew, so much so when I was a Grade One only managed one flight after 3 months of bidding.

London is also a notoriously demanding flight, and is not called Deathrow for nothing! It is also the flight that seems to get more stressful the higher class you operate, so enjoy the time in Y/C while you can!

I know that passengers on these sectors can be very demanding, but hey they are just as good as passengers on any other flight so treat them like any other. Just think it as a bad day at work, we all have them, but you don’t slack at work, you just continue to work as hard, and the same can be said on a bad flight. Besides these sectors are so short, that in a blink of an eye one is back in Dubai after that what might seem such a horrendous turnaround.

Other airlines like Malaysia Airlines (my favourite, two thumbs up) does not let the level of service detriorate on any sector. I flew Los Angeles-Taipei-Kuala Lumpur and the service was simply outstanding, and that too in Economy!! And then I flew Kuala Lumpur-Karachi (which extended to Dubai) and the service was just as amazing. Genuine smiles and warm service from the heart! And when the level of service is consistent on every sector, on every flight that is what distinguishes one airline from another. Keep service levels consistent on all flights, on all sectors and that my friend is what makes a great airline, and truly service from the heart.

Airboy I do surely hope you will post this message of mine.