Onboard Greetings

[trippin_the_rift]

Under what circumstances do/don't you like onboard greetings by the manager?

Personally speaking, I enjoy a greeting on flights over 2 hours where I'm not traveling in the highest cabin available.

 

[Simo]

It doesn't worry me but sometimes paxs around you will ask why did they introduce themselves to you. I was asked by 1 paxs twice if I was a manager or a high level staff member because he had a bad experience at check in and wanted to vent. I ended up saying please log on to the website and they will help you out... I just had to listen to his cough for a few minutes

 

[defurax]

It doesn't worry me but sometimes paxs around you will ask why did they introduce themselves to you. I was asked by 1 paxs twice if I was a manager or a high level staff member because he had a bad experience at check in and wanted to vent. I ended up saying please log on to the website and they will help you out... I just had to listen to his cough for a few minutes

A few people have asked me when flying Y, I typically just say that I fly a lot with QF and they like to acknowledge that I'm a good customer. I don't go into status details not to sound like the W in WP

 

[Major]

It doesn't bother me one way or another. On domestic Y it's usually welcome back, after noticing the status on the BP. Occasionally it's welcome back Mr Major.

I must admit it's a nice touch, especially when the pax in front of you are just pointed to their either left or right seat

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Under what circumstances do/don't you like onboard greetings by the manager?

I don't like a greeting at all by on board managers in any cabin. I did appreciate on JAL when the cabin crew member working my aisle came to ask me which main dish I wanted before service commenced. But that's about it. Something practical like that is beneficial. Awkward small talk is well... awkward.

 

[boomy]

Under what circumstances do/don't you like onboard greetings by the manager?

Personally speaking, I enjoy a greeting on flights over 2 hours where I'm not traveling in the highest cabin available.

I have the opposite opinion. In premium cabins I look at personal greetings as part of the whole experience and it's also practical since they usually hand out menus, amenity kits, ask for preferred pre-departure drink etc.

When flying Y, especially on QF Dom, I find most greetings a waste of time. Few years back they used to offer cup of coffee in the morning or glass of wine from J in the afternoon so personal greetings made sense. They still offer J amenities on international flights but almost never on domestic so now greetings became a burden. I'm sitting in Y wearing my NC headphones and about to start watching a movie, unless they have something to offer, why would I want to tell the CSM about my day and why would they care... It's so unnecessary and feels fake.

 

[Pushka]

A few months ago MrP would get the greeting and I wouldn't yet both are WP. Maybe the Qantas folk do read these boards as in the last few trips that has changed. I find it nice. Doesn't seem to get me any special treatment onboard which in Domestic flights is fine. It's good on Int flights if there is something you need sorted.

Recently the pax in row ahead of me was offered a free wine - maybe he was WP1. Nada for me.

 

[RooFlyer]

I'm pretty much with boomy. In any case, I don't think I can recall the last time I got an in-flight greeting at my seat from a CSM, whY or J, flying Qantas, where I have status. Flying international J, I find there are few CSMs of any airline who carry it off well - that is, not having to stop at your seat, peer at their sheet for the name, and then greet and chat.

Best recent experience was in LH J where both the attendant servicing my sector of the cabin and the CSM managed to greet me effortlessly by name, without any obvious reference to a cheat sheet beforehand.

The most valued cabin greeting for me is by the Captain or FO, but its rare, except in First, due I guess to the size of J cabins on long haul international.

 

[cove]

I don't mind either way. We probably have only flown in business or first in the last 5 years.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I don't mind either way. We probably have only flown in business or first in the last 5 years.

It's not often that the CSM or equivalent works F anyway. So limited value in their greeting.

 

[Pushka]

Cathay manages personalised greetings and attention extremely well.

 

[Mattg]

I think it's a nice touch, and appreciate it on the rare occasion that it happens. On a short domestic flight it's almost pointless, but on a medium or long-haul flight it's a nice gesture - especially if accompanied by some business class amenities/wine/etc.

One of the friendliest greetings I've received was on MH a few years ago. It seemed genuine and the purser even thanked me by name for flying with them when I got off the plane. That impressed me.

One of the least welcome greetings I got was on JL, just before takeoff. It went along the lines of "Thank you for flying with us. Now would you mind moving from your bulkhead window seat to a back row middle seat please?"

 

[Happy Trails]

I can take or leave the greeting as such, but I find a well delivered one can set the tone for the rest of the flight.

 

[flyingfan]

Under what circumstances do/don't you like onboard greetings by the manager?

Personally speaking, I enjoy a greeting on flights over 2 hours where I'm not traveling in the highest cabin available.

I'll sound like such a WP answering this but here goes...

I agree with this, I like a greeting as a WP when not in the highest cabin and it's more than a golden triangle hop. If in the highest cabin longhaul, everyone should get a similar greeting with the uber-elites getting just a little more acknowledgement.

It's nice to have the greeting early on, rather than well after the seatbelt sign has been switched off - then you start to feel like an afterthought.

I think greetings for elites are a nice way to make them feel valued. I usually smile, thank them, accept an express card and try not to be too demanding - and if international, ask for an amenities kit/PJs. I do 2-6 international sectors a year on oneworld so hopefully not a huge drain on them; I know it adds up if every WP does this and bear in mind the insider comment on another thread about how J/F items should stay in their respective cabins but these little add-ons do motivate me to maintain WP.

 

[Pushka]

I quite like the greeting when I've (rightfully) used the priority queue. Which I'm finding is being policed much better now.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

.... and bear in mind the insider comment on another thread about how J/F items should stay in their respective cabins but these little add-ons do motivate me to maintain WP.

It might motivate some to maintain platinum, but it demotivates paying F/J class pax when the airline runs out of things like champagne and wine because they have been given to lower cabins. QF running out of champagne (possibly because platinums in business class were given a glass as a special treat) was a big issue.

It's fine if the crew get it right, but they're not catering experts, and really have no idea of the potential consumption in cabin on any given flight. The alternative would be to hand out higher-cabin amenity kits or a glass of champagne right at the end of the flight, just before landing.

 

[cove]

I enjoy the Krug champagne as the best greeting of all.

 

[flyingfan]

It might motivate some to maintain platinum, but it demotivates paying F/J class pax when the airline runs out of things like champagne and wine because they have been given to lower cabins. QF running out of champagne (possibly because platinums in business class were given a glass as a special treat) was a big issue.

It's fine if the crew get it right, but they're not catering experts, and really have no idea of the potential consumption in cabin on any given flight. The alternative would be to hand out higher-cabin amenity kits or a glass of champagne right at the end of the flight, just before landing.

I agree as well, all the needs of J/F should be taken care of before WPs in Y get a look in. I would have thought the number of flights crew do give them a base of knowledge as to catering levels vs needs of the cabins but there might be other factors that throw things out (expecting catering that wasn't loaded I guess). I remember my shock of indignation when flying F and being told they didn't have any of their signature steak sandwiches left (although they soon produced one somehow).

I have never asked for alcohol from a higher cabin and rarely have it on board full stop (there are one or two of us weird ones out there that don't drink ).

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I would have thought the number of flights crew do give them a base of knowledge as to catering levels vs needs of the cabins...

it may be true to a certain extent... but all it takes is one F pax who only drinks champagne (instead of going on to wine with their meal) and you can run out of limited supplies pretty quickly.

 

[juddles]

I can take or leave the greeting as such, but I find a well delivered one can set the tone for the rest of the flight.

This.

Completely agree. And part of that is what rooflyer was saying - if it is a fumbled false greeting using a cheat sheet it sucks.

At the end of the day, if I was flying up the back, the only recognition that would delight me would be an upgrade