Here’s a nifty video a friend sent me showing a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 getting a thorough wash before it goes in for its C-check in Houston. One of the lead mechanics provides audio commentary throughout the short video even noting, “The main purpose of the wash isn’t cosmetic. It’s to clean up components for inspectors the next night to inspect everything and get a good look.”

Enjoy!

If you fly as much as I do, you probably have all the flight attendant announcements heard during the flight memorized and could step in if needed. Lately, I’ve been noticing just how many FAs break away from the script and add a bit of personality or other uniqueness to them.

Southwest, of course, is famous for their free-spirited safety demonstrations and overall laid-back feeling, so non-rigid announcements filtering through the cabin aren’t uncommon and might even be encouraged. Attendants on legacy carriers, though, generally follow a mandated script and it can become so routine that uber frequent flyers like myself just drown them out.

This is definitely a simple and sort-of lighthearted post this Friday morning, but after listening to one gentleman’s announcements repeatedly on the same LAX-IAD flight the past four weeks, it got me to thinking about whether or not some take adding a bit of fun to their announcements too far and if it should be allowed. The particular FA I’m referring to consistently refers to his colleagues as “stewardesses” when making announcements and I wonder just how that makes some of the crew feel, not to mention if it puts in the minds of the average flyer that the term is still appropriate.

Flight attendants have to deal with such a wide range of personalities and their job can be incredibly stressful at times, so I think adding a bit of personality to their announcements – so long as it’s appropriate – is totally acceptable as it’s one very small way they can have a bit of fun on the job. It also makes me take notice of the announcements more than I would normally.

What do you think?

 Loading ...