Prince of the skies?...I think not.
November 1st 2006 01:26
Pilots. I too used to look upon them with admiration as they strode through airports, gleaming with charm, intelligence and authority. I think my disillusion was a result of watching too many movies where the pilot was the prince of the skies.In real life they are a breed of arrogant twerps.
Pilots are neither charming nor handsome. Most of them have beer guts, receding hairlines and pasty skin (which alternates with lobster-like skin after visits to tropical destinations). I avoided visiting them in the cockpit whenever possible, because I feared I would be bored to tears from listening to a pilot's favourite topic of conversation- themselves.
They enjoy boosting their egos by bossing others around. Pilots are served by hosties and are much more demanding than regular passengers. They want to sample every course on the first class menu, and expect you to deliver dessert and cappuccinos, even though they are fully aware that the galley is in a state of chaos as you are trying to conduct a dinner service.
And yet, with their deficiencies in the looks and personality departments, pilots have plenty of confidence to sleaze onto hosties, and for some their pursuits have met with success. Pilots left their wives and children for gorgeous young (stupid) hosties in my old airline.
I used to wonder what hosties could possibly find attractive about pilots- money being the only answer I could come up with. Pilots earn mega bucks. But they are also notorious for being stingy. When dining out with a group of hosties on a layover, pilots order expensive wines which only they drink and then make everyone contribute to the bill. I used to see pilots arguing with hotel staff over small discrepancies on the room bill.
Pilots aren’t that smart either. Sure they have to study alot before gaining their flying license and are responsible for taking off and landing the plane. But otherwise the aircraft is on autopilot, and pilots use the free time to sleep, read the paper, do sudoku and share dirty jokes.
Do you think pilots deserve to be given hero status?
Pilots are neither charming nor handsome. Most of them have beer guts, receding hairlines and pasty skin (which alternates with lobster-like skin after visits to tropical destinations). I avoided visiting them in the cockpit whenever possible, because I feared I would be bored to tears from listening to a pilot's favourite topic of conversation- themselves.
They enjoy boosting their egos by bossing others around. Pilots are served by hosties and are much more demanding than regular passengers. They want to sample every course on the first class menu, and expect you to deliver dessert and cappuccinos, even though they are fully aware that the galley is in a state of chaos as you are trying to conduct a dinner service.
And yet, with their deficiencies in the looks and personality departments, pilots have plenty of confidence to sleaze onto hosties, and for some their pursuits have met with success. Pilots left their wives and children for gorgeous young (stupid) hosties in my old airline.
I used to wonder what hosties could possibly find attractive about pilots- money being the only answer I could come up with. Pilots earn mega bucks. But they are also notorious for being stingy. When dining out with a group of hosties on a layover, pilots order expensive wines which only they drink and then make everyone contribute to the bill. I used to see pilots arguing with hotel staff over small discrepancies on the room bill.
Pilots aren’t that smart either. Sure they have to study alot before gaining their flying license and are responsible for taking off and landing the plane. But otherwise the aircraft is on autopilot, and pilots use the free time to sleep, read the paper, do sudoku and share dirty jokes.
Do you think pilots deserve to be given hero status?
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Comment by charles
ZCars
Ponderous
But I definitely agree that some of their demands are way over the top. Why do they have to ask for a drink when the hostesses are busy serving breakfast/lunch/dinner to the passengers? That's just plain inconsiderate.
It seems like they are jerks in general, regardless of their profession.
And as for them propositioning hostesses, I've heard many stories about that, but what about first/business class passengers doing the same thing?
Charles.
Comment by Judy
Ex-Hostie