Airplane rant

So how do you decide if someone deserves to be called Sir or Madam?

If I'm paying the money and someone else is supposed to be providing some form of Customer Service I'd expect a "Sir" not a "Mate"

I agree, I'd expect SIR from McDonalds, any restaurant, a policeman, a stranger on my doorstep and therefore certainly from cabin crew!
 
I think you mean..........................old :mad:




Now I expect "What's up mate... you alright dude?" :confused:

Bring back SIR.... should be a formality when you're parting with hard earned greenbacks <wicked!> :rofl:
 
So how do you decide if someone deserves to be called Sir or Madam?

If I'm paying the money and someone else is supposed to be providing some form of Customer Service I'd expect a "Sir" not a "Mate"

And if the "Pompous Nobody" walked into the Ritz whilst you were on Reception - you'd still call them Mate.....?

shaking-head-sad-smiley-emoticon.gif

I think you missed the point and hit the literal button.

What I meant was. He's on a cheap flight, stop moaning.

Mate is a term of endearment, he is not a sir, a lord, a master or a king. So, as we are being literal, would you prefer everyone to refer to strangers as one of the following:

Excuse me....[insert one of the following]

Person
Human
You
Man
Woman
Fat sod
Middle aged bi-ped
Baldy

Taking into account you own signature which is: "you might be a king or a little street sweeper but sooner or later you dance with the reaper"

I'd have thought you would like everyone to be treated equally. Would you refer to the cabin crew as sir? No (I assume is your answer). So don't expect it back!

To quote dictionary.com


Mate
a. A person with whom one is in close association; an associate.
b. Chiefly British A good friend or companion.
c. A person with whom one shares living quarters.

So I think, in most circumstances, mate, is perfectly fine as its not associated to class or in any fom intimidating.

/rant
 
Mate
a. A person with whom one is in close association; an associate.
b. Chiefly British A good friend or companion.
c. A person with whom one shares living quarters.

So I think, in most circumstances, mate, is perfectly fine as its not associated to class or in any fom intimidating.

Hey, you're entitled to you're view.

But I wouldn't consider a Steward on a plane, someone behind a bar, someone serving in a shop - even a Golf Pro as A, B or C unless I actually knew them.
Since when is a person I've never met before and unlikely to meet again a Friend, Close Associate, Companion or someone I live with.....
So he's on a cheap flight - so what? He's still entitled to Common Courtesy as a fare-paying Customer.
It's just plain Good Manners - something severely lacking in this day and age.
 
Hey, you're entitled to you're view.

But I wouldn't consider a Steward on a plane, someone behind a bar, someone serving in a shop - even a Golf Pro as A, B or C unless I actually knew them.
Since when is a person I've never met before and unlikely to meet again a Friend, Close Associate, Companion or someone I live with.....
So he's on a cheap flight - so what? He's still entitled to Common Courtesy as a fare-paying Customer.
It's just plain Good Manners - something severely lacking in this day and age.

So do you call your customers Sir? (You're a driving instructor, right?)
 
So do you call your customers Sir? (You're a driving instructor, right?)

I've never had to.
It's a little different as the pupil will always have begun the conversation (phone, text or email) with Hi. My name's ...........
They know my name - they've got it from a friend or found me from my website.

So we're on first name terms immediately.

I wouldn't go into a Butcher's for the first time and say "Hi My name's Ian, can I have a pound of your best sausages please?"

Having said all that - if I felt it was required then I would have no problem in calling a Client/Customer Sir or Madam
 
I think you missed the point and hit the literal button.

What I meant was. He's on a cheap flight, stop moaning.

Mate is a term of endearment, he is not a sir, a lord, a master or a king. So, as we are being literal, would you prefer everyone to refer to strangers as one of the following:

Excuse me....[insert one of the following]

Person
Human
You
Man
Woman
Fat sod
Middle aged bi-ped
Baldy

Taking into account you own signature which is: "you might be a king or a little street sweeper but sooner or later you dance with the reaper"

I'd have thought you would like everyone to be treated equally. Would you refer to the cabin crew as sir? No (I assume is your answer). So don't expect it back!

To quote dictionary.com


Mate
a. A person with whom one is in close association; an associate.
b. Chiefly British A good friend or companion.
c. A person with whom one shares living quarters.

So I think, in most circumstances, mate, is perfectly fine as its not associated to class or in any fom intimidating.

/rant
As someone who has worked in customer facing industries since leaving school near 30 years ago, you are wrong. Mate, just like 'Sir' when used in this context has nothing to do with class, and not sure why you seem to think so?

Sir is a polite term used to address someone whom we are not familiar with, but whom we are dealing with professionally. Mate is slovenly and ill-educated, and in this context, simply rude.
 
As someone who has worked in customer facing industries since leaving school near 30 years ago, you are wrong. Mate, just like 'Sir' when used in this context has nothing to do with class, and not sure why you seem to think so?

Sir is a polite term used to address someone whom we are not familiar with, but whom we are dealing with professionally. Mate is slovenly and ill-educated, and in this context, simply rude.

Welcome to the 21st century, I'm glad you've joined us mate, but your thoughts are still back in the 1800's.

This is clearly a difference in generations, as a 24 yer old I detest being called sir. It is class based (knighthood?...Sir Jimmy S...)

I'd much rather be your mate than sir. Much more friendly to those whooshes heads aren't up their rear ends.
 
Welcome to the 21st century, I'm glad you've joined us mate, but your thoughts are still back in the 1800's.

This is clearly a difference in generations, as a 24 yer old I detest being called sir. It is class based (knighthood?...Sir Jimmy S...)

I'd much rather be your mate than sir. Much more friendly to those whooshes heads aren't up their rear ends.

Calm down dear
 
I take my wife and two children to Dubai every second year and fly business class with Emirates from Glasgow.My kids are 13 and 8, and having a dad who owns a travel company means they've racked up a fair old number of flights for their age ( 13 year old has been on 43 flight).
Anyway, checking in at Glasgow last year, some old guy tapped me on the shoulder and said I must be in the wrong queue as this was business class and me having kids wouldn't be allowed to 'turn left' as he put it.I explained my kids were perfectly well behaved and having purchased tickets for them, they're entitled to travel in the posh cabin.Old guy not happy.He complains to the check in staff and insists he's put as far away from me and the family as possible.Fair doo's I think, the kids will be asleep 5 minutes into the flight anyway.
In the Emirates lounge he approaches me again to clarify that my kids have no right to be flying business and he's complained to the airline.He tells me this is his first time upgraded as a gift from his family and he'll be damned if my children will ruin it.So, he's not paid for his ticket, I've paid for 4 and he's lecturing.So I have a choice, either start a barney with this guy and make my wife feel uncomfortable, or just nod and take his crap.I take the crap, my kids are as good as gold and he glares at us during a 7 hour flight to Dubai.

Anyone of any age can act like a muppet on a flight, in any cabin on any carrier.And for the OP, I really hope you had a terrible flight and you're staying in a dump.
 
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