Why do Nigerians' treat flight attendant's like servants
In November last year I went to Nigeria on Virgin Atlantic. I took the flight from Newark airport to London Heathrow. The flight on that leg was fine. Then 4 days later I got on the flight from London to Muritala Mohammed airport in Lagos. The problems started the minute we boarded. Passengers brought too many over sized bags on board. The flight attendants were trying very hard to accommodate everyone. Helping people put away their bags. The passengers had a real nasty attitude and insisted the bags be placed in the overhead right above them. Needless to say the flight left late.
The passenger never spoke politely to the attendants. They issued commands when they wanted something.
As the plane approached Lagos, the passengers were instructed to return to their seats and the bathrooms will be closed to prepare the plane for landing. People decided that was the time they had to go to the bathroom, when the fasten seat belt lights came on. A parent started arguing with the attendants that his teenager had to use the bathroom. It did not matter what he was told he insisted. He went on to tell the attendants that he was a professor in Australia, who knew airline rules. He was so disruptive, I had to tell him off. I told him that Nigerians' like him give us a collective bad name. He was a jerk teaching his children to be a jerk.
When the plane landed, I apologized to the attendants. They thanked me and said that what I experienced was relatively mild.
My fellow Nigerians, attendants are not servants. They are Mothers, Fathers, brothers and sisters of people like you and I. Treat them the way you want to be treated. A lot of them make more money that you will ever make. Some of them do it because they love what they do others do it because they have to feed a family.
My friend who survived a plane crash on the Hudson river tells me over and over again. I owe my life to the professionalism and quick thinking of the pilot and the attendants. When next you are on a plane, thank the flight attendant. They might save your life.
The passenger never spoke politely to the attendants. They issued commands when they wanted something.
As the plane approached Lagos, the passengers were instructed to return to their seats and the bathrooms will be closed to prepare the plane for landing. People decided that was the time they had to go to the bathroom, when the fasten seat belt lights came on. A parent started arguing with the attendants that his teenager had to use the bathroom. It did not matter what he was told he insisted. He went on to tell the attendants that he was a professor in Australia, who knew airline rules. He was so disruptive, I had to tell him off. I told him that Nigerians' like him give us a collective bad name. He was a jerk teaching his children to be a jerk.
When the plane landed, I apologized to the attendants. They thanked me and said that what I experienced was relatively mild.
My fellow Nigerians, attendants are not servants. They are Mothers, Fathers, brothers and sisters of people like you and I. Treat them the way you want to be treated. A lot of them make more money that you will ever make. Some of them do it because they love what they do others do it because they have to feed a family.
My friend who survived a plane crash on the Hudson river tells me over and over again. I owe my life to the professionalism and quick thinking of the pilot and the attendants. When next you are on a plane, thank the flight attendant. They might save your life.
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