Admittedly, there is a deeply-rooted concept among Filipinos that service workers are expected to serve customers, follow orders at their every whim, and even clean up after them. But most people tend to forget that this is not always the case.
For example: While they have their designated tasks (seating you, reminding you of aircraft regulations, etc.), service crews in airplanes are not (surprise!) required to stow away your bags inside overhead bins, unless of course, a passenger is disabled or unable to reach the overhead compartment. Only then will they carry out the task for a passenger.
A Filipino Facebook user named Mond Ortiz expressed through a public Facebook post his disappointment for “entitled” ABLED Filipinos (Filipinos who are NOT disabled) who believe that lifting or putting the customers’ hand-carry bags in the overhead bin is still part of the duties of a flight attendant. Ortiz also added that some passengers even exceed the carry-on luggage weight limit and demand flight attendants to lift it for them since they can no longer carry them.
Ortiz, who describes himself as an aviation lover and advocate for flight attendant empowerment, even messaged famous international airlines to compare if their cabin crew is indeed required to assist passengers with their carry-on luggage. All the airlines messaged by Ortiz clarified that it is not the flight attendants’ job to stow passengers’ carry-on luggage into the aircraft’s overhead compartment. According to them, passengers are responsible for lifting their respective baggage, especially if they are able.
He also made a blog post on his website regarding the said issue, wherein he expounds on the possible effects of this seemingly innocuous act on flight attendants, complete with computation. Ortiz goes on to ask everyone to be responsible travelers, which includes taking care of their own luggage.
Have we become a nation that is too reliant on service crew?
Normally, on topics like this I would also raise the topic of “entitlement,” but I am foregoing that as it is too layered to discuss without digressing from the intention of this article. But what I can point out is the awfulness of this practice of being too reliant on service crew, just because their job title says so. This happens not only in aircrafts but also in restaurants, hotels–basically areas where “service” is given to customers. Because it is the “crew’s job,” some customers no longer practice Clean as You Go (CLAYGO). Even if they can carry out their orders, they choose not to do so because it is the “crew’s job.” Some passengers will intentionally leave their bags in the middle of the aisle because they expect flight attendants to carry them. After all, it is “their job.” Sadly, some have become too entitled that they already carry the mindset “they are getting paid for the job, so let them do their job” everywhere they go.
Remember that this kind of mindset opens service workers to abuse.
We must learn to be considerate to people who work in the service industry. Yes, their job is to serve, but it does not permit anyone to abuse this notion. Service crews are there to assist, not to follow you around doing everything you want them to do. You may kindly ask for assistance but not demand it.
Be kind. Being kind will not cost you a fortune. /VT
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