Before dumping on the Gatwick staff, consider the idiots they have to
deal with at times. On Wednesday, while going through security there
on my way home to Alicante, I witnessed a woman fiercely arguing
about her liquids--she had her carry-on bag full of various liquids,
mostly cosmetics, in sizes exceeding the permitted 100 ml. The
security guard politely explained that she could not take those on
the plane, that she could go back and have the airline (Emirates in
this case) put it in her carry-on (there was plenty of time before
her departure) etc. She claimed that she had not been informed about
the rule, despite the fact that the rule is at least a couple of
years old, that there are signs all over the airport advertising it,
as well as on every airline's web site. She kept insisting. I don't
know how the argument ended, but I am sure the rules were enforced in
the end.
I have found the people at Gatwick and other UK airports to be
somewhat dry but certainly polite and professional.
Nathan
On 12-jul-2008, at 0:39, Andrew Fildes wrote:
>
> It's amazing how effective politeness can be.
> I was warned by my son that checking in a Heathrow would be
> unpleasant and the staff worse.
> No problem. Showed up before the rush, smiled at the guy behind the
> counter before I got to him, said 'Good Morning' and everything was
> pleasant and no problem.
> Even a friendly statement/enquiry like 'You look like you're having a
> rough day' can loosen things up.
> These people are not well paid and get to deal with a lot of people
> who are tired, annoyed, angry and difficult. It's worth remembering
> that and behaving empathetically.
> One way of protecting yourself emotionally in a job like that is to
> grow a hard shell and stick rigidly to the rules.
>
> For example, as I was boarding there was a flight to Nigeria loading
> up too. It seems to be part of the Nigerian culture I noted from that
> one experience to try and get away with anything you possibly can and
> argue the place down if challenged. Trying to claim quite large
> cardboard cartons (a TV in one case) as hand luggage was typical. The
> result was ongoing pandemonium with lots of screaming and
> accusations. The guards kept their cool but went very rigid in their
> application of the regulations. If I'd been a security guard there
> and then, I may well have shot someone - there and then.
> Andrew Fildes
> afildes@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>
>
>
> On 12/07/2008, at 5:20 AM, <bs.pearce@xxxxxxx> wrote:
>
>> He was, as everyone else, quite polite, but appeared effective.
>
>
>
> ==============================================
> List usage info: http://www.zuikoholic.com
> List nannies: olympusadmin@xxxxxxxxxx
> ==============================================
Nathan Wajsman
Alicante, Spain
http://www.frozenlight.eu
http://www.greatpix.eu
http://www.nathanfoto.com
Books: http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/search?search=wajsman&x=0&y=0
PICTURE OF THE WEEK: http://www.fotocycle.dk/paws
Image licensing: http://www.alamy.com/search-results.asp?qt=wajsman
Blog: http://www.fotocycle.dk/blog
==============================================
List usage info: http://www.zuikoholic.com
List nannies: olympusadmin@xxxxxxxxxx
==============================================
|