A Big Thank You

Voltex

Can I just say a big thank you to the Aer Lingus Cabin crew that allowed my 2 YO to meet the captain and see the flight deck today...you really did make his day!:D:D:D:D:D

Foggy43

This was something frequently done by many flight crews. Unfortunately now seriously restricted to after landing and on stand only.

Owen

That's brilliant, it's something I wish they did more of. Hell, I'm 31, and I'd still love to be on the flightdeck

pclancy

I was the luckiest 12 year old in the world when I was allowed sit in the jump seat for a Monarch 757 landing in Gatwick...they even gave me a headset to listen to the radio on

Those were the days...

cson

11yrs old flying across the Atlantic in an EI A330, stewardess comes down and brings me up to the flight deck, Captain chats away to me then lets me sit down in his seat and 'fly' the plane - me holding the joystick terrified I'd mess up anything oblivious to the thing called auto-pilot.

Loved flying from that day on.

ian_m

I remember sitting in on a landing when I was a kid coming into Dublin. Visits to the cockpit were guaranteed when we went on holidays. Great fun!

Voltex

...see..we remember such moments as adults.
The aircraft was on the stand...but still for a 2 YO it was such a treat...but this also means that we as consumers will make a choice to choose Aer Lingus again...they took time out to show an interest in customer focus and we as consumers will respond like wise!

D.R Adams

I think you are spot on there Voltex, consumers should, and im sure many do, remember when they have been looked after and given good service. I have yet to see anyone visit a Ryanair cockpit usually because they are so interested in getting the plane turned around so fast.
I have also seen numerous other non-irish airlines letting young and old people visit the cockpit while the aircraft is on stand and it is a kind of return to the old days (even though its not in flight).

LyonsTea

What a lovely thing to happen to your 2 yr old. I have to say I think Aer Lingus staff are wonderfull

N2

I never had a problem allowing kids (of all ages) visit my flight deck on stand.

Alzar

On an EI charter night flight to Turkey back in 2000 I was lucky enough to visit the cockpit of an Airbus 320 as we about to overfly Vienna, I think it was.
The cabin crew asked if any kids wanted to see it & my wife asked if I could stick my nose in too.
I was there for about 5 minutes, but it was the best 5 mins of the holiday!!
Two pilots sitting back, explaining what some of the dials & buttons were for. Great experience :D & a very belated thanks to Aer Lingus for allowing me to see the business end of an Airbus in the flesh.

Al.

RATM

Those really were the days I remember back in 1991 on my first ever trip abroad to Russia as a 12 year old (on a school tour) asking the Aeroflot hostess could I see the cockpit. She brought me up a few minutes later and I spent the best part of 15 minutes there. I remember asking the captain 'How many miles are we up in the sky' (not knowing the term 'altitude'!); he didnt understand my kiddie Irish accent and duly woke up the navigator who was fast asleep at his desk. He had better english and promptly took out his calculator and divided the feet into yards and then miles to give me an answer

For some Aeroflot may be one of the world's worst airlines but for me that day and beyond there was no better airline anywhere in the world to fly.

tricky D

Oh for the days decades ago when my da worked for Aer Lingus and we got the standby tickets for 10% and flew a few times a year which was a bit more rare in those days. Also quite a few pilots live out our way so cockpit visits were even more frequent.


However, the best one for me was when disaster turned into joy, many years ago, early nineties. Had arrived at Stansted for a late flight home only to be told that USIT had screwed up my booking date yet again and my flight wasn't until tomorrow night. Last train had gone and things were looking bad. Some helpful soul somehow got word to a RyanAir crew who were bringing an empty plane back to Dub and aboard I hopped. Drooltastic spending so much time in the cockpit - big kid indeed! Closest I'll ever get to real flying (damned colourblindness). Also managed to get a lift home from the airport too!!