Check Out This Tv Show- Who's The Boss

[EightySix]

On TLC
Premieres Mon, March 22, at 10 p.m. and 1 a.m. ET/PT

John Selvaggio has lived and breathed airlines for the past 35 years. Having risen through the ranks to become president of Delta's new low-cost carrier, Song, he's on a mission to put the fun back into flying. But will he be able to cope as he steps out of his executive suite and goes out on the front lines?

From gate agent to janitor, from flight attendant to baggage handler, John is exposed to the less glamorous side of flying. Stripped of his executive privileges, John experiences what life is actually like for his employees, with all its stresses, deadlines and intensity. While John aces some tasks — like his willingness to remove raw sewage from lavatory hatches dotted along the underbelly of the plane — he also flunks others. As gate agent, he causes a last-minute scramble when he throws the boarding card reader into confusion, and as flight attendant, he singularly fails to interact with passengers (ironically, a Song requirement) and is achingly slow during beverage service.

But despite, or maybe because of, his struggles, John winds up with a deeper understanding of the teamwork, dedication and sheer talent of many of his employees. He may be boss still, but he has a new respect for those who work for him and resolves to spend more time out of the office

 

[Light Years]

So no Tony Danza then?

In all seriousness, this is the best idea for a reality show I've ever heard (although I'll always have a soft spot for Paris Hilton). I would love to put our execs put there in the operation. Work an oversold flight, try to reroute a line of 500 angry people, empty a lav, answer a call from someones whos been on hold for 70 minutes, offer an Envoy Class customer a basket of items rather than a kit, give a first class passenger a plastic cup of champagne, perform cabin evacs, land a plane... it goes on and on. I'd also like to see them live for a month (with only ten movable days off) on a commuter/MAA flight attendant or pilot wage, working seven legs a day in between 9 hour stints at cheap hotels, attempt to move your entire life in five days, ot commute. I'm sure we could come up with a great list of things we'd like for them to do.

I say this not as mean "revenge", but simply for operational understanding... In some ways its bad to have "aviation people" running an airline (sentiment and excitement can override good business), but its even worse to have people that have no clue. Silly decisions are made with no idea of customer perception and real life operations.

I'd also like for "the suits" to get out and actually experience airline culture- theres a unique brotherhood in every airline, and in the industry as a whole that they don't see. Most airline employees are passionate about what they do and view airlines as a lifestyle and family, not just a job. Thats something that when captured correctly can make magic... The current industry trend (following other industries) is rather than creative thinking or management, is to bring a once unique career choice down to fast food levels and hope that cost cutting is enough-it won't work. US Airways, never an innovator, is for once the industry leader, in dismantling a company and smothering it to death. I think a lot could be learned from an excersise like this.

 

[nycbusdriver]

Dave doesn't need anything like this show depicts. He knows it all already, just ask him.