VIDEO: Capt. John Travolta's Airplane Safety Message Infuriates Aussie Airline Crews
And the early frontrunner for unlikeliest public feud of 2011 goes to Qantas Airlines crew members versus John Travolta, who invokes his decades of piloting experience in a new safety video screened before Qantas flights. What could possibly be the problem?
"This is your captain speaking," Travolta begins, innocuously enough, before things get a little... weird. "Well, maybe not today. But I can guarantee that the guys on the flight deck and the greater team care just as much about aircraft safety as I do."
Oh? You don't say. Despite the actor and Qantas "Goodwill Ambassador"'s otherwise cheerful demeanor and delivery, the video enraged some Qantas in-flight crew members, who vented over everything from the casting to the writing:
The three-minute demonstration video, played before take-off on every domestic and long-haul Qantas flight, has angered cabin crew who say a "real pilot" -- like Captain Richard de Crespigny, credited with saving 466 lives on the failed QF32 flight from Singapore - should front the message. [...]
One Qantas flight attendant, who did not wish to be named, described the video as "corny" and "tacky."
Flight attendants say they also have a problem with being repeatedly referred to as "the team " -- not flight attendants or cabin crew members -- in the video.
"We feel it's demeaning to be called 'the team,'" one said. "It makes us feel like we work at McDonald's."
Gosh! Everyone's a critic. Is it really that bad? You'd think James Franco phoned it in or something.
· Captain Travolta's video angers flight crew [The Telegraph via THR]
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Comments
I think the idea that Americans should be the global spokespeople for everything, everywhere, is an outdated idea. Maybe they're reacting to the weirdness of an American actor (pilot or not) being the ambassador for an Aussie airline. Or maybe it's just the fact that the photo's perspective makes it look like their planes are pretty damn small.
Demeaning? McDonald's? Yeah, because the airline industry is so stable and prestigious. They should be so lucky to work for McDonald's.
Mostly this video serves as a reminder that I haven't flown anywhere in a while. I'm overdue for a Vegas trip...
They think it's demeaning to be called a team because they think it makes them out to be like Mcdonalds employees?!?! Well I think talking down to Mcdonalds employees is what is in fact demeaning. What makes a "member of the flight crew" better than someone working at a fast food restaurant? I hope they are offended if they are that self-centered, maybe this will knock them down a notch. Whats wrong with being a part of a team? I mean the New England Patriots football organization has many players that are part of a team, and if I am not mistaken they happen to have won multiple Lombardi trophies. I think if world class atheletes, in the NFL and any other sport worldwide can be proud to be a part of a TEAM than maybe these big headed "flight crew members" can shut up and be honored to concider themselves part of a team. But if they don't want to be considered one part of a whole that makes up a TEAM then maybe planes should just have ONE "crew member" per plane. They can fly it, get everyone their pillows and blankets and push around the food cart all by themselves. That way they can have al the credit to themselves and maybe, just maybe then they wouldn't feel so belittled by there oh so strenuous, back breaking job that they don't get any respect for. Just a note I have family that happen to be on a team that helps crew an airline, so this is not here to insult the humble, hardworking, crew members out there. Only to those on this airline that feel like they have been so mistreated. To them I say grow up.
Seriously, "the team" has a problem with this? Maybe they need to switch places with the Mcdonalds crew! Quit your whining team and get to work!
How are you equating this to American dominance? He has a recognizable face. Would you be less offended if it was Eric Bana? If so, then you are a overly sensitive retard.
Yes, I would be less offended if Eric Bana was in this video for an AUSTRALIAN airline. The arrogance of Americans sometimes. Don't you wonder why you are hated around the world???
I actually like the video and don't feel offended at all that it's John Travolta. Who cares if he is an American, he is a great pop culture icon who loves aeronatics and has a very pleasent demeanor. I think that the flight teams own demeaning comments towards McDonald's staff clearly outlines that the issues are with their own attitudes and has little to do with the selection of John as the spokesperson. I found the change to be quite delightful and was quite happy to be greeted with the clip at the beginning of my flights recently. Bravo Qantas, and ignore all these blow hards.
I wonder if any of them even realize that Travolta is actually a certified, aka "real" pilot. How can the crew say there's a problem with the casting, when all the airline did was get the man who is their goodwill ambassador to do a safety announcement for them? I find nothing wrong with the video myself, but I can't help but chuckle at how uptight the crew is being over it.
I really don't get the anger over this. I mean, John Travolta is an actor and actors are used in lots of airline commercials. But this actor is actually a pilot and knows what he's talking about on this subject matter.
I can sort of understand them wanting Crespigny to front the video. Though you're more likely to get people to pay attention when having a well known celebrity on screen.
Corny and tacky, yeah, I can agree with that one.
The comment that really bothered me was the one about it being demeaning to be referred to as "the team," while pretty much making out working at McDonald's is demeaning. No job is demeaning as long as you're doing an honest days work. It might not be glorious, high paying, or the best, but it's respectable and pretty far from demeaning.
I hate John Travolta and all his crazy scientology whackjob friends. Go die, get off my plane, stop talking to me.
I wouldn't feel safe if I thought a crazy scientologist was in the c**kpit.
You're just working at a mcdonald's with wings.
Seriously, anyone in this day and age who has to watch a video to learn hw to fasten a seat belt aboard a plane needs to go back to their Bronze Age dung farm and stay there.