For the Westjetters...

[YWGGuy]

I was having a discussion with a friend of mine and the question came up... We know you guy's have to clean the back of your own aircraft, and enough of you are ok with that... Which is fine. My question is, are the manager's and office staff leading by example and keeping their own work environment clean that they don't require a janitor? If not, what do the pilots (and F/A's for that matter) think of it?

[Herc_Driver]

......................................................

[Arctic84]

I think it's a valid question.

No, nobody else in the company does double duty as a janitor. That is reserved for pilots only.

[Intentional Left Bank]

Crew grooming saves money, but more importantly, time. We can turn an aircraft far quicker by grooming the cabin ourselves while the guests are disembarking, than to wait until everyone is off, and perhaps waiting for groomers to show up. I've seen more than one 17 minute turn with 120 off, 120 on. That would not be easy with dedicated grooming staff.

I don't resent the office staff for not cleaning their areas, provided they help groom my area. And they do, with a smile. Sometimes there will be twenty "professional groomers" in the back. Six seats each and you're done!

[KAG]

Don't want to do it, don't apply.
Saves millions, saves time, keeps me employeed.

[Tiny Voices]

General tidiness of their work space is the responsibility of the individual, just as general tidiness of the aircraft is the responsibility of operating crew and deadhead and standby employees. Overall cleanliness of office and common areas is accomplished by janitorial staff, just as each aircraft receives a complete groom at least once a day, and several partial grooms (lavs, table trays, vacuum) through out the day from professional grooming staff. As pilots, our duties are purely operational. We 'may' help with grooming during a turn, time permitting. If you've been on a flight or two with us, you've no doubt witnessed that most of us are more than happy to help out for the reasons previously mentioned by ILB and KAG As well it gives us a chance to interact with our crew and our guests. May not be everybody's idea of glamour, but as a participant I don't take issue with it at all, and for myself, feel the benefits far outweigh the negatives.

[marklaw]

Just so that you are all aware; if the aircraft is terminating and staying at a specific base for a significant amount of time, it is generally given a "full-groom" by a contracted grooming company. It includes vacuuming and washing, also everything in the seat pocket is arranged in a certain way. The grooming that is done by the flight crew and traveling employees is generally a quick sweep, checking seat-pockets, crossing seat-belts and adjusting headrests.

So, no, the flight crew doesn't do everything all the time.

[JestWet]

YWGGuy, I see by your other 5 posts that you are brand new to aviation in general so I will give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you are asking a legitimate question and not just trying to troll.
Firstly, the office employees don't, nor would I ever expect them to, stick around after office hours and mop/vacuum the floors, empty the garbages, clean the washrooms, etc. This is not expected of the flight crew either - we simply tidy the airplane in between turns. And every employee, right down to the CEO himself, gladly do the same to help out if they are ever traveling on board the airplane. All airplanes get a full professional cleaning at the end of every day, as does the office. We just help keep it tidy between flights. If there is ever a mess that is beyond our capabilities all it takes is a phone call to get professionals on board the aircraft to do it for us. Although it really is a bit of an inconvenience to have several groomers board the aircraft during a turn and fumble around with their vacuum & cleaners to do something that the crew could have tackled in 5 minutes.
I've never really understood people who make a big deal out of us grooming our airplanes. Personally, I enjoy grooming the aircraft - It gives me a chance to stretch my legs and talk to the F/A's and passengers for a few minutes between flights.

[FOX69]

Three words: Team Building Exercise. It's amazing how a team (Pilots & FA's) can bond, communicate, and cooperate when working together to accomplish a common task. Simple, but pure gold. No different from when you help your wife do the dishes without her asking. A little elbow grease goes a long way in keeping everyone on the same page. And we can all complain together about how filthy the general public are, and usually have a laugh over it. Again: simple but genius.

[bmc]

I have a lot of admiration for Westjet crews and staff. It seems like a pretty tight crew that does less whining and is more focused on the success of their company.

Power to you.

[WestCoast_AV8]

I dont fly for WJ, but if I have time permiting, I go back and help the FAs out. Crossing seat belts, collecting trash, or communicating with agents/operations helps the whole turn around system move more efficiently.

[WJ700]

Amazing how such a small task can be a hang-up for some. Basically, everyone in the employ of WestJet that is near the aircraft will jump in an help as time permits. If a pilot has to talk to MCC, OPS or Dispatch, that comes first. If an FA needs some food or has to deal with a special guest, the rest fill in while that person does what they have to do. CSA's will help to get a better turn time as well and I've even seen maintenance guys pushing a wheel chair up the bridge. Its not like someone holds a whip and makes you get down with a mop and bucket. and It's all part of the team effort to get the bird flying again fast and making some loot.

[bombardierfixer]

And in YYC the contract groomers don't start work untill 10 am....

[bmc]

And in YYC the contract groomers don't start work untill 10 am....

why?

[bombardierfixer]

Meant as a joke.

[bmc]

sometimes.





I'm slow.

[ravensrule]

I thought it was Union rules....

[twinpratts]

You only have to groom if you're an owner... 'employees' can apply to work somewhere else.

[Realitychex]

You only have to groom if you're an owner... 'employees' can apply to work somewhere else.