How would you deal with a passenger that was disrupting the other passengers?
This is one scenario that is frequently included in British Airways cabin crew interviews. Convincing your interviewer that you have the skills necessary to address disruptive passengers before things escalate is key to landing the job. If you have experience as a flight attendant, go beyond a theoretical answer and use the STAR method to describe a time when you dealt directly with a disruptive passenger.
"I would speak to them directly and let them know that their behavior is disruptive to other passengers. I would then politely ask them to stop whatever behavior was causing the problem. I would offer them a distraction such as access to in-flight entertainment, or an alternative depending on what I had available. I would then thank them in advance for their cooperation and continue to monitor the situation throughout the remainder of the flight. Additionally, I would alert my fellow crew members to the situation if it had the potential to escalate and continue."
"I have dealt with disruptive passengers many times. I am always polite, try to be discreet, and I am prepared to be very direct if I feel I need to go that route to ensure the safety of the passengers and crew.
Last week I had a passenger who kept getting up every few minutes to walk back and forth down the aisle. He had the window seat and the other passengers in his row had to stop what they were doing to let him in and out each time. Also, other passengers were observing his odd behavior and I could tell it was making them uncomfortable.
I waited until he walked near the galley so I could speak with him privately. I let him know that his behavior was disruptive and asked him why he was getting up so often. He indicated he had anxiety and walking helped him with his nervous energy. I always keep a few books in my bag for layovers and I offered to let him borrow one to help him pass the time. He thanked me and stayed in his seat for the remainder of the flight."
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